Why Teachers are Vulnerable to Hearing Problems
According to a study by EPIC Hearing Healthcare, teachers are among the most susceptible to hearing loss, with 15% diagnosed with varying degrees of hearing problems compared to 11% of other workers. This might seem unusual, but a close look at their working environment can explain it.
Why Teachers?
For starters, teachers tend to work in noisy places, and the sounds emanating from the hallways –and the classroom- can strain the ears since it happens every day. To give you an idea of how difficult this is, imagine the headaches that you get trying to handle your children. Now instead of just one or two kids, imagine 25 or more in one room, from morning to afternoon every day. Continue reading
Why Hearing Loss is Prevalent among Teens
Studies show that a growing number of teens have hearing problems, a situation brought about by exposure to loud noises. According to a study by ReRez Research and Siemens Hearing Instruments, the situation has gotten worse with the proliferation of compact music players.
What the Numbers Reveal
According to the study, 46% of teenagers have experienced pain in the ears or buzzing, roaring, ringing sounds, and the effect is usually felt after listening to loud music or using loud tools without protection. The findings of this study support earlier research which indicates that nearly half of all teenagers in the US suffer from one hearing problem or another. Continue reading
Healthy Hearing Aid Habits
Hearing loss is usually permanent, but with hearing aids you’ll be able to cope with it. Yes they will take some getting used to at first, but a few tweaks here and there and some adjustments on your part should make the transition easy. Here are some suggestions to help you get started.
Wear the Hearing Aids
If you have hearing aids, don’t leave them in the box: wear them. At first it will be uncomfortable because everything you hear seems to be magnified, and you probably feel a bit self conscious. Even so, it’s imperative that you wear them because it’s the only way you’ll get used to the new sensations. Continue reading
Teaching Children about Hearing Aids
Family get-togethers and celebrations are the perfect time to talk to children about hearing aids, especially if one of your relatives wears one. If you wear hearing aids for instance, it’s only natural for kids to be curious. The first thing you should do is tell the child what the hearing aids are for, but if he / she is very young, a different approach will be necessary.
Communicating with Young Children
With children 2 to 5 years old
The best way is to play games like Peek-a-boo and variations so they learn to establish eye contact. When with toddlers, remember that they like to play with objects using their hands and mouth so keep the hearing aids and batteries in a safe place. Continue reading
Using Hearing Aids in Summer time Activities
Wearing hearing aids shouldn’t keep you from the beach, the water and the sun in summer. While these hearing instruments won’t get in the way when you swim, hike or do other summer activities, there are some items you should bring along to keep it safe.
Wind and Weather Protector
Summertime means spending hours outdoors, and severe heat exposure could shorten the lifespan of the device. However, you can protect it by getting a wind and weather protector for your hearing device. These protectors have filters that go into your hearing aids and function as a buffer for the wind, rain and other particles that might damage your hearing aids. These tools also come with a utility for filter replacement. Continue reading