Older American Month (OAM) is observed annually and is led by the Administration for Community Living. This year… the committee is focusing on “aging in place.” How can people age and stay in their homes? How do we provide the necessary tools to keep them out of assisted living and nursing homes? How long can older adults live independently by themselves? Comorbidity… is the simultaneous presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions. So ...
Loneliness and social isolation have been getting their fair share of attention lately. For good reason. Covid has made both more prevalent. And both are increasingly linked to numerous physical and mental health issues, including: • 50 percent increased risk of dementia • 32 percent increased risk of stroke • 29 percent increased risk of heart disease • Higher rates of depression and anxiety • Even earlier death Truth be told, as social creatures, humans just aren’t wired to ...
There is quite a bit of research going on as to whether or not COVID-19 is causing problems with hearing. As time goes on there are so many different side effects becoming prevalent. Some will be short-term and treatable, while others are long-term. The research is endless. Most people are aware at this point of side effects such as shortness of breath, joint pain, fever, bad headaches, and coughing. These may occur rapidly...once you ...
Exposure to loud noise is the second leading cause of hearing loss — after aging. It’s also one of the only causes that are preventable. We can’t do anything about aging or heredity. But we can minimize our exposure to noise, or at least take steps to protect our hearing. As a society, we’ve come a long way in taking hearing protection seriously. Ask an older adult about wearing hearing protection “back in ...
When people find out I’m a hearing professional, they’ll often ask me some version of the following: “I can’t hear the kids in the backseat when we’re in the car. They’re trying to tell me about their day or ask me questions, but all I can do is nod and smile. Is there anything I can do to hear better in the car?” Hearing in the car is a very ...
For those who need convincing that hearing aids are worth the investment, today’s hearing statistic is one data point among many that should help convince you they are. A recent investigation on healthcare cost trends concluded that older adults with untreated hearing loss used healthcare services more — and subsequently spent more on healthcare — than peers without hearing loss over a 10-year period. A New York Times article noted that this 10-year increase amounted to ...
The best place to buy new hearing aids has always been and probably will always be in person from a hearing professional. Hearing-care services are almost always bundled in with the cost of hearing aids when you buy them from a hearing professional. That’s because hearing professionals know that getting used to wearing hearing aids takes time, practice and one or more adjustments to get them fine tuned to a wearer’s specific hearing ...
Cerumen, commonly known as earwax, is key to a healthy ear. It collects dirt, debris and bacteria, preventing unwanted foreign bodies from entering the ear. It has lubrication properties to keep the ears from getting dry and itchy. And, it acts as an antifungal and antibacterial, helping to fight infections in and around our ears. But, let’s face it, earwax is also kind of blech, and an unpleasant obstacle to keeping your ears clean ...
We have all been there... excited about a new job, a trip, endeavor, or maybe just a great idea... then we share that enthusiasm with others, and then it happens... ALMOST EVERYONE is excited for you. But for many of us, there may be a “nay sayer” in the group. You know; “Negative Nellie”. We are all unique. We have different ideals, goals, attitudes, wants, and needs. This is true in every aspect of our ...
OK, think back to a year or so ago. Remember when you would go to a matinee and then after, when it ended and you left the theater, the daylight would overwhelm you temporarily? Well, the same thing happens when you first start wearing hearing aids. Your brain has gotten used to the quiet. It hasn’t received proper noise signals for as long as you’ve struggled to hear. So, when you begin wearing ...
