Noise exposure starts the day we are born. Infants in the neonatal intensive care unit are exposed to a great deal of noise from machinery to loud voices. As I have written before, noisy toys can be a problem. Hold the toy up to your face and listen to it. Does it seem loud to you? If it does, don’t use it. Noise is cumulative. If you have several toys making noise at the same time, not only is it overwhelming but it can make an acceptable toy too loud. If you go out to eat with … [Read more...]

As an audiologist, I see the world a little differently than most people. I am more aware of the noise around me and the devastating effect that it can have on our quality of life. By the time I see a new patient, the damage has already been done. Noise induced hearing loss is avoidable. Noise exposure should be addressed from birth on. We tend to think of noise as being an exposure at work. This is a very small part of the problem. We experience far more noise in our day to day living … [Read more...]

For individuals with tinnitus (ringing in the ears) with more severe symptoms, there is help for you. Over the counter pills are a waste of time and money. There have been no studies that show that these so called medications help. Some of the ingredients may actually cause symptoms to worsen, so please avoid the impulse to use these. We now have so many tools to help with tinnitus, from specialized hearing aids that help to retrain the brain to ignore the noise, to relaxation … [Read more...]

With all the advertising regarding pills to take for tinnitus (ringing in the ears), you would think that it is a worldwide epidemic. People have been dealing with tinnitus forever, but no one ever thought much about it until all of these ads came out. Yes, ringing in the ears can be devastating. For most, it is a minor annoyance. If you fall into the minor annoyance category, there are some simple steps to take. Get your hearing checked. Most people with tinnitus have hearing loss. … [Read more...]

The new year is always a good time to address changes that we want to make. The good news is that many of our resolutions to improve our health, also can have helpful benefits for our ears and hearing. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables not only affects you figure, it affects your ears! Good nutrition cuts your risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease and can improve blood flow to your inner ears. Moderate exercise gets your blood pumping. You don’t have to run a marathon … [Read more...]

The holidays are fast approaching. While we really don’t want to think about it yet, I would like you to think about noise level when purchasing toys for children. Many toys have noise to make them more interesting. Anything from a squeaky toy to drums to an electronic device can have sounds that can damage hearing. Infants and toddlers hold toys right up to their faces. While the toy may not seem too loud when held at arm’s length, it may be too loud when held close to the face. … [Read more...]