Blog Archive
Are you struggling to hear conversations or missing out on the sounds around you? You’re in good company. Hearing loss affects over 44 million adults in the United States. An audiology consultation with the team at Sharp Hearing Care Professionals can provide the solutions you need. During your consultation, our...
It’s common for people to think that a hearing test simply involves putting on a pair of headphones and raising a hand when you hear a tone. After all, most people have gone through this testing at some point during elementary school. However, a hearing test with an audiologist is...
Most people have experienced a temporary ringing in their ears if they’ve ever been to a loud concert or fireworks show. That’s because loud sounds can damage the delicate hairs inside your inner ear — structures that vibrate when they detect noise and send information to the brain. The damage...
It’s easy to think that the hard work is over once you pick up your hearing aids. However, it can take up to four weeks for your brain to adjust to the sounds that it’s now hearing. It may be surprising that areas of the ear and brain can become...
Adjusting to life with a hearing disorder isn’t easy. However, it’s especially challenging when you have an adverse reaction to everyday sounds, like someone tapping their fingers or chewing. After all, these sounds can be impossible to avoid and trigger a panic or rage that seems impossible to control. That...
It can be tricky knowing the best course of action, especially with the things that involve your health. After all, an ache or pain from time to time is completely normal — so is a headache. So, shouldn’t you expect hearing changes as well, especially if you’re getting older? While...
It’s a noisy world. Even when you try to sit in perfect silence, there’s often the constant hum of a household device or lightbulb nearby. And for people with hyperacusis, it’s often those “quiet” everyday sounds that cause the most distress. Hyperacusis is the technical term for this rare hearing...
People often associate hearing disorders with not being able to hear. However, hyperacusis is precisely the opposite problem — sounds at a normal or soft volume can seem unbearably loud. This sensitivity to sound can significantly impact everyday life, take a toll on a person’s mental health, and lead to...
Did you know that over 50 million Americans live with tinnitus? And for nearly 20 million of them, their symptoms don’t go away. This condition means a person hears sounds that others do not, such as: Roaring Ringing or whistling Buzzing, hissing, or sizzling Clicking Fluttering And, sometimes, it doesn’t...
People of every age and walk of life can experience hearing loss. Unfortunately, many who could benefit from hearing aids delay treatment until their symptoms are so profound that they can’t communicate, even in the most optimal environments. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Advancements in technology have...
You may associate aging with hearing loss, but there’s a much bigger problem causing issues with how you hear sounds — and it occurs in people of all ages. We’re talking about noise. Research estimates that approximately 12.5% of people age 6-19 and 17% of those age 20-69 have sustained...
It’s only natural to get aggravated by certain sounds — like nails on a chalkboard. But sound sensitivity goes beyond that with misophonia. Misophonia describes a hypersensitivity to small or repeated sounds that make them unbearable. The sound can even cause extreme distress, forcing someone to leave the room, cover...
Did you know that one in eight Americans over age 12 have lost some hearing in both ears? Unfortunately, people experiencing hearing loss often wait about seven years before seeking help. But why? Unlike a painful twist of an ankle or a pounding headache, hearing loss often develops gradually. That makes it much harder...
People often think that hearing loss is an inevitable part of aging. However, it can happen at any age, and it’s becoming increasingly common with young people. Why? Frequent exposure to loud noise. The ears may be small, but they’re incredibly important, and their delicate structures are highly susceptible to...
When people think of hearing problems, they often focus on hearing loss. However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Audiology experts specialize in diagnosing and treating a wide range of hearing issues, including misophonia, hyperacusis, and tinnitus. They even offer personalized guidance in hearing protection, including assistive earmolds. Because people can experience so...
People often associate hearing loss with older adults. And while it’s common to experience age-related aural changes, hearing loss can develop at any age. It’s also becoming increasingly common in younger people, including one in eight children age 12 and older. Kevin Sharim and his skilled audiologists help people of...
It’s no secret that technology has advanced significantly in recent years, especially for devices used to improve hearing. That also means there isn’t a one-size-fits-all option for hearing aids. Instead, manufacturers offer a variety of styles and sizes to provide the perfect solution for every need and lifestyle. Sharp Hearing...
Tinnitus is a challenging condition because you hear sounds that others don’t. It can affect one or both ears, remain constant or come and go, and even be so severe that it interferes with your ability to concentrate or hear external sounds in your environment. Fortunately, there’s good news — you...
