Whereas watches have traditionally served one basic function—telling time—nowadays, their applications seem limitless. One area developers have focused on is providing innovative health care solutions, and the Apple Watch is no exception. Developers are hailing Apple’s Noise app as a great tool in the prevention of hearing loss, a widespread epidemic affecting approximately 48 million Americans. Hearing loss usually occurs gradually, making it difficult for people to know they have a problem. As wearable technology becomes increasingly popular, the number of features continues to expand ..read more

It looks like we are all going to be wearing face mask for a period of time. We have received recent reports from our own patients about the loss of their hearing aids. While we are uncertain about how long we will need to continue the practice of using face masks out in public places and at your doctors’ office, following these helpful tips can prevent the loss of your precious investment and prevent your hearing aids from flying across the room: Don’t put on or remove your mask too quickly! Take your time so as not to knock your hearing aid(s) out. Remove your mask from one ear at a time, t ..read more

Hearing loss has been linked to a number of physical, social and psychological conditions including dementia, diabetes, anxiety, depression and social withdrawal. One of its lesser known side effects is fatigue. If you have been feeling more tired than usual lately and experience hearing loss, there may be a correlation between the two. The reason boils down to a condition known as listening fatigue, a consequence of expending extra effort in order to hear better. Believe it or not, hearing involves the brain just as much as the ears. Your brain receives sensory input from the inner ear and is ..read more

The primary difference between an audiologist and a hearing instrument specialist is that the audiologist has an advanced degree and is an expert in all aspects of hearing healthcare, including diagnostic audiological testing and the fitting of hearing devices; while the hearing instrument specialist is licensed for the purpose of dispensing hearing aids only. Should you decide to go with prescriptive hearing aids from Silicon Valley Hearing, you will receive: In-depth hearing tests to determine the precise type, severity and frequency of your hearing loss. Medically-based methods to rule ou ..read more

Buying hearing devices isn’t like buying a flat screen TV. Hearing devices are not just electronic devices, but rather a rehabilitative treatment, requiring long-term commitment to their use. Understanding this fact, and that fit and follow-up are equally as important as the hearing device itself, will go a long way toward increasing your satisfaction with your purchase. That is why the hearing professional you choose is so important. Their skills at programming, fitting and follow-up counseling are keys to your successful adjustment to hearing devices. Fitting: The programming of your new hea ..read more

Now that cold and flu season is upon us, it’s time to prepare for the possibility of an extended bout of illness. Getting a flu shot is your best chance of avoiding the flu, but it’s no guarantee you won’t experience an onslaught of symptoms that includes fever, aches and pains in the muscles and joints, malaise, dry cough, and congestion. As miserable as these can leave you feeling, there’s another, lesser-known, side effect of the flu that is fairly common: temporary hearing loss. When you’re sick, fluid may build up in the middle ear and Eustachian tube, a thin canal in the back of the thr ..read more

Tinnitus can prevent you from falling asleep or getting enough quality restorative sleep, leading to daytime grogginess, anxiety, stress and reduced mental alertness. This can have serious consequences on your health, job performance, and relationships. There are steps you can take to help lessen the nightly impact of tinnitus and ensure a good night’s sleep. Try the following: Establish a regular bedtime routine and stick with it. Going to bed at the same time every night – even on the weekends – will help “train” your body that it’s time to shut down and get some sleep. Put away your phone a ..read more

Hearing loss has been linked to a number of physical, social and psychological conditions including dementia, diabetes, anxiety, depression and social withdrawal. One of its lesser known side effects is fatigue. If you have been feeling more tired than usual lately and experience hearing loss, there may be a correlation between the two. The reason boils down to a condition known as listening fatigue, a consequence of expending extra effort in order to hear better. Hearing involves the brain just as much as the ears. Your brain receives sensory input from the inner ear and is responsible for pr ..read more

Diabetes can cause blurry vision, hunger, thirst and fatigue; a lesser known associated condition is hearing loss. In fact, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) found hearing loss to be about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared to those without the disease. This study is alarming to many otolaryngologists and audiologists because there is no recommendation for hearing loss screenings in a diabetes care regimen. Awareness is critical in increasing screening and discovering diabetes patients who suffer from hearing loss. Many doctors fail t ..read more

New evidence shows a link between poor heart health and hearing loss. The reason for this surprising correlation? The inner ear is extremely sensitive to blood flow, so obstructions in the arteries and veins – symptoms of impaired cardiovascular health – can impact the peripheral and central auditory systems, leading to hearing impairment. Conversely, when the heart is healthy and the flow of blood is unimpeded, hearing problems are fewer. The cochlea, a fluid-filled tube in the inner ear that translates sound into nerve impulses, fails to function properly when damaged or subjected to ..read more