 Are you, or a loved one, experiencing hearing loss, but are too afraid to accept it? Maybe you've experienced some or all of these feelings.
No matter what phase of hearing loss you’re in, know that Pure Sound is here to help. Contact us for a free hearing test and consultation. Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs and re-fittings. We ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. We will come to your car to get them. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.
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 A recent report from the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) showed that based on the 15% of Americans who have reported some range of hearing loss, approximately 60 percent spend most of their time in the workplace or an academic setting.
Some extra effort is necessary when it comes to hearing loss, but this factor should not interfere with how productive you are or add stress to your experience. The majority of your problems are rooted in misunderstandings, so it is important to have effective communication. Be firm when asking others to accommodate your needs, whether you need to ask someone to speak more clearly, or you need someone to look at you while they talk. These small changes can help make your workplace or classroom run with ease. If you experience hearing loss, let your coworkers and boss know the most efficient ways to communicate with you. There will most likely be a learning curve, so be patient. Hearing Loss: Employment American employers are legally required to implement a workplace with equal opportunities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This includes workers who have hearing loss. Some adjustments can include providing assistive listening devices or using other accommodations to help ease communication. HLAA Resources The HLAA compiled resources for workers who have hearing loss. There is also a comprehensive employment toolkit that includes nearly every dilemma an employee with a hearing impairment may experience. Federal Resources on Workers with Hearing Loss The U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission has a guide on deafness and hearing loss in the workplace, in addition to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Using Hearing Aids on the Job Hearing aids are very beneficial for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. New users should be aware that it takes time to adapt to hearing aids, particularly when you are moving from one environment to another. Talk to your hearing instrument specialist for advice. Your hearing aids can be programmed for different environments, including your daily working conditions and for listening to others through a facemask. Which Assistive Listening Devices Should I Use at Work? If you work in an office, you might need more help than what your hearing aids are capable of providing. In this case, use an assistive listening device.
How to Communicate in the Workplace Effective methods of communication are different for everyone. Generally, people with hearing loss communicate best in person rather than over the phone. The current social distancing rules complicate things, so someone with hearing loss will need to use a series of context clues such as lip reading, facial expressions, and body language to piece the conversation together. An email, chat window, or text, might be more helpful than a phone call or Zoom call unless there are captions available. If it is necessary to visit in-person, ask others to walk in front of you if you are not responding to their attempts to draw your attention. It’s much less startling to see someone walk towards you than it is to have someone tap you on the shoulder. During meetings, ask others not to speak while facing away from you - for instance, if they speak while writing something on a dry-erase board. Their voice becomes projected at the wall, making it difficult to understand no matter how good your hearing may be. Office Layout An office that has an open-layout of cubicles is not the best for those with hearing loss. The bustling workers can be distracting. Having overlapping phone conversations at the same time as your coworker is challenging, even with normal hearing. Ask to work in a private room with a door, if one is available. Noise can be closed off and you can concentrate on your work. Helping a Coworker who Experiences Hearing Loss Coworkers of the deaf or hard-of-hearing can help make a positive workplace environment by doing the following:
Noise-induced Hearing Loss in the Workplace Work environments are the most common places where a person is exposed to harmful levels of noise. This raises the risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Your employer should provide hearing protection if the noise reaches dangerous levels.
If you, or a loved one, are experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. We offer a variety of hearing aid styles and name brands for a wide range of hearing loss.  Health and happiness are important as you age. The best three things that can help you achieve that is maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and making sure you have healthy hearing abilities.
Better Hearing Reduces Social Isolation The ability to hear clearly can help you be more aware of your surroundings, interact with others effortlessly, connect with others, participate in conversations, and remain socially active - even if it’s virtually or at a safe distance. Our connection and engagement with others is important to our overall health and well-being, especially during these times. Studies have indicated that people who enjoy and participate with others in a social setting are more likely to have a longer lifespan than those who remain isolated. Better Hearing can Help Decrease Cognitive Decline Many studies have shown that hearing loss is closely related to dementia. The World Health Organization foresees that the number of people with dementia will triple by the year 2050. As previously mentioned, hearing loss leads to social isolation which raises the risk of dementia. Dementia causes your brain to become weaker, to the point where it uses up the energy that you need in order to remember and think. Between social distancing and social isolation, the risks are much higher. The Lancet Commission on Dementia prevention, intervention, and care recently reported that getting treatment for hearing loss during midlife is the best way to reduce or even prevent the onset of dementia. Better Hearing Helps You Stay Alert and Be Independent Being able to hear gives people confidence. It allows us to feel safer when navigating through the world. Hearing clearly, provides an openness in our spatial awareness. As a result, distinguishing the differences between certain sounds can help us react appropriately whether it’s in a video chat or when out in a grocery store. Anyone who has lost their ability to hear, are likely to miss those signals. This can lead to feelings of uncertainty when interacting with others. People with good hearing are two times less likely to have an accidental injury and three times less likely to have a history of falls than individuals with hearing loss. Better Hearing Reduces Depression Your optimum level of hearing can keep you feeling positive and full of vigor. Hearing the laughter of friends and family, the sounds of your favorite music, a funny joke, birds chirping, or anything else that you love helps to keep you connected. The AARP found that being optimistic and keeping a positive attitude in life can add 7.5 years to your life. There is also an 80 percent reduction in risks of heart disease. Start hearing better today! Contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. We offer a variety of hearing aid solutions from brands such as HANSATON, Oticon, Phonak, ReSound, Rexton, Signia, Starkey, Unitron and Widex. Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs, and re-fittings. We ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. We will come to your car to get them. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.  Today, more and more students are now attending classes in-person, virtually online, or they are engaging in hybrid learning. Students with hearing loss, auditory processing disorders, and/or deafness face challenges in any class setting.
How can Teachers and Students Prepare? Students who are hard of hearing may need additional accommodations to effectively learn in-person or virtually. This extra support must be planned out. Practice your lesson plan before carrying them out with students. Test out your video conferencing tools to make sure that it runs smoothly and provides closed captions. Programs such as Google and Microsoft feature real-time captioning, which helps listeners follow along. All of your students should be provided with access to notes, classwork, and study guides before the class begins. This will give them a chance to briefly review the material. Learning some information about the topic before class can help students with hearing loss stay on track. Another tip is to give students time to chat with each other before class begins. This will give the hard of hearing student a chance to make adjustments to their audio/video if needed. Make Good Use of Visual Aids Whether a student has hearing loss or not, a room that is too dark can hinder the ability to effectively communicate. People with hearing loss rely on visual cues, such as facial expressions and hand gestures, to piece a conversation together. Be sure to have lighting in front of your face, instead of behind them as to prevent shadows. If possible, use a clear mask to allow students to read lips and visual cues. Exercise and encourage your students to practice good communication skills. This would include:
Utilize Assistive Listening Devices in the Classroom Speaking louder is now necessary due to social distancing. Sound systems are helpful to provide easier ways to communicate inside the classroom so that instructors don’t need to constantly shout. Students with hearing aids will appreciate the boost in volume without struggling to hear. Teachers and students who have hearing loss may use devices such as the Roger Select TM Microphone. This table microphone can be used to pick up a speakers’ voice. Remote microphones, which can be connected to hearing aids, can stream sounds directly into compatible hearing aids. If you, or a loved one, are experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. We offer a variety of hearing aids and the Roger Select TM Microphone. Contact us for a free trial.  Have you made your New Year’s resolution yet? Before you ring in the new year, consider these solutions for your hearing health.
