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How effective is online therapy for hearing loss? How can it help people dealing with the impacts of the condition? Will an effective therapy help people get over hearing loss? Let’s learn about the treatment in this article and find out more.

Understanding The Effect Of Hearing Loss

According to a report, 48 million Americans, or 20% of their population have some degree of hearing loss. Auditory impairment does not mean a total impairment of hearing – it is categorized in certain degrees which are mild, normal, moderate to severe, profound, and permanent. People of all ages may experience gradual age-related conditions, and there are also different reasons for the causes of sensorineural noise-induced hone, such as high noise exposure, loud noises, and aging especially older adults.

There are several types of hearing loss. One type is a hearing impairment called presbycusis, an age-related hearing loss. It can impact a person’s ability to speak, understand speech, and communicate effectively. Profound hearing loss is another, in which people with hearing loss lose almost all sense of hearing and become incapable of detecting sound. Children can also be affected by it, and it’s important to be aware of symptoms such as tinnitus, a ringing in the ears. Speech and talk development can be delayed or affected by it, making it important to seek treatment as soon as possible. Identifying and addressing the condition early on can improve a child’s health, overall sense of well-being, and ability to communicate effectively.

Learning Experience Of People Suffering With A Hearing Loss Condition

People may experience essential hearing loss suddenly or gradually, depending on the cause or damage to the auditory nerve or inner ear. It is not easy to see hearing impairment, but we can see its impact when you try to hear certain sounds. The trouble people with hearing loss experience is often personality changes, aloofness, cognitive decline, or confusion. When someone you know is experiencing an impairment of hearing or loss of hearing, the best step to take is to acknowledge it.

Hearing impairment can occur for many reasons, including disorders affecting the middle ear or ear canal, such as an ear infection or a ruptured eardrum. Exposure to loud noise, excessive background noise, loud music, or high-pitched sounds can also damage the hair cells in the inner ear that transmit electrical signals to the brain. If you can’t hear noise or sounds, it’s important to have your hearing tested and possibly get a hearing aid. Additionally, some studies have linked heart disease with it, so regular testing can be beneficial for overall health.

“According to professors Pat Hulsebosch and Lynda Myers of Gallaudet University, hearing parents spend the first few years of the child’s life attempting to understand what it means to be physically and culturally deaf and what it means to be only visually able in [lost] hearing world. Only once parental acceptance of [hearing loss] occur, can the parent-child relationship finally begin to flourish,” writes Robert T Muller Ph.D.

The Effects Of Therapy Treatment For People With Hearing Loss

Treatments for people with difficulty hearing even loud background noise are available. As mentioned, the type of treatment will vary depending on the need. The most proven way of living with the condition is using a test aid to improve the perception of sound waves. Aside from hearing aids, other information-proven methods include cochlear implants, surgery, and online therapy.

Hearing loss can result from various disorders that affect the ears, and it’s important to treat them promptly before they lead to more significant communication difficulties. Speech therapy is one example of a treatment that can help individuals with hearing impairment develop their word skills. Listening and comprehension skills can also be targeted through therapy. As a family member or caregiver, it’s essential to notice any signs of speech or language problems and seek help from a professional as soon as possible. Early intervention is crucial to improving communication and overall quality of life for those with hearing impairment. Early intervention can greatly benefit a person’s ear health, and they can get a hearing aid or cochlear implant sooner.

There are also tests and applications proven online to help people check if they may have a hearing impairment. A person’s overall well-being and health can be directly linked to hearing loss. Furthermore, studies reveal that ignoring it may increase the risk of social isolation, paranoia, anxiety, depression, and even dementia.

“Physical disability reminds the able-bodied of our frailty and mortality, and mental disability gives us a glimpse into the invisible yet damaging world of cognitive and emotional distress,” writes Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP.

Advantages Of Online Therapy For People With Hearing Loss

Online therapy has its effective advantages and unwanted disadvantages for people struggling with deafness. Yes, it is a trend, but it is not for everyone. A person with a hearing impairment must be able to gauge and know if online therapy works effectively for them.

Some people opt to go through online therapy because they lack effective reviews. People will not have to be concerned about the stigma of in-office therapy since other people won’t see them enter a hearing impairment therapist’s office. People tend to be more comfortable at home due to their hearing impairment condition so maybe online therapy works best for them.

