Posts by Monique Hammond
COVID-19 — Suddenly a Quieter World.
Calm and serenity: A silver lining? Like everybody else, I do not enjoy social distancing. After all, I love doing my Safety and hearing loss presentations in person, with actual people! Feelings of isolation? As a person with hearing loss, I have my share of those already. What I do enjoy about this virus-imposed quarantine…
Read MoreIn COVID-19 Isolation? Keep Hearing Alive
Those with hearing loss know a thing or two about social isolation. Struggling to understand speech stirs up plenty of feelings of being sidelined during conversations or activities with family, friends and coworkers. Now add to that social distancing ─ which hinders speechreading and tests the distance performance of hearing aids ─ and pretty…
Read MoreBaby Sound Sleep Machines
Sleepless nights due to a screaming child are the bane of young parents. So, it was not surprising that the first item on the Must-have list for a family member’s baby shower was a “Baby Sleep Sound Machine.” Generally, these products advertise continuous calming, soothing “white noise” that is meant to help children fall sleep…
Read MoreCOVID-19 – Understanding PPE
Personal Protective Equipment: It’s all about Safety The talk about PPE, such as masks, gloves and topical disinfectants is all the rage nowadays. Until recently the general public had little awareness of the importance of PPE and many might not have known what the letters actually stand for. Since then, we have all gotten a crash…
Read MoreWhy Noise-induced Hearing Loss Should be a Public Health Issue
Permanent but preventable Excessively loud sound prematurely ages the ears. It leads to Noise-induced Hearing Loss (NIHL), which is the second leading cause of hearing loss worldwide, right after aging. It is a major reason why younger and younger people are joining the ranks of those with hearing and communication challenges. The sad part is…
Read MoreHearing Loss: Hear’s to Valentine’s Day!
This year make Valentine’s Day count for those among your friends and loved ones with hearing loss. Remember that their biggest issue is understanding speech in background noise. Yet, just like anybody else, they delight in being told that they are loved and appreciated. Avoid communication glitches Having to ask over and over what was…
Read MoreHow “Invisible” is Hearing Loss?
A notion that feeds denial and hinders acceptance Those with hearing loss look just like everybody else as they stand in a crowd. Damage that leads to this communication challenge is invisible to the eye. Ever smaller and invisible hearing aids help them protect their “secret” and so nobody will ever know. Or so one…
Read MoreSix Tips for Better Hearing in the New Year.
In the interest of quality of life, keep communication and learning alive. Don’t let the music die. How can all of that be done? Prevent hearing loss and preserve existing hearing.!. 1) Get out of denial Hearing no longer what it used to be? Let this be the year to get out of denial. Find out…
Read MoreHearing Loss? The Mutual Gift of Holiday Communication
The Season of Inclusion For those with hearing loss, the Jolly Holiday Season poses many communication problems. People typically feel left out when trying to socialize with family and friends. Conversations that are carried out at dizzying speeds against background noise still challenge even the best of hearing aids. Listening and understanding become tiresome chores. …
Read MoreThanksgiving and Hearing Loss
A lot to be grateful for Although Thanksgiving comes but once a year, every day should be a day of Thanks. However, for those with hearing loss, Holidays can be tremendously challenging. Many state that they actually dread the socially-intense events: Too much noise, too much confusion and overwhelming listening fatigue while struggling to follow conversations. But…
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