 On June 7, 2018, it was reported that the U.S. State Department has brought a group of U.S. diplomats home from China for observation for illness, after they reported hearing strange noises. At least one diplomat was confirmed to be suffering from a mysterious illness and another diplomat reported sickness, too. The situation is possibly related to a sound assault that previously occurred in Cuba and caused a malady resembling a brain injury. The diplomats are all being evaluated and an investigation is being conducted to see if the situation is related to the Cuba incident. Some time ago, 24 U.S. diplomats in Cuba were the victims of sinister sound weapons used in an acoustic attack. The incident in China may be unrelated, but an investigation continues. The precise nature of the injuries suffered are being analyzed.
For more information on noise-induced hearing loss, please contact your hearing instrument specialist at Pure Sound Hearing Aids.
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 School-aged children with hearing loss benefit from wearing remote microphones. But researchers wanted to know about preschoolers wearing a system at home. Your child must hear 45 million words to be ready for school. The Roger™ microphone system (RMS) worn in addition to hearing aids at home for preschoolers can expose your child to two million more words per year.
What does that mean for a growing brain? According to the Journal of Hearing, Speech, and Language Research, exposure to a large number of words and a child’s subsequent vocabulary are correlated. Also, consistent exposure to a plentiful vocabulary means a lot for language development and additional learning. Plus, word exposure has a positive impact on academic success, cognitive abilities, and language abilities. Normal hearing children who heard 45 million words by their fourth birthdays were better prepared when they entered school than language-deprived peers, according to a Hart and Risley study done in 1995. And when these same children were followed into the third grade, they were stronger readers, got higher test scores, and had bigger vocabularies. The RMS It’s hard for children with hearing loss to hear in the presence of background noise and at a distance. The RMS doesn’t just help children with hearing loss to have better vocabulary and language development. Parents with a child having this system were more willing to talk at a distance with more confidence that their child would hear them. The RMS gives a child with hearing loss the tools he or she needs to reach his or her full potential. For more information on hearing loss, please contact your hearing instrument specialist at Pure Sound Hearing Aids.  The news sweeping the nation is all about Yanny versus Laurel. Have you heard about it?Or, let’s ask, what do you hear when you listen to the soundbite recording? There’s one recording, but some people hear the word “Yanny,” while others hear the word “Laurel.” The two are vastly different. It’s kind of like an optical illusion, where some people see a duck and others see a bunny. Shading allows the artist to draw two things that occupy the same space. With the recording, it’s all about frequency. With the Yanny versus Laurel story, Laurel is the correct word. A student played the word Laurel and heard Yanny. Now, everyone is talking about what is heard.
Everyone hears differently Your ears collect sounds, while the brain interprets them.The frequencies your brain is tuned into will determine what you hear, scientists think. Your ears are unique. Someone else’s ears on your head would sound differently, according to a psychologist who studies speech science. He says that differently shaped ears hear differently. In addition, everyone’s brain is unique. Perspective, background, and experience are all factors that influence the brain. All factors put together, including with your ears, it’s no wonder there’s a big debate on what’s heard. Your particular hearing needs If you have hearing loss and want to see a hearing instrument specialist, keep in mind your particular hearing needs. A professional can help you select what’s best for you, according to what you hear. For more information, contact your hearing instrument specialist at Pure Sound Hearing Aids.  According to the CDC, a New Vial Signs study shows that millions of people with hearing damage perceive their hearing as excellent.
 There are many kinds of hearing aids out there. There are different features, sizes, styles, brand names, and manufacturers. To cut down on the confusion in what to look for when buying hearing aids, here are some tips:
You can never ask too many questions. Be sure to explore all your options for your listening needs. There’s a lot of technology to comb through, so contact your hearing instrument specialist at Pure Sound Hearing Aids today for more information.  Springtime often brings about allergies, with symptoms including sore throat, itchy eyes, and runny nose. But are you aware that seasonal allergies may also affect your ears? The symptoms may include pressure, tinnitus, itching, dizziness--and even hearing loss. The hearing loss may only be temporary, but such an occurrence can certainly be frightening. So, how do you tell if your hearing loss is associated with allergies or, instead, a more serious condition?
Allergies and hearing loss A form of conductive hearing loss is from allergies. The transmission of sound is hindered during its travel from the outer or middle ear to the inner ear. How is this so? If allergies cause a reaction on the skin like swelling or itching on the outer ear or in the ear canal, it can keep you from hearing normally. Fluid can also build up in your inner ear, blocking your Eustachian tube--just like when you get congested from a cold. Your ears will feel clogged or full, causing some amount of hearing loss. Your hearing can be further impaired with a fluid buildup, which can be a breeding ground for bacteria. An ear infection may result. The inner ear is less likely to be affected by allergies. However, if the inner ear is infected, it can cause symptoms like pressure, tinnitus, and dizziness. Also, one of the potential triggers for Meniere’s disease is allergies, even though the specific cause of it is unknown. It focuses on the inner ear, causing an allergic reaction, and can increase the chance of hearing loss. Hearing loss shouldn’t be ignored Hearing loss is a serious issue. Don’t just brush it off; it affects your overall health and well being. If your hearing seems unclear all of the time; have it checked. Waiting around could make it worse. For a hearing checkup, consult your hearing instrument specialist at Pure Sound Hearing Aids.  Is recognizing speech like riding a bike? Is it a skill that never goes away once you’ve learned it? Or, can adult onset hearing loss negatively impact speech recognition? Researchers have been asking that question for a long time. Three different studies — in 1984, 1987 and 1999, respectively — resulted in evidence that suggests auditory deprivation does have speech recognition consequences. All three studies focused on people with bilateral hearing loss, who only wore a hearing aid in one ear. The findings showed signs of reduced speech recognition in unaided ears, suggesting that if we don’t use it, we may indeed lose it. If you are not hearing as sharp as you used to, contact Pure Sound for a free, no obligation, hearing screening. Gelfand, S.A., Silman, S., Ross, L. (1987). Long-term effects of monaural, binaural, and no amplification in subjects with bilateral hearing loss. Scandinavian Audiology, 16, 201-207.
