All About Earwax

All About Earwax

Most people only think about earwax when they are trying to get it out of their ears.  Who wants to think about that sticky goo in your ear canal?!  While it may not be your favorite thing to think about it plays an essential role in the health of our ears.   Earwax is not Wax Earwax, also called cerumen, …

Tips for College Students with Hearing Loss

Tips for College Students with Hearing Loss

The time is coming to get ready for the start of school It’s important to remember that just because you have hearing loss doesn’t mean you can’t go to college – It just might take a few extra steps to make sure you are set up for success. When you live with hearing loss, it often means you must consider …

Common Hearing Aid Problems & How to Fix Them

Common Hearing Aid Problems & How to Fix Them

Like most machines, even hearing aids require maintenance and routine upkeep in order to work to their maximum potential. That might mean taking your hearing aids in for a checkup or small repairs now and again, some of which might be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty or the purchase agreement when you initially bought them.   But, many small diagnostic …

Loud Movies & Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Loud Movies & Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

If there is anything we’ve learned after a year or two of not being in many movie theaters, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is how incomparable the big screen experience is. There is nothing like it! The standard TV in US homes is 65” and while that may seem big it’s nothing compared to the all-encompassing feeling that big screen …

Hearing Loss Could Restrict Mobility & Quality of Life

Hearing Loss Could Restrict Mobility & Quality of Life

Hearing loss is one of the leading chronic health conditions in the United States. Approximately 91% of people with hearing loss are over the age of 50, as age remains the strongest predictor of challenges to hearing. Seniors are also likely to suffer from depression due to loss of mobility, an issue we now know is linked with hearing loss.  …

Add Improved Hearing To Your New Year’s Health Goals!

Add Improved Hearing To Your New Year’s Health Goals!

As you begin to visualize what you’d like to create or invest in over the next twelve months, wouldn’t it be fun to imagine a future with better hearing? The truth is that hearing loss later in life will happen to most of us, whether experiencing it ourselves or through a loved one. And while hearing loss due to aging …

We all have headaches or muscle pain now and then and it’s normal to reach for an overtime counter painkiller to reduce swelling. There are several over-the-counter pain medicines on the market such as ibuprofen and paracetamol which block the production of prostaglandins and COX enzymes which make us suffer from pain, inflammation, and fever. ibuprofen is primarily metabolized in the kidneys, paracetamol is processed in the liver and if taken in excess we can expect a toll on our health in several different forms. While these painkillers offer short-term relief there is a dangerous side effect to our hearing which many are not aware of. Ototoxicity pertains to any chemical or medication which damages the ears and our hearing. A recent study has found that painkiller use, particularly in women, can have ototoxic effects. A Study on the Effects of Painkillers on Hearing Using data from the Nurses’ Health Study, a team led by researchers from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Vanderbilt University and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) found surprising evidence that the duration of use of over-the-counter medications for pain relief, including ibuprofen or acetaminophen, is connected to an increased risk of hearing loss. The 2012 study collected information from 55,850 women ages 44 to 69, included in an ongoing nurse’s health study, and were questioned about their painkiller use over two years. They found, bases on results that “regular paracetamol use over six years was linked to a 9% higher chance of hearing loss, compared with less than one year of regular use.” Paracetamol is commonly found in the form of brand names such as Tylenol and is a household fixture for at-home and on the go, pain relief. Similarly, the study found that concerning non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), “use over six years was linked to a 10% higher chance of hearing loss,”. NSAIDs are commonly found in a household under the name of ibuprofen and brand names such as Motrin and Advil. In the study, regular use was defined as two or more days per week and findings found that “regular NSAID use for one to four years was linked to a 7% increased risk” and “regular NSAID use for five to six years was linked to an 8% increased risk.” Findings Show Painkillers Cause Only a Slight Risk To Hearing While the results are illuminating, it is important to note that the effects of painkillers on hearing are slight and that other factors need to be accounted for when researching the causes of hearing loss, including exposure to loud sounds, impact on the head, chronic ear infections and even changes to the inner ear due to aging, which affects one-third of all people over 65. The study on painkillers and hearing loss reported based on results that “4% of the cases of hearing loss reported by women were the result of NSAID use, and 1.6% were the result of paracetamol use.” While this is a factor affecting hearing loss, the risk is rather slight. A Risk to Your Hearing The researchers were sure to consider other factors affecting hearing such as age, family history, alcohol consumption and smoking, intake of micronutrients in diet linked to hearing, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and medical conditions that include diabetes, hypertension, tinnitus, and ototoxic cancer treatments. All these factors must be considered when assessing your hearing health because they all pose a threat to your inner ear. While sound is collected by your ear, it is the job of tiny cells in the inner ear to pass sound to your brain where it is comprehended. These cells are incredibly fragile and are put at risk due to these factors. Most concerning is that when these cells are damaged, limited sound information can reach the brain and that this damage is irreversible. The Impact of Hearing Loss You may think that hearing loss is not that serious, but if ignored it can cause communication issues, leading to chronic depression, isolation, cognitive decline, and a lack of mobility and independence. While there is no cure for hearing loss there are effective treatments, the most common being hearing aids. Hearing aids can amplify the sounds you’ve lost, so you won’t struggle to hear and can avoid the dangerous side effects of hearing loss. To find out more if hearing aids are right for you, schedule an appointment for a hearing exam today.

For Women, Painkiller Use May Lead to Hearing Loss

We all have headaches or muscle pain now and then and it’s normal to reach for an overtime counter painkiller to reduce swelling. There are several over-the-counter pain medicines on the market such as ibuprofen and paracetamol which block the production of prostaglandins and COX enzymes which make us suffer from pain, inflammation, and fever. ibuprofen is primarily metabolized in the …

Hearing Aids Are Found to Improve Depressive Symptoms

Hearing Aids Are Found to Improve Depressive Symptoms

In so many instances, we take our basic abilities for granted. For those who have great eyesight, they might notice a beautiful sunset and not think, ‘how lucky I am to be able to see this.’ As we negotiate the various stressors of our day and the difficulties we face, it can be tempting to overlook how easily some things …

Head Injuries & Hearing Loss

Head Injuries & Hearing Loss

Though the causes vary, the leading cause of death and disability in Americans is traumatic brain injury (TBI). Each year, more than a million cases require hospitalization. We don’t know how many thousands more go unreported. Concussions and other head injuries commonly perceived as less serious are also traumatic brain injuries.  In many cases, hearing health specialists are brought in …

Check Your Hearing This November for American Diabetes Month

Check Your Hearing This November for American Diabetes Month

Of the estimated 34 million people with diabetes in the US, the CDC estimates that 1 in 4 four adults living with diabetes don’t even know they have it. This is alarming because when diabetes goes undiagnosed, undetected, or ignored, it can quickly escalate into serious symptoms threatening the quality of life and health. In fact for those living with …