“Physical issues often have an emotional or psychological component and yet patients can be reluctant to visit yet another doctor,” writes Dawn Kingston Ph.D.

Effective Online Therapy Deals

It is also better for some people with hearing problems who want more anonymity since there are other online tools they can utilize for therapy. Online therapy offers convenience and comfort to people suffering from the effects of hearing loss, and it can be less expensive than going to the office of a therapist.

Final Thoughts On People Trying Online Therapy For Hearing Loss

Take note of the first step to hearing impairment treatment. A proven way to handle situations such as this is to get diagnosed by a hearing specialist and get a hearing aid for ear protection if needed. It is always better to take action rather than ignore the causes of hearing loss (i.e., exposure to loud sounds). For most people, it’s not easy to undergo gradual hearing impairment therapy, and maybe, online therapy might be efficient.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does hearing loss affect the quality of life?
What happens if hearing loss due to loud noise is not treated?
Does hearing impairment cause other health problems?
Does hearing impairment affect your brain?
Does hearing impairment affect your balance?
Can loss of hearing cause depression?
Can you live a normal life with hearing impairment?
Does hearing impairment affect memory?
Can hearing impairment cause brain fog?
What are the 4 most types of hearing impairment?
What is one of the biggest dangers of hearing impairment?
Who is most affected by hearing loss?
How does hearing impairment affect intelligence?
What makes hearing loss worse?
How can I improve my hearing loss?

Lacking a fundamental sense, such as sight or hearing, is a very challenging obstacle. Dealing with such is made even more difficult by the stigma that society associates with the disabled. Even in the contemporary world, where inclusion is supposedly at its peak in human history, people still see forms of discrimination against the deaf and other disabled individuals. With millions of people around the world who are deaf or hard of hearing, this means that multitudes still suffer continuously from all the prejudice against them.

Much of the stigma associated with deafness is due to ignorance. By further understanding the plight of the deaf and how stigma against them arises, it becomes possible to create solutions that will help protect them from further discrimination.

Mechanisms Of Deafness

Source: commons.wikimedia.org

Deafness is a complex condition that can be brought about by myriad factors. Irma M Munoz-Baell and co-author wrote that, “hearing loss is a very complex phenomenon, which has many and serious consequences for people and involves many factors and issues that should be carefully examined.”

Most commonly, deafness occurs gradually as a person ages. However, it may also be congenital, or it may suddenly arise anytime during the life of an individual. It may be due to genetics, infection, or exposure to overwhelmingly loud sounds. It may be a purely physical problem, caused by damage to the parts of the auditory system, or it might signify a mental disorder.

The point is that deafness is a complicated condition that can be hard to understand for some people. This misunderstanding can then give rise to stigma.

Misunderstanding And Ignorance

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When some people encounter deaf people, they tend to jump to unfair conclusions. As deaf people may have trouble understanding communication, they may be dismissed as ignorant or stupid. Unlike many other disabilities, deafness is mostly invisible, making it less likely for people to recognize that they do have a disability. People may believe that they are only pretending to not listen to them during conversations when in fact they really cannot hear the person properly.

Isolation And Discrimination

“Stigma appears to play a role in-group formation, particularly in minority group formation,” Megan A. Jones, Ph.D. said. Because of the communication hurdles of being deaf or hard of hearing, people who have auditory problems are usually forced into relative isolation. They have a harder time in social interactions than other people. Some people also believe they will be less likely to provide adequate work, less productive than other people, or be a nuisance.  As a result, they may be glossed over during job applications, refused admission into social circles, or even refused entry into establishments.

Source: af.mil

Due to their disability, the deaf may be unable to enjoy amenities other people can enjoy. Many people do not go with the trouble of ensuring their products and services are accessible to the deaf. As a result, the deaf community is further isolated from a society that does not seem to care about them.

Empowerment

However, times are changing. Governments are passing and enforcing laws that ban discrimination against the deaf.  People with auditory problems are starting to form their social groups. They are speaking out for their rights, alongside their loved ones and other supporters who are fighting for greater inclusion. Many are also getting adequate help from platforms like BetterHelp, which allows them to get their message across digitally.

