Healthcare Articles From Provenhealthcare.com

Common Hearing Aid Myths

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:34:42 +0000

MYTH: Hearing aids will cure hearing loss or restore a hearing impaired individual’s hearing to normal.

TRUTH: No hearing aid will ever allow a hearing impaired individual to have normal hearing. A hearing aid just cannot provide what the ear and its intricate working of nerves can. What it can do is amplify sounds so that those wearing them can benefit from and enjoy a wide variety of listening situations. Hearing better helps one to respond appropriately thus improving communication skills.

MYTH: Hearing aids will resolve all of a hearing impaired individual’s communication difficulties.

TRUTH: This is impossible, although hearing ... read more

Hearing Aids To Best Suit Your Needs

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 04:28:46 +0000

Studies show that one-tenth of the American population is hearing-impaired. Over the years, hearing aids have helped a great deal in eliminating this deficiency.

Hearing aids are small audio devices which are attached to the ears. Most models now are “hidden” to a casual observer. They offer a superior sound quality which helps lessen, if not eliminate, the loss of hearing.

As technology evolves, the science behind manufacturing hearing aids have become more and more advanced.

Here are the three basic types of hearing aids:

1. Conventional hearing aids

These are the very first types and brands of hearing aids which were realeased in ... read more

Coping With Hearing Loss

admin — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 04:25:38 +0000

Oddly enough, I’ve come to think that losing my hearing was one of the best things that ever happened to me, as it led to the publication of my first novel. But it took a while for me to accept that I was losing my hearing and needed help.

I believe that no matter how tough things get, you can make them better. I have my parents to thank for that. They never allowed me to think that I couldn’t accomplish something because of my hearing loss. One of my mother’s favorite sayings when I expressed doubt that I could do something was, “Yes, you can.”

I was born with a mild hearing loss but began to lose more of my hearing when I was a senior in college. One day while sitting in my college dormitory room reading, I noticed my roommate get up from her bed, go to the princess telephone in our room, pick it up and start talking. None of that would have seemed strange, except for one thing: I never heard the telephone ring! I wondered why I couldn’t hear a phone that I could hear just the day before. But I was too baffled–and embarrassed–to say anything to my roommate or to anyone else.

(more…)

Hearing Impaired? Hearing Aids? Advice for “Deafies” and those who put up with us

admin — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 04:17:33 +0000

I have always had a hearing impairment. I was born with a 70% hearing loss in both ears. While I had a mother who was sensitive to my disability, I never believed there was anything wrong wth me. As a child, I refused to wear hearing aids.

When, at 19 years-of-age, I bought one hearing aid, it was as if someone turned the sound up. I felt even more invincible. By the time I was 30, I knew I needed aids in both ears. It was not for 25 more years that I would learn that hearing aids alone were not enough.

Granted, most persons who don’t hear very well do need hearing aids. If they think they will look stupid wearing aids, these people have no idea how stupid they appear to others without them. When one gives crazy answers to sane questions ~ and misunderstands what others say ~ they don’t appear to be very bright. Amplification normally helps a great deal, even if perfect hearing is not attainable for many of us.

(more…)

Cranking The Volume On Your Ipod Or Mp3 Player Can Damage

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:57:58 +0000

Kids have always loved listening to their favorite music, and the louder the better – much to their parents’ dismay. In the 1980s, the portable tape recorder with headphones – which came to be known as the “Walkman” – enabled teenagers to listen to their music as loud as they wanted, anywhere they wanted, without disturbing anyone around them.

But the more modern rendition of the Walkman – portable MP3 Players and iPods – pose a major threat to our children’s hearing health, and to ours.

