Posts by Monique Hammond
Can Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) Cause Hearing Loss?
There are different types of dementia and Alzheimer’s is one of them. And so, not all dementia or cognitive decline is Alzheimer’s. However, Alzheimer’s Disease is said to be the most common cause of dementia in older adults. Alzheimer’s is a brain disorder that develops slowly over time. As it progresses, widespread toxic changes attack…
Read MoreAssistive Listening Devices (ALDs) and Technology for Hearing Loss
Hearing help is not limited to hearing aids. Many people use an array of assistive listening devices to boost communication and hearing anytime and anywhere. Although required by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) hearing accommodation in public places is at best spotty and not very well publicized. And so, I don’t travel without my…
Read MoreWhy Medicare Does Not Cover Hearing Aids
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 years of age and older. Younger people with certain disabilities and those with end-stage kidney disease also qualify. Medicare falls under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act. Although it has undergone some changes since it was signed into action in 1965, the Original Medicare…
Read MoreAir Travel with Hearing Loss
For those with hearing loss any travel is stressful. However, air travel presents many extra challenges. Nowadays, major airports are huge, confusing places with plenty of noise, echoes, and scattering sound. In such environments even a mild hearing loss can have disabling and anxiety-raising effects. Typically, hard-of-hearing people struggle to understand speech in background noise.…
Read MoreCan Migraines Cause Ear Pain (Otalgia)?
Yes, indeed they can – but I did not know that. Earaches without obvious causes, even after extensive testing, might make physicians suspect migraines. At first, I did not make the connection between often stabbing ear pain and my left-sided silent vestibular migraines. I thought of the otalgia as a separate event and blamed it…
Read MoreTinnitus Awareness Week
In 2024, Tinnitus Awareness Week is observed from February 5 to February 11. This is an important week to become actively involved in spreading the news about this condition. The truth is that nobody likes Tinnitus and everyone of us wishes for it to “just go away.” The story of Tinnitus is both lengthy…
Read MoreFive Strategies to Protect and Preserve Hearing
Hearing connects us to our social and professional worlds. It allows us to enjoy the sounds of speech, nature, and music. Unfortunately, people all too often fail to appreciate this precious sense. They rarely feel motivated to protect and preserve their hearing. They take it for granted until it fades away and they experience the…
Read MoreDon’t Let Hearing Loss Increase Holiday Stress
Why might hearing loss support groups feature mental health speakers around the end-of-the-year Holiday Season? It is expected that such specialists will help strengthen the resolve and self-confidence of their members so that they can “survive” the stress of the Holidays. Hearing loss increases Holiday stress because it is a tiring, chronic communication issue. The…
Read MoreSmartphone Sound Level Meter Apps Help Protect Hearing
Ever since I got a sound level meter app for my Android phone, I am a lot more confident with decisions regarding sound exposures for my already damaged ears. A click of the button lets me know at once whether I am headed into an overly loud, ear-unfriendly place. And I want to avoid more…
Read MoreHearing Loss Increases Fall Risks
To maintain body equilibrium, the brain coordinates input from the eyes and ears and from sensors located throughout the body in the muscles and bones. While normal hearing supports the brain’s balance function, hearing loss has a destabilizing effect and becomes a safety issue. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, even a mild hearing loss can…
Read More