To be able to confront the stigma that surrounds them, they can take comfort in the fact that they are not alone in their struggles and that they are part of a caring and supportive community. Gaylene Becker, Ph.D. explains that “deaf identity and the development of a social support system are two factors that intervene positively in the management of stigma.” Finally, they need to realize that their disability does not reduce their fundamental humanity. Deaf or otherwise, they are still people who can surpass their limits and reach for their dreams.

Do you have hearing loss? Hearing impairment is challenging – faced with a lot of difficulties. Those experiencing hearing loss are struggling physically, mentally, and emotionally.

So without further ado, let’s discuss more about this topic.

Impairment occurs when there is a problem with the outer ear, middle ear, or inner ear, which can be caused by noise exposure, ear infections, disease control, or sudden impairment. Depending on the severity of the auditory impairment and the type of hearing loss, hearing aids or cochlear implants may be recommended to improve hearing. Mild impairment to moderate one can make it difficult to hear soft sounds or speech in background noise, making communication challenging.

“[Those with hearing loss] certainly understand that they’re outsiders in the hearing world, and no matter how good their skills at speaking and lip-reading, they may never completely fit in,” writes David Ludden Ph.D.

Because of the partial or complete decline of their ability to listen, disorders like depression, schizophrenia, substance abuse, and anxiety are some causes that those with auditory impairment are facing every day.

How Hearing Loss And Auditory Impairments Impact People

People who have noise-induced hearing loss also find it difficult to communicate with their care providers, as sometimes, lip-reading isn’t enough. The communication gap is the issue, and there are only a few providers who are equipped with sign language. There are different types of hearing loss: age-related hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, severe hearing loss, mixed hearing loss, profound hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, and permanent hearing loss. All of these types of hearing loss can make it difficult for people to be fully understood. Without hearing aids or cochlear implants, they cannot express themselves vocally through speech. Furthermore, the people they are trying to communicate with have limited skills for communicating with people who cannot hear. Even those with a voice find it hard to process their emotions. What more for those with complete trouble hearing or perceiving sound waves due to loud sounds or loud noise?

“Prior to diagnosis and learning that their child may have hearing difficulties, parents often have difficulty understanding the needs of their baby,” writes Robert T Muller Ph.D.

Hearing Loss Statistics

Hearing impairment can be caused by a variety of factors, such as an ear infection, loud music, and occupational safety concerns. The degree of hearing impairment and type of hearing impairment can vary greatly and impact a person’s ability to hear sounds, particularly in one ear. Older adults may be more susceptible to hearing loss due to age-related changes in the auditory nerve. It’s important to take preventative measures such as regular tests and following occupational safety guidelines set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to maintain good hearing health.

About 15-26% of the population will experience hearing loss but to have a complete disorder even before learning the spoken language is such a challenge. Nearly seven in 10,000 people have hearing loss, and their only way to communicate is through sign language.

In the world today, wherein auditory is a valuable sense, struggling to fit in and function well, along with stress and prejudice may lead to developing mental health issues like depression or substance abuse in the deaf community.

Kids’ Hearing Loss

There are also students who have hearing loss that also suffer from developmental delays and Autism Spectrum Disorder, among others. Children with hearing loss who have difficulty communicating with their families can also be affected by mental health issues. What’s worse is that these children are also more likely to be deprived of when in school and become a victim of sexual assault.

“Deaf and hard-of-hearing populations experience abuse about one and a half times more frequently than those without hearing difficulties,” writes Mellissa Withers, Ph.D., M.H.S.

Seeking Mental Wellness Services For People Who Have Auditory Impairment

People who have hearing loss find it difficult to obtain mental health services. In a small study with 54 respondents, more than half of the respondents with hearing loss weren’t able to see and access the services that they needed for healing.

There are also times when people with hearing loss who have mood disorders are underdiagnosed due to the following:

• Lack of experienced sign language interpreters
• Things getting astray in translation
• Differentiation in how deaf people display their feelings to a mental health professional

Supplement Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can occur when electrical signals from the ear to the brain are disrupted due to damage to the tiny bones or hair cells in the ear — this is called sensorineural hearing loss. This sensorineural damage can be caused by exposing the ear to loud power tools, music, loud noise, or other loud sounds. Chemotherapy drugs can also lead to hearing loss as a side effect. In some cases, a ruptured eardrum can cause auditory impairment. It’s important to take measures to protect your ears from loud noises and seek medical attention if you experience any auditory problems.

