Research indicates that young people today are losing their hearing faster than their parents and grandparents. In fact, nearly 1 in 5 teenagers have some hearing loss.

Researchers at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston examined data collected from more than 4,600 12-to-19-year-olds in two ongoing federal surveys. The first covered 1988 to 1994, and the other 2005 to 2006.

The prevalence of hearing loss increased from 14.9 percent from 1988-94 to 19.5 during 2005-06, a rise of about 31 percent, the researchers reported to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Some other interesting results from the survey:

• High-frequency hearing loss was more common than that in low frequencies
• Most of the time the loss was in one ear
  
• Girls were much less likely than boys to have lost some hearing
  

While the study did not examine specific reasons for the increase in teens, most experts agree that it is due to listening to loud music for long stretches of time on MP3 players, iPods and other portable devices. 

The issue received national attention in March 2013, when New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg took up the cause as his latest public health crusade, announcing a $250,000 social media campaign to caution young people about the dangers of too loud music on personal listening devices.

How can adults encourage young people to listen more carefully to stop this alarming trend? One good tip is to use the 60/60 rule. Listen to music at 60 percent of the max volume and for only 60 minutes. 

Hearing professionals also encourage people to wear hearing protection when they go to concerts. Inexpensive ear buds are available for as little as a $1 that can significantly reduce the amount of potentially damaging noise at a concert without affecting the musical experience.  There are so many options to help protect our youths hearing, all you have to do is ask for the information.  Call today and our staff can talk you through your options, or stop in for a free demonstration.

Starkey Hearing Technologies, one of the world’s leading hearing technology companies, is excited to introduce Halo™, a Made for iPhone® hearing aid engineered to be compatible with iPhone, iPad® and iPod® touch. The Halo hearing aid gives the more than 26 million Americans with untreated hearing loss a new, discreet option that seamlessly connects with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

The Halo, which is sold under the Starkey brand name, combines Starkey Hearing Technologies’ superior hearing with iOS to deliver a revolutionary new hearing solution that makes every aspect of life better – from conversations to phone calls to listening to music. Halo will connect with the TruLink™ Hearing Control app, which is available as a free download in the App StoreSM. 

“Halo brings what people love about Starkey hearing aids to anyone who suffers from hearing loss,” said Dave Fabry, Vice President of Audiology and Professional Services for Starkey Hearing Technologies. “Halo delivers new standards of performance and personalization, while providing convenient control and connectivity to iOS devices.”

Building on iOS features that let you do everyday things like making phone and FaceTime® calls, listening to music and using Siri®, Halo takes advantage of TruLink Technology and compatible iOS devices to meet the needs of today’s demanding and tech-savvy consumers. In addition to seamless integration with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, Halo hearing aids are also standalone hearing aids packed with Starkey Hearing Technologies’ best-in-class performance features including feedback cancellation, adaptive noise management and directionality. 

Hearing Plus LLC is excited to bring this technology to the Mitchell and the surrounding area. Contact us today to schedule your appointment to learn more about this new innovative hearing aid.

Hearing isn’t quite like riding a bike
Studies show that people will wait eight to ten years between first experiencing symptoms of hearing loss and finally seeking help.  Instead they ask people to repeat themselves, turn the TV up louder, or avoid places where hearing is more challenging. These behaviors are actually making matters worse. That’s why early intervention is always recommended.

Early intervention prevents your brain from forgetting what to do
The ability to make instant association depends on repeatedly hearing a word. If you do not hear a word for a long period of time, connecting the sound to its meaning occurs. Over time, reduced stimulation to the brain can impair its ability to process sound and recognize speech. Once speech recognition deteriorates, it is only partially recoverable with hearing aids.

Early intervention slows cognitive decline and communication problems
Not being able to hear what’s going on around you contributes to reduced mental sharpness and communication abilities.

Early intervention improves the use of hearing aids
The earlier people begin to use hearing aids, the sooner they get comfortable wearing them, and the easier it is to maximize their advantage.

Take action
Now is a great time to be proactive about your hearing loss and seek treatment before its negative effects get worse. To arrange for a hearing consultation, contact us at (605) 996-0281 or by filling out our Contact Us page and we will be in touch to schedule your appointment.

Recently, the non-profit Better Hearing Institute (BHI) took a close look at the impact untreated hearing loss has on the workplace — and its workforce. What they discovered was fascinating, showing that untreated hearing loss not only cost companies money (in terms of lost productivity, accidents and more), but also affected workers’ earnings, and even employment rates.

