Why You Should Never Bring Your Baby to the Movies
Busy parents looking for a break by catching a movie in Louisville have a checklist of items to make their theater-going experience enjoyable. These might include popcorn, candy and soda. If “baby” is also on that list, you should either hire a sitter or reschedule for when they are old enough to actually enjoy the…
Hearing Loss in Kids Can Affect Brain’s Sound Processing
It has long been understood that deafness in early childhood is associated with permanent changes in the way the brain processes sound. New research shows that young kids with even mild to moderate hearing loss in Louisville will experience similar changes. Mild to Moderate Childhood Hearing Loss Researchers at the University of Cambridge conducted a…
Jeannie Livesay: Honoring 25 Years of Service
Twenty-five years ago, I was asked to be the Woman’s Club representative on the Heuser Hearing Institute Board of Directors. I was particularly interested in hearing health because my cousin Connie is deaf. She attended Gallaudet University and uses sign language. She has four hearing children. The Woman’s Club didn’t know that I had a…
Barriers to Pediatric Hearing Aids
How common is hearing loss in children? Hearing loss is common in Kentucky, and it isn’t just confined to older adults; 1-3 out of every 1,000 Louisville babies are born with hearing loss, and almost 15 percent of children aged 6 to 19 have a low- or high-frequency hearing loss of at least 16 decibels…
How to Protect Your Kids’ Ears from Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is common across Kentucky, and it isn’t confined to older adults; nearly 15 percent of children aged 6-19 years old have a hearing impairment of at least 16 decibels (dB) in one or both ears in Louisville. Bilateral hearing loss (affecting both ears) of 40 dB or greater affects 1.4 out of every…
Facts for Louisville Parents with Deaf or Hard of Hearing Kids
Two to three out of every 1,000 babies are born with a hearing impairment in Louisville. Now that newborn hearing screenings are routine, most of these infants are diagnosed right away—a key step in preventing delays in speech-language, academic and social development. Parents face many challenges in caring for their deaf or hard of hearing…
Conductive Hearing Loss Linked to Poor Academic Performance
It’s a new school year in Louisville, and many parents are anxious to see their kids succeed. But if those first report cards are less than stellar, there may be an underlying neurological reason associated with hearing loss. How Hearing Affects Schoolwork A new study by researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, published in the…
Are Your Child’s Ears Ready for the New School Year?
Now that school is back in session, Louisville parents are once again getting into the habit of packing lunches, helping with homework questions and making sure their kids have the right supplies. While these are all essential to the learning process, have you made sure your kids’ ears are ready for the school year? Ensuring…
Preventing Swimmer’s Ear in Louisville
Summer may be winding down, but there’s still plenty of opportunity for Louisville kids to hit the swimming pool or splash around in the backyard. Doing so could lead to a potentially harmful infection called swimmer’s ear, but with a few simple steps, your kids can enjoy the last of the hot weather without worry…
What You Should Know About Eardrum Ruptures
Children and adults in Louisville who experience a ruptured eardrum end up dealing with pain, dizziness, hearing loss and other symptoms. Most heal on their own eventually but skipping a visit to the doctor increases your risk of infection. Understanding what causes these ruptures can help prevent them from occurring. What are the symptoms of…