The problem is a combination of the technology of portable digital devices that creates a ... read more

Better Hearing with Listening Devices

admin — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 03:56:28 +0000

Of all of the ways that people can use listening devices, whether it is for fun, helping to detect problems with plumbing, pest control, covert operations, or keeping tabs on baby, one of the most important reasons for the use of listening devices is to just be able to hear with. That is hearing what the person standing across the room is saying to you. Hearing the timer go off on your stove so that your dinner or that cake you made doesn’t burn. Hearing what is being said on the TV without having to turn the sound up so loud that the whole neighborhood knows what you are watching. More importantly, so that a would be intruder, listening to that blaring TV, doesn’t know that you are hard of hearing and might not hear them breaking into your home until it is too late.

Let’s face it, hearing aids, the type that are typically sold to people with hearing problems are expensive, very, very expensive. And if you don’t have health insurance that pays for the cost of these pricy devices, you may be living in a world of partial silence unnecessarily. There are listening devices on the market today like the dynamic new slim line SuperEar. What are so great about these devices are not only their high degree of sensitivity and their mere three-ounce weight, but the price is unbelievably listed at under a hundred dollars. That’s right! And these listening devices are so compact they can be easily stowed into a pocket or purse when you are not using them.

Nail Fungus- This Can Even Kill Your Nail

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:54:34 +0000

A fungus or a type of yeast causes nails fungal infection. This infection makes the nail thick and crumbly. Nail fungus normally affects the toenails. It can even disfigure the nails and discolor them. If left uncontrolled nail fungus can make the nail die. Let us see what it is and how to stop it.

Nail Fungus- What causes it and how it spreads?

Nail fungus is caused by a fungus that is found in common places such as locker rooms, pool side etc. If you walk barefoot in such places you can contact the infection. Any place that is frequented ... read more

General information on hearing aids

admin — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 03:52:53 +0000

Hearing aids have been manufactured and designed for people who need assistance to make sounds accessible. They cannot correct hearing loss but can enhance and help you to improve your lifestyle. Not only could they improve on hearing sounds but may help with your speech.

Hearing aids are electronic and are operated with a battery sensing devices which can improve all levels hearing needs by adjusting the appropriate signal. Majority of hearing aids today have two appliances which work independently. The hearing aid could help with your speech as you should hear clearer and how the words are spoken.

When you ... read more

Hearing Loops

admin — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 03:50:07 +0000

Many public buildings now operate loop hearing systems to help people with hearing loss, and by using hearing aids, communicate more effectively.

If a building has a hearing loop they will normally display a sign showing the hearing loop symbol. This symbol is an ear with a line struck diagonally through it.

When purchasing a hearing aid always ensure it has hearing loop functionality, with an induction pick up, if you wish to use the hearing aid in buildings with a hearing loop. A “T” usually symbols that the hearing aid has this function.

A hearing loop consists of an amplifier which ... read more

Mp3 Players And Your Hearing Health

admin — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 03:46:41 +0000

So many people are using mp3 players and iPods on an everyday basis more and more. This rising trend attracts all people who like to listen to non-stop music on the bus, in the car, while working out or just while relaxing at home. While there have been many studies on the positive effects music can have on a person, having small earphones stuffed in your ears while playing loud music can be detrimental to your hearing. Studies have shown that using small earpieces that are inserted inside of the ear creates a sound that is nine decibels higher than that of regular headphones that cover the whole ear. Nine decibels may not sound like a lot, but to put it in perspective it is about the same difference of an alarm clock to a lawn mower. It is also important to note that the type of earphones that fit inside the ear are less effective at blocking out background noises, giving the listener more incentive to turn up the volume. While no one can be sure what the average volume mp3 listeners are cranking their volumes to, a recent study compiled in Australia showed that a quarter of the listeners between the ages of 18 and 54 are listening to music at levels that could potentially cause long term hearing loss.

High levels of music produced by mp3 technology can cause hearing loss because the sound waves damage the hair cells in the cochlea; a part of the ear which transmits sound information to your brain. Any sound higher than 90 decibels can cause long term hearing loss if the sound is prolonged, and most mp3 players have the technological capabilities of reaching 120 decibels. That is equivalent to an ambulance siren.

(more…)