Hearing Aids

Hard time hearing in noise? Here's why Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on December 09, 2021 There are many signs of hearing loss — but one of the first signs that your hearing is going is if you can hear fine in quiet environments yet struggle to hear in noise. Here’s why. Even for people with normal hearing, noisy settings can be tricky to navigate when trying to make out speech. That’s because we all use contextual cues during... Read More
Hearing aid perception vs. reality Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on December 03, 2021 Hearing and sight are arguably our two most important senses (despite taste getting a lot of attention these past 18 months). Yet, if and when either starts to fail us — and both typically do as we age — we react to each very differently. You can tell by all the people with glasses, contacts, Lasik surgery or cheaters that we have no problem or... Read More
Hearing loss treatment and the role it plays in dementia prevention Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on November 18, 2021 A 2017 study, conducted by The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care, called dementia “the greatest global challenge for health and social care in the 21st century.” But you don’t need a study to tell you that. Ask friends and loved ones of the estimated 50 million people worldwide who have dementia (there’s a... Read More
Types of hearing loss Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on November 04, 2021 Three of the most common hearing loss questions and their answers If you’re like us, you like to get to the bottom of any ailment you have. When you know what the exact issue is, you waste less time and anxiety and going-down-a-rabbit-hole Google searches wondering what it might be. And, because you know what you’re dealing with, you can address the... Read More
How to encourage a loved one with hearing loss to seek help Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on October 14, 2021 It’s been proven that — left untreated — hearing loss can have a negative effect on our quality of life. Studies have linked untreated hearing loss to decreased cognitive function, higher incidences of hospitalizations, falls and depression, and increased risk of social isolation and dementia. Those studies don’t take into account how... Read More
How to know if you have hearing loss Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on October 01, 2021 Not sure if you have hearing loss? That’s not uncommon. Hearing loss symptoms are subtle and typically emerge slowly. It frequently takes years for people to realize they have hearing loss. Also, we simply don’t test our hearing enough. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that “less than half of adults who reported... Read More
Could earwax be causing my hearing loss? Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on September 23, 2021 Since earwax seems to be a popular topic these days (don’t ask us why, but earwax cleaning videos are trending on social media), we thought now was a good time to answer this FAQ. Can earwax cause hearing loss? A lot of things can cause hearing loss. Noise exposure. Aging. Certain medicines. And yes, too much earwax. But earwax alone is rarely the only... Read More
Hearing aids may positively effect the rates of cognitive decline Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on September 08, 2021 Today’s blog makes for a rare good news/bad news/good news blog. The first good news is that more of us are living longer than ever. Let’s toast to that! The bad news is, as our population increasingly ages, the rates of dementia increase right alongside. The World Health Organization (WHO) has the number of people currently living with dementia at... Read More
12 reasons you should test your hearing Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on August 13, 2021 After the past year of living socially distant and behind masks, we think reconnecting is more important and coveted than ever! Unfortunately, it’s also more challenging for those of us with hearing loss — which is the biggest reason why 2021 should be the year to test your hearing and treat it if it turns out you have hearing loss! But just in... Read More
12 reasons to get Livio Edge AI custom rechargeable hearing aids Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on July 15, 2021 If you’ve been holding out on getting hearing aids because you were waiting for something that didn’t scream “hearing aid!” while also offering unheard of sound quality and high-tech, life-just-got-way-easier features, well then you know how the next paragraph begins. Hold out no longer and check out Livio Edge AI custom rechargeable... Read More
Regular hearing checkups are a good idea Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on July 02, 2021 If you’re proactive about your health and well-being — and more of us are today than ever before — then you may already test your hearing regularly. But if you don’t and you want to know why you should, keep reading. Benjamin Franklin famously said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Even if you don’t... Read More
Why two hearing aids are better than one Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on June 18, 2021 Ok, try this: Cover one eye with your hand and look around. Notice how clarity, depth perception and spatial awareness are affected? It’s not much different with our ears. Just as we use both eyes to see our best, our two ears work together to help us hear our best. That’s why it’s usually recommended — even if hearing loss is... Read More
