Author: David Morse

Ask yourself the following questions. If you answer “yes” to three or more of these questions, you could have a hearing loss and might need to have your hearing checked.

• Do you sometimes feel embarrassed when you meet new people because you struggle to hear?
• Do you feel frustrated when talking to people because you have difficulty hearing them?
• Do you have difficulty hearing or understanding co-workers, clients, or customers?
• Do you feel restricted or limited when you have a problem hearing?
• Do you often think, “I can hear but I don’t understand what is being said?”
• Do you have trouble understanding the dialogue on internet videos, movies, or in the theater?
• Does a communication issue due to poor hearing cause you to argue with family members?
• Do you ask people to repeat what they say?
• Do you think others mumble?
• Do you have difficulty hearing on the phone?
• Do you have trouble hearing the TV or radio and turn up the volume that is too loud for others?
• Do you feel your personal or social life is limited?
• Do you have trouble hearing your dining companions when you are together in a restaurant?

If you answered “yes” to three or more of the above questions, we would like to help you.  Give Purchase Ear Technology in Paducah a call at (270) 558-4996 to schedule a hearing test.  You may also stop by our office located at 2008 Broadway, Paducah , KY  42001.

Hearing loss can make conversations more challenging. Often we must rely on our conversation partners to practice communication best practices like facing us when they speak and providing context before changing topics. But communication is a two-way street. There are also many things we can do to enhance our ability to have successful and productive interactions with others. By following some simple rules of thumb, we can put ourselves in a better position to hear and communicate as best as is possible.  Below you will find 8 tips:

1. Inform Others About Your Hearing Loss

Don’t be shy about disclosing your hearing loss. People cannot help you if they do not know you are struggling. I make a habit of announcing my hearing loss at the start of any group meetings or retreats. It is easy to do as part of the introductions. This way I get the information out and avoid any awkwardness later when I ask someone to repeat themselves or grab a seat in the front row so I can hear the speaker better.

2. Be Specific About Your Needs

Let others know what they can do to help you hear your best. The more specific you are in your instructions — I need you to sit on my left side or please face me when you speak to me — the more likely you are to get good results. Be prepared to remind people what they can do to help. Since hearing loss is not visible, people sometimes quickly forget that you have trouble hearing.

3. Put Others At Ease

If you appear comfortable with your hearing loss, others will be as well. Let people know that they can ask you about it. I often joke with people saying, “If you say something to me and I don’t answer, or if I look at you like you have two heads, please don’t think I am rude, it is probably because I didn’t hear you.” Humor often makes people more forgiving of a social faux pas or two, and more willing to try again to engage you in conversation.

4. Stay Informed

Since context is so important in following conversations, try to stay abreast of current news and social happenings. It is easier to understand a new name (of a country or a celebrity) if you have seen it written about recently. This can be especially important if you are traveling to a different country where the names of historical figures and landmarks are less familiar to you.

5. Maintain Good Energy

Hearing takes extraordinary concentration for those with hearing loss so it is important to approach communication situations as well rested and alert as possible. Eat healthy food, exercise regularly, and be sure to get enough sleep. Also, don’t be afraid to take breaks from communication if your energy is lagging.

6. Interrupt for Clarification In Moderation

If you miss a word or two of a story, listen a little bit longer before jumping in with “What?” You may be able to piece together what was said after another sentence or two. This does not apply at the doctor, or in another situation where full knowledge is imperative, but in social situations, not following every detail is probably ok some of the time. Also, when asking for clarification, say what you think you heard to minimize what the speaker needs to repeat.

7. Use Non-Verbal Clues To Guide Your Communication Partner

Cupping your hand behind your ear is a good way to ask the speaker to raise his voice without interrupting the flow of the conversation. Leaning closer to somebody can also indicate that you are having trouble hearing them.

8. Go With The Flow

Manage your expectations. In certain situations, hearing every word is just not possible, but try to be grateful for what you can hear. Keep your sense of humor ready for the inevitable mishearings. Some of them can be quite funny if you let them.

If you are experiencing signs of hearing loss, we would like to help.  Give Purchase Ear Technology of Paducah a call at (270) 558-3996 to schedule an appointment or stop by our office located at 2008 Broadway, Paducah, KY  42001.

Rigorous research and development efforts have helped hearing aids evolve from large, unwieldy accessories to sleek, nearly invisible designs with a multitude of features. These transformations have made differences in the lives of millions of people.

