What Is a Decibel?
Decibels are important when it comes to measuring hearing ability (or lack thereof). Before you can understand the information presented on your audiogram after a hearing exam, it’s important to know what a decibel is and how it is used in an audiologist’s office. Decibels Measure Sound Intensity Sound energy travels in waves that can…
Hearing Assistance Dogs
Many have heard about seeing eye dogs, but fewer know about hearing assistance dogs. These animals are specially trained to help handlers with hearing impairment navigate through the world, and can alert the handler to warning sounds they may miss on their own. Assistance dogs are available worldwide in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia,…
Can Babies Wear Hearing Aids?
The first years of your child’s life are the most important in terms of speech and language development. If you child has hearing loss, it’s imperative that they are treated right away. Research shows that treating hearing loss before an infant is six month of age yields the best outcomes, which is why newborn hearing…
How Hearing Loss Affects Romance
More than 48 million Americans suffer from hearing loss, yet only one in five people who has it wears hearing aids. Even among those who do treat their hearing loss, the average person waits seven years between being diagnosed and actually purchasing devices. There are many reasons people may be hesitant to purchase hearing devices,…
Heuser Hearing & Language Academy Teacher, Katie Telek, Named President of the Kentucky Educators for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
LOUISVILLE, KY (January 29th, 2020) – Heuser Hearing & Language Academy is proud to announce that Heuser educator Katie Telek has been named the “2020 President of the Kentucky Educators for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.” The Kentucky Educators for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is a non-profit organization designed to bring together…
What to Expect When You Decide to Treat Your Hearing Loss
The decision to treat your hearing loss may be a long time coming. This isn’t surprising, as most people wait an average of seven years to treat their hearing from the time they are first diagnosed. While the thought of becoming a hearing aid wearer may seem daunting, it should also be exciting! You’re on…
Why Newborn Hearing Screenings are Important
If you’ve recently had a baby in Louisville, before you left the hospital your newborn was given a hearing screening. This is crucial in detecting hearing loss early and preparing infants and their parents for intervention services that are necessary to ensure they succeed. The Importance of Early Intervention The vast majority of babies in…
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…
Butterflies in Motion Luncheon Wins Inaugural Voice-Tribune Bestie Award for Best Daytime Party
Butterflies in Motion Luncheon Wins Inaugural Voice-Tribune Bestie Award for Best Daytime Party (November 21, 2019) Heuser Hearing & Language Academy’s Butterflies in Motion Luncheon has won an inaugural Voice-Tribune Bestie Award for Best Daytime Party. Voted on by Voice-Tribune readers, the awards celebrate over 100 of Louisville’s hometown favorites. The awards were presented on…
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…
WAVE 3s Shannon Cogan to Host the 5th Annual “Butterflies in Motion” Luncheon.
WAVE 3s Shannon Cogan to Host the 5th Annual“Butterflies in Motion” Luncheon. “Butterflies in Motion” Celebrates Your Favorite Movies while SupportingHeuser Hearing & Language Academy. New this year, the event Auctioneer is Elizabeth Monarch (October 14, 2019)- Held October 17th, 2019 at the Brown Hotel, this unique fundraiser attracts some of the city’s most gracious…
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…
iHeartMedia Louisville Announces 12 New Community Partners For The Upcoming Year
Louisville, KY.- October 1, 2019 – iHeartMedia Louisville announced today community partnerships with 12 nonprofit organizations that fall under the umbrella theme of Kids: Heart of Kentuckiana. Beginning October 1, iHeartMedia Louisville will support the mission of these organization through the stations’ assets including on-air, on stations’ websites and on social media. iHeartMedia Louisville will…
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…
Can Hand Dryers Hurt Kids’ Ears?