I have hearing loss - now what? Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on June 03, 2021 What to do if you think you have hearing loss Most people who have hearing loss aren’t born with it. Instead, hearing loss creeps up on us over time, usually caused by exposure to loud noises, aging, or some combination of the two. Statistics show that the prevalence of hearing loss doubles for every decade of life, which explains why one out of three... Read More
Can hearing loss be restored? Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on May 19, 2021 The quick and frank answer to the question, “Can hearing loss be restored?” is no, once hearing is lost, you cannot restore it to how it was. But notice the “how it was” part of that answer. That’s because, while you can’t go back to the way you used to hear, you can still absolutely treat hearing loss and significantly... Read More
Golf and hearing loss: why golf is a great sport for the hearing impaired Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on May 04, 2021 Jordan Fuller, over at Golf Influence, explains why golf is a perfect pastime for those with hearing loss. Having optimal hearing is important when playing a round of golf, although golfers who wear hearing aids may find them to be more frustrating than not being able to hear what’s happening around them. There is good news, though. As technology has... Read More
Why do my ears feel plugged? Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on April 19, 2021 If you’ve ever flown, you most likely know the sensation of your ears plugging up. Irritating, right? Here’s why that happens. The most common reason for ears to feel clogged or plugged is due to something called Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (Eustachian is pronounced “You-Station”). The Eustachian tube connects the back of the nose to the... Read More
Should you get a hearing test? Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on April 02, 2021 Do you ever feel like the people you’re talking to are mumbling or speaking too quickly? Are you having to ask others to repeat themselves frequently? Or maybe you’re struggling to follow a conversation when there is background noise? If so, these could be indicators that you have a hearing loss. It’s not uncommon for friends and family... Read More
Hearing loss, talking loudly and COVID-19 Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on March 17, 2021 By now we should all know that infectious pathogens — like COVID-19 — can be transmitted from person to person through coughing and sneezing. But did you know it may be transmitted simply by talking, too? In a study published just this month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers found that normal human speech produces... Read More
Video conferencing tips for those with hearing loss Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on March 03, 2021 Face masks are now an everyday accessory, “staying in” is the new “going out,” and you guessed it, video chatting is a necessary element of our social fabric and remote work. It’s all part of the new normal. For those with hearing loss, these changes haven’t been as seamless. As you or a loved one may have experienced, masks... Read More
Top ten things you can do with your smartphone-connected hearing aids Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on February 17, 2021 Today’s hearing aids are more sophisticated than ever! One of the greatest advances in hearing aid technology is the ability to pair them to a variety of smartphones, including Apple iPhones and several Android handsets. The connection between smartphones and hearing aids brings a long list of incredible benefits. Here is my top 10 list of things you can do... Read More
Five things you should know about earwax Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on February 03, 2021 When you hear the word “earwax”, you might immediately think YUCK! But, did you know that earwax actually plays an important role in the health of your ear? I’d like to share some facts about earwax and the part it plays in a healthy ear. 1. Earwax is not YUCK at all In fact, earwax is a requirement of a healthy ear canal. It is a product of... Read More
The hearing aid that detects falls and sends alerts Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on January 15, 2021 If you’re an older adult — or care for someone who is — falling is likely high on your list of worries. And for good reason. According to the National Council on Aging1: • Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in an emergency room for a fall-related injury. • Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older... Read More
One in five with hearing loss feel lonely and it’s affecting their health Posted by Dr. Larry Schmidbauer on January 01, 2021 Loneliness has typically been thought of like most other human emotions — fleeting and virtually harmless. While short periods of loneliness may not have negative effects, prolonged loneliness is toxic and increases the risk of dying by 26%. In fact, loneliness is as harmful to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and increases the risk of heart... Read More

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