1. Protect Your Hearing Health One out of three people living in the U.S. experience noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Damaged sensory cells (hair cells) located in the inner ear (cochlea), lead to NIHL. Exposure to loud noise causes permanent damage to the hair cells and they are eventually destroyed. Hair cells cannot regrow after they die. Noise can harm your hearing if it is too loud and if you are exposed to it for an extensive period of time. Here are three ways to protect your hearing health:
2. Stop Smoking Smokers are nearly two times more likely to experience hearing loss than non-smokers. If you are a non-smoker who lives with a smoker, you are also more likely to develop hearing loss. Smoking affects a person’s hearing when the nicotine and carbon monoxide found in cigarettes restrict the amount of blood flow, which prevents the circulation of oxygen to your inner ear. Insufficient blood flow could lead to lasting damage to your ear's sensory cells 3. Regular Exercise Your overall health is vital to healthy hearing. Engaging in regular exercises can reduce the risks of chronic illnesses and additional risks to your hearing. Anyone who is overweight is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Those with diabetes are two times more likely to experience hearing loss. Being overweight makes the heart work harder to sufficiently circulate blood to the rest of the body. This includes the ears. High blood glucose levels can lead to damaged blood vessels in the inner ear. 4. Get a Hearing Test Getting a hearing test is the first step to identifying whether you have hearing loss. Just like any health concern, getting your hearing loss treated early can improve your overall quality of life. This includes:
 The holidays are a time to enjoy the little things from beautiful decorations and tasty treats to the sound of carols and joyful conversations with loved ones. Missing out on any of these experiences can be dispiriting. Many Americans who have hearing loss, but do not wear hearing aids are missing out on the sounds that make the holidays cheerful.
Here are some of the sounds that you’ll miss out on during the holidays:
Don’t be left out this holiday. If you, or a loved one, are experiencing hearing loss or difficulty with hearing, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. We offer a variety of hearing aid styles for your individual comfort and hearing needs. Enjoy the holidays!  On average, hearing aid users replace their hearing devices between three to five years. You may need to replace them before that. Technology is as ever-changing as your hearing loss. Hearing aids that are worn out could indicate that it’s time for an upgrade.
Has there been a Shift in Your Ability to Hear? A human’s ability to hear is always evolving. More powerful hearing devices will be more helpful for hearing loss that has shifted from moderate to severe. Modern technology has made so many advancements that older models can’t compete with them. With the help of an experienced hearing instrument specialist, many modern hearing aids can now be programmed to block out background noises and even the sound of wind. Has there been a Change in Your Lifestyle? As long as they are charged or having functioning batteries in them, your hearing aids are constantly working. If you have an active lifestyle, that can wear down your devices. There are hearing aids, like Starkey’s Livio AI, which help support an active and healthy lifestyle with the Thrive Hearing app. Your physical health will also determine which hearing aids would work best for you. If you suffer from arthritis, behind-the-ear hearing aids will be easier to put on than devices that are placed inside your canal. Today’s hearing aids can conveniently stream audio from phone calls, tablets, or TV directly into your ears. Do Your Hearing Aids Need to be Repaired? Are you hearing aids frequently being sent out for repairs? If this is the case, you may need to invest in a new pair. Exposure to elements such as debris, dirt, humidity, sweat, and wax will wear down your devices at a faster rate. Proper maintenance such as light cleanings, thorough cleanings from a professional and keeping the devices dry in a dry aid kit will help them last longer. If they’re not jostling around in your purse, bag, or pocket - or if they are dropped - the device’s algorithms can be impacted. If you, or a loved one, need to replace or repair your hearing aids, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing.  Is there someone in your life who has hearing loss? There are about 466 million people around the world who experience crippling hearing loss. According to this statistic, there’s a high probability that you do know someone with hearing loss. You may notice that they are asking you to repeat yourself more often, you can tell that they are having difficulty in keeping up with conversations, or you notice that they are isolating themselves from social interactions. Here are some tips to handle this situation.
1. Practice effective communication. When talking to someone with hearing loss, get their attention. Your face and lips need to be visible in order to better understand you. Do not talk from a different room that has walls around it. Do not talk while eating. Enunciate and speak at a steady pace. Do not yell, this makes it more difficult to lipread. When in a group setting, please only allow one person to speak at a time. If the topic changes, notify the person who is hard of hearing. 2. Create an environment that will help people hear best. A good environment is important to let people hear at an optimal level. Have very little to no background noise and a brightly-lit space to provide ease with lipreading. Have the person with hearing loss choose the location to meet. They can pick a place that will help with their communication with everyone. Let them choose where to sit in order to maximize their ability to hear others as best as they can. 3. Give support, rather than pity. If someone discloses their hearing loss, don’t apologize or pity them. You can be direct by asking them what you can do to help them hear at their best and then follow their instructions. Hearing aids are not like eyeglasses. A person with hearing loss will not have normal hearing by using hearing aids, the way that eyeglasses restore vision. Repeating yourself may be annoying, but try to stay positive and patient. Listening to someone, when you have hearing loss requires a lot of effort. You might only catch parts of some words or phrases, so your brain is working overtime in order to piece together what was stated based on the context of the discussion. After enduring a long day of carefully listening, it can cause exhaustion. If necessary, a break and rest. 4. Exercise useful means of communication without reminders. It may be exhausting to continually explain to those who you regularly interact with how they can help you hear at your best. You may feel as though you are nagging when frequently reminding those closest to you about what they need to do in order to make you feel included. Simply facing someone with hearing loss, with their mouth uncovered and using the previously advised means of communications, shows that they are making an effort and that they care. 5. Have someone with you during your own self-advocacy. Someone who is hard of hearing may get tired of constantly asking a waiter to repeat the day’s specials at every restaurant, or when they need to request the closed captioning device at any theater that you attend. When there is someone to help them with these needs, it helps in understanding the struggle of hearing loss and helps that person save their energy for listening and requests for other needs. 6. Refrain from saying, “Never mind.” It may be tiring to repeat yourself, but do not simply reply with “Never mind”, “it’s not important”, or “forget about it”. Those with hearing loss take those words as being brushed-off, scolded and insulted all at the same time. Frequently being treated in that manner can lead a person with hearing loss to isolate themselves, which can lead to depression. When a person with hearing loss needs something repeated, rephrase what you said. You can ask them to repeat what they thought they heard in order to fill in the missing words. Sometimes the miscommunications can be humorous, so you can share a laugh with each other. 7. Test out different technology. While hearing aids are useful, there can still be the occasional miscommunication. This is especially true in busy areas. There are always new technological advancements that are being made with hearing aids, including talk-to-text apps. It’s a good idea to test some of them out to know what works best for you and the person with hearing loss. If you have a loved one who is experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free hearing test and consultation. We offer a variety of hearing aid brands and styles that suit a wide range of hearing loss.  We encounter sounds during our day-to-day activities. Vehicles produce the majority of noises that people regularly encounter.
