What is Swimmer's Ear?

Summer is in full effect! And swimmer's ear is serious concern... What is it you may wonder? Swimmer’s ear is an infection found in the outer ear canal, the area that extends from the outer ear (pinna) to the eardrum (tympanic membrane). The medical term for swimmer’s ear is otitis externa. Swimmer’s ear occurs when moisture gets trapped in the outer ear space, creating the perfect breeding ground for bacterial growth, which can invade the skin of the ear canal.

Causes of swimmer’s ear

Swimmer’s ear is most often caused by moisture or debris retained in the ear canal from swimming, showering, bathing or other moist environments. Swimmer’s ear should be taken seriously, and should be treated to prevent any negative effects it may have on your hearing and to prevent further infection.Other factors that contribute to swimmer’s ear

• Exposure to excessive bacteria, often found in hot tubs or polluted water.

• Excessive cleaning of the ear canal with cotton swabs (or any other tool that can damage the skin)!

• Cuts or skin conditions in the ear canal (eczema, seborrhea, etc.) that create an opening for bacteria to penetrate the skin.

• Contact with chemicals such as hair spray or hair dye that migrate into the ear canal.

Symptoms of swimmer’s ear

Mild cases of swimmer’s ear will likely begin by itching and irritation in the ear canal and pain that worsens when you tug on the outer ear (pinna). The ear may feel swollen or blocked. A clear, odorless discharge may be present as well.Advanced cases of swimmer’s ear may involve:

• Fever

• Decreased hearing

• Intense pain that spreads to the neck, face or head

• Redness and/or swelling of the skin around the ear

• Drainage or discharge that has an odor

Swimmer’s ear is typically not considered to be a dangerous condition and can clear up quickly following treatment. However, if untreated, swimmer’s ear can become extremely painful and potentially dangerous, especially for those who are diabetic or have problems with their immune system, including the elderly.

Complications of swimmer’s ear

Left untreated, swimmer’s ear can lead to:

• Hearing loss

• Recurring ear infections (chronic otitis externa): Without treatment the infection can persist

• Bone and cartilage damage: Untreated infections can spread to the base of the skull, brain or cranial nerves. (Diabetics and the elderly are at higher risk for this sort of complication.)

.

Swimmer’s ear treatment

Medical treatment is the standard course of treatment for swimmer’s ear.The physician will perform an otoscopic examination to confirm there is no eardrum perforation, which would allow moisture to invade the middle ear space. The physician may be able to easily clean the infected area to relieve irritation and pain. Antibiotic ear drops are necessary to clear the infection and will be prescribed by the physician. For a more advanced infection, oral antibiotics or pain medication may be prescribed as well. If the infection does not improve within 3-4 days, the physician may consider different medications.It is important to keep the infected ear(s) dry during the healing process.

How to help prevent swimmer’s ear

If you are prone to swimmer’s ear infections, it can be wise to take some preventative measures. These include:

• Dry the ears following water exposure, especially swimming. Tip your head to one side to let the water drain out, then repeat on the other side. Never use cotton swabs to dry the ear! A dry towel or tissue can be used as well.

• Keep water out of the ear. This may be accomplished by using a barrier such as earplugs. These can be found as over-the-counter products but are most effective when custom molded by a hearing professional for the patients’ ears.

• Maintain proper earwax hygiene. Earwax or cerumen plays an important role in protecting the outer ear canal. Too much or too little cerumen can be an issue. Improper ear cleaning methods such as cotton swabs or ear candling can lead to ear canal damage that can lead to infection.

• Maintain proper skin health. The skin in the ear canal plays a big role in prevention of swimmer’s ear. Dry, cracked skin (often the result of health conditions) can be an open invitation to infection.

• Protect your ears from chemicals. Keep chemicals from hair spray and dye out of the ear canal with cotton balls or earplugs.

• Consider ear drops. There are over-the-counter ear drops designed to help prevent swimmer’s ear. It is important that you DO NOT put anything in your ear canal if there is any risk of you having a perforation of the eardrum. Seeing a physician to verify the integrity of the eardrum is strongly advised.

 You can always contact South Suburban Hearing Health Center if you'd like to learn more!

Dementia and hearing loss are linked

Hearing loss, and how it impacts the brain as we age, has been the focus of numerous studies. More recently, especially, as medical professionals’ (and the public’s) interest in dementia has increased.

One such study, titled “Hearing loss and the risk of dementia in later life,” was published just last June in an issue of Maturitas. In it, scientists from medical institutions across Australia analyzed a variety of studies — including one of their own — and discovered that hearing impairment in midlife is associated with a 50 percent higher risk of developing dementia. (See our video summarizing why scientists think hearing loss increases the risk of the cognitive decline.)

The good news? Another recent study found that hearing loss is one of nine dementia risk factors you can modify (by treating it at midlife) which can “contribute to prevention or delay of dementia.”

If you were ever looking for a reason to stop ignoring your hearing loss, these studies should be pretty persuasive.

Not sure how to go about treating hearing loss? We can help. Start by consulting with us today! Contact South Suburban Hearing Health Center here.

Is hearing loss affecting your relationships?

If your birthday or wedding anniversary is in February, forgive me in advance for saying this — but there is little to look forward to this month. It’s after the holidays but before spring. And in many parts of the country, it may be the coldest month of the year.

Fortunately, it’s short.

