 Signia's CROS Pure Charge&Go Nx Is there a way to Repair a Hearing Aid Battery that can’t keep up with You throughout the Day?
Just about every new rechargeable hearing aid is meant to function for more than 24 hours until they need a recharge. Rechargeable hearing aids are made from lithium-ion batteries. These are the same batteries that are used for smartphones, laptops, and TV streaming remote controls. After they are used over time, they become less and less powerful. As a result, they need to be recharged more often and eventually replaced by a manufacturer. Hearing aid repairs may also be necessary, so it’s important to contact us at Pure Sound Hearing to get help from our hearing instrument specialists. How do you get a Repair for Your Rechargeable Hearing Aids? If you bought your hearing aid from Pure Sound Hearing, you should bring it back to us in order to get it fixed. If there is an internal problem with the device, we will ship it to the manufacturer for you and it will get refurbished. It should take 1-2 weeks for the hearing aid to be ready, but you’ll essentially go back home with a brand new hearing aid. If you are in need of a hearing aid repair and are new to the Lancaster County area - or received your hearing aids from a different provider - you may contact us at 717-945-1477 before dropping it off at one of our office locations in Elizabethtown, Lititz, Mt. Joy, or Strasburg. Unfortunately, there is no method of replacing a lithium-ion battery on your own if you have a Phonak, ReSound, Rexton, Signia, Starkey, or Unitron hearing aid brand. But, if you wear an Oticon Opn miniRITE, you might be able to replace the battery by yourself. It’s advised that consumers should not change out the lithium-ion batteries. The FDA warns of exposure to toxic chemicals, so a professional should replace them. How much does it Cost to Replace a Rechargeable Hearing Aid Battery? If the hearing aids were purchased less than 2 years before needing a replacement, the lithium-ion battery replacement and any other repair should be free because your hearing aid would still be under warranty through the manufacturer. Contact us at Pure Sound for the cost of repair if the hearing aid is more than 2 years old. Find out if Your Hearing Aid is Under Warranty In order to determine this information, you’ll need to look for the serial numbers either on your hearing aid, on the paperwork that came with the hearing aids, ask your hearing instrument specialist, or an office staff member who has access to your paperwork. Your hearing instrument specialist can contact the manufacturer to determine the date that the warranty ends. Usually, warranties for hearing aids last for 2 years from the date they were purchased. In some cases, the warranties last for up to 3 years. Could the Hearing Aid Charger be the Culprit? To determine whether the charger for your hearing aids is what’s causing the problem, place the hearing aid that’s causing the problem on the opposite side of the charger. For instance, if the left hearing aid does not last a full day, charge it on the right (red) side of your hearing aid charger. If it turns out that this was the problem, you’ll need to buy a new charger. Hearing aid chargers are not under warranty from the manufacturer so you’ll need to purchase a replacement. You may do this through us at Pure Sound Hearing. How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Rechargeable Hearing Aid Battery Hearing aid batteries tend to quickly drain when they are linked to external accessories, like smartphones. Switching off the Bluetooth® feature on your phone will disconnect the hearing aid from your smartphone, which will extend the battery life. Streaming anything from your TV to music and videos will also lead to more power drain. Recharge your hearing aids as often as you can, preferably overnight when you aren’t using them. It might be too late to do this if you are already experiencing power-draining problems. Recharging the battery each night while you sleep will help preserve the battery life. Do not let the battery reach 0%, this will make it more difficult to get any use out of the battery. Average Lifespan of Rechargeable Hearing Aid Batteries One full charge should allow your hearing aids to last more than a full day of wearing them. Some Phonak rechargeable hearing aids can last more than 30 hours before a recharge is needed. If you add 6 hours of streaming, the battery should still work for at least 20 hours. On average, a full-time hearing aid user only dons their hearing aids for 12 hours per day. So the battery should not reach below 50% within the first year. It’s important to note that the longer you have your hearing aids, the quicker your batteries will drain. It’s just like any other piece of technology, such as a phone or kitchen appliance. You should send out your hearing aids to get repaired for a refurbishment during their last month in warranty. The rechargeable batteries will be replaced to guarantee the hearing aid has optimal performance. If you or a loved one would be interested in a hearing aid trial with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries or disposable battery-powered hearing aids, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing.
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 PROFESSIONALLY FIT, BRAND NAME HEARING AIDS FOR LESS FREE $400 UPGRADE to No Battery Lithium-ion OFFER EXPIRES 8/14/21 CONTACT US NOW FOR A FREE TRIAL Our offices are located in:
Elizabethtown, Lititz, Mount Joy, and Strasburg.  A common concern among new hearing aid users is whether the devices will get in the way of their eyeglasses. The need to wear an extra item on your head can be daunting. Luckily for you, hearing aids do not always interfere with your eyeglasses. Most people are able to wear them with comfort and ease.
Hearing and Vision Impairments The inability to hear or see are some of the most common health problems. About 38 million people in the U.S. have some range of hearing loss. One out of three Americans between 65-74 years old experience hearing loss due to a number of reasons which are not simply limited to excessive exposure to noise, aging (presbycusis), and genetic factors. For example, certain medications have also been linked to causing hearing loss. Your vision, similar to hearing, also worsens as you age. About 12 million people across the country, who are over 40 years of age, have some form of vision problem. Some of the most prevalent sources of vision loss are macular degeneration and complications with vision due to age-related cataracts, diabetes, and glaucoma. Anyone who loses their eyesight is also prone to lose their peripheral vision, experience sensitivity to light, have a reduced depth of vision, and have color blindness. All of these complications interfere with a person’s ability to accomplish daily tasks and live their life to the fullest. How Hearing Loss and Vision Loss Impact You Having a hearing loss can drain so much of your energy. That energy depletes even quicker when you also need to focus on seeing. During the pandemic, many people struggle to communicate due to face masks. The brain becomes strained and overworked when it does not have access to all visual cues or clear speech sounds. This energy that is used to communicate and hear is causing listening fatigue. The inability to hear can lead to poor quality of life by causing embarrassment and social isolation. If you were unable to see clearly while driving or hear important information during an appointment, would you seek help? Most people immediately get help for their vision loss when they become fully aware that there’s a problem, but it’s rare that they seek professional help for their hearing loss. It may be due to social stigma, embarrassment, or denial. Hearing loss also happens gradually, so a person who experiences it may not realize anything is wrong until much later in life. Many people with hearing loss describe others’ speech as “mumbling” and “soft-spoken”, or blame a bustling restaurant for their inability to hear during a conversation. These may actually be signs of the early stages of hearing loss. Many people wait years until the hearing is at its worst, or when family and friends begin to notice, to get a hearing test and seek help. 5 Tips for Living with Hearing Loss and Some Vision Loss
 How many times have you woken up in the middle of the night because of a noise that roused you from your slumber?