Vehicles & Noise Pollution The Environmental Protection Agency has characterized noise pollution as “unwanted or disturbing sound”. These “unwanted or disturbing sounds” tend to prevent you from engaging in your regular activities or interrupt the quality of your life. Vehicles are the main source of unwanted noise for people. The average car produces sounds that range between 70-80 decibels (dB), whereas buses reach between 80-95 dB. Almost all of the noise comes from three areas:
Not only can these sounds cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), but being exposed to noise also leads to diseases that are linked to stress, high blood pressure, speech obstruction, sleep disruption, and trouble with productivity. Analysis of Drivers of Heavy-Vehicles Researchers worked with data that was gathered from a national survey from February 2006 to March 2016. Data from 65,533 heavy-vehicle drivers, which are made up of individuals who operate trucks and buses in a city with heavy traffic, was used. All of the test subjects were male. A pure tone air and bone conduction audiometry test were used to check the participants’ hearing loss. The hearing was divided into four categories.
The study showed that 26.8% of drivers who operated heavy vehicles, had some range of hearing loss; 14.6% of those individuals had hearing loss in each ear, 7.8% experienced hearing loss only in their left ear and 4.4% only experienced hearing loss in their right ear. The participant’s prior work history, type of vehicle, and the quality of the vehicle’s air conditioning unit were not considered, this research did show that hearing loss is prevalent among people who frequently encounter noise pollution. Check out these tips on how to protect your hearing health. If you, or a loved one, are experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. We offer a variety of hearing aid styles and brands for people of all ages.  These are the pillars of success that thousands of hearing aid users followed to transition towards a life of healthy hearing:
1. Acceptance: Accepting the fact that you have hearing loss is a step that needs to take place before to choosing your hearing aids. Acknowledging that you have permanent hearing loss, will pave the way for a smooth transition in getting the treatment that you need. This will help you become more receptive to recommendations from your hearing healthcare provider. The longer you wait, the worse your hearing will get. Wearing hearing aids will help to preserve the hearing that you still have, and slow down the onset of cognitive decline. There are many other benefits, but these are two of the most important ones. 2. Arrive with a Positive Attitude: Having a positive attitude during your journey towards better hearing will help you achieve the goals that you’ve set for yourself. The act of purchasing hearing aids alone, will not guarantee success in hearing. It’s been proven that people who approach the time it takes to adapt to the hearing aids with a positive attitude are more likely to reap the benefits of hearing aid usage. 3. Research: One of the best ways to overcome fear when it comes to your hearing health, is to do research and educate yourself. Learn about your specific type of hearing loss and treatment options, so that you can fully engage with your hearing instrument specialist during your adjustment period. It will benefit you, your hearing instrument specialist, your loved ones, and other people with whom you regularly interact. Hearing deals with more than just your ears. You also need to use your brain and other senses. 4. Expect Realistic Outcomes: Set your expectations at a realistic level. Hearing aids will help you hear better, but it won’t be exactly the same as it was before your hearing loss. Concentrate on subtle improvements. Your learning curve may span between six weeks to six months. Your progress depends on how often you engage in practice exercises and how hard you commit yourself to use the hearing aids. How to Handle the Confusion of Sounds As you start to use hearing aids, your brain will become alarmed that it is suddenly picking up signals from harnessed sound waves that it had been missing for years. Your brain needs to adjust and relearn high-frequency sounds in speech and surrounding noises. Re-acclimating your brain to actual sounds, when all you’ve been hearing were distorted noises due to your hearing impairment, could be strenuous. Your perceptions of sound will eventually get better. The sounds might initially seem too loud, like the actual hum of your refrigerator, the flushing sound of your toilet, the sound of your washing machine, or the clicking sound of your turn signal when you drive your car. Or even listening to your favorite music again. The joy of hearing it again might take some getting used to. All of these sounds will soon become part of your subconscious again when your brain starts to register them. 5. Practice Listening and be Patient: The fifth and final step is practicing, taking your time, and being patient. After you have acclimated your brain to several hours, you will be able to hear again without using so much energy to concentrate. Start with a schedule where you keep your hearing aids in your ears for part of your day, and then slowly continue wearing them from the time you get up in the morning to the time you go to sleep. Hearing health professionals have also recommended listening to an audiobook to help you practice listening and speech comprehension. Whenever you start feeling fatigued, you can simply turn it off and take a break. Keep practicing and, if necessary, reach out for support. These techniques have shown improvement in many hearing aid users. 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. Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs, and re-fittings. We ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. We will come to your car to get them. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices in Elizabethtown, Lititz, Mt. Joy, or Strasburg.  How to Prepare for Social Distanced Holidays
The fall and winter holidays are coming up soon. While they may look different this year, you can still safely enjoy the company of family and friends through video chats. This year has already drawn attention to the challenges that hearing aid users experience. Getting help and working with your hearing instrument specialist is a great way to prepare yourself for virtual or socially distanced holidays. Using Technology to Communicate Video chats have a tendency to create complications in the way sounds are heard. Computer speakers are likely to distort sounds and a person’s voice. This will affect a person who has difficulty hearing and can make it harder to follow along during conversations. If you are speaking to someone who has difficulty with hearing, ask the person if there is an easier way to communicate with them. This may include speaking slower and enunciating clearer, using a speech to text app, making the room brighter so that they can see your face when you speak, mentioning the topic of a conversation before speaking, etc. Let the person who cannot hear clearly know what the topic of the conversation is, this will help them fill in the blanks for words that they may miss. Some people who are hard of hearing have described listening to others speak as being similar to a game of “Wheel of Fortune”. They may not be able to hear certain letters in words and will need to piece the conversation together based on the topic that is being discussed, people’s facial expressions, hand gestures, and/or lip-reading. When video chatting, it’s important that the person who has trouble with hearing is in a space that is quiet with little to no background noise. It would also be best if hearing aid users sit near the WiFi router so that they can get a clear and uninterrupted connection. A poor internet connection can slow and distort a person’s speech. This creates challenges when it comes to lip reading. Raising the volume on the hearing aids or the speaker in order to improve hearing may actually make the person who is speaking sounds even worse. The majority of modern hearing aids feature Bluetooth®. This allows your hearing aids to connect on a call via smartphone, computer, tablet, and any other Bluetooth®-enabled devices. Check your devices to make sure they are updated with the latest software, and test out some calls a few days prior to your video chat to ensure proper function. If you notice that you are not hearing as well as usual with your hearing aids, clean them, make sure there are fresh batteries, or they are fully charged. If you’re still having trouble with hearing clearly, schedule an appointment with your hearing aid provider. It may need a deep clean or reprogramming. Adjustments may need to be made in order to understand others when they are wearing a mask. Let Pure Sound Hearing help you get ready for the holidays this year. Contact us to schedule an appointment.  Studies in Children Who use Hearing Aids