Another saving grace? Valentines Day. February is a great month to focus on love, relationships and affairs of the heart — three things you would think have little to do with hearing or hearing loss. But you might be surprised to know they are very intertwined.

Hearing and communicating are key ingredients to strong and happy relationships. Survey after survey shows that people who treat their hearing loss acknowledge that getting hearing aids improved or had a positive effect on relationships with family and friends.

Take our short quiz to see if hearing loss is affecting your relationships.

Our hearing and our heart are connected physically, too.

Contact South Suburban Hearing Health Center to schedule a consultation today!

Hearing loss increases your odds of becoming socially isolated

Social isolation — especially as we age — increases the risk of numerous mental and physical health challenges, including depression, heart disease, abnormal immune systems, and even dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Social isolation is also a growing epidemic which, according to the former Surgeon General of the United States, is associated with a “reduction in lifespan similar to that caused by smoking 15 cigarettes a day.”One big reason people become socially isolated is because of hearing loss. Often, as hearing becomes challenging, people avoid social, business or transactional situations where interaction is key — and instead choose to withdraw and isolate themselves.Our new Livio AI hearing aid was designed specifically to help. Not only is it our best sounding and best performing hearing aid ever to help people hear and engage better, it’s also the first wearable device that helps you track how socially active you are.To learn more about the new Livio AI, call South Suburban Hearing Health Center today to set up an appointment! We can't wait to hear from you.

Can earwax cause hearing loss?

In short, yes, earwax can cause hearing loss. But it doesn’t occur as commonly as one might think. In fact, very few patients who are seen by hearing healthcare professionals have hearing loss that is literally due to excessive earwax (cerumen impaction).More likely, the patient has experienced a gradual decline in their hearing over time and the hearing loss has become enough that the patient is starting to have difficulty communicating with others.  It is when communication starts to become effected that people seek help.What, you might ask, causes cerumen impaction? Anything that affects the normal outward flow of ear wax may cause impaction, such as advanced age, narrow or abnormally shaped ear canals, use of a hearing aid, incorrect use of cotton swabs, or using needles, hair pins, or other objects to clean the ears. (PSA: Do not stick anything in your ear to clean it!)

Total earwax blockage is rare

What is important to know here is that soundwaves only need a tiny opening in the ear canal to reach the eardrum. So, unless the ear canal is plugged tightly with earwax, there shouldn’t be noticeable hearing loss. When cerumen impaction is severe enough to cause hearing loss, there will likely be other signs and symptoms noticed, such as dizziness, ear fullness (a feeling that something is plugging up your ear), itchiness or pain in the ears and/or ringing in the ears. Rarely does cerumen impaction occur without additional signs that “something is wrong.”The good news is that hearing loss caused by cerumen impaction is easily treated and setting up an appointment with a licensed hearing healthcare professional is easy and convenient. Contact South Suburban Hearing Health Center here!

Are earbuds safe to share?

On a recent flight, I looked around and noticed I was the only passenger who didn’t pack headphones. I had to ask the flight attendant for earbuds, as it seemed everyone else packed their own. I started to wonder if my fellow passengers brought their own earbuds along to avoid sharing or to avoid using the complimentary airline buds? And if most people are bringing their earbuds everywhere, just how clean are they, and can they be safely shared?Lugging our earbuds around with us means our headphones are exposed to many different surfaces, increasing the likelihood of picking up bacteria from our desks, our tray tables, even our bags.Not only do our earbuds come in contact with contaminated surfaces, studies have shown that simply using earbuds increases the bacteria in our ears 11 fold. That’s because wearing earbuds can trap moisture and heat in the ear canal, creating the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive.

Bacteria bad, earwax good

Lucky for us, our ears have protection against bacteria. It’s our earwax, and it’s often what you see on your earbuds after wearing them. Every ear has wax, or cerumen. Wax is harmless and actually helpful. Wax helps clean, protect and lubricate our ears. Without it, our ear canals would feel itchy and dry.The wax in our ears also helps keep dirt and debris away from our ear drum. Apocrine glands in the outer part of our ears produce wax. These glands are similar to the glands that make us sweat. And just like an increase in stress or fear can make us sweat more, an increase in stress has also been shown to make our ears produce more earwax!If your ears produce a lot of wax, you can use a cloth to wipe the outer ear canal or you can put a few drops of over-the-counter ear cleaning drops in your ears to soften and remove the wax. If your ears feel blocked or the wax seems to be affecting your hearing, talk to your doctor or hearing professional about removing it for you. Jaw movements from eating or talking also help move the wax out of our ears. Read here for more ear cleaning tips.

The odds of infection are slim, but still…!

Reports vary on whether sharing earbuds is safe. Business Insider tested 22 pairs of in-the-ear style earbuds at Columbia University’s microbiology lab. Most of the samples yielded results that researchers expected, testing positive for bacteria found on our skin, like staphylococcus. There was one surprise though: two of the samples tested positive for yeast. Yeast is a type of fungus that can cause infection, you can even get a yeast infection in your ears.Sharing earbuds can introduce new bacteria into your ears, doubling the microbial flora in our ears. And while most of the bacteria is harmless, and the odds of something bad happening are slim, the risk of developing middle ear infections, fungus, and swimmer’s ear does increase when you share earbuds. If there is a cut in your ear canal, sharing can also cause a skin infection.