Even though this poorly affects your health, the World Health Organization found that the primary danger that noise pollution can do to people’s health around the globe comes from noise that we don’t notice while we’re in a deep sleep. In other words, noise does not have to wake you to harm your sleep. Hearing loss could actually be connected to disrupted sleep, which makes people with hearing loss more susceptible. Researchers do not currently know how noises at night impact people with hearing loss. Disruptive Noises, Sleep, and Health If your sleep is constantly being interrupted - or you only get a few hours of sleep - this can increase your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Anyone who hears traffic noises at night is more prone to experience heart disease and take medication to aid with sleep. This will not effectively improve their quality of sleep. When you are asleep, you go through two types of light sleep (stage 1 and 2), deep slow-wave sleep (stage 3), and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. In stage 3, the muscles begin to relax, as do the rate of your pulse and breathing. This stage has an important role in your immune system. Your dreams occur during stage 4, which is important for learning, memory, and creativity. Noise appears to prolong stage 1 sleep and decreases both stage 3 and 4 sleep. Signals in your body may be set off, the way adrenaline and cortisol are triggered. As a result, you may notice a faster heart rate and your blood pressure might rise. All of these things can happen in your body while you are unconscious. Your body is essentially protecting you as you rest. Early primates needed to be ready for danger during the night, but this normally doesn’t apply to us in modern times. It’s an unnecessary alarm. The noise does not even need to be very loud to poorly affect a person. There was a study on hospital equipment that made approximately 40 decibels (dB) of noise. There were quantitative impacts on electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements of brain activity during sleep in healthy adult test subjects. They essentially compared the health impacts of noise on a person to secondhand smoking. Does having Hearing Loss Reduce the Risk of Poor Sleep? The answer is, no. According to Evidence for an Association Between Hearing Impairment and Disrupted Sleep: Scoping Review hearing loss is associated with insomnia and other interruptions during sleep. It is still unknown how noises that occur at night impact hearing loss. Nathan Clarke, a researcher on hearing loss from the University of Nottingham, explained how evolution shows us that individuals with hearing loss may need to exert more energy to process noises in the night that may indicate potential danger. As of now, there is little evidence to back up this claim. Tinnitus can worsen your sleep. A study on approximately 300 Israeli workers, who were exposed to industrial noise, showed that those who had symptoms of tinnitus had the most trouble with sleep. The hearing loss was connected to insomnia, no matter what age they were or how long they had been exposed to the noise. In a different study, individuals with tinnitus and hearing loss had a significant improvement in their sleep after receiving hearing aids, but this was not the case for those who only had hearing loss. In a study of about 7,000 Japanese volunteers, people who have hearing loss are more inclined to sleep for over eight hours. It is uncertain as to what this indicates about being susceptible to disturbance. Getting Help and Useful Equipment If you usually wake up tired from your slumber, you should consider getting checked for sleep apnea. People who experience sleep apnea struggle to breathe during sleep and have short, unconscious moments of waking up. Sleep apnea can be partly responsible for hearing loss. In one study, it was discovered that the more frequently you were interrupted due to sleep apnea, the worse your hearing was. This included high-frequency and low-frequency hearing loss, even if you don’t snore. Another small study showed that bed partners of people who snore had a greater risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation.  Pictured: Stapes bone in upper left corner of case. Patients at Pure Sound always bring in the most interesting show and tell items.
This week a patient brought in her stapes bone that was removed 40 years ago! The stapes is the smallest bone in our body. It's also the innermost bone of our auditory ossicles in the middle ear, which is responsible for transmitting sound waves from the air outside to the fluid-filled labyrinth (cochlea). Whether or not you have a hearing-related, or an ear-related, item to share with us, contact Pure Sound to schedule an appointment if you need a hearing test and consultation.  Recently, the choices for purchasing hearing aids have become more complicated. There are merchants that only sell online, big-box stores, and new or unlikely businesses that tout their own hearing care solutions.
It’s important to know that seeing a professional hearing instrument specialist is still the leading choice in treating your hearing loss. You have a Distinctive Range of Hearing Loss, so You’ll need a Solution for Your Particular Needs The complexities of hearing loss require help from a professional who understands how to treat it. Each individual who experiences difficulties with their hearing needs to communicate with their hearing instrument specialist so that they can tailor a solution for them. Proper fittings, programming, and guidance from an experienced hearing instrument specialist are the best steps toward better hearing. Modern Hearing Aids: Refined and Effective If a healthcare professional recommended hearing aids to treat your hearing loss, you are in luck. Today’s hearing aids feature advanced technology that makes listening and engaging in conversations easier. The difference between an “OK” and an “Amazing” Listening Experience The only person with the skills and training to fit and program a hearing aid for your individual needs is a qualified hearing instrument specialist. They will ask you about environments where you spend most of your time, what it’s like when you communicate with your loved ones or other people you talk to on a daily basis, the frequencies that you struggle to hear, whether one or both ears are affected, the variations of hearing loss/lack of hearing loss in each ear. Other topics that you might go over:
Investing in Hearing Aids Hearing aids are a major investment, so it’s important to be able to get the most out of them. With time and patience, they can change your life for the better. Imagine the improvement in communication, less isolation, better overall health, and well-being. These things are possible - so get your money’s worth. Receiving these devices from a professional and getting their advice, will help you achieve these goals. Also, if you need help you can always contact your hearing instrument specialist. Local Hearing Aid Providers There have been so many changes in hearing aid technology. The one thing that remains consistent is the support and care from local hearing aid providers who are able to deliver the best possible results. Get in touch with us at Pure Sound Hearing, and talk with one of our local hearing instrument specialists in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They are here to listen and patiently work with you or your loved one.  Our experiences change as we age. There are more responsibilities and different priorities that we need to deal with. We’ll notice that some family members will need additional help and care.
