hearing loss
Every year the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) dedicates the month of May to raising public awareness about communication disorders related to hearing and speech. This year’s theme – “Connecting People” –recognizes once more that hearing and speech are essential components for effective communication at any age. And so, those whose lives are affected by struggles…
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Over-simplifying hearing loss? The son who had accompanied his mother to a hearing loss meeting shared confidentially that he liked his music loud and that he did not worry about hearing damage. He felt that he heard enough and that nowadays hearing loss is easy. “With all of that technology out there, you fix it…
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Be included, not excluded! There is no time like the Holidays to remind those with hearing loss of the dreaded oncoming communication crunch. The struggle to understand speech in noisy groups and places makes it hard to participate in conversations and activities. And so. it is easy to feel excluded rather than included during the peak…
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OTC hearing aids will be “self-fitting,” non-prescription devices. They will be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but people can buy them Over-the-Counter without a prescription or the input of any professional help. Would-be users will be on their own when it comes to deciding if they qualify for these devices because they are…
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Subjective Tinnitus, the infamous “ringing in the ears” derives its name from the Latin verb tinnire, which means “to ring.” It is said to be a symptom of an underlying process rather than a condition in itself. Usually simply referred to as “Tinnitus,” it is defined as the perception of sound in the absence of an outside noise…
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Hearing loops & telecoils create assistive listening systems Travel happens mostly in sound environments that generate serious communication challenges for those with hearing loss. Yet, understanding speech in the least amount of background noise is a major issue for those who are hard-of-hearing. Luckily, hearing loops are gaining in popularity with the travel industry…
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The dangers of congenital CMV during pregnancy Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common, non-genetic cause for hearing loss or deafness in newborn babies. If the virus that infects the mother during pregnancy is passed on to the child, he/she will be born with congenital (present at birth) CMV infection. Yet, some 91% of women do not know…
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Phase 3 drug trial – a cause for optimism? Every time that I read about a new drug going into clinical trials for the treatment of tinnitus or hearing loss, I tend to do a contained, internal Happy Dance. Recently, I read that the FDA has allowed Sound Pharmaceuticals to proceed with a Phase 3 (human) trial…
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How come that babies can be born deaf to hearing parents? Congenital hearing loss and Connexin 26 The expression “congenital” means that hearing loss or deafness is present at birth. The reasons of why this happens are often murky. Did something happen during pregnancy? Was the baby exposed to toxic chemicals, drugs or viral…
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During the month of May, people are called upon to raise awareness on many diverse topics. It is also my birth month. But I never ever thought that May would become important to me as “Better Hearing and Speech” Month. Connections through Communication Every year since 1927, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) dedicates the month…
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