They found:
• The majority of people with hearing loss are still in the workforce
• People with untreated hearing loss can lose up to $30,000 income annually, depending on their degree of loss
• The aggregate yearly loss in income due to underemployment for people with untreated hearing loss is an estimated $176 billion
• Fiscal cost to society in unrealized federal taxes is an estimated $26 billion       
Luckily hearing loss is largely manageable if addressed properly. The BHI study found that the use of hearing aids reduced the risk of income loss dramatically—by 90 to 100 percent for those with milder hearing loss, and from 65 to 77 percent for those with severe to moderate loss. The study also found that people with severe hearing loss who use hearing aids are nearly twice as likely to be employed as their peers who don’t.

If you think hearing loss may be affecting yours or a loved one’s ability at work, get help today. At Hearing Plus LLC, we offer demonstrations of Starkey’s new wireless hearing aids and can help you find the hearing aid that’s right for you.  We also have multiple options for hearing protection to help protect you from a hearing loss.  Whether you want the protection for recreational hunting, industrial work, or even for a musical concert event, Hearing Plus LLC has many options for you to consider.

Hearing loss and employment success
Recently, the non-profit Better Hearing Institute took a close look at the impact untreated hearing loss has on the workplace — and its workforce. What they discovered was intriguing. Untreated hearing loss affected worker’s earnings, and even employment rates.

They found*:

• People with untreated hearing loss lose up to $30,000 income annually, depending on their degree of loss.
• People with hearing loss who do not use hearing aids are nearly twice as likely to be unemployed as peers who use them.
• For people with milder hearing loss, the use of hearing aids reduces the risk of income loss by 90 to 100 percent.

 
Make sure you’re working at the level you want to be.
At Hearing Plus LLC we can help individuals with hearing loss difficulties. If you feel that you or a loved one are struggling with hearing loss, we encourage you to take the first step to better hearing and make an appointment for a free consultation today. Simply go to our Contact Us page and submit your information and we will be in touch within one business day.

*The dollars and sense of addressing hearing loss in the workplace. McClatchy Newspapers, June 2012

One common reason why people with hearing loss put off getting help is the misperception that it only affects them. They’re the one who can’t hear, so if it’s not a problem for them, it shouldn’t be a problem for others.

Physically, the inability to hear warning sounds or the voices of those who depend on the individual with hearing loss could potentially put lives in danger. Even emotionally, the impact can resonate throughout family and social circles — from frustration with repeating things over and over, to sadness at seeing a loved one isolate themselves from the people and activities they enjoy.

“Please turn down the TV!”
Stories of family members putting up with televisions turned too loud, and colleagues or service workers feeling insulted when their questions or attempts at conversation go “ignored” are almost cliché by now — as well as loved ones feeling slighted by what they perceive to be “selective hearing.” We even heard one story where the young daughter of a woman with hearing loss misinterpreted her mother’s lack of response to her questions as lack of love instead.

Don’t put off getting help any longer
With today’s advances in hearing science and technology, there’s no longer a reason to let hearing loss negatively affect you or those you care about the most. To arrange for a comprehensive hearing evaluation, consultation or hearing aid demonstration, simply go to our Contact Us page and submit your information. We will be in touch to schedule your appointment.

Talking to a loved one about hearing loss
Hearing loss doesn’t just affect the person who has it. It also affects spouses, family members and friends. From frustration with having to repeat things over and over to heartbreak at seeing someone you care about isolate themselves from the people and activities they love, the negative effects of hearing loss cast a wide net.

Do’s and don’ts when approaching this important subject
Left untreated, hearing loss can affect a person’s quality of life in many ways. Yet without even realizing it, you may be making it easier for someone not to seek help.

Well-intentioned efforts such as repeating yourself or “translating” what others are saying may be preventing your loved one from realizing how much communication they fail to understand or miss completely.

How to help

• Gently remind them of their loss every time you “translate” or repeat something for them
• Share hearing information you find on websites like this site
• Offer to schedule and attend a hearing consultation with them for a comprehensive audiological exam
• Remind them they have nothing to lose and potentially everything to gain by seeing a hearing professional

Don’t be surprised if you get resistance
Unlike eyesight, when hearing goes, people are in less of a hurry to do something about it — with many waiting 5-7 years before finally seeking treatment. Be prepared for pushback with these responses.

