Archive for the ‘hearing loss’ Category

Learn More About Hearing Aids

There was a great story last week in Florida’s Foster Folly News about baby boomers and hearing loss. Siemens, a company that manufactures hearing aids, sponsored an Applied Research study called “The Cost of Hearing Loss” that was conducted in May of 2009.

The study found that 72 percent of baby boomers think their hearing is average or better, but children of baby boomers said that 70 percent of their family members “have suggested their father have his hearing tested and 64 percent have suggested the same for their mother.” Interesting findings, no doubt, especially the conclusion that just 32 percent of those baby boomers said someone in their family suggested a hearing test.

In total, 500 respondents were a part of the study — 250 baby boomers and 250 children of baby boomers. The study also asked respondents about hearing aids and what they thought of them. Here are some of the results:

• 75 percent of baby boomers do not currently use hearing aids and are not considering hearing aids
• 34 percent of baby boomers said hearing aids look awkward, and 29 percent said they make you look old
• 25 percent said hearing aids are uncomfortable, and 23 percent said they’re too hard to buy

Clearly, the study shows that baby boomers and their children are not on the same page about hearing loss. As the article notes, hearing loss affects many people in a variety of ways and can lead to anxiety, isolation, loneliness and depression over time. Finding a solution as soon as possible is important in order to prevent hearing loss from becoming a psychological problem instead of just a physical problem.

The article also points out that there are so many different styles of hearing aids with design and color options “that make the devices inconspicuous.” At Hearing Aid Express, we’re proud to offer an impressive variety of hearing aids. What’s more is that our friendly staff can help you find the hearing aids that are just right for you. Stop by one of our stores today, or contact us online.

Here’s some great news: If you’re a Texas resident with hearing loss, you are eligible for a free amplified phone thanks to the Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program (STAP). An amplified phone is wonderful for people who are having difficulty hearing while on the phone and can help them communicate better on the phone. The phone amplifies sound, even when you’re not wearing a hearing aid.

The free amplified phone STAP program is made possible because of a tax Texans all pay on their phone bill. So if you’re a Texas resident who is suffering from hearing loss, you should definitely take advantage of this wonderful offer by visiting one of our Hearing Aid Express locations in Austin, Houston or Dallas for a free screening. If you qualify, you will receive an application for a free amplified phone, and we will take care of mailing it for you.

After the application is filled out and mailed in, it takes about six weeks for the state of Texas to mail you a voucher for the free amplified phone. You will want to take that voucher in and pick out an amplified phone that best fits your needs. Keep in mind that just one free amplified phone per household is allowed through this program, and people are eligible for a new one every five years.

Hearing Aid Express is happy to assist you with the process of getting your free amplified phone. We are also always glad to help you with any questions about hearing loss or hearing aids. Stop by one of our stores today, or feel free to contact us. Also, don’t miss the video below to see Hearing Aid Express’ recent appearance on Good Day Houston to talk about the free amplified phone.

A friend recently sent us a fantastic recent article from BBC News that he said we just had to read, and we’re so glad we did. The article was about David Llewellyn, a 64-year-old singer who nearly quit his choir due to hearing loss. He had noticed signs of hearing loss over several years, the article notes, but then he completely lost the ability to hear in his left ear.

It happened overnight — one morning when he answered the phone, he wasn’t able to hear the person on the line. Though he loved to sing, this hearing loss made it impossible to join in with his choir. Since he was only able to hear himself, he wound up singing way too loudly. He lost his confidence and considered quitting singing for good.

But instead of ignoring his hearing loss, Mr. Llewellyn got help — he got hearing aids. As he says in the article, “Once I had my two hearing aids, it was strange being able to hear so much all at once again as my brain wasn’t used to it.”

His hearing aids can be controlled via a remote control kept in his pocket, making it easy for him to adjust when he’s singing with the choir now.

Mr. Llewellyn’s story is a great one, indeed. Too often, people suffering from hearing loss are too afraid or embarrassed to seek help. Hearing aid technology has improved tremendously in the last few years, and wearing hearing aids can truly improve a person’s quality of life.

Get Help with Hearing Loss

If you think  you may be suffering from hearing loss, please don’t hesitate to get help. At Hearing Aid Express, we offer free hearing evaluations and are happy to answer any questions you have. Feel free to contact us.

We recently came across a helpful article about hearing loss. Published in Frost Illustrated, the article reminded us of the all-important truth that summer noises can lead to permanent hearing loss. When we typically think of summer, we look forward to warm weather, sunshine and maybe even trips to the park or beach with family. But what’s often forgotten is the many loud noises that come along with summer that can actually cause permanent hearing loss.

