Posts Tagged ‘health’

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.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus affects 50 million people in the United States, according to the American Tinnitus Association. Of the 50 million people with tinnitus, two million are unable to function on a “normal,” day-to-day basis because it is so seriously debilitating.

It’s common for people to refer to tinnitus as “ringing in the ears,” as that accurately describes what sufferers experience. Though some describe the sound as beeping, crickets, locusts, roaring, clicking or ticking. Tinnitus may be experienced in both ears or just one ear.

According to Wikipedia, many famous people have suffered from tinnitus: Joan of Arc, Ludwig van Beethoven, William Shatner, Vincent van Gogh, Steve Martin and Barbara Streisand are a few.

Some causes of tinnitus include exposure to loud noises, ear infections and hearing impairment. No doubt, tinnitus is a very serious problem and can negatively affect a person’s life. We’re happy to say there is treatment available.

Tinnitus Treatment at Hearing Aid Express

There’s a new tinnitus treatment, and it’s available only at Hearing Aid Express. In our market areas, we’re proud to now exclusively offer a new Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) product that is clinically proven. Featuring an intelligent sound generator that produces individually customized sounds that are tailored to your unique needs, this tinnitus treatment automatically adapts to different listening situations. For tinnitus suffers, this treatment can provide relief.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is an alternative to other treatments like Neuromonics, maskers and biofeedback. This tinnitus treatment is for people with tinnitus, and whether they suffer from hearing loss does not matter for the treatment.

If you’re in Austin, Houston or Dallas, please stop by one of our Hearing Aid Express locations to find out more about our exclusive new tinnitus treatment. You can also contact us online or call one of our hearing aid stores. We’ll be happy to assist you with any questions.

An article in last week’s Thousand Oaks Acorn gets right to the point: baby boomers don’t have to put up with hearing loss. The article discusses the practical steps baby boomers can take if they’re suffering from a hearing impairment and would like to improve their hearing health.

The article also points out the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders’ statistic: hearing loss affects nearly 36 million people, which is 17 percent of American adults. Additionally, the article mentions recent results from an Energizer survey that polled baby boomers who suffer from hearing loss as well as adult children with parents who suffer from hearing loss. The results found that 45 percent of adult children who participated in the survey said that their parent’s hearing loss has effected their relationship with the parent. Thirty-six percent of those said that their parent “has missed important details about their life.”

So the survey results no doubt show that hearing loss can have an impact on relationships, so the question is, why do so many people suffering from hearing loss take no action to correct it? As the article points out, it’s not because baby boomers are unaware of their hearing loss — the Energizer survey results showed that 72 percent of baby boomers surveyed said that their hearing loss had affected their relationship with their adult children. Still, just 11 percent of them wear hearing aids.

Hearing loss and its impact on relationships is something extremely important to consider for those who are suffering from hearing loss. It’s easy to ignore it, but getting help to correct it can seriously improve a person’s life. Getting hearing aids to hear sounds loud and clear again can help a person participate in conversations with friends and family.

Dr. Bary Williams, an audiologist and Energizer Specialty “All Ears” spokesperson who is quoted in the article, suggests annual medical and hearing screenings. He notes that baby boomers don’t think twice about taking care of their vision and wearing glasses or contacts, but they seem to ignore hearing loss. But to maintain a high quality of life, people need to take care of both their vision and hearing.

Get Help for Your Hearing Loss

Dr. Williams recommends going to a basic hearing screening to test your hearing, as these are typically offered for very little cost. At Hearing Aid Express, we actually offer free hearing evaluations — and there’s no pressure to buy hearing aids. The doctor also says to embrace technology. “Today’s hearing devices are both discreet and effective,” he says in the article.

If you have any questions about hearing loss or hearing aids, please feel free to contact Hearing Aid Express.