If you recognize any of these things, you’re probably the caregiver in your family. There are some tips on how to handle this role to make your life easier. Attention to All Caregivers Anyone can be a caregiver. Maybe you are taking care of a sick or aging parent, relative, friend, or child with special needs. It’s a lot of responsibility, but it’s important to know that you aren’t alone. The Family Caregiver Alliance has reported that annually, nearly 44 million Americans assist with 37 billion hours of unpaid, ‘informal’ care for adult family members and friends who have chronic conditions or illnesses. Most people manage these situations with some or no help from a professional. Out of this population, there’s a large number of people who need aid and assistance as a result of an injury - or age-related hearing loss. What is Age-Related Hearing Loss? The term presbycusis, also known as age-related hearing loss, has been used and described in our previous blog posts. When you think about a caregiver, managing hearing loss probably doesn’t immediately come to your attention as the main part to consider. Aging and looking after hearing problems could become a significant responsibility that you will also need to handle. Hearing loss that goes untreated can cause cognitive decline and depression due to social isolation. It can impact your self-worth and general outlook on life, which can make things more challenging as you age. If you notice or even suspect a loved one has hearing loss, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. Just like with any serious health problem, it’s important to receive early treatment and care to help slow down or even prevent worsening effects. At Home Care for Your Hearing Needs It’s important to be able to care for your hearing loss on your own, with the guidance of a hearing healthcare professional. If you are a caregiver for someone with hearing loss, start by making sure that the hearing aids and/or assistive listening devices are properly functioning. Batteries and wax guards should be switched out regularly. If the person you are caring for hears whistling or anything abnormal with their hearing aids, their device probably needs to be repaired. You can clean their hearing aids from dust and earwax buildup, and make sure they are dry. Professional-grade cleaning wipes or soft cloth should be used to wipe the hearing aids down. The way their home is arranged is also something to look into. You should ask the person with the hearing impairment whether they can hear the TV, or if it’s easy for them to answer the telephone or their smartphone. If they do find it difficult to use these devices, maybe you should rearrange some furniture or the entertainment system. Most modern hearing aids feature Bluetooth®, so streaming media or phone calls are easier. A major part of caring for someone with hearing loss is working as a team to find the best solution for their unique lifestyle and needs. You should also consider creating a quiet and comfortable atmosphere. Struggling to hear can lead to listening fatigue, so help make their living space calm and relaxing. Don’t Forget to Take Good Care of Yourself It’s easy to feel burnt out in these situations. It happens to every caregiver. The most common signs of stress in a caregiver are fatigue, consistent feelings of worry, and depression. If you notice any of these feelings, address them immediately. Taking care of your own needs is just as important as taking care of your loved one. There are support groups available or even consider advice from a medical professional. If possible, talk to loved ones - even the person who you are caring for. Make reasonable expectations. A conversation could help with future tensions that are felt by everyone involved. Make an Appointment with a Specialist Setting up an appointment with a hearing aid specialist is important for caregivers with loved ones who have hearing loss. They will help keep the devices functioning properly, repair them, provide professional cleanings, cleaning tools such as professional-strength cleaning wipes, and other accessories. Remember to keep information on your loved one’s hearing aid warranty on hand, in case it is needed, and go to their appointment with them. If you, or a loved one, need a hearing test or new hearing aids, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation.  The difficulties caused by severe to profound hearing loss are not simply that they are a little worse than mild to moderate hearing loss. There’s much more to it.
Insight on the repercussions of Severe to Profound Hearing Loss (SPHL) Patients who have mild to moderate hearing loss experience frustration, confusion, and isolation - which can lead to depression - due to feeling less confident during social situations where listening environments are challenging. Patients with severe to profound hearing loss experience the same problems, but there are additional struggles. When anyone who has difficulty with hearing also needs to put extra effort in trying to listen to others, they can experience fatigue. People that you communicate with may not be accommodating or sympathetic, which discourages you from trying to fit in or reach out to others. SPHL makes itself known in every Situation If you have severe to profound hearing loss, you probably have a lot of trouble with communicating in noisy environments AND in just about any conversation that you engage in, or attempt to engage in. This invisible boundary can hinder your ability to create and build upon relationships. Having friendships or work relationships with others is important to understand where we fit in this society. Communication isn’t the only problem that you may have. You might feel less confident if something sounds confusing, or isolated if you miss the punchline to a joke that someone makes and everyone else laughs except for you. You could also feel as though you need to rely on others to speak clearly or translate things for you. Sometimes, those moments during a conversation lose their magic or significance when it needs to be repeated. How Hearing Loss affects Your Mental Health If your interpersonal relationships are negatively impacted by your hearing loss, that can also negatively affect you. It’s easy to see how isolation can snowball into other problems in relation to your mental health. Anxiety and depression have been closely associated with severe and profound hearing loss. Anxiety and depression significantly increase the chances of social isolation, which can be an issue caused by miscommunications, so the cycle continues. There have been studies on high rates of depression among people who have normal hearing abilities who communicate with people who are hard of hearing. So it’s not necessarily hearing loss that’s at the center of the problem, but the constant interruption of how a normal conversation should be. Hearing Aids and a Healthy Social Life In addition to receiving a great pair of hearing aids that are properly fitted and programmed by a hearing instrument specialist, and possibly auditory training sessions, people with hearing loss MUST HAVE contact with others who are having the same challenges as they are. Whether it’s advice from someone with firsthand experience or just an empathetic person who understands what they are going through, it’s important to have those relationships. Find those communities, whether it’s an online group or a local hearing loss association chapter. There will be people in similar situations that you can connect with. If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a hearing test and consultation. We offer a variety of hearing aids and some listening devices for your journey towards better hearing.  Nearly 48 million Americans experience some range of hearing loss, but most are unwilling to acknowledge it. Due to the ageism that is deeply steeped in society, many people see hearing loss as a sign of getting old, so it’s ignored and goes untreated.
The aesthetics of hearing aids or their cost is also a concern for many individuals. According to the Hearing Loss Association of America, the average person waits at least seven years to seek help. There are serious consequences to untreated hearing loss. Here are nine reasons why you - or your loved one - should get treatment. 1. Wearing Hearing Aids is as Natural as Wearing Eyeglasses While it’s important to note that hearing loss and vision loss are not the same things, - nor does treatment for them work the same way - normalizing the use of hearing aids the way wearing eyeglasses has been accepted is important. Presbyopia, or the inability to focus on close objects due to age-related deterioration, is the visual equivalent to presbycusis (age-related hearing loss). For some, hearing aids may not be considered a trendy accessory - although they are available in bright colors. There are more discreet styles that rest in the inner ear canal. Many famous people also rely on wearing hearing aids like Halle Berry, Jodie Foster, Robert Redford, Rob Lowe, and Whoopie Goldberg. 2. Mild Hearing Loss can change Brain Function Ears transmit information to the brain, therefore when hearing loss occurs the brain will also change. As hearing loss progresses, the areas of the brain that process visual and sensory elements will start to utilize parts of the auditory cortex to comprehend sounds. This change results in an under-stimulation - which leads to deterioration - of the auditory cortex. 3. Untreated Hearing Loss Negatively impacts Memory and Cognitive Abilities You may have had trouble hearing in a crowded room. Your frontal and prefrontal cortex - these are the areas of the brain that assist with thinking, focusing, concentration, and remembering things for brief periods (A.K.A. - working memory) - become more active. These are the parts of your brain that listen, so they won’t be effective if they become deteriorated due to hearing loss. When it comes to the way their brain processes speed and executive function, research has shown that individuals with hearing loss have shortcomings. As frequently mentioned in this blog, hearing loss has been linked to dementia. In 2017, The Lancet published an international study that concluded that hearing loss is one of the biggest modifiable risks for developing dementia. There’s a lot of hope in the fact that a person with hearing loss can manage their memory and cognitive abilities, and adapt to life like any other person with a hearing aid that is fit and programmed by a professional. 4. The Safety and Security of Hearing Better Some ranges of hearing loss may put your life in danger. If you can’t hear a smoke alarm, house alarm, sirens, severe weather warnings, or even a doorbell, this can put you at greater risk. According to research from Johns Hopkins University, the National Institute of Aging found that anyone with mild hearing loss is three times more likely to fall than people with healthy hearing abilities. 5. The Stress of Straining to Hear Mild hearing loss can cause stress. This stress can lead to anger, anxiety, depression, frustration, headaches, and irritability. 6. Interpersonal Relationships can Suffer Relationships can become strained if you don’t have a partner/spouse, family members, friends, or colleagues who are patient with you. Following along during conversations can be challenging. It can require more concentration and fatigue. After a while, you may no longer enjoy socializing and begin isolating yourself, which can lead to depression. 7. Hearing Health helps Your overall Health Getting a routine hearing test and treatment, if necessary, is one step towards better overall health. A good diet and an exercise routine are also great ways to help your overall health, which can impact your hearing health. 8. Hearing Aids have seen Great Technological Improvements Hearing aids can be discreetly placed in the ear canal or even behind the ears. Digital signal processing lets your hearing instrument specialist tailor the devices for your specific listening needs, which improves your hearing health and cognitive health. This gives users a customized listening experience. 9. It’s Almost Impossible to Mask Your Hearing Loss If you are constantly asking others to speak up or repeat what they’ve said, you might need hearing aids. Contact us at Pure Sound Hearing to schedule an appointment for a hearing test and consultation with one of our hearing instrument specialists. They will help you find the right solution for your hearing needs. If You have noticed Difficulty with Hearing, You might also Experience Feelings of Anxiety.7/13/2021  Anxiety is an unrelenting and intense state of alertness. While this is completely normal when you encounter stressful circumstances, for some people it becomes an unmanageable condition that consumes their thoughts.
