Posts by Monique Hammond
Hearing Loss as Risk for Dementia
Nerves and brain areas that are not kept active through stimulation and input fall into disuse. They shrink and die off in a process called atrophy. Hearing and its involvement in cognitive functions is no different. Yet, when researchers at Johns Hopkins first published their findings of a link between hearing loss and dementia, it…
Read MorePulsatile Tinnitus Could be a Warning Sign
The word “tinnitus” refers to noises that are perceived in the ears or in the head. Usually known as “ringing in the ears,” pulsatile tinnitus is in a different category. It is the rarest form of tinnitus. However, these are not the typical buzzing or hissing sounds of subjective tinnitus. Instead, there is usually a…
Read MoreSomatic Tinnitus
There are different types of tinnitus. People perceive upsetting and annoying noises in their ears or heads. No matter what its cause might be, any tinnitus becomes fast a quality-of-life issue. The most widespread version is subjective tinnitus. Roughly 90% of the cases are due to hearing loss resulting from damage to hearing structures…
Read MoreStress Increases Tinnitus Annoyance. Know your Stress Triggers.
Noises perceived in the ears or head are commonly referred to as Tinnitus. Not all tinnitus is the same. There are different types. A professional evaluation can help find the cause of the din and determine the tinnitus type and possible treatment. Over 90% of tinnitus cases are tied to hearing loss, but not…
Read MoreWhen Sound Sensitivities Complicate Hearing Loss
Such a contradiction: Not hearing well and understanding even less, yet being overly sensitive to sound? How can this be? Once more, we are reminded that damaged hearing systems do not behave in a logical fashion. Shortly after my sudden, severe hearing-loss the sounds of everyday life turned into unexpected challenges. What never bothered me…
Read MoreMaintain Oxygen Levels: Hypoxia Can Contribute to Hearing Loss
People often wonder why very complicated conditions like diabetes, heart disease, lung disease and sleep apnea figure on the lengthy list of possible hearing loss causes. Although more studies are needed, one theory is that these conditions interfere with oxygen transport to the ears. It is a lot about blood flow. One might say that…
Read MoreDon’t Allow Diabetes to Damage Your Hearing!
November is National Diabetes Month. This is the time to focus our attention on diabetes, a condition that affects over 37 million people in the United States. However, this is also a good time to think of our hearing because studies show that there is a link between diabetes and hearing loss. A 2008 study…
Read MoreParents Beware: Noisy Toys Can Damage Children’s Hearing
Toy safety is not all about swallowing, choking or inhaling dangers. It is also about over-the-top sound levels that can damage children’s hearing. Yet, good hearing is important for learning and for developing speech, language and social skills. Even a very mild loss can make a huge difference for a child’s future. Unfortunately, many kids…
Read MoreOTC Hearing Aids Are Coming!
On August 16, 2022 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its Final Rule for the sale of Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids. Affordable hearing help has been an issue for some time and many feel that FDA-regulated OTC hearing aids are long overdue. Chances are that these devices could be available online and in…
Read MoreCan Hearing Loss Cause Brain Fog?
Note:. No matter what the cause, brain fog episodes should be evaluated by a physician. In the World of Hearing Loss, Brain Fog is one of the topics that few want to talk about. But it does happen and must be acknowledged. Brain fog can have serious physical and emotional consequences. In social settings or…
Read More