Ototoxicants Ototoxicants are chemicals that damage our central auditory systems, potentially causing hearing loss when they are inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. They might also wreak havoc on one’s balance & their impacts may be severe or just mild & permanent or just temporary. In rare circumstances, certain medications may risk exposure to otoxicants. But it is most …
Know Your Rights: Accessibility and the Workplace
Protections Afforded by the ADA In 1990 Congress signed The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the law which remains the fundamental protection guaranteeing the civil rights of everyone with a disability of any kind. The ADA is divided into five sections, called titles, each of which covers the broad protections afforded within a specific category. Title I: Employment Title II: …
Hearing Loss May Cause Reading Problems in Children
Children can have hearing loss from birth (congenital) or later in childhood (acquired). Congenital hearing loss can be caused by a person’s genes or by infections that happen during pregnancy, such as cytomegalovirus or rubella. Babies in the neonatal intensive care unit are more likely to lose their hearing (NICU). Hearing loss can happen on its own or as part …
How to Prevent Hearing Loss and Reduce Its Impact
Forty-eight million Americans suffer from hearing loss. Age, disease, exposure to noise, medication, and the natural aging process may all contribute to it. While specific causes of hearing loss cannot be prevented, others, like noise-induced hearing loss, may be avoided entirely. Let’s look at some prevention strategies for noise-induced hearing loss. How to avoid losing your hearing No matter how …
Why You Should Schedule a Hearing Test for World Alzheimer’s Month
Did you know that September is World Alzheimer’s Month? This global campaign seeks to raise awareness around dementia – a group of medical conditions that affect brain health. According to Alzheimer’s Disease International, 55 million people live with dementia worldwide. This is expected to rapidly increase, reaching 139 million by 2050. Alzheimer’s is the most common type, impacting up to …
Strange Causes of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is likely more common than you think. Nearly 1 in 6 people have some degree of impaired hearing. With over 48 million people living with hearing loss, this medical condition is the third most pervasive. Aging is often the most common cause people associate with hearing loss but there are numerous factors that can contribute to the development …
Undertreated & Undiagnosed: Age-Related Hearing Loss
Did you know that half of all adults 75 and older live with some degree of hearing loss? Hearing loss is the third most pervasive medical condition that older adults experience. Impacting over 48 million people, 1 in 3 adults 65-74 have hearing loss as well. You likely know someone who has impaired hearing and they might not even know …
Staying Safe with Hearing Loss
You may not realize how important sound is to safety. Alarm systems typically rely on sound amplification to alert you to potential danger. Sirens, warning calls, smoke detectors, home security systems and much more work by projecting a loud noise to call your attention to hazards or caution. So what happens if you have hearing loss? Hearing loss is one …
Sounds That Could Harm Your Hearing
We are absorbing and processing sound constantly. From alarm clocks to household appliances, driving, having conversations, and listening to music – sound is a major part of everyday life. Typically, many of these sounds are not particularly risky for hearing but there are some types of everyday noise that can impact hearing health. Noise exposure is one of the most …
How Exercise, Diet, Sleep, and Hearing Affect Brain Aging
Aging is a natural process that occurs over time and impacts the entire body including the brain. When the brain ages, cognitive processes become less flexible and are slowed down. Cognitive functions like decision making, learning, memory, completing daily tasks etc. may require more time or become impaired. Though aging is inevitable, recent research shows that there are modifiable lifestyle …