You can’t substitute reading and writing for spoken language. Hearing loss can significantly affect vocabulary. Lip reading to communicate with those with hearing loss isn’t accurate either, with only 26-40% of adults being able to lip read.

People with hearing loss who participated in the studies said that they prefer professionals with auditory impairment to give them counseling services. The problem is that there are not many specialists who have hearing loss to cater to people who’ve lost hearing. In case you run out of ideas, you may try chatting with a BetterHelp psychologist.

The only way to deal with hearing loss is to keep on moving forward. Losing one’s hearing is a lifelong challenge.

The only way to deal with hearing loss is to keep on moving forward and adapt to the best of their abilities.

How The Auditory Impaired Community Should Be Differentiated

Mental health professionals should also know how to differentiate when a person with hearing loss shows their feelings as compared to those who don’t. For people who can hear, pounding on the floor may seem like an act of aggression, but for people with auditory disabilities, this is a standard way to get attention. Those who have auditory impairment also rely on showing strong expressions of feelings as these small details indicate their change of mood. This must be noted.

know how to differentiate when a person with hearing loss shows their feelings

Being Misunderstood – An Issue Among People With Auditory Impairment

A study concluded that people with hearing loss have a fear of being misunderstood. The participants in the study stated that there are times when they were misdiagnosed.

With that, the best people to assist those who have auditory impairment with mental health issues must also have sensorineural auditory impairment, as well. The National Association of the Deaf has more information on this matter. Professionals with little to no experience in working with people with auditory impairment should be careful in treating them.

Final Thoughts: Better Lives For The Deaf Community

Losing hearing to noise is no joke. Despite several mediums that can assist with communication after an auditory test, a lot of people with damage in their inner ear, middle ear, ear canal, or auditory nerve are still struggling to interact with other people. This leads to risk factors and psychological problems that worsen their conditions. Hence, there should be more programs and tools to be developed to help the deaf community to lead better lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 3 types of normal hearing loss due to loud noises?
What are 3 symptoms of hearing loss?
How do I fix my auditory impairment?
What are the 4 types of auditory loss?
What are 9 causes of auditory impairment?
What is the most common cause of hearing loss?
At what age is hearing loss normal?
Is auditory impairment permanent?
Can auditory loss be cured?
Can you reverse auditory loss?
What are the signs of losing your hearing?
Is auditory impairment a disability?
What exercises improve hearing?
What food improves hearing?
Can vitamins improve hearing?

More than 30 million Americans are deaf of which causes and severity vary with each person.  Some people with hard of hearing use hearing aids to help improve their hearing.  But others have to suffer the implications of being deaf, until when no one knows.

“They certainly understand that they’re outsiders in the hearing world, and no matter how good their skills at speaking and lip reading, they may never completely fit in,” writes David Ludden Ph.D.

Almost 80% of the 30 million have the irreversible type deafness.   The remaining percentage have a profound hearing loss.  These profoundly hearing-impaired persons have few damaged sensory receptors in their ears called hair cells.

Role of Hair Cells

A cochlear implant is surgically placing electrodes into the cochlea.  These electrodes bypass hair cells, stimulates the cochlea’s hearing nerve, and transmits the impulses to the brain perceived as sound.  This then allows some deaf to comprehend speech without doing lip reading, listen to music, talk to someone on the telephone, and basically, live a normal life.

“Dr. William House surgically inserted the first cochlear implant in 1961. Most considered his idea to tap into a deaf person’s auditory nerve radical and invasive. Today, thousands of formerly deaf patients around the world now have the ability to hear because of cochlear implants,” writes Jeffrey Pickens Ph.D.

