You might be wondering, how is hearing loss related to depression? There is a connection between depression and hearing loss that is important to be mindful of. More than 11 percent of those with hearing loss also suffered from depression, according to a study by the Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. “More than 11 percent […]
How much do you rely on your hearing when you drive? Probably more than you know. Although your sense of sight is undoubtedly the most important when behind the wheel, your sense of hearing helps you detect approaching emergency vehicles, hear the blaring horn of an impatient driver or reminds you that your turn signals […]
Humans have about 15,000 inner ear-hair cells, each one picking up sound vibrations, converting them to electric signals and sending them to the brain for processing. Over time, loud noise, medications and old age combine to kill these cells – and their microscopic hairs called stereocilia – which leads to hearing loss. Unlike other animals, […]
Symphony orchestra musicians are often exposed to dangerously high noise levels, putting them at risk of hearing damage in later life. A study has revealed that wearing earplugs is the only effective way orchestral musicians can protect their ears from hearing damage. The research was led by acoustics expert Remy Wenmaekers from Eindhoven University of […]
Stay awake or risk losing your hearing. You snooze, you lose, right? Well, according to research published by Harvard Medical School, snoozing really could mean losing something: your hearing. If you are asleep on a plane during a sudden change in altitude, your ability to equalise the pressure in your eardrum might be compromised and could […]
How to protect your ears from our noisy environment. In a world full of noise—honking vehicles, amplified music, power mowers, and jackhammers—it’s important to take steps to safeguard your hearing. And some of the sounds you’ll want to protect yourself from might surprise you. For example, you probably expect your ears to ring after a […]
Inside a bony structure that spirals like a snail shell in a human’s inner ear, roughly 15,000 “hair” cells receive, translate, and then ship sound signals to the brain. Damage to these cells from excessive noise, chronic infections, antibiotics, certain drugs, or the simple passing of time can lead to irreparable hearing loss. Harvard Stem […]
Four out of five older Americans with hearing loss just ignore it, in part because a hearing aid is an unwelcome sign of aging. But what if hearing aids looked like stylish fashion accessories and could be bought at your local pharmacy like reading glasses? That’s the vision of Kristen “KR” Liu, who’s the director […]
If you’re dealing with mild or complete hearing loss, the condition makes travelling a whole new ball game. Things that most people take for granted can be more difficult, even with mild hearing loss, so it’s a good idea to consider all aspects of your holiday and figure out how you can make it easier […]
My daughter, Lucy, got hearing aids when she was three. The road from her failed newborn hearing screening to the day she was fit with her hearing aids was a long and confusing one. It includes misdiagnoses and ambiguous test results. Our support network was with us at every step, even if they didn’t originally […]