General

From the chronicles

Hear Better and Improve Your Memory

Did you know about the links between memory and hearing? When background noise levels are high—making it difficult to hear—working memory takes a hit. Research shows that people with a better working memory hear better in noise. There’s also a link between hearing loss and dementia. It’s intriguing, too, that processing speed and working memory […]

Better Listening Can Result in Better Appointments

Running used to be a big part of my life. That is, until I got plantar fasciitis. I tried to get rid of it. Massage, rest, taping, cortisone shots, an ankle-foot brace while sleeping, acupuncture, gait analysis, orthotics, motion-control shoes, strength training, and on and on. At one point I was referred to a well […]

Dementia and Hearing Loss Links

Imagine yourself at a fund-raiser for a posh literary magazine. The room is buzzing with conversations and the excitement of meeting a well-known author. You’ve read his books, and you’d love to discuss his latest best-seller. But your mind goes blank. You can’t remember the name of the latest book. As you muddle through your […]

How Hearing Loss Benefited Me

About a year ago, I had a conversation with a parent of a young girl with hearing loss. She said of her daughter: “Hearing loss does not define her.” I agreed. I think this is true of most people who successfully manage hearing loss. I thought, however, the statement was incomplete. From my life experiences […]

Find Your Turning Point

In a recent Hearing Strategies class, the time came to review last week’s homework. The homework assignment was to notice when you are bluffing, and stop yourself at least once. Anthony’s turn arrived and he drew a blank. “Give me a minute,” he said. “I’ll think of something.” We moved on to the next person. […]

My Hearing Aids Don’t Work So Well Anymore

If your hearing aids worked well for several months or years, and now something has gone wrong, this post is for you. Dr. Bob Martin, audiologist, started off this conversation. He pointed out that the first thing you need to do is find out if the problem is with your hearing aids or if your […]

How Does Auditory Training Help?

How does auditory training help? Research has shown that there are three key factors in our ability to understand each other: processing speed, memory, and the presence of distractors. Let’s take a closer look at each one and examine how they impact our ability to understand what’s happening around us. Processing Speed: A key change […]

Hear Better at Holiday Gatherings

Holidays can be a difficult time for people who have hearing loss. Social situations with challenging levels of background noise, cocktail party babble, and music in the background can be frustrating. Here are some tips for holiday gatherings: Meeting friends at a restaurant? Seven tips for eating in restaurants may help. Do you forget people’s […]

Disclosing Hearing Loss Can Help

In her blog post, Getting Hired, Gael Hannan talks about the importance of disclosing hearing loss in a job interview. This took me back to my university days. I showed up for my first day of work at a summer job, where I would be a chambermaid at a Bed and Breakfast. A main appeal […]

Are Restaurants Way Too Loud?

A friend of mine recently came back from Vegas—with a sore throat. The cause? Having to talk over the loud music in a bar, for several nights running. The New York Times published an article about the trend for bars, restaurants, health clubs, and even shops to play loud music. Why do they do this? […]