Hair Cells Regeneration

New findings show it might be possible to regrow damage hair cells.  Each ear has 15,000 hair cells.  Exposure to loud noises is what causes it to be irreparably damaged that lead to hearing loss.  While other parts of the ear can be repaired when damaged, repair of hair cells has not yet developed.  Continuous effort is being made to make this possible.   The idea arose when they were able to regrow cells in the intestinal lining.   Using the same method, they were able to grow hair cells in mouse cochlea successfully without inducing any drugs.   Hair cells grow naturally.

It is fascinating to know that there is hope for the hearing-impaired people to be able to hear again.  But even if the research turned out to be successful, not all deaf can benefit from it.  It will not work for those with an inherited hearing loss.  It is further explained that if a person’s hair cells damage is due to gene mutation no drug yet can fix the problem.  Even if they regenerate, they will still be dead hair cells because it will have the same mutation, unless gene mutation is fixed through gene therapy.

Will Gene Therapy Works

Gene therapy is one of the newest research for recovering hearing of the deaf by fixing defective DNAs.  Various tests in mice are showing positive results and giving hope to the scientists that it might be the ultimate answer to cure deafness.  Gene therapy worked in mice but still needs to be tested to other animals and human cells first before it can be stated that gene therapy is the future for the deaf to be able to hear again.

“Not long ago, this was science fiction. But today, gene editing is possible, and recently it has become much easier with new technologies such as genome sequencing and Crispr. These are helping to develop practical, clinical applications,” writes Marty Nemko Ph.D.

More research and test are still needed to be done to conclude if these hair cells regeneration and gene therapy are the future of those individuals suffering from deafness.   More patience, determination, and positivity is needed until such time that doctors can replicate hearing.

It may take more years to perfect these types of newly found ways of recovering hearing, but it is exciting to think that one important discovery of our time may help a lot of people with hearing disabilities.

Like any health issue, hearing loss can lead to drastic changes in our quality of life. It’s stressful, challenging, and downright debilitating. The increased stress from needing to ask folks to speak up, repeat what they’ve said, or start over again can make us feel lethargic and apathetic. The need for hearing aids when watching television or even just stepping out for groceries can be frustrating, too, not to mention costly. Let’s take a look at five things we can do to improve ourselves when dealing with hearing loss.

“They certainly understand that they’re outsiders in the hearing world, and no matter how good their skills at speaking and lip reading, they may never completely fit in,” writes David Ludden Ph.D.

Not all these things will seem especially linked to being hard-of-hearing, but every one of them can be used as a tool for destressing. In turn, you’ll live a healthier life and — to borrow a current catchphrase — “have more spoons” to deal with the hardships you’ll face from your hearing woes.

Yoga And Tai Chi

Proven sources of relaxation, yoga, and tai chi are designed to work you out in controlled motions which can calm the body and mind. They help to oxygenate you, too, by causing you to move in slow, methodical, and deliberate ways which ease your breathing. If you’ve struggled with moments where your hardness-of-hearing has brought you close to snapping at someone, you should consider pursuing one or both of these exercise routines. Mental clarity and emotional stability are improved through good health, and there are few better ways to see that happen than through this.

“Yoga is widely known for reducing stress, improving flexibility and concentration, and promoting a sense of peace—to name just a few of its possible positive outcomes,” writes Tracy S. Hutchinson, Ph.D.

You can attend a class and get direct tips from qualified instructors. Alternatively, you can look up exercise routines on YouTube; the modern information era has given us plenty of cheaper ways to discover new lifestyles.

Gardening

Like yoga and tai chi, gardening has a therapeutic quality. There’s a serene grace in helping things to grow and gradually reaping the fruit-and-vegetable rewards. While advanced landscaping is a tough gig, there are many relatively easy things you can grow for just pennies on the dollar that will only require occasional watering once the soil’s been made ready for planting. Spending several minutes each evening tending your crops will become routine for you, and you’ll know that no matter how stressful a day you’ve had dealing with people who mumble, your plants will always be there waiting for you.

Hiking

We sure are working you to the bone, aren’t we? Lots of exercise in this article. Then again, that’s intentional — get the blood flowing, get those muscles sore, all of it will help you to unwind. Hiking’s great fun, and it’s cheap, too! National parks are generally very reasonably-priced, and many of the local offerings only charge a few bucks for parking. You can wrap yourself in nature, far away from the stress of difficult communication. The sounds of birds chirping overhead and trees swaying with the breeze can both be heard at whatever volume your ears will allow, without the need to ask them to “speak up”. You’ll hear what you hear, and you can leave your aid at home; just immerse yourself in the gorgeous sights of your chosen destination.