(BYOE) Bring your own earbuds 

My advice would be to avoid sharing your earbuds. If you’re in a pinch and need to share, it’s best to disinfect your earbuds first with rubbing alcohol or a disinfecting spray. Use a dampened cotton ball to wipe off any visible waxy residue and any bacteria hiding there that you can’t see.You may also want to invest in disposable earbud covers if you have a friend, like me, who always forgets to bring their own.Call South Suburban Hearing Health Center if you have any other questions!

Nearly one in four adults has hearing loss from noise

Just last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) devoted one of their monthly Vital Signs reports to noise-induced hearing loss. Each month, Vital Signs covers “an important health threat” and, as the CDC notes, hearing loss is the “third most common chronic health condition in in the U.S.”The report goes on to share more alarming facts and statistics. One that stood out is that nearly half of adults who reported trouble hearing had NOT “seen a healthcare provider for their hearing in the past 5 years.” This despite research showing links between untreated hearing loss and increased risk of falls, depression, anxiety, hospitalizations and even dementia. If you’re one of the 40 million Americans who has noise-induced hearing loss, do what the CDC recommends and get a hearing checkup ASAP. Call South Suburban Hearing Health Center today! If you’re not one of the 40 million and don’t want to be one, check out these tips for how to protect your hearing from noise.

Why do I want a wireless hearing aid?

Great question — and your timing is perfect. After a recent trip to the gym, I came to the sad realization that I’m a wired woman living in a wireless world. Let me explain.I have to admit: it had been awhile since I’d been to the gym to run on a treadmill! I was looking forward to watching television or listening to music. I had my trusty wired headphones with me, but there wasn’t anywhere to plug them in.I couldn’t believe it! There I was, stuck with something that needed to be plugged in without a plug in sight! How could this be? There wasn’t a plug on the treadmill and I couldn’t even plug my wired headphones into my new smart phone! I was stuck without anything to pass the time: a wired girl in a wireless world.

Wireless is the way to go

Hearing aid wearers are way ahead of me. Why? Because of wireless hearing aids. Wireless hearing aid wearers can stream media directly to their hearing aids without wires. Wireless hearing aid wearers don’t need cords or input jacks. Wireless connectivity allows wearers to stay connected to family and friends, and stream phone calls, television, and music directly to their hearing aids without people around them hearing what they’re listening to. Audio can be streamed directly to your hearing aids at listening levels comfortably adjusted to compensate for your hearing loss. Wireless streaming also reduces background noise around you, since hearing aid microphones focus on the incoming streaming signals.Streaming phone calls directly to your hearing aids offers a hands-free solution, ideal for multitasking. Streaming music allows you to listen to your favorite tunes without headphones.  Your hearing aids become the headphones.In short – you want a wireless hearing aid because they sound better and make life easier. Call South Suburban Hearing Health Center today to schedule your consultation to learn more about wireless hearing aids!

Hearing loss can lead to scary stuff

In a 2015 study that investigated the association between hearing loss and mortality, researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that adults 70 years and older with moderate or severe hearing loss had a 54% increased risk of mortality compared to peers without hearing loss. Researchers studied data from two National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys — the 2005 through 2006 one, and 2009 through 2010 — examining 1,666 adults 70+ who had undergone audiometric testing. Those with hearing loss tended to have shorter lifespans.While the study’s leads were clear to note the results didn’t prove that hearing loss, alone, shortens lives, they did point out the many negative effects of hearing loss (read some here), suggesting a combination may contribute to the earlier deaths.Treatment for hearing loss is readily available and is proven to help mitigate many of these negative effects (read here). To get help for your hearing loss, call South Suburban Hearing Health Center today! What are you waiting for?

10 tips to get more out of your hearing aid batteries

Hearing aids are getting more and more advanced. With all the extra processing power and new features in today’s hearing aids, you can typically get 3-10 days off a single battery. Why is the life of a hearing aid battery so unpredictable, where one battery may last a week, and another just two or three days? Much depends on your amount of hearing aid use, streaming, and how you care for your hearing aids.Still, there are steps you can take to maximize the life of your batteries and optimize the performance of your hearing aids.

Here are 10 tips to get the most out of your hearing aid battery:

1. Let the battery "breathe" for 3-5 minutes. After removing the tab from the battery, let the battery sit for 3-5 minutes before installing it in your hearing aid. This "activation" time allows air to reach the materials inside the battery and activate them.2. Wash your hands throughly before changing batteries. Grease and dirt on the batteries may damage the hearing aid. Also, grease and dirt can clog up the air pores in the battery.3. Open the battery door at night. When you're not wearing your hearing aid, turn it off or open the battery door to minimize battery drain. Leave the battery compartment of  your hearing device open at night so moisture can escape. Doing so will keep the battery from corroding and damaging the hearing aid.4. Use a hearing aid dehumidifier. A hearing aid dehumidifier will help absorb moisture out of your hearing aid and battery. This will allow the battery power to be used more efficiently. The dehumidifier is also a great place to store your hearing aids.5. Remove the batteries entirely if you won't be using the device for an extended period of time. This also helps to avoid corrosion and damage from trapped moisture.6. Check the expiration date on the batteries. The further out the batteries are, the fresher they are. Over time, batteries will drain slightly while sitting on the shelf. Ideally, you should buy batteries that have an expiration date a year or further from your purchase date.7. Use the oldest pack of batteries first. The newest packs will have the furthest expiration date than your older packs of batteries. You want to ensure that you use the oldest batteries first, so that you are getting the most life out of them.8. Keep the stickers on the battery. The sticker tab on the battery keeps the battery "fresh." As soon as the sticker is removed, the battery is activated and starts draining. You want to make sure you don't peel the sticker tab off until you need to use that battery.9. Keep the batteries in a cool dry place. Storing new, unused batteries in extreme temperatures can cause the battery to drain/have a shorter life.10. Invest in a rechargeable battery hearing device. Rechargeable hearing aids and batteries  —  like our Muse iQ rechargeable hearing aids  —  are starting to come out into the market. Rechargeable batteries allow you to charge the battery at night and get a full day's worth of use. Rechargeable batteries need to be replaced on a yearly basis. If you're interested in the new technology, talk to your hearing healthcare professional.For more tips on making your hearing aid batteries last longer, call South Suburban Hearing Health Center today!