• My family doctor would have told me if I have hearing loss.
  Not true — less than 20% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss during physicals
• Wearing a hearing aid will make my hearing loss obvious.
  Today’s hearing aids are sleek and stylish and less noticeable than if you constantly ask people to repeat themselves, inappropriately respond to them, or don’t respond at all
• A little hearing loss is no big deal.
  The fact is, studies have linked untreated hearing loss to big deals like stress, depression, social rejection, increased risk to personal safety, reduced earning power and more 1
• People think I am confused.
  The fact is, a hearing loss left unattended may be confused for dementia

A hearing test is the best first step
If you know someone who could benefit from help, suggest they get a hearing test. At Hearing Plus LLC, our hearing tests are performed on advanced, precision testing equipment by a doctoral level audiologist there is to assure no medical reason for your hearings loss.  Visit our Contact Us page to find out more.

1betterhearing.org

Today’s hearing aids are precision instruments, utilizing advance digital technology that can and should be customized to fit your specific hearing loss and your unique lifestyle needs.

This is why the Better Hearing Institute, a non-profit center for hearing advocacy, published a consumer warning against “do-it-yourself hearing care,” writing,

“The process requires a complete in-person hearing assessment in a sound booth; the training and skills of a credentialed hearing healthcare professional in order to prescriptively fit the hearing aids using sophisticated computer programs; and appropriate in-person follow-up and counseling. This is not possible when consumers purchase one-size-fits-all hearing aids over the Internet or elsewhere.”

While the Internet is an increasingly convenient place to purchase many items, consumers should be cautious about purchasing their hearing aids online.  Any upfront cost savings will likely be used towards after purchase costs like maintenance, cleaning or reprogramming an aid, services that are included in the purchase at a hearing care professional.

A hearing professional will ensure that you receive a proper evaluation and help prescribe the proper treatment for your loss. Your ears will be visually examined and you'll be tested with state-of-the-art equipment to determine the type of hearing loss you have.

It should come as no surprise that hearing loss can result in anxiety and feelings of isolation if left untreated. But there are other consequential side effects that are less obvious or well known.

Fatigue — Research shows that, with untreated hearing loss, the sheer effort it takes to communicate can cause fatigue, as the person needs to concentrate harder to participate in conversations.

Earning Power — Studies by the Better Hearing Institute show that people with untreated hearing loss lose up to $30,000 annually, depending on their degree of hearing loss.

Dementia — A study by John Hopkins reports that seniors with hearing loss are significantly more likely to develop dementia over time than those who retain their hearing.

Enjoy the benefits of hearing help
With today’s advances in hearing science and technology, there’s no longer a reason to let hearing loss affect you or those you care about the most.  To learn more about signs of hearing loss and treatment, or to arrange for a comprehensive audiologicalfree hearing screening, simply go to our Contact Us page and submit your information. We will be in touch to schedule your free appointment.

Hearing loss is one of the most common health issues in the world. Nearly one in five Americans age 12 and older experience hearing loss severe enough to interfere with daily communication.*1

Common causes
A longer-living population contributes to the high volume of cases. That’s because Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, is the second most common cause of hearing loss (after noise-induced).

Other causes include:

• Infections
• Injuries to the head or ear
• Birth defects or genetics
• Ototoxic reaction to drugs or cancer treatment (i.e. antibiotics, chemotherapy, radiation)

Most common type
Presbycusis is typically attributed to sensorineural hearing loss, the most common type of hearing loss. Usually irreversible, sensorineural hearing loss occurs when the tiny hair cells that detect sound in the ear are injured, diseased or die (due naturally, for instance, to age). The good news? Hearing aids are proven to help treat sensorineural hearing loss.

Waiting is not worth it
Many people put off getting help for their hearing loss because they think it’s insignificant — something they can deal with by simply turning the TV louder or asking friends to repeat themselves. But research has linked untreated hearing loss to significant issues such as*2:

• Irritability, negativism and anger
• Fatigue, tension, stress and depression
• Avoidance or withdrawal from social situations
• Social rejection and loneliness
• Reduced alertness and increased risk to personal safety
• Impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks
• Reduced job performance and earning power
• Diminished psychological and overall health

Help is just a click away
The best way to treat your hearing loss or help someone suffering from hearing loss is to take the first step and make an appointment for a audiological examination. At Hearing Plus LLC we offer comprehensive examinations and consultations. Request an appointment by entering your information on our Contact Us page and we will be in touch to schedule an appointment within one business day.

*1 abcnews.com
*2 betterhearing.org