“Being in daylight also boosts your mood and that makes it more likely that you’ll have creative thoughts and get along with your fellow hikers,” writes Sally Augustin Ph.D.

Support Groups

Well, at least you can rest your legs for this one. Support groups exist for just about anything you can imagine, so you’d better believe there are plenty of open channels for folks who are hard-of-hearing! You’ve got options here; you can either do this virtually or traditionally. Online support groups, like web forums, are filled with people overcoming similar struggles. They’re a great “sound-off” venue for you to ask questions, seek suggestions, and find all sorts of answers to better living while dealing with the rigors of hearing loss. Brick-and-mortar support groups offer the same deal, and you can discuss sensitive topics in the presence of others who are almost guaranteed to understand. You can probably snag a cup of coffee and a donut, too, while you’re at it.

Another option is to gain assistance from psychologists at BetterHelp. They are trusted by many in this business, and you can reach them through Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Painting And Photography

Tell me if you’ve heard this one before: a picture is worth a thousand words. I don’t know that I agree with that on a universal basis; sometimes words are more effective. But broadly speaking? Absolutely. Why not learn to communicate through beautiful tapestries and paintings? Paint to your heart’s desire. Boot up some of those aforementioned YouTube videos to learn innovative artistic techniques, then apply them as a hobby. You can also try your hand at photography. Pristine sunsets are all too fleeting, so capture them and post them all over social media. Bring your phone along, or a nice higher-end camera, while you’re hiking through parks. Take snapshots of all the beautiful scenery. Before long, your loved ones will be commenting on how great you’ve gotten at this, and you’ll be instilled with a creative confidence that will help you to move past the difficulties of your hearing loss.

If you’re one of the hundreds of millions of people worldwide with auditory challenges, you know how inconveniencing it can be. The difficulty can range from minute hard-of-hearing symptoms to near-deafness, and it can advance from one stage to the next as we age. I can speak from experience — at 29, I’ve already begun to face daily hardships and the need to ask people to speak up multiple times. I worry for what’s next, but I keep a positive outlook and gladly discuss the need for rehabilitation with anyone who will — pardon the pun — listen.

Know Who To Speak WIth

The first thing you need to consider is who to get in contact with for more information. If you’re suffering from hearing loss of any kind, it can be tempting to ignore it and put off help for many years, especially if you’re uncertain what your options are. According to David Sack M.D., “Most people can benefit from therapy at at least some point in their lives. Sometimes the signs are obvious—but at other times, something may feel slightly off and you can’t figure out what it is.” This is a mistake; procrastination is rarely the best course of action, and it’s certainly unwise when it comes to our health. Be proactive! Seek out aid in a variety of ways, starting with the world wide web. A simple Google search for “local hearing loss help” will bring up as many as dozens of health centers featuring qualified professionals who can quickly and keenly diagnose the cause of your trouble.

Once you’ve scheduled an appointment, steel yourself for intensive testing. Hearing, like vision, involves a ton of tests. There are literally hundreds of possible reasons our sound comprehension can suffer, from obvious triggers like prolonged exposure to loud noises to more subtle and insidious triggers like white noise. Right now, what you need to know is that your new doctor will ask you all about your daily routine, so take some time before the appointment to think critically about it. Ideally, you’ll want to chart your activities from awake to in-bed for the week before your first check-up. This will give your doctor plenty to work with and help him or her to diagnose you. (And you’ll impress them with your resolve, too!)

Understand The Need

Now for the bulk of today’s blog post. It’s a little bit preachy, but you really do need to understand how vital it is that you get this looked into. Whether you face hourly struggles parsing sound or you’re just starting to notice a lack of complete auditory clarity, it’s never too late to get help. The simple truth is that hearing, like anything else physiological, gets worse with age. That’s not to say there aren’t newborn babies with hearing problems, because there absolutely are, and it’s a terrible shame. But you’re more likely to run into hardship the older you get. “People often avoid seeking medical care even when they suspect it may be necessary,” Jennifer M. Taber, Ph.D. and co-authors wrote. “Reasons for avoiding medical care were nuanced and highly varied. Understanding why people do not make it through the clinic door is critical to extending the reach and effectiveness of patient care.”

