Tinnitus: Why Won’t My Ears Stop Ringing?

By Nancy Shute - Article from NPR

Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, affects 50 million Americans. This disruptive hearing disorder makes it difficult for sufferers to lead normal lives; disturbing sleep, concentration, as well as conversation. In the past ten years researchers have found that although hearing loss is involved, tinnitus is not just a problem in the ears but in the brain as well. Brain imaging has revealed that the bothersome tinnitus “sounds” may be a connection problem in the brain. Specialists are in the process of testing new procedures designed to give relief to tinnitus sufferers. However, trials with humans are just starting so true relief may be years away. In the meantime, talk to your audiologist about current treatment options available to you.

Learn more about tinnitus, hearing loss and hearing aids on our website at www.actinnitus.com

Income, Job Performance, Unaddressed Hearing Loss

The ability to hear and listen is an undeniable asset in the workplace. As an employee you can be perceived positively or negatively depending on how well you hear. Your individual performance could be based on your hearing and listening skills. A recent discovery shows a direct correlation between hearing loss and earnings. An unaddressed hearing problem can mean lost wages, lost promotions, and lost opportunities. It is important to see your audiologist, even for mild hearing loss, in order to receive treatment—thus enhancing performance as well earning potential.

Learn more about hearing loss and hearing aids on our website at www.acassociatesllc.org

Hearing Better May Mean Earning More

Article from Making Yourself Marketable

According to the Better Hearing Institute workers with untreated hearing loss can potentially see a decrease of up to $30,000 a year in their income. Good hearing is critical in the workplace. Not only does hearing loss contribute to poor productivity and communication but also to a lack of safety on the job. Good hearing is a key factor to success in the workplace. Those who treat their hearing loss can greatly reduce their risk of income loss. Hearing aids are the best treatment for the majority of people with hearing loss.

Learn more about hearing loss and hearing aids on our website at www.acassociatesllc.org

When You Don’t Understand What You Hear

By Johnathan R. Brown

As you age your ability to understand spoken words may become impaired. Many patients report that they can hear people talking but they cannot understand what is being said. This can indicate a problem with auditory processing, which normally worsesn with age. Speech sounds are very complex and require an efficient listening system. However, systems—including the listening system—become less efficient with age. Those complaining of hearing problems are referred to an audiologist who will recommend a treatment path, which may include technology that will help to enhance listeing ability and improve the quality of life.

Learn more about hearing loss and hearing aids on our website at www.acassociatesllc.org

Doing the job right—the AuD way

By Linda S. Remensnyder - Article from Viewpoint

Although there are many brands and styles of hearing aids, the age and lifestyle of the recipient must be taken into account in order to find the right fit for the patient. Doctors of audiology are the only ones who can do this for you. Large, national hearing aid networks do not interact with the patient on a personal level and may therefore choose a hearing aid that does not meet all of the patient’s needs. An audiologist’s advice is critical in diagnosing and treating your hearing problems.

Editor’s note: In Pennsylvania there are three types of people that can help with hearing aids: Audiologists, physicians, and hearing aid dispensers. Based on a law written in the mid 1970’s there are no minimum education requirements to become a hearing aid dispenser and they are not licensed. The minimum education requirement for an audiologist is a doctoral degree with eight years of related education and also requires a license to practice.

Learn more about doctors of audiology, audiologists, hearing loss, and hearing aids on our website at www.acassociatesllc.org

Optimizing Your Hearing Aid Experience by Training Your Brain to Listen

By Robert W. Sweetow - Article from Better Hearing Institute

As technically advanced as modern hearing aids are, you may still find difficulty contributing to daily conversation even with your hearing device. Hearing and listening have distinct differences and hearing aids do not provide the listening skills needed for conversation. Although you may find an improvement in your hearing, there are other factors besides hearing loss that contribute to poor listening ability. Loss of cognitive skills, changing brain functions, and low confidence in hearing ability can all limit your ability to listen to as well as hear the person you are speaking to. Fortunately there are strategies and supplemental auditory therapies that may keep your listening skills from deteriorating and improve the ability to function in noisy situations. Talk to your audiologist today about a communication enhancement plan that is right for you.

Learn more about audiology, hearing loss and hearing aids on our website at www.acassociatesllc.org