Hearing Health

Hearing loss is one of the biggest health concerns in the U.S. It is the third most commonly reported physical condition, following arthritis and heart disease. It affects roughly 20 percent of the American population and can strike people of all ages. The most common causes of hearing loss are noise exposure and aging. What…

What is Tinnitus? Tinnitus is an emotionally charged and sometimes scary disorder that is often misunderstood and downplayed in importance. People with tinnitus experience a perception of sound often heard as ringing, roaring, hissing or clicking, and this condition can often cause trouble hearing, working or even sleeping. Over 50 million Americans (1 in 5…

Communicating with a person who has a hearing loss can be stressful for both parties. Even when hearing devices are used, proper communication strategies are essential for maximizing the experience. Try the following tips when communicating with a hearing-impaired individual. Maintain eye contact with the hearing impaired individual, facing them directly. Do not attempt to…

Ringing in the ear, or tinnitus, is a widespread condition that affects an estimated 50 million Americans. Some people describe it as a hissing, roaring, whooshing or buzzing sound instead of ringing. It may be sporadic or constant, and is a symptom of an underlying condition rather than a disease itself. There are many factors…

The hearing mechanism in the human body is a highly sophisticated system. Sound is transformed from waves of physical sound pressure into music, emergency warnings, sounds of nature, and meaningful conversations with those around us. This is accomplished through a complex system of levers, area ratios, and electrochemical reactions. Simply described, the ear can be…

Auditory processing of spoken language requires rapid recognition, discrimination, and integration of what we hear in order to understand the intended message. Accurate auditory processing is dependent on appropriate functioning of other systems such as arousal, social/emotional, attention, memory, linguistic, and executive function. Those with normal auditory processing ability know who and what to listen…