In a study on children with hearing loss, there have been significant improvements in speech production, speech perception and language skills for those who have consistent listening experiences and properly fit hearing aids. The study showed the communication abilities of children who had hearing loss was far behind those who had healthy hearing. Adolescents who have hearing loss encounter difficulties while in a social environment. There have been instances of practical shortcomings, and more peer related issues than same-age peers who have healthy hearing. In the past, children and adolescents with hearing loss have not been easily accepted by their peers and faced higher rates of bullying, social isolation, and loneliness compared to those with normal hearing abilities. They have also been less likely to make friends and keep them, compared to their hearing peers. These unsuccessful interactions with peers have a short-term and long-term effect on their mental health and social life. Some studies concluded that children and adolescents who are socially isolated and lonely, are those who may or may not use a hearing aid. Many of these studies were based on older generations of children who had hearing loss, not modern groups of children who were able to have their hearing loss identified at an early age and whose parents sought intervention. Communication Improvements in Children who use Hearing Aids Early hearing loss detection and treatment offered hope for better communication in children with hearing loss. This included better speech production, speech perception, speech intelligibility, and language acquisition. These skills of developed communication - especially speech intelligibility and language acquisition - guide the foundation of social relationships with peers, particularly those with normal hearing. Social interactions with peers determines the psychological well-being and quality of life across one’s lifespan. If you have a child, or grandchild, who is experiencing hearing loss, contact us at Pure Sound for a consultation. Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any issues with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before stopping in at one of our office locations.  Hearing loss is so difficult to pinpoint because it happens very slowly over time. Your brain adapts to the changes without you being consciously aware. Months or years may have gone by before you notice anything. Age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, is the most prevalent type of hearing loss that affects people 65 years of age, or older.
About one in three Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing loss. Over two-thirds of those who are over 75 have difficulty with hearing. Overall studies have shown that anyone who has hearing loss, has an easier time dealing with it if they immediately get help. Here are 6 Reasons to get Treatment for Your Hearing Loss:
Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings, and new hearing aid fittings. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.  Whether you experience hearing loss or not, communicating is difficult these days. Here are some tips to help you in these strange times.
Be Aware Ask yourself if the individual whom you speak with has difficulty understanding you. Ask them and adapt as necessary. Have Patience Face masks block out visual cues and subdue sounds when someone speaks. This can create frustrating situations. Mindfulness is Key Think about how social distancing impacts the way that you communicate. The further away you are from someone, the ability to hear becomes straining, and visual cues are tougher to see. Talk Loud and Clear Raise the volume in your voice, but DO NOT shout. Concentrate on speaking clearly and at a normal pace. If possible, wear a clear face covering. If you experience difficulty in understanding, ask the person you are communicating with to speak up. If you rely on lip-reading, ask the people with whom you regularly interact to wear a clear face covering. Reduce Background Noise Loud or distracting background noise can make communicating even more challenging. Move to a quieter area or turn the volume of the sound source down. Use Alternative forms of Communication A smartphone that features talk-to-text or writing tools (pen/paper, whiteboard) are handy ways to communicate. You can even use captioning apps. Confirm that what You said was Clear Make sure your message was correctly received and understood. Have a Friend with You, or Be that Helpful Friend If there are situations where you must be able to understand vital information that is spoken to you - such as during an appointment with a healthcare provider - make sure you bring a family member or friend with you. You can also volunteer to be the person who can listen and take notes during an important appointment or meeting. If you, or a loved one, are in need of hearing aids, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing to schedule a free hearing test and consultation. Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings, and new hearing aid fittings. If you have any problems with your hearing aids or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.  The Impact of Hearing Loss on Family Members and Friends
Hearing loss not only affects the person who experiences it, but also those with whom they interact with on a regular basis. It’s important for you to advocate for yourself and include loved ones in your journey to better hearing. Awareness of how you struggle with hearing is essential to a healthy relationship. How to Explain Hearing Loss to Children When communicating with children, it is crucial that you are honest about your hearing health and how you hear things. For young children, you may say that your ears don’t work as well as they used to. Older children may be more curious and ask questions. It’s a great way for kids to learn about hearing loss and why it’s important for them to protect their hearing health. Getting them in a good routine to protect their hearing at a young age is a great way to reduce the risks of hearing loss. Teaching Children about Hearing Aids and Other Treatments Hearing aids can be described as being similar to eyeglasses. It is a device that helps you hear better and more clearly. It’s important to emphasize that hearing aids are NOT exactly like eyeglasses. You will not be able to hear completely clearly, as you did before you started experiencing hearing loss but there is a significant improvement than before you wore hearing aids. You may want to have a show-and-tell, and explain the basics of how the device helps you hear. It is also important to let them know that your hearing aids are only to be worn by you. Everyone’s ears are different sizes and shapes. Wearing hearing aids that were not customized for the shape of your ears or programmed for your specific hearing needs can lead to hearing or ear damage. Ask Children to be Patient with You Let your children and grandchildren know that it’s easier to hear them if they get your attention before speaking. Tell them it’s like when they’re having too much fun playing with their friends and someone tries to call them because they are busy. If you are unable to see them first, you may not realize that they are closeby and won’t be able to hear them. Play games Teach them how to effectively communicate with you by using lip reading. You can turn that into a game. Have them cover their ears and say, or mouth, a word or phrase. Let them guess what you said. Use this game to explain why seeing their lips while they speak helps you understand what is being said. When they get older, they can repeat anything that you may have missed. Practice Methods of Hearing Loss Prevention Keep the TV and music at a low volume, even if your kids and grandkids ask you to raise the volume. Explain how important it is to protect the hearing that they still have. Get Help for Your Hearing Loss Stop missing out on family gatherings. Be honest with your family about your hearing loss and the challenges that you face. This will help them understand better, be more accommodating to you, and learn how to be patient. You’ll become closer to one another. Treatment for hearing loss is available. Contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation for a hearing aid trial. Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings, and new hearing aid fittings. If you have any problems with your hearing aids or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.  There are many things to think about when a loved one lives in a nursing home. Are they receiving adequate care? Are they eating properly? Are they safe? Everyone wants what is best for their loved ones. More pressing needs like hygiene and their primary care tend to get addressed first. Caring about their hearing health may become less important.