There are many sources of noise pollution in Louisville. Ordinary, everyday sounds can damage the hair cells of the inner ear, leading to irreversible hearing loss. We’re used to hearing about loud music, sporting events and recreational activities such as riding jet skis and dirt bikes. A Canadian teen wondered whether something far less obvious…
More Young Hearing Loss Patients Can Blame Technology
Technology can streamline and simplify life but may also be the bane of our existence. Take music, for instance. Streaming services like Spotify enable you to carry more songs in your pocket than you could fit into an airplane hangar, and earbuds let you listen to those tunes in high-quality stereo on the go. But…
Traveling with Hearing-Impaired Children
Hearing loss doesn’t only affect seniors and older Americans. An estimated three million children in the U.S. struggle with hearing loss to a certain degree – a fact that poses daily challenges. For parents in Louisville with a hearing-impaired child, even simple activities that others take for granted, such as traveling, require extra planning. The…
Tinnitus Treatment
Tinnitus is described as the subjective perception of sound when no external sound is present. Many patients report sounds consistent with ringing in the ears, however, tinnitus can be described as any sound. Some examples include but are not limited to; clicking, humming, roaring, buzzing, hissing, and whooshing. The U.S. Center for Disease Control estimates…
A Conversation with Irv Stumler
Brett Bachmann, CEO of Heuser Hearing Institute, recently sat down with Irv Stumler, longtime volunteer, to discuss the school’s history and his involvement. Brett: How did you first get involved with the Louisville Deaf Oral School (LDOS), now Heuser Hearing & Language Academy? Irv: When I joined the Kiwanis Club of Louisville in 1970, our…
Free Hearing Screenings
Have you had your hearing checked lately? Heuser Hearing Institute offers free hearing screenings at our five area locations. Questions? Call us at (502) 584-3573. How do you know if you need a hearing screening? The symptoms of hearing loss appear gradually, as it is a progressive condition. Because of this, many do not realize…
Hearing Loss in Cancer Survivors Can Affect Reading Skills
Kids who have survived cancer in Louisville have a higher risk of hearing loss – and that can lead to poor reading skills, according to a new study from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Survivors with Hearing Loss Beating the odds and surviving a brain tumor is a celebratory occasion for anybody fortunate enough to…
Can a Smartphone App Diagnose Hearing Loss?
Ear infections are the most common reason parents bring their kids to the doctor in Louisville. They occur when fluid builds up in the middle ear, resulting in pain and discomfort. Younger children are unable to verbalize how poorly they are feeling, leaving parents reliant on a pediatrician or ear, nose and throat specialist for…
Help Your Kids Avoid Hearing Loss
Hearing loss may be more common in older adults, but it can affect people of all ages – even kids. Hearing-impaired children in Louisville face even more challenges than adults; not only do they struggle to communicate, but depending on their age, they can experience developmental delays, have trouble adjusting socially and suffer from academic…
Ribbon Cutting – PNC Foundation Awards Nearly $50,000 Grant For New PNC Music Garden & Outdoor Learning Lab
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – May 09, 2019 – Heuser Hearing & Language Academy (HHLA) receives a $48,937 grant from the PNC Foundation to build a new PNC Music Garden & Outdoor Learning Lab for its students. The Official Ribbon Cutting of both spaces will take place Tuesday May 14th at Heuser Hearing & Language Academy (11…
Louisville Non-profit brings 177th Acoustical Society of America Meeting to Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, KY., (April 18, 2019) – The Heuser Hearing Institute, a local nonprofit that serves the needs of individuals with hearing and balance disorders, has attracted the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) to Louisville. ASA will hold its 177th meeting at the Galt House downtown, May 13th -17th. ASA is an international scientific society devoted…
Tinnitus Isn’t a Disease, and Other Facts
Approximately 20 percent of the population suffers from tinnitus in Louisville, so rest assured that if you experience a ringing in your ears, you are hardly alone! Understanding tinnitus is key to managing its symptoms, whether you find it an occasional nuisance or a full-time distraction. What Causes Tinnitus? Tinnitus isn’t a disease, but rather,…
MAY is Better Hearing & Speech MONTH
May is Better Hearing & Speech Month, an annual occasion designed to raise awareness of hearing loss and speech problems. Originally created in 1927 by the American Speech Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), in 1986 President Reagan issued a formal proclamation designating May as the official month to heighten public awareness about hearing loss and speech disorders….
Advice for Kids with Cochlear Implants: Sing More!