The article points out that noises louder than 80 decibels such as lawn mowers and fire crackers are loud enough to cause permanent hearing loss, so you should wear ear plugs or another type of hearing protection. Really, noise from fireworks, marching bands, lawn mowers and traffic can get between 90 and 140 decibels, according to an assistant audiology professor quoted in the story.

The assistant professor went on to say that when people ride bikes, they wear helmets to protect themselves. So when we go to places with loud noises, we should take the same care to protect ourselves by wearing ear plugs or another kind of hearing protection. “Once your hearing is gone, it is gone forever,” he said.

The article also mentions something we’ve talked about here many times before: hearing loss in young people as a result of listening to music too loudly on MP3 players. More and more  young people are experiencing hearing loss because of this.

Hearing Loss Help at Hearing Aid Express

If you’re experiencing hearing loss, it may be time to look into the option of getting hearing aids. At Hearing Aid Express, we proudly carry a variety of models from several different brands such as Unitron, Starkey and ReSound. Stop by one of our convenient locations in Austin, Houston or Dallas to find out more information about hearing aids, or feel free to contact us.

Did you know that May is Better Speech and Hearing Month? There’s a great letter to the editor in Pottsville, Pennsylvania’s Republican Herald that talks about the significance of this month and what the signs of hearing loss are.

Proclaimed by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (of which the writer is a member), Better Speech and Hearing Month helps remind us of very important issues. The American Speech-Language and Hearing Association says that there are approximately 28 million Americans with a hearing impairment, and hearing loss affects 17 in 1,000 kids under 18. The writer stresses that if you think your child might be suffering from hearing loss, ask the school nurse to give them a hearing test.

Still, Better Speech and Hearing Month is for adults as well as kids. Adults who have a tough time hearing a person just two feet away might be showing a sign of impending hearing loss. Same goes for if they’re watching television at such a high volume that others ask them to turn it down, or if they have to frequently ask others to repeat themselves.

According to the writer, the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association estimated that of people over 65 years old, 314 in 1,000 have a hearing loss and of those older than 75, 40-50% have a hearing loss. What’s more is that the writer notes that the NIDCD says only one out of five people who could benefit from a hearing aid wear one.

If you think you may be experiencing some hearing loss, you may benefit from wearing hearing aids. Contact Hearing Aid Express today, or see a hearing professional to get your hearing tested.

A recent article in the Mansfield News Journal suggests that parents of young children should know the signs of hearing loss. We’re all familiar with Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the most brilliant musical minds in history, who was unable to hear his own work. The article also points out that Thomas Edison said that after he was 12 years old, he never heard a bird sing.

Hearing loss is the most common birth defect there is, affecting 12,000 U.S.-born children each year, according to the article. Since a child’s first years are such an important time for development and learning, early diagnosis of hearing loss is very important. The Mansfield News Journal article suggests that parents watch out for warning signs, as given by the Alexander Graham Bell Association, such as:

• When there’s a loud sound, do the baby’s eyes move toward it?
• When a parent speaks, does the baby react?
• Does the baby (six months to 10 months old) repeat sounds?
• Can the baby (18-24 months old) follow simple directions?
• Is the baby able to put sounds together that closely resemble speech?

These are just a few things to look out for. For more warning signs, you should speak with your doctor. You should also speak to your doctor if you think your child is experiencing hearing loss.

Hearing loss is something that affects not only the elderly, but also young people — even babies. No matter what the age is of a person suffering from hearing loss, there can be something done to help them. Getting help with hearing loss is very important to a person’s well being and can help improve their life. And in the case of very young children, it can help them be able to learn and develop properly.

If you believe you are suffering from hearing loss, don’t hesitate to stop by one of our locations in Houston, Austin or Dallas to find out more about hearing aids. You can also speak with your doctor or a hearing professional to get your hearing assessed.

Portable music players, MP3 players, iPods — these things have been getting a lot of attention lately not just for being convenient and cool, but because they have the potential to cause hearing loss when the user listens to music too loudly for prolonged periods of time.

When music is listened to too loudly through earbuds, it’s especially dangerous. And that’s exactly how people primarily listen to their iPods and other portable MP3 players. Those who are listening to music too loudly for long periods of time are putting themselves at risk for hearing loss and tinnitus.

There’s a great recent article about this problem in the Sudbury Star. The story points out that The Who’s Pete Townshend has attributed his hearing loss and tinnitus to using loud headphones. It also mentions how the director of clinical education in audiology at Purdue University has seen a greater number of young people who have “old ears,” which means their hearing loss is on par with an older person.

