If you lived 100 years ago, a "portable" hearing aid was the size of a filing cabinet that weighed 220 pounds. Not exactly ideal if you're trying to catch the latest show at Raleigh Little Theatre. Hearing aid technology has revolutionized assistance for those who are hard-of-hearing, and it has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Learn more about the history of hearing aids and how they work.

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Listening to your favorite band during a gym workout can inspire you through those last five minutes, but it may be doing irreversible damage to your hearing. One in 5 Americans experience hearing loss, but a staggering 80 percent do nothing about it. Hearing loss can lead to other problems such as tinnitus, social isolation, and sleep disturbances. It can also triple your risk of falling. How loud is too loud? We’ve compiled some useful information to take the mystery out of sound measurement.

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There are times over the winter holidays when you expect to hear ringing: jingle bells on “Santa’s “reindeer, hand bell choirs preforming traditional carols, or the Salvation Army’s bell ringers. However, there’s an extreme difference between the ringing of outside noises and the constant, annoying buzz or high-pitched squeal associated with tinnitus. For millions of Americans, tinnitus has a devastating effect on the quality of their lives. Learn more about ringing in your ears and how it can be treated.

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It's one of the most common health challenges in America: An estimated 48 million Americans have difficulty hearing! Among those 65 years old and older, 1 in 3 has some type of hearing loss. And while age is a common cause, hearing loss may be experienced by anyone of any age. At a glance, the five most common causes of hearing loss are listed within. Read on to discover more in depth information about each one.

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More than 48 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss. Among 65-year-old Americans, one out of three has some type of hearing loss. Even so, hearing loss is not a problem that is limited to older Americans: It is estimated that 30 out of 1,000 school-age children have hearing loss. For the majority of those who are hard of hearing, a hearing aid can go a long way toward helping them communicate effectively with others. Read on to discover the best ways to make the choice when shopping one.

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This month’s blog will cover Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL), which is defined as sensorineural hearing loss of at least 30 dB in 3 sequential frequencies that occurs over 3 days or less. The incidence of SSNHL is 5-30 cases per 100,000 per year. Tinnitus is an associated symptom approximately 80% of the time. Hearing loss can cause significant limitations on activities of daily living and communication. Any significant hearing loss should be evaluated by a physician. Your primary care physician can evaluate for cerumen, otitis media, and middle ear fluid. If no clear cause of the hearing loss is identified, prompt referral to an otolaryngologist is the next step in the evaluation to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of SSNHL. A thorough history and neuro-otologic exam is then performed. In SSNHL, typically the outer ear and middle ear exam are normal and the diagnosis is confirmed with comprehensive audiogram. The list of possible causes of SSNHL is fairly long and broad. The more common etiol ...

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