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With the shift to online learning last year, we noticed a significant increase in parents bringing their children in to be tested for central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). This often comes from recommendations of the child’s teachers or physicians (though a doctor referral is not required to make an appointment).
“When a family member has a hearing loss, the whole family has a hearing problem” -Mark Ross.
The research also suggests that allowing hearing loss to go untreated can significantly increase any of these impacts on your overall health.
It all starts with a hearing test. If you or someone you know is concerned they may have hearing loss, contact us today.
Custom hearing protection is another way you can protect your ears with the reassurance that these molds are made to fit your unique ear shape.
When we refer to “standard hearing protection” we are talking about items that our clinic will often have in stock or can easily be ordered for you. Standard hearing protection comes in multiple sizes and will be designed for different purposes. These are more beneficial in the long run when compared to those small foam plugs, which are only designed as a single-use form of hearing protection.
Noise-induced hearing loss is caused by overexposure to loud sounds. In some cases, the damage is only temporary. But repeated exposure to excessive noise for long periods of time can cause permanent damage.
Until recently, noise-induced hearing loss was linked mainly to excessive noise in the workplace. Some newer studies suggest that many teenagers and young adults have experienced permanent hearing loss caused by over-exposure to loud noise from a variety of everyday activities.
Scientists measure the levels of different sounds with a unit called the A-weighted decibel (dBA). Sounds with levels below 70 dBA pose no known risk of hearing loss, no matter how long you listen. This is roughly what you would hear if you were driving alone at highway speeds in a family car, with the windows up and the radio off. When sound levels increase, the daily listening time becomes an important risk factor for hearing loss. In general, the louder the sound, the less time it takes to pose risks to your hearing.
There are everyday activities that can pose a potential risk of a gradual, noise-induced hearing loss if you are not wearing proper hearing protection. This depends on factors such as the actual sound levels you are exposed to, and how long you are exposed for.
Our next posts will cover the different styles of hearing protection that will best suit your hearing needs.
While tinnitus is most often not curable, there are several ways we can approach a treatment plan. Determining the cause of the tinnitus is the first step in creating a treatment plan that works best for you. If the cause cannot be determined, we can still treat the symptoms.