What to Do for an Allergic Reaction
It’s not uncommon to have an allergic reaction at some point in your life. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 50 million Americans experience various types of allergies each year. An allergy occurs when your body mistakes a harmless substance (like pollen) for something dangerous. In response, it creates antibodies…
Can Holiday Toys Damage a Child’s Hearing?
There’s nothing more exciting than watching your child or grandchild open the present from Storybook Nook they’ve been begging for for months. However, the same toy could compromise your child’s hearing. Knowing what types of toys can cause this type of hearing damage and how to enjoy them safely is key to preserving your child’s…
What is Unilateral Hearing Loss?
What is Single Sided Deafness? Sometimes referred to as unilateral hearing loss, single sided deafness is a condition in which an individual experiences hearing loss in only one ear but can hear normally out of the other ear. While most patients with a hearing impairment suffer from bilateral (two-sided) hearing loss, SSD affects approximately 60,000…
What is Sudden Hearing Loss?
For most people who experience hearing loss, the condition comes on gradually over a period of years. In rare cases, an abrupt loss of hearing occurs with little or no warning. This condition is known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). What is Sudden Deafness? Sudden deafness is an unexplained and rapid hearing loss that…
What is Noise Induced Hearing Loss?
How Can Sounds Hurt Your Ears? Background sound is a constant in our busy lives. Normally, background noises are at safe levels that do not negatively impact our hearing. But repeated exposure to noise above 85 decibels (dB) can cause noise induced hearing loss. The louder the sound, the less amount of time it takes…
Sinus Issues: Allergies or a Sinus Infection?
It’s common to confuse allergies and sinus infections, since several of the symptoms overlap. However, they are different conditions with different causes, symptoms and treatments. Knowing which condition you’re suffering from is key to getting the proper care. Causes of Allergies Vs. Sinus Infections Allergies are caused by your immune system overreacting to a harmless…
How to Handle the Holidays with Hearing Loss
As much as you might love the holidays, having hearing loss can make all the social gatherings and big events more stressful. Thankfully, by being proactive with your hearing health and following a few tips on making communication easier, you can sit back and enjoy the holidays worry-free. Prioritize Your Hearing Health If you have…
Identifying Hearing Loss in Children
The ability to hear is really important for babies and young children. In the first few years of life they develop speech and language skills faster than at any other time. As recently as 30 years ago, it wouldn’t become obvious to caregivers that children had hearing impairment until they were around two years old…
A Careful Balance: Living with Both Pets and Allergies
Puppies may be fat, furry balls of energetic joy to some people, but they mean wheezing, sneezing, itching and coughing to others. Pet allergies can be exasperating – but furry companions are so ubiquitous that for those who are allergic to them, the symptoms are near impossible to avoid altogether. Just about every warm and…
Older People with Hearing Loss at Risk for Depression
New research shows further evidence that older people with hearing loss have more symptoms of depression. The greater the hearing loss, the greater the risk, according to the data. These findings suggest that treatment of age-related hearing loss, which is underrecognized and undertreated among all elderly, could be one way to head off later-life depression….