Though the iPod, the current trendy portable music device, seems to dominate headlines, we can’t forget about the Walkman. Popular in the 1980s and 1990s, the Walkman affected the hearing of its users back then — people in their 30s and 40s who used the Walkman frequently, according to the article, are now being seen by hearing specialists for “intense tinnitus and a whooshing in the ears.”

What’s more is that today, iPod users are listening to music much longer than people who used the Walkman did. That spells trouble.

The suggestion here and in the Sudbury Star article isn’t to trash your favorite portable music device and stop listening to music. Rather, the suggestion is to listen to music at a level that won’t cause hearing loss. The article suggests keeping the volume to 50-60% of the device’s maximum volume. Another tip for preventing hearing loss from portable music players is to take frequent breaks to give your ears a rest.

If you think you may be suffering from hearing loss, feel free to take our hearing self-evaluation or stop by one of our Hearing Aid Express locations in Austin, Dallas or Houston to find out more about hearing aids.

If you have been trouble hearing lately, it might be time to look into getting hearing aids. Common misconceptions of hearing aids are that they’re big, way too expensive and embarrassing to wear. Well, today hearing aid technology is advanced — many hearing aids are so small and well-designed that it’s difficult to notice when someone is wearing one.

When  you have trouble hearing sounds, it can really affect your life and happiness. Getting hearing aids can help improve your life, enabling you to participate in conversations and hear sounds clearly and loudly.

So if you are wondering if it may be time to get your hearing checked and start looking into getting hearing aids, answer the following questions in this brief Hearing Self-Evaluation to get an idea of whether you are experiencing some hearing loss.

• Do you hear people talk but have difficulty understanding the words?Do people seem to mumble or speak more softly than they used to?
• Do you have trouble hearing at the movies, house of worship, concert halls or other public gathering places?
• Do you frequently need to ask people to repeat themselves?
• Have you had any significant noise exposure at work, during recreation or in military service?
• Do you experience ringing in the ears or other head noises (hissing, buzzing, crickets, etc.). Tinnitus often accompanies hearing loss, but not always, and as such, might be the ear’s way of saying “ouch”!

If your answer to two or more of those questions was “yes,” a more thorough hearing loss investigation may be needed in order to help you get on your way to hearing sounds more clearly and loudly. You can keep a journal near you for a few weeks to track each time you experience a difficulty keeping up with a conversation, or how many times you have to ask someone to repeat themselves. You may also want to ask a friend to turn your television’s volume to a comfortable listening level, then see if it’s loud enough for you to hear comfortably. Your answers should tell you whether you need to see a professional about your hearing loss.

Get Hearing Aids at Hearing Aid Express

With many locations in Austin, Dallas and Houston, Hearing Aid Express offers tremendous customer service, convenience and quality hearing aids. Contact us for more information, or stop by one of our locations. We even accept Medicare Hearing Aid Benefits.

It’s a simple question that has a simple answer: What if the three little pigs (you know, from the famous fairy tale) had hearing loss? When the presenter of a Three Little Pigs puppet show at a Connecticut school finished acting out the story, he posed this question to the kids.

“They wouldn’t have been able to hear the Big Bad Wolf!” is the answer. A great recent story in the Winston Bulletin newspaper talks about the puppet show, and how the presenter, Dick Smith, aimed to educate the children about hearing loss.

Smith is a member of Hearing Loss of America (HLAA), an organization that “educates people with hearing loss and the public about hearing loss and its management.” As someone who has hearing loss, Smith talked to the children about turning down the volume when they watch television and listen to music, especially when they’re listening to their iPods with headphones for hours on end. The Winston Bulletin story pointed out that according to the HLAA, noise pollution from iPods played on full volume for long periods of time accounts for 50% of hearing loss. What’s more is that 12% of teens suffer from hearing loss — and that number is on the rise.

Another thing Mr. Smith talked to the kids about was how to talk to a person who has hearing loss. He stressed speaking slowly while looking at the person to allow them to read your lips, and refrain from yelling.

Educating children about hearing loss is early intervention, and it helps to make kids aware of the problem and aware of the fact that hearing loss affects many, many people. When a child suffers from hearing loss, it could prevent them from learning.

Get Help With Hearing Loss

Getting help with hearing loss may mean getting a hearing aid. Whether you’re a teenager or you’re a senior, hearing aids do not have to be a source of embarrassment or shame. Hearing aids come in several varieties that are inobtrusive and discreet. Find one that’s right for you at Hearing Aid Express.