Thirty years ago, people wouldn’t wear hearing aids because every time someone would come close, their hearing aids would start squealing.  It was embarrassing, and they couldn’t hear anything anyway.

In more recent years, detailed engineering efforts have paved the way for instruments that fit the needs of the many, while providing the flexibility to accommodate each user’s unique patterns of hearing loss.   Digital hearing aids changed everything. All of a sudden, instead of making everything louder, we are now able to fit those people who had those high frequency hearing losses with better technology.

Competition has improved the market offerings, and technology has vastly improved in both receiver-in-canal (RIC) and custom hearing aids.  With so many options on the market today, the input of a hearing professional like Tim Harmon at Purchase Ear Technology is essential in finding the right device.

If you have been considering hearing aids, give us a call at Purchase Ear Technology in Paducah at (270) 558-3996 or visit our office at 2008 Broadway, Paducah, KY  42001.  Let us help you find the best hearing aid device just for you!

Have you ever thought about protecting your ears before? No? Then you’re not alone. Often, we don’t even think about the actual consequences everyday noises can have on our hearing. Constant noise can not only lead to hearing loss, but can also be associated with numerous other health-related risks. Here, you will find out more about the impacts of noise and how you can best protect your hearing.

Why should I protect my hearing?

Unlike the eye, which can close its lid in a fraction of a second, the ear is unable to protect itself from noise. We cannot deliberately shut off our hearing or temporarily switch it off, it is always ready to pick up sounds and noises, including loud ones. Accordingly, with regular or acute loud noise, the hair cells can suffer and even die off. In worst-case scenarios, this can lead to hearing loss.

So to ensure we maintain the ability to enjoy the full spectrum of the sounds of life, it is paramount to protect our most important sense. If not, we may no longer be able to rely on it in future, may it be in conversations or in dangerous situations.

What impacts on my health can loud noises have?

Often, we are completely unaware that our hearing is at risk in everyday situations: Excessively loud music in clubs, at concerts or noise from DIY work at home can quickly cause hearing loss, even in young people. Constant noise, of the type we hear on busy roads for example, is classed as being in the hazardous range at volumes of around 80 decibels, and can cause long-term damage to our hearing. In addition to noise-related hearing loss, which is affecting more and more people, loud noises can also lead to tinnitus or even sonic trauma.

Persistent noise affects not only our ears, but also our whole bodies. This is because every disruptive noise puts the body into a state of alert. This causes the excretion of stress hormones, a faster heartbeat, increased blood pressure and more rapid breathing. Further consequences of noise stress can include concentration problems, impaired performance, sleep problems, high blood pressure and even cardiovascular disease.

With the right hearing protection, you can effectively prevent hearing damage and other risks to your health.

Do I need hearing protection?

The point at which noise becomes disruptive or unpleasant varies from person to person. The pain threshold is set at 120 decibels (dB), but street noise, engine noise or even a visit to a disco involving values of over 80 dB can impair health. But exactly how loud is one decibel, or even 10 decibels? Below you will find a graphic illustrating how many decibels the following everyday noises generate.

Strategies for protecting your hearing

To avoid hearing loss, you should follow a few tips on how to protect your hearing. They are easy to follow and help to ensure that your ears are less exposed to harmful noise, allowing you to continue enjoying problem-free hearing.

If you think you are experiencing any signs of hearing loss, Purchase Ear Technology in Paducah can perform a professional hearing test to assess your needs.  Give us a call at (270) 558-3996 to schedule an appointment or visit our office located at 2008 Broadway, Paducah, KY  42001.

If you wear hearing aids or think you may need them, you’ll want to find out as much as you can about how to look after them and prolong their life. Hearing aids are a significant investment for most people, and taking care of them can ensure that you get the best performance from them and that they last as long as possible.

At Purchase Ear Technology in Paducah, we are available for you to ask all the questions you have about your new hearing aids. Here are our top tips on caring for your hearing aids to prolong their life.