Along a similar note, early symptoms can and will increase with time. So no matter how young you are, if you’ve begun to realize that you can’t hear as well as you used to, you can bet that things will be worse five and ten years down the line. This is where my personal story comes into play. As I mentioned earlier, I’m only 29. A few years ago, a friend of mine was speaking to me in my house and I thought that he was whispering. I asked him to speak up. He looked at me, blank-faced and confused, and raised his voice. This happened again a few days later, and he finally said something about it. He told me that to the best of his knowledge he hadn’t been speaking any lower than usual that week and that I should get my hearing checked. He said it out of kindness, but I dismissed it out-of-hand. Over the course of the next year, this situation occurred numerous times with numerous people. I was in college at the time, and I found myself increasingly likely to sit closer to the front of the class because I couldn’t understand the instructor from farther back. I continued to ignore the telltale signs until a free medical examination was offered at my school.

Get Help Today

I was shocked by what I’d learned. My hearing ability had decreased by over 30% and I was firmly informed that I should have sought medical help the moment I realized something was amiss. We implore you to do the same. “More than 90% of newborns in the United States are now being screened for hearing loss,” Danielle S. Ross, PhD and co-authors said. Once a loss has begun, depending on the circumstances you can expect the issue to amplify relatively quickly. It’s a terrifying prospect, but what’s scarier is the thought of not doing anything about it until a great deal of damage has occurred. You have a better choice, so don’t let that happen. Even if you’re in a rut because you’ve already suffered a large amount of damage to your hearing, it isn’t too late. Schedule an appointment and start down the path to renewed clarity!

We live in an amazing world. Medical breakthroughs occur everyday, and many of our leading researchers believe that the next 20 to 30 years will see the eradication of thousands of common ailments. It’s absolutely fascinating, but depending on the health issues which ail us, it might seem hard to believe. Despite advancements in technologies, those of us who suffer from hearing loss still don’t have a cure-all; the deaf remain deaf, and it seems like there’s no answer in sight.

“They certainly understand that they’re outsiders in the hearing world, and no matter how good their skills at speaking and lip reading, they may never completely fit in,” writes David Ludden Ph.D.

But help is on the way. Today we’re going to take a look at some truly cutting-edge solutions on the horizon in the field of aural rehabilitation. Keep tabs on these hot stories and in a few years you might just benefit from their widespread distribution!

An Upcoming New Drug Cocktail

For those with sensorineural hearing loss, an answer may be close in the form of an experimental drug. Thanks to researchers at MIT, a discovery has been made which links intestinal stem cells with the structural support cells located in the cochlea. What this means is that as stem cell research enters its next phase, it may be possible to acutely treat sensorineural deficiency — a big deal indeed, since there’s currently no true solution. And sensorineural hearing loss is one of the biggest sources of auditory frustration around; in America alone, 48 million citizens identify themselves as having hearing problems, and a large percentage of this is related to this particular type.

The researchers hope to begin major testing in the next year. Like any drug, the tests will be rigorous. It could be several years before this is ready for distribution, but if it all goes as planned, it will be a significant milestone in the medical world and it might just help us to get back to hearing crystal-clearly.

Gene Therapy

Similar to the proposed drug cocktail, ongoing gene therapy experiments aim to treat issues around the cochlea. The overwhelming majority of hearing loss issues worldwide involve the degradation (and eventual death) of inner ear “hair cells”. They’re not really hair follicles, but when looked-at up close with a microscope, they rather look like it! What happens is that as these cells break down, either through age or genetic misfortune, our ability to comprehend sound waves diminishes.

“”Not long ago, this was science fiction. But today, gene editing is possible, and recently it has become much easier with new technologies such as genome sequencing and Crispr. These are helping to develop practical, clinical applications,” writes Marty Nemko Ph.D.

