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May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Lockdowns, stay-at-home orders and social distancing make this a challenging time for all. For those with untreated hearing loss, who are at an even greater risk of developing mental health issues, raising awareness and developing a coping strategy is key. Social Isolation A report from the National Academies of Sciences,…

Approximately 48 million Americans suffer from hearing loss – a condition that has been associated with anxiety, depression and even cognitive decline. While not all cases of hearing loss are preventable, there are ways to reduce your risk of developing the disorder. Below are five habits to kick to promote better hearing health. Smoking Smoking…

While vision is the most important sense you rely on while driving, your hearing also plays a crucial role in helping you be aware of your surroundings while on the road. If you have a hearing impairment, be sure to follow these tips to stay safe. Wear Hearing Aids If you already have a set…

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…

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,…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…