Hurley, R. (1999). Onset of auditory deprivation. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 10, 529-534. Silman, S., Gelfand, S., & Silverman, C.A. (1984). Late-onset auditory deprivation: Effects of monaural versus binaural hearing aids. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 76(5), 1357-1362.  Hearing Capabilities of Animals — Can They Really Hear Better than Humans? While it may seem animals can hear better than humans because they can hear sounds we can’t hear, their ability to hear is not better than ours. What differentiates hearing in animals vs. humans is what an animal needs to hear in order to survive. Animal hearing capabilities also depends on the placement, size and shape of their ears. For example, animals with large pinnas (the visible parts of the ear) such as bats and elephants are better equipped to detect vibrations since big pinnas are more effective at funneling vibrations to the eardrum. Also, animals with heavy ear bones cannot pick up high-frequency vibrations but are superior at hearing lower frequencies. Hearing Range of Humans Frequency is the number of vibrations produced each second by an object emitting sound or movement. Each sound carries different frequencies that are measured as a hertz. A single vibration per second is equal to one hertz. Sounds with low frequencies have low pitches (your heartbeat, for example). High frequency sounds have high pitches (dog whistles). Humans cannot detect sounds occurring at all frequencies, but neither can animals. Audiologists report that a healthy young adult human presents a range of hearing between 20 and 20,000 hertz. By middle age, your ability to hear high frequency sounds may have deteriorated to between 12,000 and 14,000 hertz. Facts About Human Hearing and Hearing Loss The ear is a fascinating part of the body, but its ability to detect noises can be easily damaged. Here are some facts about hearing and hearing loss: Humans have around 25,000 hair cells responsible for sending vibrations to the eardrum. Lengthy exposure to sounds over 90 decibels can permanently damage hair cells. If a hair cell dies, it won’t grow back. Police officers, construction workers, factory workers, musicians and military personnel are at a high risk for suffering significant hearing loss as they age. Nearly 30 percent of people over 65 experience some level of hearing loss they may or may not be aware of. You can permanently damage your hearing if you don’t wear ear protection and are exposed even for a short time to a shotgun blast, concert, explosion or other extremely loud noise. If you suspect you may suffer from hearing loss, call Pure Sound Hearing Aids today at 1-844-432-7287 to receive a free hearing test. Facts About Animal Hearing Although dolphins are among the top animal sound detectors, they do not have ears. Instead, dolphins rely on ear drums located outside their bodies. In addition, dolphins use sonar “hearing,” or echolocation, to enhance their already superior hearing abilities. Bats also utilize echolocation to determine location and size of things in the dark. In fact, bats can find small insects 30 feet away from them in pitch darkness using echolocation. Elephants hear frequencies 25 times lower than humans are capable of hearing. They also depend on their feet and trunk to “hear” using specialized receptors for detecting low frequency vibrations. Cats can hear higher frequencies than humans and dogs. Over two dozen ear muscles allow cats to rotate their cone-shaped ears 180 degrees in different positions. That’s why no matter how quietly you open that can of cat food, your cat will hear it. Pure Sound Hearing Aids offers an extensive selection of state-of-the-art hearing aids to address all your hearing needs. Contact us today at to find out how you can receive customized hearing aids to be sure you don’t miss a sound. 
Facts About Animal Hearing Although dolphins are among the top animal sound detectors, they do not have ears. Instead, dolphins rely on ear drums located outside their bodies. In addition, dolphins use sonar “hearing,” or echolocation, to enhance their already superior hearing abilities. Bats also utilize echolocation to determine location and size of things in the dark. In fact, bats can find small insects 30 feet away from them in pitch darkness using echolocation. Elephants hear frequencies 25 times lower than humans are capable of hearing. They also depend on their feet and trunk to “hear” using specialized receptors for detecting low frequency vibrations. Cats can hear higher frequencies than humans and dogs. Over two dozen ear muscles allow cats to rotate their cone-shaped ears 180 degrees in different positions. That’s why no matter how quietly you open that can of cat food, your cat will hear it. Pure Sound Hearing Aids offers an extensive selection of state-of-the-art hearing aids to address all your hearing needs. Contact us today at to find out how you can receive customized hearing aids to be sure you don’t miss a sound. |
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