Studies Investigate COVID-19 and Hearing Loss
Since COVID-19 was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, researchers have been scrambling to learn more about the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists fever/chills, cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, loss of taste/smell, sore throat, congestion/runny nose, nausea/vomiting and diarrhea as possible symptoms; however, recent…
Yard Work Can Damage Your Hearing
When the sun is out, the air is warm and there’s a cool breeze, it’s the perfect time to fire up the lawnmower and start working on the yard. However, if you’re not careful, you can cause irreversible damage to your ears. Follow our tips to protect your hearing this summer while you’re doing yard…
Hearing Loss Advice: Don’t Delay Treatment!
Despite the fact hearing aids have been linked to healthier relationships, improved work performance and better overall quality of life, only about 20 percent of people who could benefit from a hearing aid actually wears one. In addition, even the people who do seek treatment wait about seven years after being diagnosed to do so….
What Is Noise Pollution?
Undesirable or bothersome sounds are classified as noise. When consistent noises begin to cause negative emotional and physical effects on humans or animals, they are known as noise pollution. Understanding what causes noise pollution can help you protect yourself and your hearing. What Sounds Are Classified as Noise Common sources of noise pollution include: Construction…
Tips for Dining with Hearing Loss
Living with hearing loss can make enjoyable activities very difficult. You may have difficulty following conversations, especially in venues with lots of background noise, like restaurants. This is why many people with hearing loss experience social withdrawal, which can ultimately lead to depression and even cognitive decline. Below are some tips to help you better…
Noise-Cancelling Headphones Can Save Your Hearing
About 20 percent of the population in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota has hearing loss to some degree. That’s a lot of Midwesterners struggling to understand (and it’s got nothing to do those accents we are often accused of having). With noise being the biggest contributor, there are steps you can take to protect your…
Separating Hearing Myth from Reality
Hearing loss isn’t rare in the Midwest; about one in five people in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota suffers from some degree of hearing impairment. Not everybody chooses to seek treatment; in many cases, they have erroneous misconceptions about either their condition or treatment. Sometimes, both. Facts About Hearing Loss 48 million Americans experience hearing…
Finding Relief from Ear Pressure When You’re Sick
Few of us give much thought to colds and flu when summer is still in full swing, but with kids in Iowa and Minnesota heading back to school and the first hints of autumn color starting to appear, it won’t be long before sniffles, sneezes and coughs replace the nightly chorus of crickets. How Illness…
Why Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss is Sometimes Misdiagnosed
Anybody who has experienced a sudden loss of hearing knows how scary the situation can be. Most of the time, hearing loss develops gradually; it may be years before you even notice a decline in your ability to hear! But when the condition happens in a short period of time with no prior warning, you…
Ways to Cope with Hearing Loss & Tinnitus
When you have both hearing loss and tinnitus, it can be very difficult to go about your daily life. Things that other people take for granted are much more challenging, and the side effects can leave you feeling tired, depressed and unable to focus. But don’t despair – we have tips to help you cope….