In this new climate, remote care and telehealth are helping audiologists bridge the gap of hearing healthcare accessibility. Among our network of clinics across the United Kingdom, immediate challenges included a lack of equipment, online accessibility, and experience offering telehealth. We also found that generally only premium hearing aid models included embedded remote care features, so that this service was not available to everyone.
Classic Rock to Classical
When I was in college, I saw the British rock band Jethro Tull in concert in Illinois, and was enthralled and starstruck as I listened to their music blasting through massive speakers only a few feet away from me. Although the sound was a freight train roaring through my ears, the distortion and pain were not enough to budge me from my spot in front of Ian Anderson and his electric flute.
Dealing With a Sudden Loss of Hearing and Five Ways Loved Ones Can Help
I was a high school senior when I got the news that my moderate to severe, bilateral, congenital hearing loss had just got worse (genetic, 60-85 dB loss in both ears). “Discrimination dropped from 82% to 15% in her left ear and 72% to 12% in the right ear...” the audiologist reported, confirming my sudden, significant drop in hearing. Though I could hear the difference, I couldn’t believe it. The words stung more than I could have ever imagined.
Cochlear Implants: The Miracle Ears
In the hospital, our daughter, Saghar, passed the otoacoustic emissions (OAE) test, while our son, Sina, needed a follow up after failing his. The doctors indicated there might have been amniotic fluid left behind his eardrums. Always an optimist, I didn’t give Sina’s test results a second thought. However, Keyvan has always been a realist. He was worried. He was right to be.
The Challenge of Hearing Well in Background Noise
What is important to know is that hearing—and understanding— speech in the presence of background noise is a complex physiological process. Wearing a hearing aid can usually improve the way sounds are presented to the ear, but it cannot change the way your brain processes the signal your ear receives.
The Day It Happened
My hearing had been gradually declining. I knew that because I would hear ringing in my ears, and I knew what that meant. (Scary organ chord here.) It meant hearing loss. But how bad could it be, I figured. I’m still hearing. I’m still on the phone. I’m still talking to people. I can manage, right? This had been going on for several years and it was my new normal. Sure, I have to say “What?” a few times, but so what.
My Hearing Aids Got Wet: Now What?
Whether you are new to hearing aids or have worn them for years, one thing nearly all hearing aid wearers know is that these highly advanced technological devices can be damaged by moisture. Here is what to do if your hearing aids get wet.
Can I Get My Hearing Tested Online?
Online hearing tests, or tests you take yourself using a computer or smartphone, are becoming more prevalent and popular, especially alongside the market for “hearables” (smart wireless earbuds). With over-the-counter hearing aids set to become available soon, these tests that can be convenient to take at home are likely to proliferate even more.
Out of the Box
Even though I work with individuals with disabilities, starting the process of treating my hearing loss feels like I’ve been thrown into a new world about which I know so little. After my hearing test and official diagnosis, I was shown a few hearing aid models to choose a pair. Simple, right?
Staying Vital
My father is an avid concertgoer who turned 61 in February, and I’ve been trying for more than two years—since I joined the team at Hearing Health Foundation (HHF)—to convince him to get his hearing tested.