Hearing loss can provoke or even encourage these anxieties, but there haven’t been comprehensive studies on this matter. These worries aren’t simply about hearing loss, but also missing out on important information, embarrassment from a misunderstanding, thoughts of hearing aid batteries running out of power, or feeling left out of job opportunities/social circles. Experiencing Physical Anxiety You may have had strong feelings of anxiety which led to physical symptoms, such as:
If any of these symptoms are becoming so frequent that they are negatively impacting your life, you should seek help from a professional. This might include treatment for hearing loss and anxiety. What Triggers Your Anxiety? Anxiety is separated into five categories:
If you were in an automobile accident and suffered a head injury, you might suffer from rapid hearing loss and other symptoms of PTSD. Your specific symptoms and treatment may be different from someone who is gradually losing their hearing and constantly pays attention to signs of dementia (but it’s only their hearing that’s been impacted). People with hearing loss might have tinnitus or Ménière's disease, which can also be distressing and lead to anxiety. The Statistics on Anxiety and Hearing Loss Constantly struggling in everyday circumstances that aren’t a problem for most people can lead to stress. Anxiety is one reaction to this stress. Over a 12-year study, about 4,000 French citizens who were at least 65-years-old, and had hearing loss at the beginning of the study had a higher risk of developing symptoms of anxiety over time. People who had vision loss were not more likely to show symptoms of anxiety. This may be due to the reduced stigma in wearing eyeglasses over wearing hearing aids. Hearing Loss and Tinnitus Severity Raise the Risk of Experiencing Anxiety The link to hearing loss and tinnitus severity was found in adults of every age group. The study found in 17,000 adult participants, there was a higher risk of anxiety if your hearing loss was more severe or you had tinnitus. This does not automatically conclude that you will be anxious due to hearing loss. In five studies that examined symptoms in hard-of-hearing individuals, between 15 to 31 percent of participants had significant symptoms of anxiety. So overall, most people did not have these symptoms. Among the general population, anxiety is common. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, approximately 18 percent of American adults have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Are You Anxious in Social Situations or Simply Frustrated due to Problems with Hearing? As frequently mentioned in this blog, age-related hearing loss (presbycusis), slowly happens over time. Many people don’t notice it, until much later in life. You can be slowly overcome with feelings of loneliness, which contribute to your mental health - i.e. anxiety. People who have social anxiety fear any circumstance where they may be negatively judged, whether it’s with people that they work with, or engaging in small talk. Hearing loss can lead to situations that can frustrate others. When you are unable to hear clearly, you may not notice when someone is about to talk or has not finished speaking, and interrupt that person. You might pretend that you can hear, or make a guess as to what was said, and give an inappropriate response. Maybe you didn’t hear a joke - so you’re the only person who didn’t laugh. Hearing loss can make you feel isolated and create awkward social situations. If you still enjoy being social with others, you probably have mild social anxiety. If the simple act of sitting with others makes you anxious, you probably have extreme social anxiety. Those with GAD might have a lot of worries and struggle with physical symptoms for days prior to a date or a job interview. Tips for Communication
Can Having an Anxiety Disorder Negatively Impact Your Hearing? A French study conducted on 10,500 Taiwanese adults concluded that there was a higher risk of anxiety among those who experienced sudden hearing loss (SHL). Participants in the study who were diagnosed with GAD, but not hearing loss at the beginning of the research were more likely to develop hearing loss than individuals who did not have GAD. The adults with GAD were not more likely to experience worsening vision. Additional studies are needed to determine why hearing might be impacted by anxiety. Treatment for Anxiety is Available Most people who have anxiety are not treated. It often gets overlooked. If you want to get help for anxiety, you will need to reach out to your healthcare provider. Exercise, meditation, or medication may be suggested. Hearing Aids of Assistive Listening Devices If hearing loss is causing your anxiety, hearing aids can significantly improve your condition. They cannot restore your hearing back to normal, but they can help you manage the anxiety that you feel with communication and listening. Phone apps that provide captions and decibel readers can also be helpful. If the sound of your alarm causes anxiety, you can set one that creates a light that slowly shines like a sunrise, or even a gentle shaking alarm to wake you from your sleep. If you or a loved one are experiencing anxiety, or any other concerning symptoms, due to hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a hearing test and consultation.  The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) reveals innovation in new products and possible trends that are set for the future. The 2021 trade show focused on inclusive tech, which encourages everyone to actively participate in life.
The significance of this is being able to provide access to others. Healthy hearing paves the way for people to enjoy and fully participate in what matters, and those who matter to them, in their lives. For example:
Forms of inclusive tech presented at the 2021 CES
Modern hearing aid features include:
There have been so many new advancements to improve your life, overall health, and hearing. Contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test, hearing aid trial, and consultation to learn which digital hearing aids would work best for you and your lifestyle.  The whistling is actually feedback noise from your hearing aid. It tends to happen when you’re too close to a radio or speaker that’s switched on. Feedback noises can also happen while putting a shirt or scarf on.
