Archive for the ‘hearing loss’ Category

United States presidents, famous actors and actresses, Miss America and athletes have all suffered from hearing loss.

It isn’t a condition that many of us plan for. In many instances it happens gradually and over time. You may wake up one day and realize that your hearing just isn’t as good as it used to be.

It happens to millions of Americans, more than 35 million to be exact. That number happens to include, former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan; actors Sally Fields, Burt Reynolds and Robin Wright. It is also a condition that has impacted the lives of Hall of Fame football player Mike Singletary, race car drivers Al & Bobby Unser and rocker Bono.

Hearing loss didn’t keep them from important meetings with foreign delegates or even from the music they loved.

If you think you suffer from hearing loss, life doesn’t have to be a struggle. Hearing aids can often help. Many of today’s devices can also go unnoticed.

They can be so unnoticeable that even former Miss America Deidre Downs can wear them and feel confident in social situations.

“Wearing hearing aids again gave me the ability to better participate in life – school, family, and friends. Hearing aids have diminished the impact hearing loss has on my life. I finally feel like I can hear as well as a normal hearing person,” she has said.  “My friends, family and classmates no longer have to constantly repeat themselves. I don’t have to use closed captioning on TV anymore and I rarely miss pieces of conversations – even in noisy restaurants. It’s been an unbelievable life change for me, my family and my friends.” 

If you have a hearing loss, don’t let it keep you from communicating with family and friends or from participating in your life. Visit Hearing Aid Express today for a free hearing test and consultation.

Imagine this scenario:  you’ve just finished getting an eye exam. As you suspect your doctor tells you that you will need a pair of contacts or eyeglasses to correct your vision.

You know you need to see well, and you realize your ability to see impacts nearly everything: your freedom, your safety and your day-to-day living.

“Can I get just one contact lens,” you blurt out to your physician, wondering if it would just be less expensive. After all, you reason, isn’t one corrected lens good enough?

As absurd as this question is it’s the same scenario that is playing out in hearing clinics across the country.

Just like impaired vision, the conditions that have caused damage to one ear have very likely caused damage to both ears. While you most certainly wouldn’t consider getting just one lens in a pair of eye glasses, many are opting for just one hearing aid when most of the time they really need two.

Having two hearing aids helps you hear more clearly so you can pinpoint where sounds are coming from.

Here are 7 more reasons why you should consider wearing 2 hearing aids:

1.You will have greater understanding in noisy environments.
2.You will experience smoother tone quality.
3. You will be able to hear more sounds.
4.Using both ears to hear helps you preserve the hearing ability you have in both ears.
5.Because you won’t have to work as hard to hear, creating an easier listening experience.
6.Hearing in both ears creates a sense of balance
7.You won’t be as shocked by loud noises.
 

If you think you or someone you care about has a hearing loss, call Hearing Aid Express today for a free hearing exam.

Many Americans suffer from hearing loss. Most of them are taking an average of seven to 10 years before they do anything about it.

That is a pretty long time to not properly hear the world around us.  You may wonder what’s the harm in waiting.  You probably think you can get by without too much of a problem. What’s the rush, you may ask.

All that waiting is more than likely causing more damage to your hearing.  Don’t let another month pass before you take action to improve your hearing health. This May pause to take time out to care for yourself and your loved ones during Better Hearing Month.

Consider what happens to a person’s arm after it has been in a cast for months.  Once the cast is removed, typically the arm will look smaller and less muscular than it did before the break.  This process can be defined as atrophy.  In layman’s terms, this means that if you don’t use your arm for an extended period of time, you lose the muscle mass and strength. This “use it or lose it” concept can also be applied to our hearing. However, the biggest difference between the two is that you can rebuild muscle mass after a broken arm.  Once you have hearing loss, most of the time, you cannot reverse it.

Studies have shown that the more proactive you are about your hearing health and the faster you pursue amplification once you are a candidate for hearing aids, the greater the possibility of the progression of the hearing loss slowing down somewhat.  It is important to note that this does not mean that hearing aids can stop your hearing loss from getting worse.  However, they have been proven to keep the hearing organs and nerves functioning longer than if aids are not used.

Think about the sounds that make up your world and your life.  You want to preserve this important sense for as long as you can.  If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with hearing loss, or thinks there might be hearing loss present, visit a local hearing healthcare provider like Hearing Aid Express to determine if hearing aids are right for you. There’s never going to be a better time to address your hearing health.

Hearing Aid Express always offers free hearing tests. If you know you have a hearing loss, take a look at our special offers and take the next step to improve your hearing.

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.