Hearing Care Blog | Thigpen Hearing Center
Why do my new hearing aids cause my ear canals to itch?
Question: Why do my new hearing aids cause my ear canals to itch?
Answer: If itchiness in the ear canal persists for more than a few days, you may need to change the size of the silicone domes that are attached to the hearing aids that sit within the canal. However, if your earpiece is a custom hard acrylic shell, you may consider having this remade in a hypoallergenic material. For practical everyday precaution, it is wise to use antibacterial wipes made ...
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How Prevalent Really is Hearing Loss Among Americans and Canadians?
How many people in your life have hearing difficulties? One person? Two people? A handful? No one? The actual number is quite possibly more than you think, because hearing loss — the inability or reduced ability to perceive sounds that enter the ear — is much more common than many realize.
In the United States and Canada together, for example, millions of people live with hearing loss. Numbers may vary per organization, government agency, or study, but:
Johns Hopkins researchers have estimated ...
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Itchy Ear Canals
Question: Are itchy ear canals normal?
Answer: Itchy ears are common among hearing aid users. If there is no skin condition contributing to the itching, then it is likely brought on by the hearing aids. One cause of itchiness may be the presence of an earpiece in the ear canal pressing on the small fine hairs, as hairs within the canal are not accustomed to being touched. If itching does not resolve within a few days, we can offer suggestions — Miracell ...
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Hearing Aids: Get the Scoop on What These Small but Powerful Devices Can Do
Did you know? Fewer than one out of three adults 70 and older who could benefit from hearing aids actually uses them, per the U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, and the rate plunges to just 16 percent among those 20 to 69.
The reasons for these stark statistics may vary, but what’s clear is that disabling hearing loss — a serious public health issue affecting approximately 466 million people worldwide — is undertreated on a global scale.
Some ...
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How To Deep Clean Your Hearing Aids
Question: Are there ways to deep clean my hearing aids? I feel like they are never clean enough.
Answer: Typically wiping the hearing aids at night with a soft dry cloth or tissue is sufficient for most cleaning, and tools are available to brush away debris from the hearing aids. Wax guards are monthly tools that ensure adequate sound transmission. In addition to routine techniques regularly performed in the office, there are antibacterial wipes and nightly disinfecting drying systems that discourage bacterial ...
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How Hearing Aids Work
If you or someone you know has hearing technology, you understand how life-changing it can be, leading to even stronger connections to loved ones and a renewed vigor for life. But have you ever stopped to wonder just how those amazing little life-changers work?
It might surprise you to know that the basics haven’t changed over the last several hundred years. Let’s start with the ear trumpet.
The Ear Trumpet
All things considered, the ear trumpet was a decent alternative to hearing loss. ...
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Best Types of Hearing Protection
Question: What type of hearing protection is best when I’m near loud noise?
Answer: Hearing loss from hazardous noise levels is a serious health concern. More than 26 million U.S. adults have noise-induced hearing loss and the research is showing that even teens have evidence of early onset noise-induced hearing loss. There are many types of hearing protection devices available —the correct type is dependent upon the type of noise you are around, what you are doing in that noise (working, talking, ...
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Online Hearing Tests: Can They Help?
From blood-pressure kiosks in retail stores and vision exams online to home kits that test for HIV, blood-sugar levels, colon cancer, and more, the do-it-yourself approach to health screening continues to expand as the demand for greater convenience and consumer empowerment grows. Even online hearing tests are a part of the DIY mix, but do they work? What role can they play in ensuring your optimal hearing health?
Let’s take a closer look, including the pros, the cons, and the bottom ...
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I’m Ready For New Hearing Aids
Question: What should I look for when I’m ready for new hearing aids?
Answer: Fitting hearing aids is based on the skill and technique of your doctor of audiology. There is not one individual setting on a hearing aid that is right for everyone. The aids must be programmed and modified for your ear canal, type of hearing loss, communication needs, and comfort. Computer programming is critical to success with hearing aids. Fine-tuning the amplification and frequencies is a science which must ...
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Making Moves — and Protecting Your Hearing, Too
Planning to bust some moves at the gym as part of your 2019 goals? You’re not alone. As a tried-and-true strategy for losing weight, feeling more fit, or simply stepping up physical activity for overall wellness, working out is a perennially popular New Year’s resolution, and exercise classes can be a fun way to fit the bill.
The catch? Whether it’s cycling, kickboxing, step aerobics, dance, or another high-energy track, these classes often crank up the music to harmful levels — well ...
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