How do feedback noises occur with hearing aids? Hearing aid feedback noises occur as a result of sounds that were supposed to travel through your ear canal, but move out of your ear and return to the hearing aid’s microphone. This sound becomes reamplified, which is what leads to the whistling noise. Feedback noises can happen in many different situations, including the moment when you insert or remove the hearing aids from your ears. It can even happen when someone embraces you. This is common. The hearing aid devices are responding to the sound that ricochets from your environment. Hearing aid feedback may also occur as a result of a much-needed repair, or a more thorough cleaning from a professional. 5 Cause of Whistling Noises Today’s hearing aids feature feedback cancellation, but it’s not always helpful. Here are the most common causes of feedback noises and what can be done about them. 1. Poorly fit hearing aids - Everyone’s ears change as they age. The ear’s shape and hearing abilities are prone to change. If they do, the earmolds may loosen and will not have a secure seal. When this happens, the sound moves away from your ear and back to the hearing aids’ microphones. This is when the feedback occurs. A hearing instrument specialist can fix this problem by making new earmolds that are securely fitted in your ear. Weight gain or weight loss can affect the way your ears and how the earmolds fit you. An improper hearing aid fitting may let the sound leak and re-enter the hearing aids’ microphone. So talk to your hearing instrument specialist, and let them know if your hearing aid feels loose. They will guide you and make sure the devices are properly fitted. 2. Broken tubes - For the behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids, the tube that connects the earmold can become hard and shrink. In some instances, the tubing will tug at the earmold. This warps and changes the fitting. In this case, the tube needs to be replaced. 3. Loud volume - Sometimes you’ll have a hard time hearing in certain environments, so you may crank up the volume on your hearing aids. Increasing the volume to the point where it’s too loud can force the sound to re-enter the hearing aids. This is what causes the whistling noise. Lower the volume on the hearing aids. In the future, try to avoid being around sounds that are so loud that it creates feedback. 4. Producing excessive amounts of earwax - Your hearing aids harness sounds directly into your ear canals. If the ear canal is clogged and impacted with too much earwax, the sounds won’t be able to reach them. This is when the noises bounce back into the hearing aids and whistle. Excess earwax can obstruct your ear canal. This not only creates issues with your hearing aid devices, but you may experience earaches or even harm your hearing health. Your ears should be cleaned by a professional. Do not insert anything smaller than your fingers into your ears. Check to make sure the receiver, vents, and tubing aren’t clogged with earwax. 5. Loose microphone - Loud feedback noises can be caused due to loose or microphones that have been displaced. If you experience this problem, ask your hearing instrument specialist for help. If you still have an issue with feedback noises from your hearing aids, schedule an appointment with a hearing instrument specialist at Pure Sound Hearing.  The third most prevalent chronic disease that affects the elderly is hearing loss. Hearing loss has been linked to weakened overall health including depression, loneliness, isolation, and poor physical health. Hearing loss usually goes untreated, where only 11 percent of older adults who experience hearing loss own hearing aids and about 24 percent of them do not use the devices.
Hearing loss is linked to a faster rate of cognitive decline in elderly adults, which can result in dementia. The majority of studies on cognitive decline are centered on older adults, but recent evidence showed that the onset of hearing loss that occurs in mid-life is associated with being diagnosed with dementia before the age of 60. Therefore, in mid - and later- life, hearing loss raises the risks for dementia and cognitive decline. Prior to Hearing Aid Usage Before receiving a hearing aid fitting, the male and female test subjects had no significant difference in hearing loss. The range of hearing loss was not connected to the person’s age. Mood and anxiety levels were within normal limits, with 17 percent of participants who reported experiencing higher anxiety and/or depression. This may partly be due to the fact that a participant’s degree of hearing loss was only mild to moderate. As a result, the effects of hearing loss on their mental health and loneliness were not as severe. Receiving higher education has also been shown to have a protective effect against symptoms of anxiety and depression. About 44 percent of these participants reported feeling lonely. The average Health Utilities Index mark 3 (HUI3) for overall quality of life scored at 0.74 (the maximum score is 1). An analysis showed that the range of hearing loss, and a person’s age, predicted poorer executive function. Strengthening education attainment was linked to better managerial function and visual learning. The Results After 18 Months Cognitive function was reexamined in 37 participants 18 months after receiving their hearing aid fitting. Twenty-eight percent of the test subjects used their hearing aids for over 90 percent of their waking hours, and 31 percent of the test subjects used their device for 60-90 percent of waking hours. Speech perception in quiet environments and overall quality of life improved significantly with the majority of the group. About 57 percent of the self-reported listening disability scores significantly improved. Individuals who had high symptoms of anxiety and depression did not report experiencing either of those conditions at 18 months. Participants who were severely lonely at the beginning of the experiment were not at 18 months. The group’s average performance improved for measures on executive function, psychomotor function, attention, working memory, and visual learning. There was no decline during the 18 months. During a follow-up, 30 percent of the follow-up test subjects were better at executive function, 67 percent were stable, and the condition of three percent worsened. There was an improvement in the working memory, visual attention, and visual learning for the female participants. When the cognitive changes from hearing aid usage were studied, considerably greater gains in executive function were discovered in participants who used their hearing aids or assistive listening devices for over 90 percent of their waking hours, compared to those who used their devices for less than 90 percent of their waking hours. Women test subjects used their hearing aids on a more regular basis and for longer periods of time than men, at 56% vs. 33% during a span of 14-hours per day. More gain in executive function, and improvements in three other test subsets among female participants, recommend a dose-effect of hearing aid usage on cognition. Prior studies reported this contrast in hearing aid usage between men and women. They imply that it could be because women value social communication more than men, have a greater awareness of the root causes of hearing loss, and struggle with more stress and anger as a result of hearing loss. If you, or a loved one, are experiencing hearing loss and believe hearing aids would be helpful, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. We offer a wide selection of hearing aid brands and styles for your listening needs.  You can turn what is perceived as a disadvantage, and make it your advantage.
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, there will be some obvious challenges in your work environment. Own your hearing loss, and try not to feel limited by it. All employers are required by law to accommodate workers with disabilities - this includes those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Individuals in the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities can excel at any job they’d like, but there may be some career paths that are easier to transition through if you have hearing loss. Where Deaf and Hard of Hearing People have an Advantage Texting has effectively replaced phone (and some face-to-face) conversations between teens. Communication via text has become equally as important as communicating verbally. In many instances, when you lose one sense - such as the ability to hear, your other senses and skills may heighten. Over 80% of teens use social media and smartphones. Just about everyone carries their phones with them, everywhere they go. This makes communication much easier for a person with hearing loss. Career Opportunities for Deaf Teens There are a number of hearing-specific careers available, where being hard of hearing is an advantage. Here are some of them:
These are very rewarding jobs. Working with deaf/hard-of-hearing youth can make a big impact in their life. Here are other careers where hearing loss is not a major obstacle.
If you or a loved one are in need of hearing aids, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation.  Check out the latest smartphone app from CaptionCall. This free app lets people who experience hearing loss make phone calls and receive them through the Android smartphone.
This app makes it easier for users to understand others when they speak to them and gives people a more independent life. Easy Access to CaptionCall As long as they have decent Wi-Fi service available, the CaptionCall Mobile app can be easily accessible. Features include:
The app is currently available to download at the Google Play store. It can be used with Android smartphones that have an Operating System (OS) 7.0 or newer and the Jitterbug Smart2 smartphones that have the Android 7.0 OS or newer. The app can be connected to your hearing aids via Bluetooth connectivity. This allows you to enhance your CaptionCall by:
Smartphone Usage with Bluetooth®-compatible Hearing Aids People of all ages experience hearing loss, but the aging population is more likely to experience it. A 2019 Pew Research Center study found that more and more seniors are using smartphones than ever before. About 46 percent of individuals who are at least 65 years old use smartphones. The CaptionCall Mobile app (for Android smartphones) is convenient for anyone who relies on smartphones to communicate with others - whether it’s family, friends, colleagues, healthcare providers, or the general public. If you or a loved one are interested in Bluetooth®-compatible hearing aids, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing to schedule a complimentary hearing test and consultation.  Hearing loss can happen to anyone at any age in life. Some people are born with hearing loss, some people gradually lose their hearing as they age or due to an illness, and others experience hearing loss caused by overexposure to loud noises.
