Category: Hearing Loss

Did you know that May is Better Hearing and Speech Month? The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) created this special event in 1927 to raise awareness and promote understanding of hearing health and communication disorders. Ultimately, ASHA hopes to encourage hearing loss screenings, promote hearing loss prevention, and motivate people to seek treatment for hearing- and speech-related issues. This year’s theme is “Communication Across the Lifespan.” Of course it’s important that you monitor your hearing health throughout the year and address sudden changes as they arise, but Better Hearing and Speech Month offers an opportunity for all the organizations in the hearing care industry to come together and bring awareness to hearing-related issues, distribute educational materials, and enthusiastically promote hearing health. Anyone ... Read more

After graduating from school, you might have cheerfully said goodbye to homework and tests, but we hope you haven’t used that as an excuse to let your brain go idle. The importance of physical fitness is well documented and much discussed, but brain exercises are often overlooked. While it’s true that many programs that claim to improve your brain’s performance are ineffectual, there are a few forms of cognitive brain training that have passed muster. Scroll down to learn about one of these programs, and consider how strengthening your brain might also benefit your hearing health. Cognitive Brain Training Unfortunately, cognitive brain training is often ineffective. Without a proper explanation of how brain training works and the right guidance over ... Read more

Did you know that smokers are 70 percent more likely to develop hearing loss than nonsmokers? Yet despite this correlation and the many harmful side effects associated with smoking cigarettes, 40 million U.S. adults still smoke. Explore the relationship between smoking and hearing loss to better understand why cigarettes are able to impact the health and function of your auditory system. There have been many studies conducted that conclude the link between smoking and potential hearing loss. In fact, current smokers have a 15.1 percent increased chance of hearing loss, however, there is a higher chance associated with heavier smokers than lighter smokers. For example:  10 cigarettes per day: 40% more likely to develop some high-frequency hearing loss and 10% more ... Read more

Heart disease is one of the most common killers in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease kills about 610,000 people in the U.S. every year – making it the cause of roughly one in four deaths. Over the years, you’ve probably heard some tips for maintaining and improving your heart health – things like regularly exercising, quitting smoking, and eating a healthy diet. However, there is one aspect of heart health that often goes unrecognized: the correlation between hearing loss and heart disease. Understanding the Link Between Hearing Loss and Heart Disease There is an increasingly strong case for a connection between your hearing and heart health. First, while the ear ... Read more

By Dr. Tony Kovacs, Au.D. Have you ever been to a restaurant with family or friends and noticed your guests are having an easier time understanding the conversation? Have you found yourself leaning in to try to join the conversation, only to be left scratching your head? Hi, I’m Dr. Tony Kovacs, Sound Relief Audiologist in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado. This restaurant scenario was exactly my experience every time I was in a noisy environment. I concluded that I must have a hearing loss. What other possibilities could there be? Though frustrated with my limited ability to understand my friends and family, I certainly wasn’t shocked because I’d been spending many years mistreating my ears. Before deciding to pursue my ... Read more

Fleets of school buses have taken to the streets. Kids are rocking new threads. The crispness of fall is beginning to creep into the air. It’s official: Back-to-school season is here. In the frenzy of returning to school, it’s easy to forget about your personal health. And staying healthy during the school year goes far beyond getting a flu shot – you also need to look after your ears. While protecting your hearing might not be at the top of your to-do list, maintaining your hearing is a lifelong job. Read on for some back-to-school hearing health tips. Prevent Hearing Loss Before It Happens Hearing loss isn’t just a concern for older individuals. Young people can cause irreversible damage to ... Read more