Falling and Hearing Loss are Linked!

Falls are some of the most frequent and scary injuries suffered by older adults, and generate billions in annual health care costs. There are a lot of reasons why older adults are more prone to falls — from weakness or medication side effects to vision problems, slower reflexes and more.In 2012, a study by Johns Hopkins Medicine determined that untreated hearing loss can also increase the risk of falling. Using data from several national health surveys, researchers found that people with mild hearing loss were nearly three times more likely to have a history of falling.While more studies need to be done, one possible explanation they had for the increased risk of falls is a that a person with untreated hearing loss has less awareness of their overall environment, so are more susceptible to tripping and falling.Help combat that risk factor by ensuring you can hear your best. South Suburban Hearing Health Center can  help. Consult with us by clicking here today.

Only one hearing loss coping strategy is worth it

I’ve been there before, lip reading, cupping my ears, ensuring I sit as close to the front row (or in it) as possible. Nodding my head and smiling. Laughing because others are laughing.Coping strategies and pretending to hear often go together, and like me, you’ve probably employed them when you weren’t sure what hearing aids can do for you. Well, I’ve spent the last three years of my life thriving with hearing aids, and I can now look back at these coping strategies and define all but one as “ineffectual.”Let’s start with the one coping strategy that can be helpful first.

Lip reading – good when paired with hearing aids

Lip reading is a coping strategy for those with hearing loss that can become an extremely powerful and helpful tool when paired with properly fitted hearing aids. When you lip read without hearing aids, your brain is functioning in overtime trying to make sense of jumbled sounds and each persons’ unique way of talking. It’s exhausting! And, when you’re relying on lip reading as your primary tool, you can often make critical mistakes.But, I like lip reading with hearing aids! It can often help to properly identify words and sounds faster, and for those like me with an extremely severe hearing loss, lip reading is especially helpful in environments where the noise overpowers even my innovative Starkey Bluetooth hearing aids.

Cupping your ears – not worth it

I didn’t use this method much, but I’ve seen my father and uncle resort to this coping strategy. The idea behind this is to better funnel sound into the ear. Cupping a hand around your ear may help in extremely noisy situations or when trying to listen to whispered secrets, but even then, with hearing loss, you’re still losing important spatial and speech cues necessary for accurate understanding.

Nodding your head and fake smiling – you’re only hurting yourself

Sometimes you have to learn things the hard way. In this case, I learned that it’s better to speak up and ask people to repeat themselves 50 times versus nodding along like you’re hearing everything. Why? Well, by nodding and smiling, you’re only doing yourself a disservice. If you’re out with friends, you’re missing the real joy of interacting and engaging in the group’s conversation. If you’re at work in a meeting, you could miss important points and even what tasks you’re assigned. Why risk getting fired because you decided to fake hear?Finally, as time goes on and you continue to do this, it’s exhausting. It’s not fun to fake your life.  And, as you continue to act like you’re hearing, you’re only depriving yourself of the fullness of friendship, family, love, success and other personal enjoyments.

Laughing because others are laughing – things could get tricky

This plays up to the strategy above. Laughing along when others are laughing is the same as faking a smile and nodding as though you heard what another person is saying. You’re missing out, and that only hurts you. Furthermore, what others are laughing at may be something you shouldn’t laugh at – a cruel joke at someone else’s expense, for example. In the end, don’t watch for others to laugh before you do. Give yourself the opportunity to hear the joke, enjoy the joke and truly experience the freeing joy of authentic laughter.

Why cope when you don’t have to?

Every person with hearing loss has used one or more coping methods during their life. We’ve all been there, felt at times that we need to, but in the end, life is so much richer and fuller with hearing aids. I had to learn the hard way – it took me more than 10 years of suffering through coping methods before I tried treating my hearing loss. And now, after three years of hearing in meetings, laughing when I hear the joke, actually engaging in conversations and making positive memories instead of embarrassing moments, I can confidently say that no coping method is worth it.Call South Suburban Hearing Health Center today! We want to help make life easier for you!

What are common hearing loss symptoms?

Nearly 48 million Americans report some kind of hearing loss. Typically, the signs of hearing loss are subtle and emerge slowly. It may take someone years to realize they have hearing loss.The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recommends adults over 50 have their hearing tested every three years. Unfortunately, most people test their hearing only after their hearing loss has begun to create challenges.So, short of having it tested by a hearing professional, how might you know if you have hearing loss before it escalates?