Top Tips To Maintain Your Hearing Aids:

• Store your hearing aids safely. Many accidents involving damage to or loss of hearing aids are simply a result of not having a safe place to store them. As soon as you take your hearing aids home, we recommend choosing a safe space to keep them when you are not wearing them. We suggest that you keep them in their case, on a shelf that is out of reach of children and animals, and that you always keep them in the same place.
• Avoid products that can damage hearing aids. When you are using products on your skin or hair, there is a risk of these causing damage to your hearing aids. Your delicate devices should be kept away from all products such as these, so you may find it easiest to put your hearing aids in once you have finished getting ready for your day.
• Keep your hearing aids dry. Hearing aids can be damaged by water and moisture, and it’s very important to remove them when you’re showering, bathing or swimming. You may find that a hearing aid dehumidifier helps to dry them properly, and hearing aid sweatbands can be useful if you exercise a lot while wearing them.
• Clean your hearing aids as directed. You can bring your hearing aids to Purchase Ear Technology to learn about the best way to keep your hearing aids clean on a daily basis. Do not be tempted to use harsh cleaning products that could damage your hearing aids, and remember that a deep clean will be included in most aftercare appointments.
• Replace your batteries regularly. You will get used to how quickly your hearing aid batteries deplete, and this is likely to be between three and ten days. You will have been shown how to replace your batteries, and you should follow instructions about how to store batteries in order to keep them in great condition and get the best performance from them.

Want to learn more?  Give Purchase Ear Technology a call at (270) 558-3996 or stop by our office located at 2008 Broadway, Paducah, KY  42001.

Don’t Be Average

Hearing loss sneaks up on people gradually, so it is sometimes difficult to detect oneself. Often, friends and family are the first to notice. The average person waits 7-10 years before treating their hearing loss. Part of this is due to stigma, but part is not knowing the steps to take to find out more about hearing loss and to construct a plan for treatment. Here are our tips for taking the first few steps along your hearing loss journey.

Take a Hearing Test

For an initial assessment, you should see an audiologist, or your primary care physician if you need a referral. At your first visit to Purchase Ear Technology, we will examine you physically and perform a series of hearing tests to determine the type and degree of your loss.  If hearing loss is confirmed, you move onto the treatment phase of your care.

Try a Hearing Aid (or Two)

This is important because the first hearing aid you try might not be the right one for you. Fitting a hearing aid takes time and work, from both the audiologist and the hearing aid wearer. Don’t be surprised if you feel that you are hearing worse with the hearing aids during the early days of the trial than you do without them. This is normal and makes sense since it takes time for your brain to acclimate to and organize the new sounds.

After a week or two, go back and have the settings on your hearing aid fine tuned. Keep a written record of what is and is not working to help guide the adjustments. This process is typically iterative, and (depending on the complexity of your hearing loss) may require multiple visits until the settings are just right.

If things do not improve during the course of the trial, your audiologist may recommend trying a different type of hearing aid instead. Think of it like finding love — you may need to kiss a couple of frogs before you find your hearing aid prince.

Have Realistic Expectations

Everyone wants hearing aids to work like glasses — you put them on and your hearing is magically restored to normal. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Having reasonable expectations will help you stay positive as you work through the kinks.

Be Open About Your Hearing Loss

This one may take time. Being open will help you accept your hearing loss. It will allow you to ask for the help you need to improve communication with the people that you love. Without all the pressure to hear everything perfectly, you may begin to enjoy social gatherings again and even learn to laugh when a misunderstanding occurs. Every time you tell someone about your hearing issues, it gets easier. Keep doing it until it is second nature.

Ready to do something about your hearing loss?  Give Purchase Ear Technology a call at (270) 558-3996 to schedule an appointment or stop by our office at 2008 Broadway, Paducah, KY.

A female scream. Squealing brakes. A baby crying. An electric drill. Nails on a blackboard. They all make the list. The top 10 list. The top 10 list of the most unpleasant sounds according to a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

Instead of torturing you with the entire list, we have limited it by choosing our personal top five. You’re welcome! Just reading through the list made me cringe. I wanted to cover my ears. Turns out I’m not alone.

New research explains why we have negative emotional reactions to sounds we perceive as noise. The study found that noise really can be more than an annoyance. Noise isn’t just bad for your ears, it’s bad for your health.

“Noise is thought to cause physical and psychological stress to the body,” according to Elizabeth Masterson, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). “When you have chronic stress, it produces a chronic stress response, which can contribute to high blood pressure and cholesterol.”

Exposure to noise can elevate blood pressure, cause headaches, irritability and fatigue. Annoying sounds that leave us feeling irritable or agitated can increase our blood pressure and even change the rhythm of our heart beat, adversely affecting our overall health and well-being.

