The ‘hearing loop’ is a remarkable advance, but all too hard to find in the U.S.
By DAVID G. MYERS
Updated Aug. 27, 2015 7:24 p.m. ET
The first time I clicked on my hearing aids’ telecoils, it seemed like magic. It was 1999 and my wife and I were sitting in a historic abbey on Scotland’s Isle of Iona. I had gradually become hard of hearing and had gotten my first hearing aid in my 40s, and the abbey wasn’t built with acoustics in mind. The amplified voice of the worship leader caromed off the stone walls, reverberating into a fog by the time it reached my ears.
The current record holder for loudest crowd in history are the fans of the Seattle Seahawks, who cheered so loud that they induced a mini-earthquake. But that level of noise can permanently damage fans’ hearing. (Scott Eklund/AP)
For diehard football fans, nothing beats screaming your lungs out in the stadium alongside tens of thousands of other fans.
There is, however, a downside: hearing loss.
With the battle among fans to be the loudest crowd getting almost as competitive as the NFL itself, hearing experts say it’s time for a serious conversation about the damage caused by crowd noise.
Ahhh, spring! That wonderful time of year when everything is new again — and we are mysteriously compelled to engage in the annual ritual of spring cleaning.
Unfortunately, some of the equipment we use to clean inside and out this time of year is hard on our hearing. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), individuals who are exposed to noise levels over 85 decibels (dB) for more than eight hours daily run the risk of permanently damaging their hearing. That’s why employers with noisy job environments are required to provide hearing protection for their employees.
According to a new study by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), women who took ibuprofen or acetaminophen two or more days per week had an increased risk of hearing loss. However, there was no association between aspirin use and hearing loss.
The study, recently published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, found that the more often a woman took ibuprofen and acetaminophen, the higher her risk for hearing loss. Also, the link between these medicines and hearing loss tended to be greater in women younger than 50 years old, especially for those who took ibuprofen 6 or more days per week.
Noisy toys and MP3 players may cause noise-induced hearing loss in children. But you can do something to prevent noise-induced hearing loss.
The incidence of noise-induced hearing loss among American children is on the rise.
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders in the US, the number of Americans aged 3 and older with hearing loss has more than doubled since 1971. Recent data indicates that over 12% of children between the ages of 6-19 and over 15% of children between the ages of 12-19 have noise-induced hearing loss.
Even mild hearing loss triples the risk of difficulties maintaining gait and balance, a study shows.
A link between hearing loss and falling was found by American researchers. The study indicates that having even a minor hearing impairment can increase the risk of a fall.
“People with impaired hearing have poor awareness of their overall environment, and that makes them more likely to trip and fall,” says Dr. Frank Lin, an Otologist and epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA.
Where’s the one place you should never kiss a baby — or anyone else? The ear, according to a professor of audiology at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.
An innocent kiss right on the ear opening creates strong suction that tugs on the delicate eardrum, resulting in a recently recognized condition known as “cochlear ear-kiss injury.” Such a kiss can lead not only to permanent hearing loss, but a host of other troubling ear symptoms including ringing, sensitivity to sound, distortion and aural fullness.
Hearing loss has been around forever, but hearing aids only started to pop up in the late 1800s. Take a look at these hearing aids and be thankful that we have evolved from using ear trumpets!
Did you know someone who used a hearing aid like these? Tell us your story!
It has been a busy couple of months here at the offices, but it certainly does pay off when things like this happen!
Joyce Hill Cooley RN, BC-HIS, COHC and Cynthia Bradley, BC-HIS, both National Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialists, from our local Miracle-Ear franchise were awarded for their excellence in continuing education by the Missouri Hearing Society at their Annual Convention and Education Seminar in Kansas City, Missouri last week!
SIGNS OF HEARING LOSS ARE OFTEN MISTAKEN FOR OTHER MEDICAL, SOCIAL PROBLEMS AT ALL AGES
Originally posted on January 13, 2012
Hearing loss in teenagers is on the rise, and recent reports about the increase in hearing problems among teenagers serve as a reminder that one can experience difficulty hearing at any age. Early hearing loss treatment is key to minimizing long-term impact for children, teens and seniors alike. However, hearing loss symptoms may vary greatly between different age groups, and it is helpful to know what to look for if you suspect a loved one has hearing loss.
Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), individuals who are exposed to noise levels over 85 decibels (dB) for more than eight hours daily run the risk of permanently damaging their hearing. That’s why employers with noisy job environments are required to provide 
The incidence of noise-induced hearing loss among American children is on the rise.
Hearing loss in teenagers is on the rise, and recent reports about the increase in hearing problems among teenagers serve as a reminder that one can experience difficulty hearing at any age. Early hearing loss treatment is key to minimizing long-term impact for children, teens and seniors alike. However, hearing loss symptoms may vary greatly between different age groups, and it is helpful to know what to look for if you suspect a loved one has hearing loss.