Cochlear Implants Anybody familiar with the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” knows Aaron Burr’s advice to Alexander Hamilton was to “talk less, smile more.” For children with cochlear implants in Louisville, our advice would be similar; talking is great, but kids should “sing more,” according to a new study. Doing so may improve their hearing. How…
Hearing Loss: Separating Facts from Fiction
Myth Exposed: The most common cause of hearing loss is advancing age.The truth is that it is exposure to loud noise that is the number one cause of hearing loss while only 35% of people with hearing loss are older than age 64. There are nearly six million people in the U.S. between the ages…
KFC U.S. & Heuser Hearing Institute Team Up To Better Serve Deaf or Hard of Hearing Guests
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 18th, 2019)– Heuser Hearing Institute and KFC U.S. are proud to announce they have teamed up to create specific training and signage to provide top quality service to KFC guests who are deaf or hard of hearing. This training, which has now rolled out nationwide to over 4,100 KFC locations was designed…
Childhood Hearing Loss
Middle ear fluid is the most common cause of hearing loss in children below the age of two years and, luckily, it is usually temporary. However, at this critical age, the short-term effects of a temporary hearing loss can have long-term effects on your child’s speech and language development. The primary culprit behind middle ear…
These Celebrities Didn’t Let Hearing Loss Stop Them
Awards season may be over, but critically-acclaimed films are available for streaming year-round. Many of your favorites might include actors and actresses who have battled hearing loss and overcome the odds to win praise – and Oscar gold! Hearing Loss Knows No Class Boundaries Approximately one out of every five people has hearing loss in…
Louisville Deaf Oral School Foundation Makes Distribution To Heuser Hearing & Language Academy
Louisville, KY (March 2019) – The Louisville Deaf Oral School Foundation presented the Heuser Hearing & Language Academy with its annual distribution of $200,000 in a ceremony on March 28 at 10:00 a.m. This distribution was the largest made by the foundation since its inception and a total of $4,369,238 has been distributed to the…
Safety Tips for Hearing Impaired Drivers in Louisville
People with hearing loss in Louisville face a number of obstacles in their everyday routines. Conversations with others often prove difficulty, and public outings can be downright tiring when struggling to hear over noisy backgrounds. Another area that can prove problematic? Navigating the streets of Louisville. And that’s got nothing to do with traffic. Navigating…
Heuser Hearing & Language Academy Teacher Katie Telek Wins “Breaking Barriers Spotlight Award” for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Education
Teacher Katie Telek of Heuser Hearing & Language Academy is being honored by the Metro Disability Coalition of Kentucky with the 20th “Breaking Barriers Spotlight Award” for her dedication to enriching the lives of students. Telek has an undergraduate degree in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education from Eastern Kentucky University, she is currently pursuing…
Forget About It: The Link Between Hearing & Memory
A little forgetfulness is common. Maybe we misplaced the car keys or forgot to water the ficus. But for many adults suffering from memory loss in Louisville, a hearing impairment may be to blame. Hearing and Cognition are Connected Hearing loss in Louisville is common, affecting about one out of every five adults. Not all…
Support Groups For Patients With Dizziness or Vertigo
If you suffer from chronic dizziness, your days can range from bad to worse. Sometimes you may feel hopeless and completely alone. If you are struggling to cope with your dizziness, a support group of individuals going through a similar experience can provide help. If you are on Facebook, try reaching out to one or…
New Resource for Parents of Children with Hearing Loss
Parents of children with hearing loss in Louisville often feel overwhelmed as they struggle to provide their child with the resources needed to lead a quality life. Fortunately, there’s plenty of help available – including a telephone hotline created by a mother dealing with her own child’s profound hearing loss. Julie Swaim’s Personal Experience Julie…
Plan the Perfect Valentine’s Day
You know what happens this month – Valentine’s Day! Don’t let your hearing loss prevent you from celebrating this holiday with your loved ones. Who said hearing loss should prevent you from planning a romantic evening? Going Out with Hearing Loss Having hearing loss does not have to prevent you from going out for a nice dinner. Below are…
Breaking Down the Different Speech Disorders
Speech disorders affect many children in Louisville. If you’re a parent whose child is having difficulty with speech, you’re going to want to know how to get them help. Treatment depends on the type of disorder and its severity, but don’t worry – there are plenty of solutions that have proven successful for children with…
Signs Your Child Might Have Hearing Loss
Many of us associate hearing loss with the elderly, but the condition can – and does – affect people of all ages. Approximately three out of every 1,000 babies are born with hearing loss in Louisville, and the number of teens and adolescents diagnosed with a hearing impairment is on the rise, thanks in large…
Hearing Loss FAQ’s
Have you recently been diagnosed with hearing loss in Louisville? If so, you’re likely to benefit from hearing aids. New users are bound to have lots of questions about these devices. Don’t worry – we’ve got answers! The following FAQs are ones your Louisville audiologist encounters most often. WHAT IS A HEARING AID? A hearing…
Good Girls and Boys Shouldn’t Get Noisy Toys
In just a couple of weeks children in Louisville will be eagerly unwrapping gifts beneath the Christmas tree. Let’s just hope that Santa and his elves keep in mind the dangers presented by certain toys. We’re not just talking about choking hazards, either – did you know that some toys can prove hazardous to your…
TIN-ni-tus or ti-night-tus? Either way you pronounce it, our ears are ringing
Tinnitus affects roughly 20 percent of the American population. Tinnitus is defined as the perception of sound where none is actually occurring. Its impact on our quality of life ranges from a minor nuisance to a major impediment and the perceived sound may be temporary or persistent. Many describe the sound as ringing, chirping, whooshing,…