• You ask “What?” often Asking for repetition once in a while is okay, especially if you weren’t paying attention or the speaker is talking from a distance. But if you find yourself asking for repetition frequently, this may be a symptom of hearing loss.
• Everyone around you seems to mumble A classic complaint with people who have hearing loss is that people don’t speak clearly. If you find yourself thinking people are mumbling and hard to understand, that may be a symptom of hearing loss.
• You have trouble hearing in noise If you have trouble hearing in restaurants, group situations or at cocktail parties, this may be a sign of hearing loss.
• You have trouble hearing on the phone If you have trouble occasionally, that is OK. If you constantly feel like you cannot hear on the phone, whether you’re using a landline or mobile phone, this may be a symptom of hearing loss.
• People have said something to you If loved ones or friends are mentioning that you aren’t hearing well, this may be a symptom of hearing loss.
• You have diabetes, heart disease or thyroid problems Research has shown there is a correlation: people with diabetes, heart disease, and/or thyroid issues have a higher rate of hearing loss.
• You have ringing in your ears Ringing in your ears is often thought to be a symptom of hearing loss or damage to the auditory system — and hearing loss and tinnitus very often go hand in hand.
• People tell you your television is too loud If you need to turn your TV to a volume others find uncomfortable just to hear it, that can be a sign of hearing loss.

• You fatigue easily after long conversations/periods of listening People with hearing loss have to exert extra energy to focus on and follow conversations, which can lead to mental fatigue. If you find yourself struggling to follow or avoiding long periods of listening (i.e. lectures, meetings) this may be a symptom of hearing loss.
• You dread/avoid going into situations where there are going to be more than two people Social isolation is a real consequence of hearing loss, as many people who struggle to hear choose to avoid events and activities where hearing clearly is key.
• You misunderstand what people say Hearing or responding to something incorrectly can sometimes be more embarrassing than not hearing it at all. For example, that could include mixing up words such as road for rose, white for wife, etc. Has that happened to you?
• Family history of hearing loss If your family has a history of age-related hearing loss, chances are you’ll eventually have to deal with it too.

If you feel like you may have a hearing loss, you can contact South Suburban Hearing Health Center today to schedule a thorough evaluation and test!

Hearing loss can lead to some scary stuff!

In a 2015 study that investigated the association between hearing loss and mortality, researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that adults 70 years and older with moderate or severe hearing loss had a 54% increased risk of mortality compared to peers without hearing loss.Researchers studied data from two National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys — the 2005 through 2006 one, and 2009 through 2010 — examining 1,666 adults 70+ who had undergone audiometric testing. Those with hearing loss tended to have shorter lifespans.While the study’s leads were clear to note the results didn’t prove that hearing loss, alone, shortens lives, they did point out the many negative effects of hearing loss (read some here), suggesting a combination may contribute to the earlier deaths.Treatment for hearing loss is readily available and is proven to help mitigate many of these negative effects, call us today to avoid these negative effects!

Hearing Health Tips for Fall

Along with the cooler weather and the leaves changing colors, fall comes with an assortment of exciting new sounds and activities: football games, outdoor concerts, apple picking at orchards, Halloween, Thanksgiving.To help you make the most of this gorgeous fall season, here are some hearing help tips!

1. Football stadiums can get really, really loud

Fall means football is back, and if you’re heading out to a game, protecting your hearing is key. In fact in 2014, NPR’s “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: Fans Risk Hearing Loss” found that the crowd noise at NFL games averaged between 80-90 decibels (dB). Without proper hearing protection, exposure to 85 dB for longer than eight hours can lead to permanent hearing loss, and the higher the noise the less time it takes to cause hearing damage. What’s scarier is that, while average noise levels may fall in the 80-90 range, shouts from fans push decibel levels into the hundreds. Case in point: A 2013 December Seattle Seahawks game where “fans broke the Guinness World Record for loudest crowd noise in history, clocking in at a whopping 137.6 decibels. (They even induced a mini-earthquake.)” Hearing protection is also key for other sports in the fall such as hockey and the final games of the MLB season.

2. Leaf blowers are not your friends

While the yellows, oranges, reds and browns of fall leaves are pretty to look at, using your leaf blower to remove them from your front lawn can damage your hearing. If you enjoy doing your own yard work, simply remember to use hearing protection such as foam earplugs or custom hearing protective devices like these from SoundGear.

3. Try a wireless accessory if you haven’t yet

If you have our wireless hearing aids – Muse, Muse iQ, SoundLens Synergy or SoundLens Synergy iQ – and don’t have a SurfLink wireless accessory, consider trying one this fall to help with group activities such as picking apples or selecting pumpkins for Halloween. The SurfLink Mobile 2 is great for group settings with its omnidirectional capabilities, and you can also use its directional microphone to enhance one-on-one conversations. This device is especially designed to work well in noisy environments.

4. Don’t forget to customize your sound experience

 If you have our Halo, Halo 2 or Halo iQ hearing aids, TruLink’s SoundSpace and Noise Manager features are great for fall! Whether you’re at a sporting game, out with friends at a local winery, hiking in the brisk fall air or just having a campfire with your family, use TruLink to create customized, geotagged memories that provide you with the most immersive and comfortable hearing experience possible.Concerned about your hearing aids or would like to get tested? Contact South Suburban Hearing Health Center to make an appointment!

