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 Consider the industry Safety slogan: 10 fingers, 10 toes, 2 eyes, 1 nose—Safety counts. What about the ears? Don’t they count? Hello!   Although noise-induced Hearing Loss Prevention and Hearing Conservation are part of company Safety Training Programs, they might not be given the full attention they deserve. How often is the hearing portion of…

How long had this been going on?  After Jane’s longtime physician retired, her new doctor warned her that she would have to take prophylactic antibiotics before having dental work done. When she wondered why, she was told that she had a “noisy” heart valve and would not want to risk bacterial endocarditis. Often detected during…

 On average, it takes between 7 and 10 years before people act on a known or suspected hearing loss. A lot can happen to the hearing nerves and to the hearing center in the brain during that time. Due to a lack of sound stimulation, the systems become sluggish, weaken and ultimately atrophy. They fall…

As parents and grand-parents, we are responsible for helping children avoid the damage that excessively loud sound can do to inner ears and hearing nerves. The earlier we intervene, the better it will be.   For kids even a mild hearing loss can interfere with speech development, learning and education. But it does not have…

A management project  I used to have really, really good hearing. Then one day – poof −I went deaf in my left ear in a matter of four hours. Tinnitus set in almost immediately. Although I regained a bit of hearing over time, life had changed – forever. The ENT specialist informed me tersely that…

 This year, make Valentine’s Day count for friends and loved ones with hearing loss. Although their biggest issue is understanding speech in background noise, they delight in being told that they are appreciated – and they really want to hear it.  Any efforts at even basic accommodation will be greatly appreciated. So, surprise your hearing-challenged Valentine(s)…

Warnings at the highest level  The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that over 1 billion teens and young adults are at serious risk for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Is what has been written and talked about for some time becoming a sad reality? Most of the efforts to protect hearing from sound injuries are made in…

A Season to be Jolly?  Although communication problems are a reality throughout the year, those with hearing loss especially dread the Merry Holiday Season, the marathon  socializing time of the year.  Having to talk to people at back-to-back loud events and family parties becomes a frustrating and tiring communication challenge. Why? Because noise drowns out…

Yes, those with hearing loss also need rehabilitation – Aural Rehabilitation that is.  It begins with people understanding their hearing loss and what it means for their lives. It is about learning how to prevent further loss and how hearing technology and assistive listening devices (ALDs) can help make the most of the hearing that is…

Yes, it can. Worn down by the challenges of noise-induced hearing loss and tortured by tinnitus, tough men do cry. In support meetings and presentations, I have seen the eyes of strong, determined guys well up with tears. They suddenly felt vulnerable. They worried about their jobs and families, their social lives and their future. …