hearing loss

Managing Life with Tinnitus – A Personal Journey

By Monique Hammond / November 27, 2024 / Comments Off on Managing Life with Tinnitus – A Personal Journey

Is there an explanation for it? An underlying diagnosis? Typically, Tinnitus is described as buzzing, ringing, hissing or chirping sounds in the ears. The noises are generated by the brain and perceived in the ears. Tinnitus is considered a symptom of some underlying condition, and not a disease in itself. Although the noises may sound…

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Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) – When the Brain Doesn’t Hear Well!

By Monique Hammond / October 17, 2024 / Comments Off on Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) – When the Brain Doesn’t Hear Well!

Those with APD have communication issues. They mishear. They have trouble understanding speech-in-noise and following conversations. Words may be jumbled, missed or go unrecognized. Sound-alike words are easily confused. In children, APD leads to slow speech development and learning problems. This may sound like typical hearing loss, but it is quite different. Auditory Processing Disorder…

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Do Senior Living Places Meet Hard-of-Hearing Communication Needs?

By Monique Hammond / August 13, 2024 / Comments Off on Do Senior Living Places Meet Hard-of-Hearing Communication Needs?

Be sure to be included – not excluded – in your new “home.” Find out about hearing loss accommodation before signing contracts. As people age, their chances for hearing loss increase along with their risk for dementia. It is said that 55 % of those aged 75 and older have disabling hearing loss. They struggle…

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Can Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) Cause Hearing Loss?

By Monique Hammond / July 20, 2024 / Comments Off on 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…

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Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) and Technology for Hearing Loss

By Monique Hammond / June 17, 2024 / Comments Off on Assistive 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…

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Why Medicare Does Not Cover Hearing Aids

By Monique Hammond / May 8, 2024 / Comments Off on Why 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…

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Air Travel with Hearing Loss

By Monique Hammond / April 8, 2024 / Comments Off on Air 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.…

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Five Strategies to Protect and Preserve Hearing

By Monique Hammond / January 22, 2024 / Comments Off on Five 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…

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Don’t Let Hearing Loss Increase Holiday Stress

By Monique Hammond / December 9, 2023 / Comments Off on Don’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…

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Smartphone Sound Level Meter Apps Help Protect Hearing

By Monique Hammond / November 29, 2023 / Comments Off on Smartphone 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…

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