Different Degrees of Hearing Loss
There is no one-size-fits-all diagnosis when it comes to hearing loss, as each person’s severity is different. When determining your hearing loss your audiologist will measure two factors: which frequencies are hardest for you to hear and how loud a sound needs to be for you to hear it. Understanding these measurements can help ensure…
How to Get Used to Your Hearing Aids
Hearing aids do not restore your hearing; they amplify sounds to a level you can hear. This takes some getting used to, as your brain is bombarded with sounds and stimuli it has not experienced in years. Some sounds, like your own voice, will sound funny and unfamiliar. Below are five tips your Hearing Systems…
Dining Tips for Those with Hearing Loss
If you have hearing loss, what should you look for in a restaurant? Hearing loss can complicate a number of seemingly simple activities, such as talking on the phone, attending a large event or even sitting in on a meeting at work. One of the most problematic activities is going out to dinner, as Houston…
Six Causes of Cognitive Decline That Aren’t Related to Hearing Loss
Cognitive decline is a normal part of aging, but there is often an underlying factor that causes it to occur more quickly or produces symptoms that are more severe. For the 20 percent of patients in Houston with hearing loss, the odds of cognitive impairment are higher—but these folks aren’t the only ones who should…
Don’t Let Tinnitus Interfere with a Good Night’s Sleep
For the 20 percent of individuals in Houston who experience tinnitus, bedtime can feel like a chore. The ringing in their ears can keep them awake, leading to sleepless nights spent tossing and turning, glancing at the clock with dread as dawn approaches and they still haven’t caught enough zzz’s. Stopping this cycle is possible,…
Firearms and Hearing Loss
Fall means hunting season in Texas, but before you set out to bag that trophy, take heed: firearms can cause instantaneous, irreversible hearing loss if you don’t take precautions. Arming yourself with hearing protection before taking up arms will help prevent hearing loss in Houston. A Single Gunshot Can Do Irreparable Harm How quickly can…
Busting Those Hearing Myths
Hearing loss is a widespread condition that affects 48 million Americans. That means about one in five Houston residents experiences hearing impairment to some degree. Despite its prevalence, many people have false assumptions about hearing loss. Let’s take a look at some of the more common myths and examine their validity. Five Assumptions About Hearing…
Allergies Can Cause Temporary Loss of Hearing
One out of every five people deals with allergies in Houston. They’re more common in the spring and summer months but can occur year-round. Most sufferers are familiar with the usual cold-like symptoms that accompany an allergy attack, but few realize that in some cases, allergies can cause temporary hearing loss. How Allergies Affect the…
Hyperacusis: When Everything Sounds Too Loud
Normally on this blog, we talk about people who have trouble hearing in Houston. But not all hearing disorders involve hearing loss; in some cases, the opposite problem occurs – sounds are too loud! What is Hyperacusis? Though not nearly as common as hearing loss, hyperacusis affects an estimated one in 50,000 people in Texas…
Using Your Smartphone to Diagnose Hearing Loss
If you’ve ever had to take your child to a doctor in Houston to treat an ear infection, you are well aware of the pain and discomfort this common affliction brings. It is the result of fluid buildup in the middle ear, typically diagnosed with a lighted instrument called an otoscope. It turns out this…