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The following true or false quiz will teach you some important facts about hearing loss.

1. A person is more likely to experience hearing loss as he or she ages.

TRUE is the correct answer. Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults. Roughly one-third of Americans over 60 and 40 to 50 percent of those ages 75 and older have hearing loss.

2. A person who hears a constant ringing sound in the ears has tinnitus.

TRUE is the correct answer. Tinnitus is the ringing, hissing, or roaring sound in the ears frequently caused by exposure to loud noise or certain medicines. Tinnitus can accompany any type of hearing loss and can be a sign of other important health problems as well.

3. A punctured eardrum usually causes permanent hearing loss.

FALSE is the correct answer. A punctured eardrum does not usually cause permanent hearing loss. It is a form of conductive hearing loss. Medical or surgical treatment can usually restore this type of hearing loss. In contrast, sensorineural hearing loss, which occurs when the inner ear or auditory nerve has been damaged, is permanent.

4. If your hearing loss is permanent, there are no treatments that can help you.

FALSE is the correct answer. If you have a hearing problem, you can get help. See your audiologist, because hearing problems that are ignored or untreated can get worse. Hearing aids, special training, certain medicines, and surgery are some of the choices that could help people
with hearing problems.

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Throughout our history, the perception of youth has always been one of strength, independence, and health – qualities so sought after that they prompted Spanish conquistadors to stumble upon the continents of Central and South America in their quest to find the mythical “Fountain of Youth”. Since these times, we’ve learned that there is no actual fountain, but modern technology has provided many tools to counteract the
negative effects age has on quality of life.

Modern Audiology and hearing care are great examples of how new technology helps stave off the negative effects of aging. It’s widely known that one’s sense of hearing deteriorates over time. For many reasons—age, genetics, exposure to loud sounds, and others—hearing loss is very common in older people. Although modern medicine can’t magically restore one’s sense of hearing to its condition during youth (like the fabled fountain of youth), it has provided many solutions that allow people to hear as well as they did in younger days.

Unfortunately, many older people are often reluctant to even admit to themselves that their hearing is not as effective as it used to be! Indeed, hearing devices are taboo in the eyes of older people; they are considered proof that their age is catching up with their bodies “I’m too young to wear a hearing aid!” or “Hearing devices are for people older than me!” are common responses from patients diagnosed with hearing loss. Ironically, resistance to using the available hearing devices actually keep older people from the desired quality of youthful hearing! They scoff at the need for hearing devices because they perceive them as an outward sign of age, but, in reality, the devices make them behave and interact in a youthful way – through effective hearing!

This dilemma is a matter of perception – while older people avoid hearing aids so they don’t look old, they lead a lifestyle without hearing ability that cries out, “I’m too old to hear!” during daily interactions! Each time an older person asks someone to repeat a statement just spoken clearly, fudges comprehension during a
conversation, nods and smiles at inappropriate times, or uses the TV or radio at a very high volume, the older person is advertising his or her hearing loss and age.

In closing, there’s no way to change our society’s value of youth and independence—these ideals are part of the fabric of our culture. Sadly, there is no magical spring to return an older person to the state of their youth. Aging—and the effects it has on the human body—are a part of life. There are, however, solutions to
getting the most possible out of your body today and for years to come. You just have to look at these solutions, and the results they provide, from the proper perspective!

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Summer brings with it warm weather and lazy days on the beach – as well as an increase in hearing aid troubles.

Moisture is the culprit for many hearing aid-related problems. Excessive moisture due to high humidity and sweat can cause distortion, static and a host of other problems. To help avoid the time and expense of a manufacturer repair, follow these preventative maintenance techniques.

• Open the battery door at night to allow air to circulate and dry the device.
• Consider the purchase of a hearing aid dehumidifier, a DriAid Kit, or a Dry and Store Box. These products are inexpensive, simple to use, and provide a handy storage spot for your hearing aids.
• If you perspire heavily during summer activities, take a moment to remove your hearing aids and wipe off excess moisture with a tissue.
• If you wear behind-the-ear hearing aids, consider wearing a moisture guard.
• Do not leave your hearing aids in direct sunlight.
• Avoid storing your hearing aids in glove compartments or similar environments where excessive heat can build up.
• If your hearing aid isn’t working and you suspect it’s due to moisture, open the battery door, remove the battery, and allow it to dry in an area with good circulation. Do not attempt to dry it in the microwave or with a hair dryer; moisture will often evaporate on its own.

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