7 Hearing Loss Resources To Better Your Quality of Life
Updated: Sep 2, 2020
How Can I Tell If I Have a Hearing Loss?
Ask yourself the following questions. If you answer “yes” to three or more of these questions, you could have a hearing loss and might need to have your hearing checked.
Do you sometimes feel embarrassed when you meet new people because you struggle to hear?
Do you feel frustrated when talking to people because you have difficulty hearing them?
Do you have difficulty hearing or understanding co-workers, clients, or customers?
Do you feel restricted or limited when you have a problem hearing?
Do you often think, “I can hear but I don’t understand what is being said?”
Do you have trouble understanding the dialogue on internet videos, movies, or in the theater?
Does a communication issue due to poor hearing cause you to argue with family members?
Do you ask people to repeat what they say?
Do you think others mumble?
Do you have difficulty hearing on the phone?
Do you have trouble hearing the TV or radio and turn up the volume that is too loud for others?
Do you feel your personal or social life is limited?
Do you have trouble hearing your dining companions when you are together in a restaurant?
Adapted from: Newman, C.W., Weinstein, B.E., Jacobson, G.P., & Hug, G.A. (1990). The Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults [HHIA]: Psychometric adequacy and audiometric correlates. Ear Hear, 11, 430-433. Source
The Journey of Sound To The Brain
This animated video illustrates how sounds travel from the ear to the brain, where they are interpreted and understood. View Journey of Sound to the Brain, a video produced by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
How do we hear?
The auditory system
Hearing depends on a series of events that change sound waves in the air into electrical signals. Your auditory nerve then carries these signals to your brain through a complex series of steps.
Sound waves enter the outer ear and travel through a narrow passageway called the ear canal, which leads to the eardrum.
The eardrum vibrates from the incoming sound waves and sends these vibrations to three tiny bones in the middle ear. These bones are called the malleus, incus, and stapes.
The bones in the middle ear couple the sound vibrations from the air to fluid vibrations in the cochlea of the inner ear, which is shaped like a snail and filled with fluid. An elastic partition runs from the beginning to the end of the cochlea, splitting it into an upper and lower part. This partition is called the basilar membrane because it serves as the base, or ground floor, on which key hearing structures sit.
Once the vibrations cause the fluid inside the cochlea to ripple, a traveling wave forms along the basilar membrane. Hair cells-sensory cells sitting on top of the basilar membrane-ride the wave.
As the hair cells move up and down, microscopic hair-like projections (known as stereocilia) that perch on top of the hair cells bump against an overlying structure and bend. Bending causes pore-like channels, which are at the tips of the stereocilia, to open up. When that happens, chemicals rush into the cells, creating an electrical signal.
The auditory nerve carries this electrical signal to the brain, which turns it into a sound that we recognize and understand.
(Source: NIH/NIDCD)
Here Are A Few Blog Resources For Hearing Loss & Hearing Devices
1. Coping With Sudden Hearing Loss
Sudden hearing loss, also known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL), is an unexplained, rapid loss of hearing. It can be difficult to deal with its surprising onset and impact on everyday life. If you have experienced a sudden loss of hearing, it’s important to know you aren’t alone. And while you may be frustrated with your condition, there are ways to adjust and find hope. Learn More
2. Warning signs of a hearing problem in a baby
A hearing screening is the most important early way to tell if a baby's hearing is impaired, but parents and other caregivers also need to be alert for warning signs. Learn More
3. Hearing Loss- Home Modification Checklist
This is a 7 Page Checklist that is free to download & print. Learn More
4. How to Set Up a Productive Home Office if You're Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Setting up a home office isn’t as simple as putting a computer on a desk and setting up shop. It takes some strategy to make sure you have a space where you’ll be able to focus on work, and if you’re deaf or hard of hearing (HoH), there are a few additional considerations to keep in mind. Details like layout, lighting, and the right tech are all key strategies in setting up a productive and comfortable workspace. Whether you’re a full-time or part-time remote employee, here is everything you need to know about setting up a productive home office space if you’re deaf or HoH. Learn More
5. Hearing Loss in the Classroom: 6 Tips for Teachers
With back-to-school just around the corner, it's important to talk about an issue that is becoming increasingly prevalent in children under 18—hearing loss. Three of every 1,000 children are born with some form of hearing loss, and 15% of children develop hearing loss later in childhood. It's crucial to be mindful of this, as unaddressed hearing loss can lead to challenges in the classroom, especially when it comes to verbal communication. Learn More
6. The Ultimate Guide to Optimizing Your Home for a Service Dog
Welcoming a service dog into your home is a life-changing opportunity, and like all major life events, requires plenty of preparation. You’ll need to make some minor, but important, modifications to make your home accessible for your new companion. Use the following guide to optimize your home inside and out will help your service dog easily adapt to his new surroundings and help you navigate your daily tasks with ease. Learn More
7. How to Care for Blind and Deaf Senior Dogs
A difficult phase in a dog’s life is the last 20-25%. As dogs age, changes occur in their bodies that lead to loss of vision and hearing. Many dogs of this age also have arthritis, mobility issues, and other physical limitations related to the natural (but still sometimes distressing or painful) effects of time. Most dogs will experience some kind of vision impairment, and some develop cataracts. A degradation of hearing ability is common, and arthritis and mobility issues are a frequent concern, especially in dogs that are overweight. Learn More
We at SFS Therapies hope this information helps you on your journey to better hearing & a better quality of life! ( Re-Motivate | Re-Habilitate | Re-Engage)
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