Frankie's Hearing Story

Today on our blog, we’re excited to share Frankie’s story. Ready to start first grade, he was recently fit with a new Starkey Behind-the-Ear hearing aid. His mom sat down with us to talk about his hearing journey.Frankie’s Mom: We were told that our son did not pass his hearing screening at the hospital when he was just a few days old. The doctors assured us that it was normal not to pass, explaining he may still have fluid in his ears from the placenta. We went back for follow-up testing when he was 3 months old. The test confirmed that he did have hearing loss in his left ear. In fact, it was moderately severe.I remember going to that follow-up appointment feeling optimistic, but I left a crying mess. Learning Frankie had moderately severe hearing loss felt like someone punched me in the stomach. I worried that he would be teased for wearing a hearing aid and that he would fall behind his peers academically. I worried about him feeling different than his twin brother. I remember thinking that I had done something to cause his hearing loss during my pregnancy. I started to blame myself. I was just really scared.When Frankie was almost four months old, we took him to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for further diagnostic testing. After imaging, his doctors confirmed he had Large Aqua Duct Syndrome, which affected the hearing in his left ear. The doctor said this condition usually presents itself with hearing loss in both ears. We felt fortunate that in Frankie’s case, Large Aqua Duct Syndrome only effected the hearing in his left ear.SHT: Tell us a little bit about his first hearing aid fitting.Frankie’s Mom: You can see [below] that my husband chose MN Vikings colors for his little guy. In the picture, he is working with the occupational therapist through our school district. The therapist would bring different toys and tools to help Frankie progress in areas that would help his development continue. I really feel that getting him fit at a young age helped him accept his hearing loss and normalized wearing a hearing aid for him. Now, when Frankie needs a new hearing aid, he looks forward to the fitting because he loves to pick the color of his ear mold. I love watching him, and it's not always the color I would choose, but I make him feel like it was the best choice in the world.SHT: What advice would you give other parents pursuing hearing healthcare for their child?Frankie’s Mom: It is such a shock to hear a diagnosis that your child has hearing loss. For one, it opens up the fear of the unknown. And two, you just want to fix everything for these little people that you love so unconditionally. For me, timing was everything: I really had to wrap my brain around the reality. Once I did, it was smooth sailing.Find a professional that gels well with your child. And before they start school, call your school district to see if they have professionals set aside to help your child. Then, just take one day at a time. There are amazing books about hearing loss at your public library that can teach your child to be advocates for themselves. Also, there are support groups for parents who are in the same boat.I think the sooner you treat the hearing loss, the sooner it becomes "their normal" and they learn to advocate for themselves. Also, we were told it is very important for the nerves in the ear to be stimulated, so the sooner your child is fit the better.SHT: What do Frankie’s friends think about his hearing aid?Frankie’s Mom: The deaf and hard-of-hearing teacher in his school district gave Frankie's kindergarten teacher a book about hearing loss to read to the class. The teacher said it was the most attentive the kids had been all year! They were so eager to hear about this super cool device that is in Frankie's ear, and learn all about it, what it is and what it does. Frankie felt pretty cool after that.When his classmates want to touch his hearing aid, he knows to tell them, "You can look, but I am the only one who can touch it." He understands that his hearing loss is something that he will have for the rest of his life, which is hard to comprehend at six years of age. When kids at school ask, "why do you have that in your ear?" Frankie says, "My ear needs extra help to hear."SHT: Do you talk about your son’s hearing loss openly or do most people not notice his hearing aid?Frankie’s Mom: We are so open about talking about his hearing loss because I think the vulnerable areas of your life provide the most connections with others. Frankie's support team is so good at teaching him to advocate for himself. For example, in school, Frankie gets to sit right next to the teacher in circle time, with his good ear facing the teacher. He feels SO special because of this, and knows that is his seat. His twin brother has had huge fits about wanting to wear a hearing aid because he thinks it’s so cool.Frankie loves to build with his Magformers and Legos. From an early age, this has always been a passion for him and he makes the most amazing creations, usually all from his imagination. He loves to play soccer, t-ball, skate and swim. I always make sure I tell the coaches about his hearing loss so they are aware that they might need to speak louder or make direct eye contact with him.In school, he has been great at wearing the hearing aid, but when he is done for the day or needs a break, I let him take it out. We make sure to tell him he always needs to hand it to us right away, so we can keep it in a special place when he is not using it.SHT: Tell us about his recent fitting with Starkey hearing aidsFrankie’s Mom: His audiologist recommended that we try a new hearing aid, made by a different manufacturer. She tested Frankie’s hearing with a few different brands to see which one would work best for Frankie. It was important for us to find a hearing aid that helped him understand speech in his aided ear, because his word recognition in that ear is only eight percent.He understood speech the best with the Starkey hearing aid. His audiologist allowed us to try it for a few months. After the trial period, she tested his understanding of words with the Starkey hearing aid and he improved to 56%! We couldn’t believe it.I always knew that word recognition — or speech understanding — was hard when his good ear was covered and he had to rely solely on his ear with the hearing loss. That’s why we are so excited that his speech understanding in his aided ear improved so much after he was fit.SHT: Anything else you’d like to share?Frankie’s Mom: Learning how to handle his hearing loss has been such an amazing discovery for myself and for my son. I am grateful that his hearing aid has helped him do well in kindergarten and socialize with his friends. He has enjoyed his summer and I can't wait to see what amazing things lie ahead for my son this year school as he enters first grade.We love stories like this! Contact South Suburban Hearing Health Center to create your own touching story. We would LOVE to help you!