The good news is that researchers are currently undergoing the world’s first cellular regeneration therapy experimentation involving cochlear disability. There’s an excitement and a cautious optimism in the marvelous results posted thus far, and a real hope is in the air that gene therapy can and will bring a gradual end to many forms of hearing loss. Again, it will be a while before we can regularly reap the benefits of this painstaking research, but it promises to improve our quality-of-life considerably once it’s ready for rollout.

Next-Generation Hearing Aid Technologies

It will be awhile before these two groundbreaking medical experiments yield help on a wide scale, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t great products on the market right now that can make a sizable difference. Hearing aids have come a long way over the past few decades, and while the price for the best can be somewhat steep, they’re worth every penny.

“Dr. William House surgically inserted the first cochlear implant in 1961. Most considered his idea to tap into a deaf person’s auditory nerve radical and invasive. Today, thousands of formerly deaf patients around the world now have the ability to hear because of cochlear implants,” writes Jeffrey Pickens Ph.D.

You can think of improvements in the hearing aid industry somewhat like televisions. Remember back before HDTVs were sold when the best anyone could hope for was a big, fuzzy picture? Massive televisions were considered a status symbol, but picture quality was never amazing. Nowadays, young folks can hardly fathom what they’re seeing when their parents and grandparents bust out the standard-definition fare, and new HDTV models are made every year which make the older ones look like dinosaurs, too.

Of course, at the end of the day a TV is a TV. But when it comes to hearing loss, it’s all the more pivotal that our hearing aids deliver great sound. Here’s where my analogy makes sense: the past few years of hearing aids have often used the “HD” moniker to denote that they’re a definite cut above what came before them. These devices can cost several thousand dollars, but there are many very solid models in distribution for a fraction of that. $500 can afford you a more crystal-clear sound pickup than the earlier models could have ever hoped to achieve. Those who make this kind of purchase can expect much improved aural clarity; in fact, many people who don’t even believe that they have any sort of hearing loss have tested the products and come away impressed.  It’s a bit like buying a Bose for your eardrums. You’ll have a tough time going back to stereo.

You may have been wearing that hearing aid for several years now and probably experienced some issues related to its functions. The question to ask yourself now is, “should I upgrade mine?”

You should consider an upgrade if you are experiencing any buzzing and whistling sounds, you are having trouble hearing on the phone, and your hearing aids do not function as good as they used to before. It is better to change your hearing aids than continue using them.

This year, we have the newest innovations, latest concepts, and radical designs in hearing aid technology that can give you a run for your money! You can check the following hearing aids online and in the market for the specific price:

LiNX 3D Hearing Aids

This is a very impressive 3D hearing aid that is “made for iPhone”. This device boasts the following interesting features:

• You will have 50% more improvement in speech identification in any kind of environment
• You will have 80% more hearing of the sounds around you
• You will have 40% better speech understanding in a noisy and crowded location

Signia- Pure 13 BT Primax Hearing Aids

The company called Signia, formerly known as Siemens, introduced a new and interesting concept for hearing aids. This particular model is their first “Made for Iphone” innovation. They claim the following revolutionary features in the world of hearing:

• It delivers top connectivity
• Provides industry leading hearing care
• Good energy consumption and battery life which means less battery changes for you
• Connection between wearers and their hearing care professional is possible
• Three levels of technology
• This will be the “first telehealth supported hearing aid” in the market
• iPhone motion sensors for better hearing in specific situations
• High definition technology for binaural hearing

Unitron- Tempus Hearing Aids

Unitron came up with the newest and smallest rechargeable hearing aid. This model has five technology levels which aim to deliver improved conversations for wearers.

These five technology levels will let you hear automatically in every kind of conversation even with a noisy background. It will also help you focus on speech that is coming from different directions.

Phonak- Virto B-Titanium Invisible Hearing Aids

This is Phonak’s newest concept in hearing aid design; they made use of medical grade titanium for its outer shell, making it first time a manufacturer used this specific kind of metal. It was used to create the most discreet hearing aid or should we say the smallest one in the market.

It features three kinds of receivers, which will enable you to cover hearing loss better than before. It has larger vents that can benefit you with less occlusion especially, if you have low frequency hearing capability.

The metal titanium is radically strong, which made it possible for Phonak to make the design thinner and slimmer but still robust. It is said to be an almost invisible hearing aid that has a very good fit in the ears.