The Family Hearing Center Spring 2023 E-Newsletter

THE TREATMENT AND LEARNING CENTERS

The World Is Getting Louder

Blaring car horns, way too loud headphones, ear-splitting ambulance sirens—you can’t escape noise pollution in everyday life. Unfortunately, all this auditory hubbub can take a toll on your hearing—and health—over time.

To draw attention to this pressing public health issue, in 1996, the Center for Hearing and Communication established April 26 as International Noise Awareness Day, making now a great time to learn more about the dangers of noise pollution.

How Noise Hurts Your Auditory System

Your ear contains tiny hair cells that help you hear. Listening to noises that are too loud or that go on for too long can permanently damage these cells, leading to irreversible hearing loss.

Even brief exposure to noises at everyday volumes through the years can add up, and if you live, work or play in loud environments, your risk of hearing loss is likely greater.

Another downside? Noise can also contribute to tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

How Noise Harms Your Overall Health

Heart rate—Noise exposure has been shown to increase heart rates.1

Blood pressure—Living in noisy communities can result in higher blood pressure.2

Sleep changes—Noise can disrupt your sleep, even if it doesn’t force you fully awake. Not getting enough sleep can contribute to serious health issues.3

Decreased performance at school—An excessively loud and reverberating classroom can lead to students missing up to 25% of the information their teacher presents.4

The good news? While hearing loss from loud noise is permanent, it’s also preventable. Make a plan to cut through the noise—ask our expert audiologists about a baseline hearing test, today!

1 Norton, A. (n.d.). Everyday noise levels may affect the heart. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20130509/everyday-noise-levels-may-affect-the-heart#:~:text=

2 Seidman, M. et al. (2010). Noise and quality of life. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2996188/

3 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. (2022). What are sleep deprivation and deficiency? https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation#:~:text=

4 Center for Hearing and Communication. (n.d.). The impact of noise on childhood cognitive development. https://noiseawareness.org/info-center/classroom-acoustics/#:~:text

DID YOU KNOW?

Individuals with untreated hearing loss have a faster rate of cognitive decline than people with treated hearing loss or normal hearing?*

Stay on top of your cognitive skills with this audiology-themed word search puzzle—a fun, scienceapproved way to directly combat age-related neurological disorders! audiogram captioning cochlea

WORD LIST

HAVE YOU HEARD?

The Oticon Real™ is a brand-new hearing device from one of the nation’s leading hearing aid manufacturers, available exclusively from hearing health professionals.

THE NEW TECHNOLOGY FEATURES:

BrainHearing™ technology: Helps your brain recognize and balance all types of sounds, allowing you to remain focused, engaged and sharp

More choices: Both rechargeable and disposable battery options, plus nine colors, so you can choose the style that best fits you

Connectivity to your digital world: High-quality streaming from iPhone®, iPad® and select Android™ devices— helping you stay connected to your favorite devices

*Self-Reported Hearing Loss, Hearing Aids, and Cognitive Decline in Elderly Adults: A 25-Year Study, 2015, The American Geriatrics Society.

Want to Reduce Your Risk for Dementia? Get a Hearing Test Sooner

Researchers have known for years about the link between hearing loss and dementia.

Evidence has shown that people with hearing loss are up to five times as likely to develop dementia than those with normal hearing1 and that unaddressed hearing loss in mid-life is one of the highest modifiable risk factors for developing dementia.2

Now, a new UK study showing the positive effects of using hearing aids to minimize the progression of dementia is prompting one medical expert to advise people to get regular hearing checkups starting in their 30s.3

What the Study Found

According to Dr. Sarah Bauermeister, senior scientist at Dementia Platforms UK, the study followed 2,000 people with hearing loss and mild cognitive impairment.

“We found that these people, if they had hearing impairment and wore their hearing aid, the progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia was reduced by 27%,” said Dr. Bauermeister.

The Earlier, the Better

After reviewing the study’s findings, Dr. Bauermeister believes people should access hearing health care sooner in life “so that it’s normalized to have a hearing check whether you’re 30 or 40.”

Since hearing loss occurs gradually over time, people may only notice they have it once it reaches an advanced stage. Identifying hearing loss as soon as possible is crucial—and as the new study shows, getting treatment with hearing aids can significantly impact more than just your ears.

The bottom line? The earlier you make hearing testing part of your health care routine, the better off you will be when it comes to your cognition.

Call (301) 738-1415 today to schedule a hearing evaluation.

1 John Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). The hidden risks of hearing loss. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/ the-hidden-risks-of-hearing-loss

2 The Lancet. (2017). Risk factors for dementia. https://www.thelancet. com/infographics-do/dementia-risk

3 Dorking, MC. (2023). Dementia could be prevented by regular hearing tests in your 30s, experts advise. https://ph.news.yahoo.com/ dementia-prevented-regular-hearing-tests-in-thirties-093306755.html

For Flying Out Loud: Travel Tips for Flying With Hearing Devices

Hey there, jet setter. You may be a pro at picking the perfect destination for your next adventure, but what about easily navigating the ins and outs of air travel with your hearing devices? We recommend reviewing this preflight briefing of tips to ensure that you and your trusty traveling device companions have a safe and enjoyable trip.

Pack Your Device Accessories—Make space in your suitcase for everything your devices need to work their best. A charging station, charging cable, dryer/dehumidifier, cleaning kit, extra batteries, domes and wax guards are all must-haves for keeping devices happy while you’re away from home.

Wear Your Devices Through Security—Taking devices in and out can be a hassle, so go ahead and leave them in. Just let the security agent know that you’re wearing hearing devices before stepping through the metal detector.

Connect to the Airport’s Hearing Loop —To help hearing device users hear announcements more clearly, many airports have induction loop systems, which produce a wireless signal that devices with telecoils can pick up. Remember to switch your hearing devices to the “T” setting, and you’ll be good to go.

Wear Your Devices During the Flight—When you hear the flight attendant say, “Please turn off all electronic devices and stow them in your seat pocket,” you don’t have to! This rule doesn’t apply to hearing devices. While it can be tempting to take a vacation from your devices while onboard the aircraft, they make it easier for you to interact with flight staff, chat with your seatmates and hear the captain. In-flight announcements can be difficult to hear even while wearing devices, so let the flight staff know that you have hearing loss and ask them to come directly to you to relay any critical information face to face.

Another way to make traveling less turbulent? Get your hearing devices in tip-top shape by taking them in for a clean-and-check from our friendly team. Call