Introducing iQ Hearing Aids

Starkey Hearing Technologies is excited to announce a new line of hearing aids based on cutting-edge research in virtual reality, advanced neuroscience, and signal processing. This new line — called iQ — is designed to create a truly immersive hearing experience for wearers, one that delivers the presence, clarity and personalization wearers may have previously missed during the moments that matter most.Our new iQ lineup includes Muse™ iQ, our 900sync™ technology wireless hearing aids; Halo® iQ, our smartphone-compatible hearing aid; and SoundLens Synergy iQ, our newest invisible-in-the-canal hearing aid.

Inspired by virtual reality research

Being truly present in the moment involves a sense of immersion — knowing where sounds are coming from to help you feel a part of your surroundings. iQ hearing aids help you do that with proprietary Acuity Immersion technology designed to:

• Restore the natural benefits provided by the ear to improve speech audibility and spatial awareness.
• Improve hearing directionality for a more natural, safer listening experience.

Spatial hearing is the brain’s early warning system, simultaneously sensing all the space around us and providing the feeling of connectedness. With Acuity Immersion, iQ wearers have the ability to localize sounds and reassert spatial perception.

iQ might be the most natural sounding hearing aids ever

The immersive quality of iQ hearing aids — combined with Starkey’s renowned industry-leading benefits like no whistling or feedback, superior speech detection, and automatic noise reduction — help people with hearing loss connect, hear and interact with everyday experiences as naturally and effortlessly as possible.We’ve also added two new features that we know repeat hearing aid wearers will love:

• Speech Indicators for memory – Instead of numbers or beeps telling you what memory you’re in, you hear descriptive names, like “Car”, “Home”, or “Outdoors."
• Smart VC – Allows for an increase in gain in all channels not already at maximum, to give wearers a desired increase in loudness when needed.

 

There’s an iQ hearing aid for every need and taste

Muse iQ and SoundLens Synergy iQ

Designed to provide high-quality, natural sound in even the most challenging environments, Muse iQ and SoundLens Synergy iQ hearing aids work with SurfLink wireless accessories to provide ear-to-ear streaming of calls, music and media, remote hearing aid control and a personalized hearing experience.Muse iQ hearing aids are available in both custom and standard styles, and the Muse iQ micro RIC 312t is also available in a rechargeable option.SoundLens Synergy iQ hearing aids offer wearers an invisible, custom fit hearing solution featuring Starkey Hearing Technologies most advanced technology and supreme sound quality.

Halo iQ and the NEW TruLink Remote

Halo iQ smartphone compatible hearing aids enable connectivity with iPhone, iPad®, iPod touch®, Apple Watch®, and select Android™ devices, providing the most natural audio experience yet, immersing you in the sounds of the things and places you love most.A brand-new wireless accessory, the TruLink Remote, lets you control your Halo iQ hearing aids without needing to go through your smartphone.To try our new iQ hearing aids, visit or contact South Suburban Hearing Health Center today!

Tinnitus Takes a Financial Toll!

If you have tinnitus, you’re keenly aware of the impact it can have on your physical and mental well-being. Depending on the severity, tinnitus can affect your sleep and concentration, and cause depression and anxiety, among other things.Tinnitus, sadly, also has financial repercussions for the people who suffer from it. The American Tinnitus Association notes that when adding up lost earnings, productivity and health care costs, individuals can lose “up to $30,000 annually” all thanks to ringing in the ears.Help is available. Many of our Starkey hearing aids at South Suburban Hearing Health Centers, including the Muse, Halo 2 and SoundLens Synergy invisible hearing aids have tinnitus relief technology built into them. You can try this proven technology for yourself by contacting us today!

5 Reasons to Treat Hearing Loss

So you’ve got a little hearing loss. What’s the big deal, right? It happens to almost all of us as we age.FACT: 37.5 million Americans 18 and older have hearing loss, including one out of every three, 60 and older.You can cope, you’ve decided. You’ll just turn the TV up a little louder. Ask people to speak up or repeat what they said. And hey, the quiet can be kind of nice, to be honest. “Why should I treat it,” you wonder?

Should you treat or ignore your hearing loss?

The decision to treat or ignore hearing loss should not be taken lightly. Why? Because hearing loss plays a significant role in many important issues that impact our quality of life, including five important ones:

1. Mental health
2. Physical health
3. Income and career
4. Personal safety
5. Relationships and social interactions

Before you decide whether to ignore or treat your hearing loss, read what studies, health care experts, and hearing aid wearers themselves have to say about each choice.

Ignore or treat hearing loss — a side-by-side comparison

(1) Mental Health

Ignore hearing lossNumerous studies link hearing loss to issues of mental decline, including increased anxiety and depression, accelerated brain shrinkage, and even dementia. One such study, by Johns Hopkins Medicine, tested volunteers with hearing loss over six years and found their cognitive abilities declined 30-40% faster than peers with normal hearing.Treat hearing lossJohns Hopkins’ researcher, Dr. Frank Lin, thinks that “if you want to address hearing loss well, do it sooner rather than later.” He recommends treating hearing loss before “brain structural changes take place.”A separate study released in 2015 backs him up. In the study, scientists concluded that treating hearing loss by wearing hearing aids reduces the risk of cognitive decline associated with hearing loss.FACT: Untreated hearing loss may result in serious long-term consequences to healthy brain functioning.