For any young people who have hearing loss, it can make them feel out of place. Society has ingrained the idea that hearing loss only happens to the elderly, which is not true. The Hearing Loss Association of America has reported that two to three out of 1,000 infants are born with detectable hearing loss. One in five American teens experiences some range of hearing loss. Don’t Assume that People are “Too Young” to Have Hearing Loss In many instances, when others comment on the premature age of a person with hearing loss, the young person with hearing loss tends to feel inadequate. Some people with a hearing loss already experienced “imposter syndrome”, and that feeling increases because they don’t feel like they belong to the hearing community or the deaf community. Saying, “You’re too young for hearing loss” makes that person feel even more “othered”. The mainstream culture rarely includes people who are hard of hearing. Most of us have learned about Helen Keller, a deafblind activist. We may have seen Marlee Matlin acting in a movie or TV show. Currently, there is an accurate portrayal of the deaf and hard of hearing community in the Netflix series Deaf U. Due to the lack of representation, deafness and hearing loss are usually associated with the elderly or someone who is profoundly deaf. Most people who are hard of hearing do not fit in any of those categories, so it tends to cause a lot of misunderstandings. Hard of Hearing People, of All Ages, Should Receive Accessibility In many cases, the online events that have recently become very popular are usually inaccessible to anyone who has hearing loss. Accessibility and accommodations should be available, regardless of whether it’s an event primarily for the older generation or a younger generation. Videos with closed captions should always be provided. If you or a loved one experiences hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation.  Usually, hearing loss happens slowly as you age. Eventually, you may notice that the music you once enjoyed now sounds different. If you’re an avid music listener, you may discover when a new instrument begins to play, you won’t know which one it is. Lyrics could be difficult to understand. Overall, the music might have a flat tone.
With hearing aids, you’ll be able to hear the sounds that you missed. Just like musical instruments, hearing aids need to be finely tuned to clearly hear with them. Adjustments from your hearing instrument specialist, along with your feedback on what is and what is not working will help find the best settings for you. Hearing aids can also help reduce tinnitus - the repetitive beeping, buzzing, or chirping noises that many musicians and music lovers experience when exposed to too much sound. How Can You Enjoy Listening to Music Again? The default settings on your hearing aids are meant to improve speech sounds, so music may actually sound dull or flat. Simply switching the volume levels won’t help with this problem. Ask your hearing instrument specialist to program a music setting. When you want to listen to or play music, you can switch your hearing aid to this setting. Do Not Turn the Volume Up There’s a range of sounds in music, where some sections may get louder and then softer. If you experience profound hearing loss, the wide range of sounds can be challenging to hear. Some new hearing aid users who listen to music tend to raise the volume very high which can cause more damage to their auditory system. Early hearing aid models were unable to handle these bigger ranges without distorting the sounds. Today’s digital hearing aids are significantly better at processing music. Simply communicate what you like or dislike about your hearing aid with your hearing instrument specialist. Everyone’s ability to hear is unique, so they will create a customized program just for you. Hearing Aid: Music Program Hearing aids can have many different programs. These are special pre-programmed settings that help users hear clearer in different environments. Hearing instrument specialists can create and customize these settings based on a user’s situation. So whether you are having a conversation with someone, or sitting in a noisy area where there’s music playing in the background, there’s a setting for that. You can control these settings by using a remote that pairs with the hearing aid, an app on your smartphone, or pressing a button on the hearing aid. Talk to your hearing aid provider for guidance. A “music” program is needed for hearing aids to better understand speech sounds. Speech sounds in a normal conversation can range between 30 to 85 decibels (dB) (Remember the average person’s hearing threshold is 85 dB.). Human speech sounds can range between 250 to 6000 Hz. For a “normal” hearing aid setting, which is honed for normal spoken conversation, the range or frequency and volume are lower than what’s used for music. For example, a piano has approximately 40 percent more frequency ranges than the average female speech sounds. Music vs. Conversation Music generally has more range in frequency and volume. It incorporates vital sounds that are softer or blaring than conversational sounds. This can be challenging for any hearing aid user. Customized programs that enhance the sound of music, generally have more amplification in lower frequencies. This is vital to enjoying music. If you have any problems with listening to music with hearing aids, do not hesitate to talk to your hearing instrument specialist. Use Assistive Listening Devices To stream sounds through your hearing aids, try the Roger Select microphone, uDirect3 remote control, ConnectLine, ConnectClip, TV Connector, or ask about other options that are available at Pure Sound Hearing. To take your first step towards enjoying music again, get in touch with us. Our hearing instrument specialists will guide you through a journey to better hearing. Do You Experience Pain in Your Ears While Aboard an Airplane? Here are Tips on How to Avoid it.7/7/2021  As more people are getting back to traveling by plane, ear pain caused by air pressure may be inevitable for some.
Usually, the pain that you feel in your ears is a minor discomfort. In other cases, it can turn into a serious issue. In rare occurrences, ear pain and pressure can result in hearing loss. More Ear Pressure The shifts in air pressure affect the pressure in your ears. Generally, the air pressure in the inner ear and the air pressure outside are nearly identical. When you walk up a large mountain, the slow speed of your ascent gives your body time to distribute the pressure, which equalizes it while walking. The discomfort you feel, due to increased ear pressure only happens during a quick shift in altitude. The pressure inside your inner ear and the pressure coming from outside do not have enough time to equalize. This is known as ear barotrauma. When the airplane that you aboard take flight, it starts its ascent, and the air pressure in the inner ear quickly passes the pressure outside. The eardrum swells outward, like a loaf of bread that rises as it bakes in an oven. On the contrary, when the air pressure in the inner ear quickly gets lower than the air pressure outside, the tympanic membrane will get suctioned inward like a vacuum. The Eustachian tube becomes flat and needs your help to bring airflow into the inner ear so that it can function properly. It doesn’t matter if you are rapidly going into a high altitude or low altitude, when the eardrum stretches it can be painful. When experiencing this, since the eardrum cannot vibrate you will also notice some hearing loss and muffled noises. 3 Ways to Prevent Ear Pain in Flight When flying on an airplane, you may have felt the shifting altitudes on your ears, i.e. feelings of fullness in the ear and popping. Pressure needs to be equalized by presenting as much air as possible through the Eustachian tube. Here’s how to do that: 1. Swallow or yawn - Doing this will help airflow through the nose to the middle ear, which will equalize the pressure. When you swallow, the clicking or popping noise that you might hear is actually a tiny air bubble that drifted from the back of the nose and into the middle ear through the Eustachian tube. This tube makes sure that there is regular airflow in the middle ear. This air becomes absorbed into the inner ear’s membranes and the cycle repeats. This continuous air flow makes sure that the pressure on each side of the ears remains equal. Swallow or yawn as many times as necessary. When flying on an airplane, make sure the Eustachian tubes are working more than usual and open them up more often in order to adapt to the pressure change. 2. Chew gum or suck on hard candy - Doing this will encourage you to frequently swallow, which helps to equalize air pressure. 3. The Valsalva Maneuver - To do this maneuver, inhale air and hold your breath. Then close your mouth and pinch your nose shut. Gently release the air out until your ears pop. This will open up the Eustachian tubes. This maneuver is not meant to be used if you have allergies or a cold, because it may lead to a severe ear infection. You should use the Toynbee maneuver. This is when you close your mouth and nose while swallowing several times until you reach equalized pressure. Repeat either technique as necessary. 6 Additional Tips
Airplanes and Ear Pain in Children The Eustachian tubes in children are significantly smaller and narrower than in an adult. This is why a change in air pressure is much more painful for them. Sucking on a bottle or pacifier is helpful in order to increase the number of times the child swallows, especially when the plane is about to descend. Older kids can suck on a lollipop, drink through a straw or blow bubbles through a straw in order to relieve pain in the ears. Before the plane ride, you may talk to your pediatrician about ear drops for pain relief. The Risk of a Ruptured Eardrum If you have allergies, a cold, flu, or any other similar illness, you may want to change travel plans. It would be considerate to the other people on the plane, and your illness may include a blockage of the Eustachian tube, which would prevent pressure equalization. If your eardrum becomes ruptured or if you have a severe infection, either one may lead to hearing loss or permanent damage to your ear. If you experience hearing loss due to a plane flight, and your hearing has not gone back to normal, within several days after your flight, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing to schedule an appointment at one of our offices in Elizabethtown, Lititz, Mt. Joy, or Strasburg.  Martha is ready to greet you with a smile in our Lititz office!