Most people have heard an abnormally loud or uncomfortable sound at some point. However, when you have a noise sensitivity disorder like hyperacusis, even everyday sounds can cause a reaction that makes them difficult or impossible to tolerate. In fact, hyperacusis can make it challenging to go out in public...
People often focus on hearing aids when trying to find ways to improve the sounds they hear. However, advancements in technology have created innovations that go far beyond hearing aids alone. One of these areas involves assistive listening devices (ALDs). Also known as assistive listening systems, ALDs offer numerous benefits....
Your baby may have gotten their hearing checked before leaving the hospital. However, that doesn’t mean you can cross this important screening off your list. Hearing tests should be part of their regular checkups well into their teen years to detect problems hearing or understanding sounds as early as possible....
Earmolds serve numerous functions. However, one common use involves hearing protection. Studies show that approximately 36 million American adults have hearing loss affecting one or both ears. And for many people, it occurs gradually and without pain, often from continuous exposure to loud noises. Noise-induced hearing loss can occur because...
Tinnitus is a medical term that describes hearing noises when no outside source is present. Almost everyone experiences this phenomenon from time to time, but it usually doesn’t last long. For 20% of people, however, tinnitus causes recurring or persistent sound that can bring about significant stress and even affect...
People often associate sound disorders with difficulty hearing things. However, sometimes the exact opposite is true — people can have an oversensitivity to sound. In these cases, noises that seem normal to one person can seem unbearably disruptive to others or even cause an extreme emotional response. Our Sharp Hearing Care Professionals team includes...
Hearing loss is a common problem. An estimated one-third of people ages 65-74 has hearing loss, and these rates increase to almost half of those 75 and older. Even though it’s common, that doesn’t mean people want to admit they have a problem, and it can leave a person isolated...
Hearing problems in children can be temporary or permanent. However, that doesn’t make the news any less upsetting as a parent. But you should know that you’re not alone. Our highly qualified audiologists and hearing aid specialists at Sharp Hearing Care Professionals work tirelessly to ensure all of our patients...
Most people have at least one sound that they find irritating or annoying. But an estimated 20% of people live with a medical condition that can make the smallest sounds downright unbearable, especially when other people make them. This issue, known as misophonia or selective sound sensitivity syndrome, causes extreme and emotional reactions to...
If you’ve noticed changes in your hearing, you’re not alone. Approximately 16% of American adults have hearing trouble, including nearly 50% of those over age 65. While hearing loss may be common, many types are not only treatable but preventable. That makes finding expert care crucial when you notice changes in your hearing. At Sharp Hearing...
Your body changes as you get older. Your hair goes gray, your eyes may become more sensitive to light, and your skin becomes thinner and less flexible. Aging can affect your hearing, too. Physiological changes that occur over time can lead to hearing loss. In fact, approximately one-third of adults ages...
Human hearing is an amazing process. You can hear sounds in your environment when sound waves travel into the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. Those vibrations lead tiny hair cells in the inner ear to convert vibrations into electrical signals that the brain recognizes as sound. When...
Trauma from falls, auto accidents, sports injuries, and physical violence can cause various types of damage to your head and body. In fact, even mild trauma can negatively affect your health. Injuries that you might think of as relatively harmless may cause more damage than you realize. Among the lesser-known...
If you have misophonia, you know how frustrating it can be. Misophonia is a condition in which certain types of sounds can cause you to experience an intense emotional or physical response. For example, the sound of someone chewing their food or drumming their fingers on a tabletop could cause...
We live busy lives. We go to work, spend time with family and friends, take care of household chores, do our favorite activities, and travel. There's so much to do, and so few hours in the day. No matter how busy you are, though, it's crucial to make your health...
If you wear hearing aids, you're not alone. More than 7% of adults over the age of 45 use a hearing aid, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hearing aids help people who have trouble hearing by amplifying sounds. They are complex devices that can bring about...
Many different conditions can affect your hearing. One of them is tinnitus, which causes you to hear sounds, tones, or noises that are not produced by things in your environment. If you have tinnitus, you're not alone. Tinnitus affects approximately 10 million Americans, according to the National Institute on Deafness...
Noise is a major contributor to hearing loss. Loud sounds can cause damage to tiny hair cells (stereocilia) within your ears that play an important role in hearing. These hair cells cannot grow back, so once they are damaged, they are lost forever. Loud noises can harm your hearing in...
Hearing loss is a common health problem that impacts more than 15% of American adults, including more than a third of people over age 65. That's the bad news. But the good news is that we have more ways than ever before to help people with hearing loss, including highly...