(2) Physical Health

Ignore hearing lossThe National Council on Aging notes that “falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans.” While no one knows how many falls are linked to hearing loss each year, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have found that people with hearing loss are three times more likely to fall than those without hearing loss.It’s thought that hearing loss may detract from environmental awareness, which increases the likelihood of tripping and falling.Treat hearing lossRecently, a study by the Washington University School of Medicine found that improving hearing through hearing aids appears to “improve balance in older adults with hearing loss” and helps reduce the risk of falls. Researchers credited the results to both increased alertness and improved balance.

(3) Income and Career

Ignore hearing lossA study by the Better Hearing Institute quantified the impact of untreated hearing loss on the job. The study found that people with untreated hearing loss can see an income hit of up to $30,000 annually, and were nearly twice as likely to be unemployed as peers who wore hearing aids.QUOTE: “Hearing loss was affecting my presentations and ability to service clients.” Chris T., Pennsylvania  Treat hearing lossThat same study found that people who use hearing aids reduced the risk of income loss by 90 to 100 percent. It also reported that most hearing aid users in the workforce said wearing hearing aids has helped their performance on the job.QUOTE: “Listening is SO important in my work, and I can now work better, more efficiently and more effectively because of my hearing aids.” Marty C., New York  

(4) Personal Safety

Ignore hearing lossStudies aren’t needed to know that missed or misheard signals like car horns, alarms and other warning alerts can jeopardize a person’s safety. And it doesn’t always have to be one’s own. Adults caring for infants and young children need to know when their charge is crying or in distress. Treat hearing lossTreating hearing loss with hearing aids enhances your awareness of your surroundings and can help ensure you hear every smoke detector, bike bell, emergency alert or distress call.

(5) Relationships and social interactions

Ignore hearing lossMore than anything, untreated hearing loss can lead to social isolation, as the challenges of listening and feelings of “missing out” often cause people to withdraw from the friends, family and activities that bring them joy.This, alone, is significant, as social isolation is closely linked to numerous quality-of-life issues, including depression, illness, exhaustion and even shorter life spans.⁹Treat hearing lossTreating hearing loss with hearing aids enables you to hear, participate, and ensure you don’t miss out on the people and activities that make you happy. It’s as simple as that.QUOTE: “I’m so glad I got hearing aids. It has truly been life changing!” Lesley P., CaliforniaSouth Suburban Hearing Health Center is here to help you treat your hearing loss! Contact us today to receive a hearing evaluation and find out what your options are.

“They’re not a stigma to me; they’re a superpower.”

Recently, writers David Owen and Lloyd Alter chronicled their experiences with hearing loss and their Starkey hearing aids for The New Yorker and Mother Nature Network (MNN), respectively.In The New Yorker piece, titled “High-Tech Hope for the Hard of Hearing,” Owen touches on his tinnitus — which he attributes to a cold, China and cabin pressure —before going deep into the causes of hearing loss and, ultimately, his quest to understand and treat his own hearing loss.Owen’s quest leads him to Starkey — the only major hearing aid manufacturer based in the United States — and into a pair of Muse hearing aids. He writes:

“Each unit sits behind an ear, as my grandmother’s hearing aid did, but is so small that it’s all but invisible. A button on the part behind the ear allows me to choose among settings programmed by the audiologist. Two of them add a subtle tone that’s meant to mask my tinnitus, which during my hearing test she pinpointed at about six thousand hertz. 

My main reaction when I first put the hearing aids on was mild annoyance at the sound of my voice. I also became more aware of turning pages, creaking doors, and the surprisingly varied noises made by my pants. The audiologist said that people with new hearing aids get used to all that within about a month, as the brain adjusts.” 

While at Starkey, Owen also checks out our SoundLens Synergy, which “looks scarcely larger than the aspirin-size battery it runs on,” and Halo, Starkey’s “line with the most features.”

“Internet-connected wearables for your ears”

Halos — or more specifically, Halo 2s — are the hearing aids Alter wears and writes about in his MNN story, “Newest hearable will change the way people think about hearing aids.”

Alter, who has tried several different brands and styles of hearing aids since first needing them in 2012, writes that his Halo 2s are “more than just a serious upgrade. They’re more like ‘aural implants.’”

He refers to them as “hearables,” and correctly notes that “connected hearables are hot these days.” Why? Because they “do so much more than just help you hear.”

For Alter, his Halo 2s are his “default link to the audible internet,” thanks to their ability to connect seamlessly to his Apple iPhone, which enable him to make phone calls, listen to music and podcasts, and take advantage of notifications and alerts.

“As hearing aids,” he concludes, “these devices have changed my life by letting me hear the immediate world around me; as hearables, they are wiring me directly into a much larger world.”

Say goodbye to hearing aid stigma

Owen and Alter might wear different Starkey hearing aids, but both agree that the stigma of wearing hearing aids is coming to an end. “Once people start realizing that they do so much more than just help you hear, I suspect the stigma will disappear,” writes Alter.

Owen agrees. He points out that attitudes about being seen wearing hearing aids “may be changing … now that people of all ages walk around with electronic gadgets sticking out of their ears.”

Let South Suburban Hearing Health Center help you find your superpower! Contact us today!