Moving into a nursing home is not a smooth transition for anybody. Also having hearing loss and living through a pandemic that impacts the health and well-being of older individuals can lead to feelings of anxiety, frustration, and isolation. Hearing Healthcare is Neglected in Nursing Homes Studies have shown that between 70 to 90 percent of people who are in long-term care experience hearing loss, but most staff members in nursing homes are unaware of their disability. In a study conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, 30 out of 279 residents in nursing homes had a hearing test within the last year. The study also found that 81 percent of the residents did not receive any care for their hearing health. In some cases, even if a resident wore hearing aids, they went unused due to the maintenance that was needed. Other reasons why some hearing aid users don’t wear hearing aids:
Hearing Loss that goes Untreated Leads to Poor Quality of Life As we age, many of us will develop presbycusis (age-related hearing loss). The ability to hear the environment around you is important for a good quality of life. Anyone who has hearing loss and cognitive decline is more likely to experience problems when it comes to living in a facility for long-term care. Hearing loss typically goes undetected in patients who have Alzheimer’s, which leads to more incidents of anger, anxiety, and confusion. Symptoms of cognitive damage can worsen with hearing loss. This emphasizes the need for caregivers and staff members to be more aware of an elderly person’s hearing loss. Regular hearing tests or screenings should be conducted. Hearing aid use and maintenance should be just as important as the daily medication that they receive. There are some things that can be done to make sure that your loved one is getting adequate care for their hearing health. It needs to be a team effort. Build a positive relationship between you, your loved one, and the staff. Good communication can help build a solid foundation. Familiarizing yourself with the nursing home’s policies on hearing aids and hearing care can help put everyone on the same page when it comes to the hearing health of your loved one. Communicating through COVID Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing home staff are required to wear facemasks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure the safety of the residents. When possible, residents should also wear them. Masks tend to muffle sounds and make it impossible to lipread, which is why many residents in nursing homes are having additional problems when it comes to communication. Here is an article that shares tips on how to communicate with people with hearing loss, while wearing a mask. Advice to Care for Hearing Aids in a Nursing Home Place a Label on the Hearing Aids Hearing aids that go missing are sometimes difficult to find and expensive to replace. The tiny devices can get collected in bedsheets when the staff changes them. You may want to write your loved one’s name on a label and place it onto the device. You can also use the “Find My Hearing Aids” feature in the TruLink Hearing Control app on a smartphone. Create a designated Storage Space when they are not being Used Hearing aids that use disposable batteries can be stored in a hard plastic case, like the one that came with the devices when they were purchased. Rechargeable hearing aids should be placed in the charger overnight. Use a Cord and a Clip A cord and clip can be used to connect to the hearing aids at one end and clips onto the hearing aid user’s clothes. They can also prevent the hearing aids from falling onto the floor (and getting trampled on) if they fall off of the ears. Some options that can be used are the Ear Gear and Earstay. Maintenance Work One can only hope and imagine that the nursing staff would be able to take care of each resident’s hearing aid needs, to make sure that the devices are thoroughly cleaned, functioning at their best, and are being worn by the user. Due to the time constraints, and other tasks that the staff needs to tend to, your loved one’s hearing aids won’t be a high priority. Family members need to help with that maintenance. The devices need to be cleaned regularly to remove debris that builds up, otherwise, it can clog the microphones and amplifiers, rendering the device useless. If the hearing aids use disposable batteries, they should be checked each week to replace them with fresh batteries. Discuss Hearing Aids with Staff Talk to the staff and mention that your loved one needs to put the hearing aids on when they wake up in the morning and removed before going to bed at night. Based on a nursing home’s policies, this should be an easy task that can be taken care of by a staff member. Ask them about their policies for hearing aids when you first meet and discuss your loved one’s move into the home. Do some research and learn about the rights of nursing home residents in your area. When someone lives in a nursing home, they have the same rights as everyone else in the community along with 32 additional rights under the federal law known as the Older Americans Act. They have a right to wear and get help with the devices that they need to function on a daily basis. Make sure they are receiving regular care for their hearing needs. Work with your loved one’s nursing home and ensure that they are getting regular appointments and check-ups. It is common for residents in nursing homes to be treated as tasks rather than individuals who all have different needs. Some nursing homes include policies where they will cover a deductible for a lost or damaged hearing aid. Find out what the nursing home’s policy is for your loved one’s lost or damaged hearing aid so that you know and understand what would happen if this were to occur. Advocate for Hearing Care The best thing you can do to help a loved one who resides in a nursing home is to be an advocate for their long-term care. This includes taking their hearing health, particularly age-related hearing loss, into consideration. Be part of the initial planning for hearing care needs and in any follow-up appointments. Family members can discuss what their loved ones with hearing loss need and what their personal preferences are, such as whether their loved one prefers leaving the hearing aids out while sleeping at night. If you, or a loved one, are in need of a hearing test and hearing aids please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing to schedule an appointment. We offer a wide variety of hearing aid styles and brands for your hearing needs. Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs, and re-fittings. We will be offering curbside services. If you are visiting us for a repair, we ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. A staff member will come to your car to get them. If you are having any issues with your hearing aids, or an assistive listening device, please contact us before visiting one of our office locations.  Have you ever heard the seemingly incessant sounds of a child screaming, thumping music from a teenager’s bedroom, someone who was vacuuming an entire house, or never-ending traffic noises? On a typical day, you might hear a lawnmower, barking dogs, loud sirens, or workers at a construction site.
Harmful Sounds in Your Environment Noise pollution is dangerous because it’s invisible. Most people don’t have a second thought about it. Without the proper precautions, it can be harmful to your hearing health and - in some cases - unavoidable. Define Noise Pollution Noise pollution occurs when there is excess noise that is so loud that it can damage a person’s ability to hear. As a result, their daily activities can be interrupted, whether at home, school, work, or during their downtime. Noise Pollution is a Serious Problem About 30 million Americans are regularly exposed to dangerous levels of noise. This is an increase of 10 million from the previous few years. There are millions across the globe who are affected by noise pollution. Most Common Sources of Noise Pollution This mainly depends on where you live, what your job is, and what your hobbies are. A construction worker who lives in a bustling city and regularly takes the subway is more likely to hear a lot of noise pollution than a bank teller who lives in a quiet neighborhood and typically drives alone. Generally, these are the leading sources of noise pollution.
How does noise pollution affect your health? Do you ever feel annoyed when you hear a car alarm? How about the wailing sound of an emergency siren? It’s normal to hear all of these sounds at once in large cities. It’s stress-inducing, and experiencing recurring stress is not good for your health. The noise can be distracting, harm the health of your hearing, and lead to a poor night’s sleep which affects your ability to function throughout the day. Chronic noise in your environment can lead to sleep deprivation, irritation, noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), heart disease, harm to your endocrine system, higher risks of diabetes. The following are related to excessive exposure to noise:
Noise Pollution Awareness Noise pollution is just beginning to be made aware of, in addition to how it affects your hearing and overall health. There are some organizations that are working to make the world safer and quieter. Silencity, a New York City-based organization, increases awareness on the dangers of noise pollution and searches for restaurants and public areas where people can have a quiet and safe visit. Pipedown, a UK-based organization, works to eliminate music inside of restaurants and shops. Noise-free America advocates for both political and public awareness on the harmfulness of noise pollution. Protect Your Hearing from Noise Pollution Stronger initiatives to decrease noise pollution are needed in every bustling city. Here are some tips to protect your hearing and health against harmful noise pollution.
