How Is Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Treated?
Your Eustachian tubes are the passageways that connect your middle ears to the back of your throat. Their jobs are to allow fluid to drain from the middle ear and to allow air pressure to equalize between your middle ear and your environment. Sometimes, the Eustachian tubes are not able to do these jobs, and…
What Are Tonsil Stones, And How Do I Get Rid of Them?
Tonsil stones are hard, small white or yellow lumps that form on the tonsils. While not a sign of a serious medical problem, they can cause uncomfortable or embarrassing symptoms. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to get rid of them. What Causes Tonsil Stones? Your tonsils are a pair of small oval…
What Is Sensorineural Hearing Loss?
Did you know that there are different types of hearing loss? Let’s take a closer look at sensorineural hearing loss, including what it is, what causes it and how to treat it. Sensorineural Hearing Loss is The Most Common Type of Hearing Loss According to the National Library of Medicine, “Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is…
How to Avoid Social Isolation When You Have Hearing Loss
If you have hearing loss and are experiencing social isolation, you’re not alone. It’s extremely common for people with this condition to withdraw from people and activities they once enjoyed. Because social isolation is a well-known risk factor for depression and dementia, it’s important to do what you can to combat it. We review how…
How Do Our Brains’ Expectations Influence What We Hear?
Over the past few decades, researchers in the neuroscience field have demonstrated that the cerebral cortex generates predictions, and in response, neurons in charge of sensory processing encode the difference between our predictions and reality. Below we review how our ears and brains work together to help us hear, as well as what one study…
How to Navigate a Party With Hearing Aids
Whether you’re prepping for a family reunion or a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Clancy’s Irish Pub, parties and social gatherings are a common occurrence throughout the year. If you have hearing loss, it can make attending social events harder. The good news is that hearing aids can help! Hearing Loss Makes It Harder To…
Spinal Cord Injuries Can Lead to Hearing Loss
The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body about sensation and movement. It is located in the canal in the center of your vertebrae. Below we provide an overview of spinal cord injuries as well as research about the link between this type…
Are My Headphones Too Loud?
If you enjoy listening to music through headphones or earbuds while you’re working at your job, working out at the gym or doing any other activities, it’s important to know how to do so safely. If your headphones are too loud, it could put you at risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Below we review information…
Encouraging Your Parent To Seek Hearing Loss Treatment
Hearing loss becomes more likely as we age. If you’ve noticed that a parent or other older family member seems like they might not be hearing as well as they used to, it can be concerning. They might seem detached or harder to connect with, which can be frustrating for both you and them. Treating…
Over-The-Counter Hearing Devices: Frequently Asked Questions
On August 16, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration issued a final rule to create a new category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing devices. Under this rule, OTC devices could be available on store shelves and online as soon as mid-October. Here are some answers to some common questions about OTC hearing devices. Do I need…