If you pay attention to medical news, you may have heard that scientists are discovering connections between hearing loss and dementia. These reports may worry you, especially if you are already experiencing hearing loss. Fortunately, it's never too late to take steps to protect your hearing and lower your risk...
Hearing loss is surprisingly common. It affects people of all ages, from young children to older adults. You may be born with it, or you may develop it as part of the aging process or as a result of environmental exposure to loud noise. It may also occur after an...
There are many conditions that can affect your ears and your hearing. One of them is Ménière’s disease, which affects between 600,000 and 750,000 people in the United States, according to the Hearing Health Foundation. Ménière’s disease is a disorder that can cause a variety of symptoms, including severe dizziness...
Swimming is such an enjoyable activity. Whether you swim in a lake, a pond, the ocean, or your favorite indoor or outdoor pool, it is a wonderful way to be active and enjoy spending time with family and friends. Swimming is also an excellent fitness activity. It burns calories, builds...
Hearing loss is a very common problem in the U.S. In fact, about 15% of American adults report having some type of hearing problem, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). There are many different types of hearing loss and conditions that affect your hearing....
Are you having trouble hearing? Do you hesitate to call friends or family because you don’t want to keep asking them to repeat themselves? Do you shy away from performances or classes because you can’t catch what’s being said? Do you turn the television up so loud the people next...
If you need hearing aids, you’re not alone. Some 28.8 million adults in the United States could benefit from using hearing aids, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Hearing aids are electronic devices that improve your hearing by making sounds louder. However, they do take...
Hearing loss is very common in adults. About 15% of Americans over age 18 have a problem hearing, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Hearing loss worsens with age, affecting nearly half of those over age 75. Although hearing loss is a common problem, it...
If you’ve never heard of misophonia, you’re not alone. Many people are unaware of this hearing-related condition. But even if you haven’t heard of it, you should know about it, because if you have misophonia, it can cause frustrating symptoms that can interfere with your quality of life. Misophonia is...
Do you sometimes hear ringing in your ears? Do you notice buzzing, clicking, whistling, or even hissing sounds when nothing in your environment is making those noises? These sounds may be loud or soft, low in pitch or high. You may hear them in one or both ears, and they...
Hyperacusis is a condition in which you develop a sensitivity to certain everyday sounds. When you have hyperacusis, sounds that don’t bother other people seem extra loud or annoying to you. For example, you may feel bothered by the sounds of a dripping faucet, automobile traffic, or rustling paper. People...
Hearing loss is a common problem, especially for older people. Roughly one in three Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 experience some type of hearing loss. And among people over the age of 75, about half have trouble hearing, according to the National Institute on Aging. Younger adults...
Most people have not heard of misophonia. But it’s important to know about this condition because if you or someone you love develops it, it can have a big impact on the quality of life. Misophonia is a condition in which sounds affect you in a negative way. For example,...
If you think loud noise is little more than an annoyance, you may want to think again. Loud noise can permanently damage your hearing. In fact, noise is a top cause of hearing loss, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Noise-induced hearing loss may be more common than you realize....
Are you having trouble hearing? A hearing test can check the health of your ears and the acuity of your hearing. It’s important not to put off having your hearing evaluated, because a hearing test can determine whether you're experiencing hearing loss or other potentially serious problems. Here at Sharp...
When you think about hearing problems, you probably imagine conditions related to hearing loss. That makes sense, hearing loss is a common problem. It impacts people of all ages. In fact, more than one-third of adults over 65 experience some form of hearing loss. However, there are other types of...
Are you hearing ringing, buzzing, clicking, or any other sound or sensation in your ears? You may have a condition known as tinnitus. It’s a common condition, impacting about 10% of Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Tinnitus can be frustrating because it can interfere with your hearing,...
Are you having trouble hearing the people around you? Do you find yourself increasingly isolated because you can’t participate in conversations? Are you worried about the impact hearing loss may have on your health and well-being? If so, now is a good time for you to consider getting hearing aids....
Misophonia is a little understood, under-studied condition. If you have it, there are certain sounds that trigger a very strong, negative emotional response. For example, the sound of someone chewing may make you so angry you find it difficult to control yourself. You may continue to hear the sound in...
Over 48 million Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss. Unfortunately, most of them wait an average of seven years before seeking help for their condition. In fact, only one out of every five people who could benefit from a hearing aid uses one. At Sharp Hearing Care Professionals,...