If you, or a loved one, are experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. We offer a vast selection of hearing aid brands and styles for a wide range of hearing loss. We offer a variety of hearing aid brands including HANSATON, Oticon, Phonak, ReSound, Rexton, Signia, Starkey, Unitron and Widex. Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs, and re-fittings. We ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. We will come to your car to get them. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.  The rate of satisfaction among hearing aid users is over 70 percent. Even though they provide people with a better overall quality of life, there is still a stigma around wearing them and misconceptions about how they function. Millions of Americans currently wear them, but there are about 25 million more who can benefit from the technology but choose not to wear them.
There are many reasons for this. Some believe that it makes them look old, while others deny their hearing problems or don’t think hearing aids will help. What are hearing aids? Hearing aids are small electronic devices that may be worn behind your ears or inside your ear canals. Hearing aids have three main parts: the amplifier, microphone, and speaker. Sound travels through the microphone and is transformed into electrical signals which are then transferred to the amplifier. The amplifier boosts the signals’ power and sends them to the ear via the speaker. Modern hearing aids are significantly smaller and have more power than older hearing aid models. With the latest advancements in digital hearing aid technology, speech sounds are easier to distinguish in noisy environments. The majority of modern hearing aids are Bluetooth®-enabled, which means they can connect to your smartphone and other devices that feature Bluetooth®. Are hearing aids helpful for my hearing? This answer depends on the type of hearing loss that you experience. There are two main types:
Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, is a subdivision of sensorineural hearing loss. It happens gradually as people age. This is a very common form of hearing loss, and can usually be treated with hearing aids.
What are the important things to look for when selecting a hearing aid? This will be based on your personal lifestyle, degree of hearing loss, and budget. Someone who is very active with travel or athletic activities will probably need a different model of hearing aids than someone who has a more sedentary lifestyle. Your hearing healthcare provider will ask you some questions, which will help you choose the strength of amplification that is needed for you to hear. They will then patiently work with you to ensure that your hearing aids are functioning correctly. What is the length of the adjustment period? Adjusting to hearing aids may take a long time. Based on the severity and how long you waited to get treatment for your hearing loss, the adjustment period is different for everyone. Even though it’s our ears that harness sounds in whatever setting you are in, your brain converts the sounds into something that is discernible. Hearing loss that goes untreated can lead to the auditory section of your brain to atrophy. As a result, it will take much longer for your hearing to improve. Hearing aids need to be worn each day or as recommended, in order to get the most benefits from them. What is the lifespan of a hearing aid? Hearing aids can last for up to three to five years, with proper usage and maintenance. It’s important to not only keep them clean and free of moisture, but it’s a good idea to get a deep cleaning from a professional every now and then. Can hearing aids be returned? Most hearing aid providers, like Pure Sound Hearing, offer a trial period so that you can make sure that you are satisfied with your devices. Talk to your hearing healthcare provider about their policies prior to purchasing. How do I know if I need a hearing aid? It is recommended that you get your hearing tested regularly in order to determine whether you need hearing aids. A comprehensive hearing test will include a hearing assessment, and a general discussion about your lifestyle in order to determine the best treatment and expectations for your hearing health. After completing the hearing test, your hearing healthcare provider will discuss the results and whether hearing aids would be beneficial to you. If you or a loved one, notices changes in the ability to hear or if there is suspected hearing loss, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs, and re-fittings. If you need a hearing aid repair, we ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. We will come to your car to get them. If you are having any issues with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.  There was a rate of more than 55 percent of noise-induced hearing loss among Mexican employees in a cement factory, according to a recent study conducted in Mexico. In other areas of the factory, the rate reached up to 85 percent. Out of those workers, 70 percent had binaural hearing loss and 30 percent endured diminished ability to hear in one ear.
The ranges of hearing loss were between 20-30 dB to over 60 dB. There was 72 percent of employees who had binaural hearing loss between 20-30 dB at 4000 Hertz. The employees were between the ages of 18 to 55. The number of years that they worked in the factory ranged between 1 to 31. Years Worked and Subsequent Relevance The number of years was an important factor in the study. Individuals who worked between 1 to 7 years were slightly less likely to endure any range hearing loss than those who worked between 8 to 31 years. The first group showed a risk of 50 percent, and the second group had a rate of approximately 70 percent. In the crushing, crude milling, and cement milling areas, there were noise levels that reached over 90 dB. The greatest percentage of workers who had hearing damage, at 85 percent, were those in the calcination area. Even though this was not the loudest environment, employees needed to navigate through all of the other areas before arriving in this area. What is the Effect of Decibels? The study indicated that 65 percent of employees who were exposed to noise levels that reached over 90 dB, suffered from hearing loss. Among these individuals who were exposed to noise levels from 85 to 90 dB, 44 percent had problems with their hearing. Hearing Protections that need to be Implemented Being a loud work environment is dangerous to your hearing. An 8-hour workday with exposure to 85 dB, is the highest noise level permitted in the workplace. Employers must provide hearing protection for employees and hearing evaluations. Steps should be taken at the noise source and other regulations should be enforced in order to reduce noise levels in the workplace if the suggested maximum noise levels are exceeded. If you, or a loved one, are experiencing work-related noise-induced hearing loss, or any other type of hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. We offer a number of hearing aid solutions that can be programmed for your specific needs. Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs, and re-fittings. We ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your face mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. We will come to your car to get them. If you are having any issues with your hearing aids, please contact us before visiting one of our office locations.  Our digital media assistant, Vi, is getting ready to post an article on tips to use when educating deaf and hard-of-hearing students during COVID-19.
If you, or a loved one, are in need of a hearing test and hearing aids, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs, and re-fittings. We ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. We will come to your car to get them. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.  Do you have a child who is easily distracted and displays poor behavior during class? It could be a learning disability, but you should explore the possibility that your child has a hearing loss. Hearing loss among people of any age is more prevalent than you may think. Hearing loss, no matter what degree of loss, has a very negative impact on a person’s academic performance.
The Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) found that approximately 15% of adolescents between the ages of 6 and 19, experience hearing loss at 16 decibels (dB) or more in one or both ears. About .1% experience severe hearing loss. Hearing loss in one ear can significantly affect a child’s ability to learn. Studies have indicated that between 25% to 35% of children who have single-sided (unilateral) hearing loss are at risk of repeating at least one grade level. The Link Between Hearing and Learning Hearing loss that goes untreated can delay a child’s speech and language acquisition. This leads to learning problems and poor academic performance. Poor academic performance is usually associated with carelessness and in some instances poor behavior. As a result, children who have hearing loss are usually believed to have ADD or ADHD. Children with mild to moderate hearing loss, who do not get immediate intervention, are more likely to fall behind their healthy hearing peers by one to four grade levels. It is very important that children who have a more severe case of hearing loss get help for their hearing loss. Children who do not receive treatment typically do not develop past a third-grade level of education. What Causes the Gap in Education? This gap is not due to a lack of intelligence. A child with hearing loss can perform just as well as a child with normal hearing abilities. The classroom environment may not adequately nurture a child who has hearing loss. Some teachers may not be informed about hearing loss or know how to properly accommodate a student with hearing loss. For example, an instructor who turns their back on the students while teaching causes a student with hearing loss to miss what was said, because the student may rely on lip-reading and facial cues to understand. Changes that are stated orally by the instructor, an unfamiliar accent, or when someone speaks too quickly, can disrupt a hard of hearing student’s progress in learning. The classroom environment and specific subjects can be problematic for a child with hearing loss. The ability to hear can impact every facet academic achievement, but the areas that are primarily affected are language theories. Idioms, language arts, vocabulary, and syntax are very difficult for a hard of hearing child to understand. A child with hearing loss will most likely express confusion and frustration while learning, which leads to poor academic performance. They may have normal speech patterns when speaking, but a child with even mild hearing loss can still struggle to hear their instructor from a distance or if there’s too much background noise. If a child has high-frequency hearing loss, they may not be able to hear consonant sounds, other children’s voices, or women’s voices. Difficulty with Socializing Not only can children with hearing loss struggle academically, but they can also struggle with socializing. The ability to effectively communicate with others is important in social interactions and good peer relationships. The inability to effectively communicate can lead to social isolation and depression. A child with hearing loss may become excluded from their peers or might be unwilling to engage in group activities because they may be embarrassed. This leads to the student becoming socially withdrawn, which can cause depression. Children with hearing loss have been shown to have a slower pace of social maturity, which interferes with peer relationships. Find a Solution with Hearing Aids and other Assistive Listening Devices Hearing aids are very effective in language acquisition and development for children with hearing loss. Children who receive hearing aids shortly after determining that they have hearing loss, can make a lot of progress at school and perform equally as well as the other students. What can Teachers do to Help? Teachers can help their hard of hearing students by learning as much about the students hearing loss as possible. They can learn how the student interprets information, what they are capable of, and their level of comprehension. Remember, it’s important to intervene early. Here are some signs to look for in the student:
A child who struggles in school, particularly one with a family history of hearing loss or has frequent ear infections, should get a hearing test by a professional. If it is determined that the child does have hearing loss, swift and proper intervention is key for their best chance of academic and future career success. If you or your child is experiencing hearing loss, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. We offer a wide variety of hearing aid brands for people of all ages. Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs, and re-fittings. We ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. We will come to your car to get them. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.  As you know, due to the ongoing pandemic caused by COVID-19, some students will be homeschooled by parents or through online resources, the general population is in lockdown, and most activities have been altered to incorporate social distancing. A national survey was conducted by researchers at Kent State University and Texas Women’s University in order to discover more about the developments in education for the deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children amidst the pandemic. The survey was sent to 133 parents of DHH children. Here are five recommendations on how to educate DHH children based on the results of this survey.
1. Advocate for your DHH child and get them the services they need. Out of the 133 participants of the survey, six indicated that their DHH child had received all services that were authorized by their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan. Some parents were frustrated about the services that were not provided and/or taking much longer to set up. There were only 23 participants who reported that their child received services from a teacher of the deaf, and two who reported receiving interpreting services. It is recommended that parents reach out to educators for the DHH; they are there to help you and your child. 2. Get access to universal design in online education programs. Several parents reported inaccessibility to the design of online education programs for their DHH children. DHH children have a more challenging experience when following along with a person who is speaking during virtual meetings and videoconferences. This is due to the high volume of people appearing on their screen at the same time. Other obstacles included background noises, the inability to hear instructors over computer speakers, the absence of captions for announcements and videos, and captions that appeared too quickly or at an advanced reading level. It is recommended that anyone who speaks during a videoconference should raise their hand. Instructors and parents should oversee the existence, reading level, and speed of the captions to ensure that the child is getting the most out of their online learning experience. 3. Give DHH students the opportunity to socialize. Teachers have been too busy focusing on the academic part of the school, that they may have forgotten about the importance of children socializing with one another. The freedom to socialize is currently limited for most children. For children who are DHH, this issue is particularly severe. The majority of DHH children are the only ones with hearing loss in their families, which makes the homeschooling even more isolating. DHH children who are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may not have family members to communicate with. Having online and socially distanced interactions with other DHH peers is crucial to support DHH children’s mental health during the pandemic. 4. Get DHH role models involved during lessons. Featuring a DHH adult as a role model during lessons can help DHH children learn ways to handle challenges they may face during this time. Contact deaf education professionals and advocacy groups like Hands and Voices and the American Society for Deaf Children in order to find role models who can give advice to DHH students on how to succeed under these circumstances as someone who is DHH. 5. Communication is the key. Every DHH child needs access to communication, no matter what devices they use to help them hear or their language preference. Make sure that DHH children are engaged in conversations at home. Mention any casual information that the other children are informed about at home, and it’s important that parents let their DHH child know that their thoughts, feelings, and anxieties are valuable and can be openly discussed. One survey respondent noted that parents are not experienced with all of the techniques that trained professionals use to teach children. Teachers, on the other hand, do have the training and knowledge, but should not anticipate that parents have the same knowledge or will be able to immediately pick up the same techniques. Parents and teachers need to work together, as best as they can, to give the children an exceptional education. 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. We offer a variety of hearing aid brands and styles for a wide range of hearing loss. We also have the Roger Select TM microphones, an assistive listening device that can be placed at the center of a table and automatically streams the voice of the speaker directly into a Bluetooth®-connected hearing aid at a safe distance. Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs, and re-fittings. We ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. We will come to your car to get them. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.  There are so many online resources that are available for families with deaf/hard of hearing children, who are in need of support. It can be too much to sift through.