To schedule an appointment, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation.  Phonak Marvel - rechargeable hearing aid 1. It provides some of the most natural sounds and can reduce background noise.
It's difficult to hear in a busy area. That especially rings true for anyone with hearing loss. To take on this problem, Phonak Marvel uses the Autosense feature. This technology automatically adjusts your hearing aid settings based on the environment that you're in so that you can hear better in any place. 2. Phonak Marvel features Hands-free Bluetooth® Technology Phonak’s Marvel hearing aid can be connected to any Bluetooth®-enabled device, which includes any TV, computer, or phone that has Bluetooth®. The Bluetooth® connection does not require the use of an adapter to switch on the audio streaming feature. Marvel is a hands-free Bluetooth® earpiece and a hearing aid. When the Bluetooth® is switched on, the hearing aid user can keep their smartphone or other Bluetooth®-enabled devices on a table while doing other things. The sounds will be harnessed through the hearing aid and pick up the user’s voice. When the phone or Bluetooth® device stays within Bluetooth®'s connectivity range, you do not need to hold the audio source. Other hearing aid brands tend to let the user hear sounds in the hearing aid, but they need to stay close to the phone or audio source’s microphone for the sound of the voice to get picked up. Listening and communicating through a hearing aid can be like listening and communicating through a speakerphone. Even if you can hear the call through your hearing aid, the caller can only hear you if you are near the microphone. 3. If necessary, get an adjustment for your hearing aids. If there’s anything wrong with your hearing aids, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing. Our providers can reprogram the devices, or conduct a deep cleaning if it's necessary. If you have any questions or concerns about your Phonak Marvel devices or any hearing aids that were purchased from Pure Sound Hearing, please contact us.  Setting up a smoke detector in the home is easy, and important to warn you and your loved ones about a fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the risk of death due to a fire breaking out in your home falls by 55 percent when you set up a functioning smoke alarm.
For most people, the sound of a loud smoke alarm is enough to warn you about a fire. If you have hearing loss, particularly high-frequency hearing loss where you are unable to hear high-pitched sounds, a smoke or carbon monoxide detector may not be sufficient enough to warn you. Instead, some alarms feature flashing lights or even vibrating alarms for your bed so that you can be shaken awake from your sleep. Why You need to have an Alarm It’s important to have early detection so that residents may be immediately alerted, and make their way to safety. The amount of time that is available to escape is now less than what we previously thought - at two to three minutes - due to the flammable, synthetic materials that are found in most modern homes. This early detection gives a quicker warning to residents about the potential danger. The individuals at most risks of being harmed or perishing in a fire include children, anyone who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and people with hearing loss. What type of Alarm should You get, based on Your Hearing Loss? The average alarm might not be able to alert you for safety if you experience high-frequency hearing loss caused by age or exposure to loud noises, Typical smoke alarms only generate high-frequency sounds, or high-pitched sounds, which usually aren’t loud enough for people who have severe to profound hearing loss. This is concerning when you remove your hearing aids before going to bed at night. The NFPA strongly suggests that anyone who cannot hear clearly, especially if they have mild to severe hearing loss, should use a device that produces a combination of different low-pitched sounds. What are some Smoke Alarm Options for the Hard of Hearing? There are a few different options to choose from, including:
After choosing your alarm system, notify everyone in the house so that they know which signal to be on the lookout for in case of an emergency. Unless you wear rechargeable hearing aids that need to be charged overnight, you may also leave your hearing aids in while sleeping. It will give you a better chance of hearing your fire alarm go off. If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss and need hearing aids, please get in touch with us at Pure Sound Hearing for a hearing test and consultation.  Improve your hearing health by nourishing your ears with these recipes packed with folic acid, magnesium, omega-3, vitamin D, potassium, and zinc.
