Your health impacts your hearing

Many health conditions that are common in the United States such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, auto-immune disorders and stroke can impact your hearing. If you have been diagnosed with or have a history of one of the conditions listed, it would be recommended that you have your hearing evaluated annually.

Our ears are just as susceptible to these conditions as other parts of our body. In general, anything that is good for your body such as diet and exercise is good for your hearing as well. As a society, we place a lot of emphasis on getting our eyes, teeth and overall health checked, but we can't forget about our ears. The next time you are at your physician's office ask to be referred for a baseline hearing evaluation. Regular monitoring of hearing ability should be included in every physical examination.

Washington Hearing Organizations Warn Consumers

Press Release from 9/27/13:

The Washington State Academy of Audiology (WSAA), Washington Speech-Language Hearing Association (WSLHA), Washington Hearing Society (WHS) and the Northwest Academy of Otolaryngology (NWAO) have joined forces to help inform Washington consumers on the importance of seeking professional hearing care.

Growing concern over the unlicensed sale of hearing aids over the counter or through the mail, often without warning consumers, has prompted Washington's hearing health organizations to issue the public statement.

Unlike personal amplifiers, which are not intended to treat hearing loss, hearing aids are medical devices and are therefore subject to state and federal regulations in order to protect consumers. Washington, like most states, requires that hearing aids be evaluated and fit by a licensed professional. Professionals licensed to dispense hearing aids include: Audiologists, Hearing Instrument Specialists and Otolaryngologists (ENT physicians).

All four Washington hearing-health organizations hold serious health and safety concerns about the sale of hearing aids without examination and guidance by licensed professionals. They strongly encourage the estimated 700,000 people with hearing loss in the state of Washington and their families, to seek the advice of a state licensed professional, to ensure they are receiving the most appropriate care.

See child hear for the first time

From CNN:

Emotional 7 year old boy from Guatemala hears for the very first time after Cochlear Implant
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2013/09/25/dnt-emotional-boy-hears-for-first-time.wane.html

Seattle Seahawks fans attempt to break loudest stadium record, what can fans do to protect their hearing?

Seattle Seahawk fans will attempt to break a world record for the loudest stadium in the world this Sunday. The record sound level is 131 decibels, which is like standing next to a jet engine. So how can fans protect their ears, watch this video from King 5 news to learn more.

http://www.king5.com/sports/seahawks/Hawks-fans-to-attempt-Guinness-World-Record-for-crowd-noise-Sunday-223344161.html

Starkey Hearing Foundation Benefits from Vikings TDs

In an effort to help educate young people on this issue, Starkey Hearing Foundation created the“Listen Carefully“ program to encourage youth to protect their hearing. In the last year, the Foundation distributed more than 16,000 Listen Carefully teaching guides to schools. These guides focus on the science of hearing and encourage students to put the lessons into practice.

Vikings fans will be encouraged to “Listen Carefully” through radio spots and game day program messaging at Vikings home games throughout the 2013 season. Fans will also be provided Starkey branded ear protection prior to all home games at Mall of America Field.

In addition, for each touchdown scored by reigning NFL MVP Adrian Peterson and All-Pro wide receiver Greg Jennings, the Vikings will donate $500 to Starkey Hearing Foundation to give the gift of hearing to people in need around the world and right here at home. The team will present the Starkey Hearing Foundation with a check during one of the final home games of the 2013 season.

In 2011, Peterson joined the Foundation on a mission trip to Uganda while Jennings helped give the gift of hearing in New Orleans (2013) and Tanzania (2012). Watch a video below that  features both of these players talk about how their work with the Starkey Hearing Foundation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=eZq3KFdwIpE


from: http://www.starkeyhearingtechnologies.com/blog/2013/09/starkey-hearing-technologies-teams-up-with-minnesota-vikings/

New Guidlines for Pressure Equalization Tubes in Children

Most of us can remember a friend or maybe even ourselves not being able to go swimming as a kid due to having ear tubes. This longstanding treatment for middle ear fluid has received some attention recently with new guidlines being published about appropriate use of ear tubes. Children who have middle ear fluid for less than three months will not be considered for tubes. If the middle ear fluid is present for longer than three months, then the child may be considered a candidate for tubes if the condition is impacting there development (speech or cognitiive). The most surprising new guidline is that children with ear tubes will generally not need to wear swim plugs when swimming or bathing. Here is the link if you would like a more detailed overview: http://www.audiology.org/news/Pages/20130822.aspx

Here is what an actual ear tube looks like inserted into the eardrum:

Spotify to donate to Starkey Hearing Foundation

Refer a Friend to Spotify & Give the Gift of Hearing For every referral, (thru 9/2), Spotify will donate $1 to Starkey Hearing Foundation Check out the LSTN Headphone’s “Giving Back. Amplified.” program! Invite your friends to join Spotify to help give the gift of hearing.