Hearing healthcare providers are responsible for guiding families on how to raise a child who is deaf/hard of hearing. Even though there are many resources available through the internet, it’s important that family members of the child with hearing loss consult a professional to narrow down the most important information. In order to make the best decisions for their child, families should conduct research through professionals, parents, deaf/hard of hearing adults, books, websites, and their own local community. There is a learning curve when it comes to your child’s hearing loss. Discovering that your child has hearing loss can be devastating and overwhelming. You may have so many questions and concerns, but might not know where to begin or forget to ask them. Here is a List of 8 Commonly Asked Questions from Parents who have Children with Hearing Loss:
Click here to see an article about a Question Prompt List. Create better Access to Visual Cues for Your Child Infants who have healthy hearing abilities can hear their parents/caregivers, without having to face the person who is speaking. Children who are deaf/hard of hearing might not be afforded the same access to acquiring language and information through verbal communication and are helped mainly through visual cues. Parents and caregivers should learn and make basic changes in their daily life and their child’s environment to expand access. No matter what range of hearing a child has, they can use their sense of vision to efficiently communicate, build stronger linguistic skills and establish strategies that they can use for the rest of their life. For Parents: Tips on Language, Literacy, Social-emotional Growth Learn about experiences from other parents and caregivers of deaf/hard of hearing children from here. Each tip sheet sums up a description of the developmental process of babies and young children after identifying their hearing loss for cognitive, emotional, social, language (semantics, syntax-morphology, pragmatics, phonology - auditory and visual), pre-literacy and literacy development. Safety Guidelines for Children A Parent Safety Toolkit has been developed with the help of Hand & Voices O.U.R. (Observing, Understanding, Responding) Children’s Project. This system can be used by parents to instruct and model behavior, while taking action to make the lives of their deaf/hard of hearing children safer. A Guide for Parent-Professional Relationships in a Hearing Healthcare Environment There is a possibility for a family of a deaf or hard of hearing child, and a hearing healthcare provider to have a long-term relationship. It requires mutual respect and support from the healthcare provider. Families will feel supported by a professional when the care they receive is a joint partnership that is built on trust. This process develops over time. It involves transparency, honesty, very clear communication and compassion. Active listening is very helpful in these situations, and creates a bond with the families. Hearing healthcare providers are a crucial foundation of support for families when they learn that their child has hearing loss. If you, your child or grandchild are experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. We offer a variety of hearing aids and assistive listening devices for your individual hearing needs. Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs and re-fittings. We ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. We will come to your car to get them. If you are having any issues with your hearing aids, or an assistive listening device, please contact us before visiting one of our office locations.  Hearing aids are important to wear each day from dusk until dawn. These tiny devices can improve your overall health, and you’ll recognize them right away. Some of these enhancements can include a healthy mind and job efficiency. You will also notice a difference in your daily life. After wearing hearing aids, your brain will start to relearn a lot of noises that you haven’t heard in years.
Here are 5 other Immediate Benefits from using Hearing Aids 1. Speaking to People over the Phone becomes Effortless Smartphones, iPads and other devices that are used to communicate with others is a great way to remain connected with friends, family and colleagues. Anyone who has untreated hearing loss may have difficulty with understanding distinct sounds. Whether you realize it or not, each of us rely on lipreading and seeing facial expressions in order to piece together what others are saying. If both of you don’t have access to FaceTime or video chat/conferencing, you won’t be able to read each others’ lips or see each others’ faces. Our ears are not skilled to decipher visual cues, which makes talking on the phone more difficult. A good pair of hearing aids can compensate for those problems, making those conversations easier and more enjoyable. All digital hearing aids feature Bluetooth® technology, which allow users to have a better means of communication with others. You can listen and talk without holding your smartphone so close to your ear. The Bluetooth® technology can stream phone calls, music and other media directly into your hearing aids. 2. Hearing Sounds that You’ve Missed out On On average, most people wait a decade before they seek treatment for their hearing loss. The daily sounds of birds chirping or rainfall are missed. Hearing loss usually occurs gradually, so many people don’t realize that they can’t hear these sounds as clearly. A pair of good quality hearing aids, that are programmed by a professional instrument specialist, can help you hear some of these sounds again. Keep in mind that hearing aids will only help to enhance your residual hearing abilities. Sitting or walking through nature, can reintroduce the sounds of crackling leaves, cicadas, crickets, the sounds of an oncoming storm. Not only can hearing aids help to reduce the risks of anxiety, Alzheimer’s, dementia, but you can improve your overall health by being able to slow down and enjoy hearing the sounds of nature. If you’re wondering whether hearing aids will benefit you, talk with one of our hearing instrument specialists by taking a free hearing test and consultation. 3. Feel more Confident and be more Independent Your ability to hear is connected to your brain health. Undetected and untreated hearing loss can cause isolation, which may lead to depression, loneliness, and other psychological disorders. Using hearing aids can help reduce some of these problems. A reduction in stress is one of several benefits to wearing hearing aids. Your confidence while wearing hearing aids won’t go unnoticed. 4. Listen to Your Favorite Records and Radio, and Discover New Music and Podcasts Think about some of your favorite songs or pieces of music that you’ve resorted to playing over and over again in your mind. Hearing loss can make it difficult to comprehend lyrics. Wearing hearing aids to a live concert will provide a deeper and clearer listening experience. It’s the same for new music and podcasts. Listening to them will also be easier. You’ll be able to laugh and ponder on words that you had normally missed out on. 5. Rediscover Your Favorite Movies and Shows Think about your favorite comedy show, documentary, drama, musical or thriller. Your new hearing aids will give you a chance to rediscover these things. Modern hearing aids feature direct streaming, which will stream sounds from your computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet, or TV, directly into your hearing aids. Videos can be viewed wirelessly, music can be listened to wirelessly and even phone calls can be made wirelessly. Are you ready to reap the benefits of hearing aids? Contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test, consultation and hearing aid trial. We offer a variety of hearing aid brands including HANSATON, Oticon, Phonak, ReSound, Rexton, Signia, Starkey, Unitron and Widex. Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs and re-fittings. If you need a hearing aid repair, we ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. One of our staff members will come to your car to get them. If you are having any issues with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.  The new school year is upon us. Many parents are feeling stressed while taking care of their children during this pandemic. Parents of children with hearing loss have a unique set of challenges, particularly with the virtual classrooms or in person classrooms where there will be social distancing.
What can children with hearing loss expect when heading back to school? Let your child know that they are not alone. Encourage them to advocate for themselves and their needs when it comes to hearing loss. Children who are hard of hearing, and their parents, should discuss specific needs and concerns with their teachers. Everyone wants what is best for their child. By advocating for them, and encouraging them to advocate for themself, this can help the child stay on track with learning. Make sure there are accurate captions available for the student to read, or provide a transcript for the student. Hearing aids, Hobbies and Hangouts If your child enjoys cooking, it’s important that they wear their hearing aids in order to hear a timer go off. Being outdoors and exercising is important, especially during these times. Going on walks and listening to the sounds of nature can be very therapeutic. Simply enjoying the company of friends and family, whether it’s in person or through a video chat is great for your mental and social well-being. Laughing with loved ones is more enjoyable if you can hear them. Hearing Aid Accessories Many teachers and parents may use the Remote Microphone+, so that children who are hard of hearing can hear them clearly. The Roger Select ™ microphone can be placed onto a table and group discussions can be heard. If a teacher begins to speak, but is standing too far from the microphone, the student with hearing aids can switch to the Remote Microphone+. This would be a great accessory to use if classes are taking place outdoors. Check out our guide to properly sanitizing Phonak’s Roger Devices for students in the classroom during COVID-19. If you, or a loved one, would be interested in the Roger Select ™ microphone, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing. We also offer a variety of hearing aid brands and styles. Contact us for a free consultation and hearing aid trial. Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs and re-fittings. We ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. We will come to your car to get them. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices. |
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