Sweet Potato Brekkie Ingredients
Serve with
Cooking instructions Preheat the oven to 450°F. Dice sweet potatoes into even pieces. In a bowl, toss potatoes in oil, salt, and pepper. Place in a rimmed baking sheet, and roast. Toss occasionally until tender and browned (35-45 min.). Set off to the side until they’re ready to use. In a large skillet, place the pan over medium-low heat. Wait for the pan to heat up before adding the oil. Add minced garlic and cook for about a minute. Place spinach into the skillet and stir for 2-3 minutes. Assemble your meal by adding cooked quinoa to your bowl, then add the spinach, sweet potato, sliced avocado, and egg. Serve with sunflower seeds, chia seeds, hot sauce, and/or a spoonful of plain Greek yogurt. Enjoy this potassium-packed meal! Recipe from discovergoodnutrition.com Broccoli and Asparagus Salad Ingredients
Cooking instructions Boil water and then add the quinoa. Cook for 8-10 minutes. Strain the water and set it aside. Add broccoli, peas, and asparagus to boiling water and cook for about 4 minutes. When cooked, strain and soak in cold water for a few seconds to stop the cooking process. This will give you tender and crisp vegetables, rather than soggy ones. Add quinoa and vegetables to a serving bowl. Top with sliced cherry tomatoes. Mix the orange juice, lime, honey, and sesame seeds and drizzle over the salad. Enjoy this salad that’s rich in folic acid! Recipe by Casey Jade at www.caseyjade.com Why not Take a Break from Baking Bread and make Avocado-Banana Muffins? Ingredients
Cooking instructions Place your avocado, banana, eggs, honey, and vanilla into a food processor or blender. Mix until it’s all smooth. Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl and mix until everything is incorporated. Add the avocado-banana mixture to the dry ingredients. Add the chocolate chips and gently mix until it’s combined. Take spoonfuls of the mixture and place them in a greased or lined muffin tin. Bake at 350°F for about 20-25 minutes. Leave it in the tray to cool once it’s done. This tasty treat is full of magnesium. Recipe by Stacey at www.mykidslickthebowl.com The Omega-3 Omelette Ingredients
Cooking instructions Beat the eggs, and add ground flaxseeds and pepper. Mix the shredded mackerel and green beans with the beaten eggs. Optional: Add chives or parsley. Heat the pan under medium heat. After it’s heated add oil to the pan. Lower the heat and pour the egg, green beans, and fish mixture into the pan. Lift one side of the omelet and tilt the pan. Let the uncooked egg flow underneath. Flip the omelet and cook the other side for a minute, or finish the top of the omelet in the oven for 5-10 minutes at 350°F. This recipe makes two servings. Get your Omega-3s with this omelet. Recipe inspiration from www.myfresha-licious.com Thai Salmon Ingredients ½ cup sweet chili sauce 2 tablespoons of reduced-sodium soy sauce 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger The juice of 1 lime Optional: 1 teaspoon Sriracha 2 lbs. salmon fillet ¼ cup crushed peanuts 2 tablespoons of fresh cilantro, chopped. You can substitute it with parsley. Cooking instructions Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line the baking sheet with foil. For the sauce, whisk together the sweet chili sauce, fish sauce, garlic, ginger, lime juice, soy sauce, and Sriracha in a small bowl; set aside. Put the salmon on the baking sheet lined with foil. Drizzle the chili sauce mixture over the salmon. Then fold the sides of the foil over the salmon. Completely cover it to seal the contents. This will create steam to cook everything. Place this into the oven until it’s cooked through. It should take about 15-20 minutes. Serve it immediately. Optional: garnish with crushed peanuts and chopped cilantro. Recipe by Chungah at www.damndelicious.com One way to improve your hearing health is by eating better. So support your hearing health by trying these recipes. If you or a loved one experience hearing loss and need a hearing test, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation.  Rexton MyCore Sterling 8C IIC Hearing aid technology is constantly changing. The oversized, indiscreet hearing aid styles are becoming a thing of the past. More and more people are opting for smaller, customized hearing aids. Modern hearing aids can be programmed by a hearing instrument specialist for each user’s specific listening needs. Just about every modern, digital hearing aid features Bluetooth® connectivity, which allows users to clearly stream music, media, and even phone calls directly into your ears.
What do you need to know about IIC hearing aids? IIC hearing aids are small devices that discreetly fit in your ear canals. They are nearly invisible to other people. The only visible part is the thin, clear wire that is connected to the aid. It attaches the receiver to the hearing aid device. It is also the piece you hold onto to insert the dome into your ear or remove it from your ear. IIC devices are similar to completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids. The IIC hearing aids are a little smaller and rest further inside the ear canal. What are the advantages of wearing IIC hearing aids? The primary reason why some hearing aid users wear IIC hearing aids is so that they have a device that’s completely invisible to other people. These discrete devices are customized for anyone’s ears. A hearing instrument specialist may even create a custom-made earmold for the user. Another convenience that IIC hearing aids help with is providing coherent sounds from the user. The small size will not block up the rest of the ear’s natural functions. This means that it receives sounds and amplifies them directly to the eardrum. IIC hearing aids also allow users to recognize where sounds are emanating from. This hearing aid style is also comfortable to wear. The customized mold will rest right on the bone to make sure that it does not become loose while being worn. Many IIC hearing aid users have reported that they are unable to feel the aid when it’s in the correct position. Due to their small size, they can comfortably wear helmets, over-the-ear headphones, and place a phone up to their ear as though they aren’t wearing a hearing aid. What are the disadvantages of wearing IIC hearing aids? The size of an IIC hearing aid does have its drawbacks. If you experience problems when it comes to dexterity, inserting and removing these hearing aids might be difficult. Another problem can be the amount of battery life it holds. While it’s not too serious compared to other hearing aid batteries, IIC hearing aid batteries don’t last as long as the average battery. Since IIC hearing aids rest in the ear canal, they may need more maintenance. Proper and frequent maintenance will guarantee the best function, and ensure that ear wax or moisture isn’t clogging the device. Not everyone with hearing loss can use an IIC hearing aid. Depending on the shape of your ear, the device may not properly and securely fit in your ear canal. Who are the best candidates for IIC hearing aids? IIC hearing aids are perfect for people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. The small size is not suitable for individuals who experience a more severe form of hearing loss. The smaller hearing aids feature amplifiers and processors that have less power than larger hearing aids. IIC hearing aids are useful for anyone with an active lifestyle or who wants a discrete device. If you would like to find out whether you are a candidate for IIC hearing aids, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing and schedule an appointment to talk to one of our hearing instrument specialists about the Rexton MyCore Sterling 8C IIC.  If you’re a city dweller, you are probably used to the bustling sounds in the streets. All traffic that occurs throughout the day and into the night can put your hearing health at risk. Whether the noises come from nearby airports, sports arenas, highways, or construction zones, neighborhoods in the city produce a lot of noise pollution that impacts a vast amount of people.
The Noisiest Neighborhoods Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago are some of the loudest cities in the U.S. Residents are exposed to at least 80 decibels (dB) of noise from transportation per day! There are even heavily traversed areas that emit more than 90 dB. You should wear earplugs or earmuffs to protect your hearing in those areas, especially if these are places you travel through daily. You can look at this map to get a better picture of what we’re talking about. Is there a Negative Impact on Property Value for Noisy Neighborhoods? It’s difficult to avoid loud areas, especially in a big city or suburban area with highways or an airport nearby. It’s important to spread awareness about potential hearing loss, so that others may take preventative measures. Realtor.com has reflected on noise levels vs. property value. They have indicated that more people prefer quieter environments, so the prices of homes will reflect that. Noise in the Workplace Exposure to dangerous noise levels while on the job should concern you. If you do not currently protect your hearing health, you should talk to your manager about being provided with earplugs or industrial ear muffs. Check the noise levels in your work environment by using a decibel meter app. Anything over 85 dBs is considered to be a dangerous level of noise exposure. Talk to family, coworkers, and friends about their exposure to noise in heavy traffic, construction, and concerts while working with power tools, operating heavy machinery, using common electric appliances around the home, etc. All of these interactions could lead to hearing loss. To be safe, always carry around a pair of foam earplugs with you. They can easily be stored in your pocket or handbag. Get your hearing tested at least once a year. How Would You Know If You Had Hearing Loss? Hearing loss happens very slowly over time. Most people won’t catch it early. This is especially true if you are constantly exposed to loud noises, whether it’s in a workplace environment or if you live in a bustling city. If you find yourself turning up the volume on your devices, moving closer to people to hear them better, asking others to speak up, or it's challenging to hear others in noisy environments, you might have hearing loss. If you need a hearing test, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Lititz, Elizabethtown, Mt. Joy, or Strasburg. |
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