724.705.0360 washingtonent . net
Sources : The National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) | National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders ( NIDC ) | National Council on Aging ( NCOA ) | Sergei Kochkin , Ph . D . The Impact of Treated Hearing Loss on Quality of Life - Better Hearing Institute , Washington , DC . Retreived from : www . betterhearing . org / Hearingpedia Frank Lin , M . D . ( 2014 January 22 ) Hearing Loss Linked to Accelerated Brain Tissue Loss . Johns Hopkins Medicine News Release . | Ha-Sheng Li-Korotky , Au . D ., Ph . D ., M . D . ( 2012 ) Age-Related Hearing Loss : Quality of Care for Quality of Life . The Gerontologist , Volume 52 , Issue 2 265-271 | Karen J . Cruickshanks , PhD ; Ronald Klein , MD ; Barbara E . K . Klein , MD ; Terry L . Wiley , PhD ; David M . Nondahl , MS ; Ted S . Tweed , MS . ( 1998 ) Cigarette Smoking and Hearing Loss : The Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study . JAMA . 1998 ; 279 ( 21 ): 1715-1719 . doi : 10.1001 / jama . 279.21.1715 | Hull RH , Kerschen SR . ( 2010 ) The influence of cardiovascular health on peripheral and central auditory function in adults : a research review . Am J Audiol . 2010 Jun ; 19 ( 1 ): 9-16 . doi : 10.1044 / 1059-0889 ( 2010 / 08-0040 ). | De Moraes Marchiori LL , de Almeida Rego Filho E , Matsuo T ( 2006 ) | Hypertension As a Factor Associated with Hearing Loss . Braz J Otorhinolaryngol . Jul-Aug ; 72 ( 4 ): 533-40 . Babich , M ., Hoffmeister , D . & Doughty , A . ( 2009 ). Osteoporosis and Conductive Hearing Loss : A Novel Model of Clinical Correlation . Retrieved from : PHILICA . COM Article number 148 . | American Tinnitus Association , ATA . org | www . mayoclinic . com / health / tinnitus / DS00365
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INDUSTRY INSIGHT
YOUR HEARING
TOTAL BODY HEALTH BEGINS WITH BETTER HEARING HEALTH
Addressing hearing loss isn ’ t just about what you hear — it ’ s about how you feel and function . Studies show that when people address hearing loss , it can have a positive effect on their home life , self-confidence , relationships , mood , overall health , job performance , and even income . It safeguards quality of life by helping people maintain an active , healthy lifestyle and stay socially and cognitively engaged .
Learning the status of your hearing health and addressing hearing loss are important to quality of life at every age as well as total body health . Gen Xers and youthful-minded baby boomers , in fact , are developing hearing loss in greater numbers . And as older Americans are putting off retirement and staying in the workforce longer , the ability to hear your best is becoming all the more important .
The Better Hearing Institute ( BHI ) urges you to have your hearing tested . In fact , they offer a free , quick , and confidential online hearing check that families and friends can take together , at www . BetterHearing . org , to determine if they need a comprehensive hearing test by a hearing healthcare professional .
Luckily , the vast majority of people with hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids . And today ’ s state-of-the art hearing aids are better than ever . The latest technologies make it easier to hear people and sounds from all directions . And today ’ s hearing aids are designed to filter out noise , like at crowded restaurants . Many styles sit discreetly and comfortably inside the ear canal and out of sight , making them virtually invisible . Some are even waterproof . Perhaps best of all , they ’ re wireless , helping people of all ages stay connected to their smartphones , home entertainment systems , and other prized electronics — but most importantly , to life .
Whether its conversation and laughter around the dinner table you enjoy most , or watching a movie or football game together on the television , let the latest hearing aid technologies help you hear your best , improve the way you function and stay connected with family and friends this year .
Nicole Wasel , Au . D ., CCC-A
Dr . Wasel is committed to providing patient education , counseling and hearing solutions to patients of all ages and abilities . She works at Washington Ear , Nose and Throat located at 80 Landings Dr ., Suite 207 , Washington , PA 15301 . Dr . Wasel is a member of the American Speech , Language and Hearing Association and also serves as a field instructor for West Virginia University .
Please feel free to contact Dr . Wasel at 724.225.8995 with any questions or to schedule an appointment .
SPONSORED CONTENT
TINNITUS
90 % COGNITIVE DECLINE
Those with untreated hearing loss experience A 30-40 % GREATER DECLINE in thinking abilities compared to those without hearing loss .
SAFETY / BALANCE
PEOPLE WITH MILD HEARING LOSS ( 25dB ) ARE
3 more likely to have a history of falling . Every additional 10 decibels of hearing loss increases the chances of falling by 1.4 times .
TIMES
HYPERTENSION
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND UNTREATED HEARING LOSS .
Hypertension can be an accelerating factor of hearing loss in older adults .
OBESITY
HIGHER BODY MASS INDEX ( BMI ) AND LARGER WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED RISK OF HEARING LOSS IN WOMEN .
ISOLATION
OSTEOPOROSIS
ADULTS 50 YEARS AND OLDER with untreated hearing loss are more likely to report depression , anxiety , anger and frustration , emotional instability and paranoia than those who wear hearing aids .
HEALTHBEGINS WITH
A study linked osteoporosis and hearing loss , theorizing that demineralization of the three middle ear bones may contribute to a conductive hearing impairment .
OF PEOPLE WITH TINNITUS ALSO HAVE HEARING LOSS .
Tinnitus affects 1 in 5 people . Tinnitus can be caused by hearing loss , an ear injury or a circulatory system disorder .
TOTAL BODY
BETTER HEARING
HEALTH
BE THEIR FAVORITE STORYTELLER .
HEAR
EVERY LAUGH .
NOW
IS THE TIME .
Call today to schedule a hearing aid evaluation !
Erinn Altman , Au . D ., CCC-A
724.705.0360 washingtonent . net
Nicole Wasel , Au . D ., CCC-A
EYE HEALTH
VISION HELPS YOU IDENTIFY WHERE A SOUND IS COMING FROM .
If you have vision and hearing loss , your ability to target sound location is compromised . The amplification from hearing aids helps compensate for the vision loss .
HEART HEALTH
THE INNER EAR IS EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO BLOOD FLOW .
Studies show that a healthy cardiovascular system – a person ’ s heart , arteries and veins – has a positive effect on hearing . Inadequate blood flow and trauma to the blood vessels of the inner ear can contribute to hearing loss .
DIABETES
DEPRESSION
Untreated hearing loss gives rise to poorer quality of life , isolation and reduced social activity , leading to depression .
SMOKING
CURRENT SMOKERS HAVE A 70 % HIGHER RISK OF HAVING HEARING LOSS THAN NONSMOKERS .
HEARING LOSS IS TWICE AS COMMON IN PEOPLE WITH DIABETES COMPARED TO THOSE WITHOUT .
Adults whose blood glucose is higher than normal but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis , have a 30 % higher rate of hearing loss compared to those with normal blood sugar .
OTOTOXICITY
THERE ARE MORE THAN 200 MEDICATIONS ON THE MARKET TODAY THAT ARE KNOWN TO CAUSE HEARING LOSS ( TOXIC TO THE EARS ).
The list of known ototoxic drugs includes :
• Aspirin
• Some anticancer drugs
• Quinine
• Some anesthetics
• Water pills • Environmental chemicals
• Certain antibiotics like carbon monoxide , hexane and mercury
Mary Catherine Mazi , Au . D ., CCC-A
Meadows Landing Outpatient Center
80 Landings Dr , Ste 207 Washington , PA 15301
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