It’s not just the loudness of sound

It won’t come as much of a surprise that previous studies found that loud sounds are more bothersome than quiet ones. But new research takes that a step further, showing that in addition to loudness, the type of sound is also a factor. Listeners in the study rated high-frequency sounds (between 2,000 to 5,000 Hz) as the most unpleasant. Researchers believe that the amygdala — the part of our brain that regulates emotions — takes over the auditory part of our brains when we hear noise.

This finding helps explain why we have negative reactions to unpleasant sounds we perceive as noise. Scientists hope that more research on the interaction between the amygdala and the auditory cortex will lead to a better understanding of tinnitus and hyperacusis — disorders associated with sensitivity to sounds and that often accompany hearing loss.

One person’s trash is another person’s treasure

When it comes to noise, the old adage “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure” certainly applies. We can all agree that noise is unwanted, even unpleasant. What we can’t agree on is which sounds are noise. Sounds that are music to one listeners ears may sound like nails on a chalkboard to another.

Which sounds listeners classify as noise vary greatly. This probably explains the disconnect between the musical tastes of a teenager and that of parents.

Our brains differentiate between the sounds we want to hear and the noise we don’t. Which sounds are which are based on our personal listening preferences. While some of us love to listen to soothing white noise or a fan to fall asleep, others find the same sounds irritating.

How noises affect our bodies

Sounds that our brains perceive as noise increase irritability and anxiety. Increased levels of agitation increase the stress hormone cortisol in our bodies. Cortisol increases blood pressure and blood sugar while decreasing our body’s ability to fight disease. Increased stress increases cardiovascular risks. Loud sounds can even cause our hearts to beat irregularly. The medical term for this is atrial fibrillation. It is a scientific fact that loud sounds affect not only our moods, they can also impair our immune system.

So what can you do?

There is no escaping noise. It’s everywhere in our daily lives, often, even at work. One study found that employees working in noisy environments performed poorer on memory tests and reported increased levels of fatigue than colleagues working in low-noise environments.

The dip in performance is likely due to the extra workload for our brains. If you are working in a loud environment, your brain has to work harder to filter out loud noise so you can concentrate and attend to important tasks, which leaves less energy for other brain functions.

Hearing loss makes this task even more challenging. Damage to the auditory nerve impairs our brain’s ability to separate speech from noise, which is why understanding speech in background noise is difficult for someone with hearing loss. Today’s hearing aids use complex algorithms to boost speech signals in noise, making understanding speech easier for someone wearing hearing aids.

You can’t avoid noise, but you can minimize its effects

While you can’t avoid noise entirely, you can start noticing how the sounds around you make you feel. If you find that certain sounds in your everyday life are bothersome, try making simple changes. At work turn your chair around so you aren’t facing your coworker that grinds her coffee beans at her desk before brewing her 59th cup of the day. Or invest in a white noise machine if your neighbor’s dog barks and keeps you up at night.

Or, wear ear plugs. Custom earplugs — the type made for your ear by a hearing professional — fit more snugly in your ear to provide protection for your ears and your overall health and wellness. It is also important to correct your hearing loss by wearing hearing aids. Hearing aids adjust automatically to your listening environment (in nano seconds) using complex algorithms to increase listening ease even in the most challenging environments.

Simply noticing how the sounds around you make you feel allows you to make changes accordingly. Simple changes can go a long way toward improving your mood and your overall health.

To find out more about protecting or improving your hearing, contact us at Purchase Ear Technology in Paducah by calling (270) 558-3996 or stop by our office located at 2008 Broadway, Paducah, KY  42001.

Did you know that on average, individuals with hearing loss wait 7 years to seek help for their hearing? With precious moments lost, we at Purchase Ear Technology in Paducah are energized each New Year as customers make their hearing health a priority. We’re excited to help you start your journey and be there every step of the way!

We know accepting hearing loss can be difficult.  This is one of many reasons why we’re so passionate about educating each individual about hearing health. We’re hearing from our customers and providers that they are making it their resolution to HEAR better in 2019.   You should make the same resolution!

Remember, today’s hearing aids are not what your grandfather or even your mother wore. The leading-edge digital technology helps to reduce background noise and focus on exactly what you want to hear. These advanced little pieces of technology are designed to be inconspicuous and many are nearly invisible.

Are you ready to start your journey to better hearing?  Purchase Ear Technology in Paducah is here to help.  Give us a call today to schedule an appointment at (270) 558-3996 or visit our office located at 2008 Broadway, Paducah, KY  42001.

The holiday season can be a stressful time of year for the hearing impaired. From travel to dinner conversations, those with hearing loss can have a difficult time interacting with their family and friends.

