The Link Between Hearing Loss & Chickenpox
While once a common childhood disease affecting millions of kids each year, chickenpox cases have been drastically reduced through routine vaccinations. Chickenpox is a viral infection that causes an itchy rash and small, fluid-filled blisters to develop. A lesser-known symptom of this viral infection is hearing loss. Understanding Chickenpox The varicella zoster virus (VZV) is…
3 Reasons Veterans are at Higher Risk of Tinnitus
Many people have experienced a ringing in the ear, known as tinnitus. For some, it’s a temporary issue that doesn’t cause much distress. However, others can have chronic tinnitus that lasts for years and can be debilitating. Veterans are at a higher risk of developing tinnitus than the general population. Let’s examine why that is…
Why Do Some Antibiotics Cause Hearing Loss?
Some antibiotics are ototoxic. This means they have the potential to damage the ear, resulting in tinnitus, balance issues and hearing loss. Let’s take a look at how this happens, when these medications are used, and what to look out for if you have recently taken them. How Antibiotics Can Damage the Ear Aminoglycosides are…
Study Finds Unexpected Brain Shrinkage in Patients with Hearing Loss
Researchers have known for some time that there is a connection between hearing loss and dementia. However, a recent study from the Carle Illinois College of Medicine has shed new light on the connection between hearing loss and a common type of dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Hearing Loss and Dementia Previous studies have found that…
Habits You Should Quit for Your Hearing Health
Even though we all have our bad habits, some are more harmful than others. In fact, some can harm your hearing health. Below we review four habits to quit today. Smoking/Vaping Within the inner ears are tiny hair cells called stereocilia that convert soundwaves into electrical energy that the brain interprets as sound. These cells…
Traumatic Brain Injury and Your Hearing
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious medical condition that often results from a violent blow or jolt to the head that temporarily impairs the function of the brain. Some common causes of TBI include: Car accidents Falls Sports or recreational injuries Gunshot wounds The symptoms of a TBI can vary widely depending on…
How Fluctuating Hearing Loss Can Affect Language Development
Fluctuating hearing loss refers to hearing loss that frequently changes, for better or worse. While fluctuating hearing loss doesn’t seem as serious as a more permanent hearing loss, it can still have significant effects on a child’s language and social development. We review this connection below. What Causes Fluctuating Hearing Loss? While there are many…
Helping a Loved One with Hearing Loss
Hearing loss happens gradually. Sometimes a family member or close friend might notice a person is having hearing problems before they notice themselves. Have you noticed that a loved one: Frequently asks you or others to repeat themselves when talking Expresses difficulty hearing in loud environments Complains that everyone is mumbling Always has the TV…
Audiology Awareness: What is an Audiologist?
October is one of our favorite months at Hearing Systems. Not just because of pumpkin patches or changing leaves, but because October is Audiologist Awareness Month! If you’re like most people you might not be entirely sure how someone becomes an audiologist or all the different ways an audiologist can help people with hearing and…
Are Sounds Muffled After Exposure to Loud Noise? It May Be Temporary Threshold Shift
You know that feeling of muffled hearing after attending a concert at White Oak Music Hall or walking by a noisy construction site? This phenomenon is known as temporary threshold shift (TTS), which we review below. How We Hear To understand TTS, it’s important to understand how we hear. Soundwaves from your environment are captured…