Take traveling for example. Between communicating with flight attendants to taxi cab drivers, the communication and overall experience can become exhausting for those who cannot clearly process what is being said. With hearing loss being the third most common health problem in the United States, those suffering from this disease may choose to stay at home and not travel to certain destinations, losing valuable times with family and friends.

The downside and long term effects of these health problems can be tremendous for those not willing to get help. One’s mental health can take a toll with side effects such as anxiety and depression which can arise from not being able to have accurate communication due to hearing impairment. So how can we help those in need? There are several short term and long term precautions one can take to be mindful to those with hearing loss during this holiday season:

• If you already have hearing aids, bring them in for cleaning and maintenance to make sure they are performing optimally.
• Before getting together with loved ones, make sure your hearing aid batteries are fresh.
• Lower the volume on the holiday music. Although many enjoy these festive songs, it may hinder the ability for those with hearing loss to pick up on conversations. Same goes with the TV, keep the TV off or at a minimum volume in order to eliminate background noise.
• Find a quieter location in the home to catch up with a loved one. If music is playing, step to a room where you can have an easier time engaging on a one-on-one conversation with eye contact.
• Keep the room well lit. Provide good lighting so those with hearing loss are able to see the facial expressions of people and can read lips, picking up on visual cues.
• Use plastic dishware opposed to china. China and silverware is typically louder when it touches the plate. Instead, plastic utensils may lighten the noise level.
• Find the best seat at the dinner table. If you have a “better side” when it comes to hearing, put that ear facing the crowd or assist one who suffers from hearing loss in choosing a seat.
• Help your loved one book an appointment to see a Hearing Instrument Specialist at Purchase Ear Technology.
• While the majority of these precautions are short term alternatives, it is important to get your hearing tested as soon as possible if you are experiencing hearing loss. Just like you get your eyes checked for blurred vision, hearing exams should be done on a regular basis as well to detect your level of hearing loss.

Here are some tips for people with hearing loss to better enjoy holiday gatherings.

For many people with hearing loss, the holidays can be especially challenging. While large family gatherings offer a great chance to catch up with friends and family, holiday parties can lead to challenging listening situations for people with hearing loss.

HOLIDAYS AND HEARING LOSS: THE TIPS

Find a quiet corner – Stand away from loud speakers and noisy kitchens and position yourself in the quietest area of the room. This way you can hear conversation rather than noise.

Pick your seat – If you’re having a sit-down dinner, pick a seat at the center of the table nearest to a close friend or relative. This way you have a better chance of hearing conversation and enjoying your meal.

Pick your drink – A glass of wine can make you more relaxed– or it can confuse you and make your level of understanding worse. Be aware of what you are drinking and your own level of tolerance.

Buddy up – Find a friend or relative with whom you can hang out at the party. This person can help you to feel more included in conversation and can repeat things you may not understand.

HOLIDAYS AND HEARING AIDS

If you have hearing aids, it’s important that you wear them to holiday events. You may think that with so much noise at a party or family dinner, hearing aids would just make things louder, but modern digital hearing aids aren’t simple sound amplifiers. They are designed to filter out all the unwanted noise – like the clanging of dishes in the kitchen or the background music – and help you focus on speech.

HAVE THE “HEARING LOSS” CONVERSATION

Holiday gatherings are a good time to have “the conversation” with friends and loved ones. We’re talking about the conversation about hearing loss and getting hearing aids. If you think your loved one is unable to hear correctly, take out your phone or tablet and encourage them to take an online hearing test. This is a great first step to help someone realize they have a hearing loss.

HELP GUESTS WITH HEARING LOSS

You might not have hearing loss – but one of your guests might. Here are some tips on helping your guests with hearing loss enjoy your party”

Background music – Everyone loves a good Christmas carol, but when those carols are in the background of the conversations of 20+ people, no one can hear them anyways. Consider turning down the background music – or turning it off completely when several guests are socializing at once. People tend to speak louder to be heard over the music, so your music may in fact make the party louder.

Dish Duty – Hold off on cleaning the dishes until after your guests have left. For people with hearing loss, the clatter of kitchen dishes can distract from dinner time conversation. Take time to enjoy your guests rather than worrying about the clean-up!

Seating – If you know that one of your guests has a hearing loss, seat that person at the center of the table closest to those with the quietest voices. It may also help if you sit next to that person, so you can help him or her to better understand the conversation.