Blue Ridge Hearing and Balance Clinic

Don’t you wish she could still hear you?

Hearing loss is usually first noticed by others, even before the person with the hearing problems may realize it. We all turn the TV up until we can hear it clearly, and we all encounter noisy situations where we struggle to stay with the conversation. So, unless someone points out to a friend or family member that they are listening to the TV louder than normal, or that they seem to be frequently asking others to repeat or speak up, they may be unaware of the extent of their hearing loss.

Why take the step in pointing out someone’s hearing loss?

As humans age, they become less physically active, and their connection with the world is through sight and sound. Hearing loss is associated with isolation and depression, and a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine proves that properly fitted hearing aids improve quality of life. (more…)

The computer industry has taken over the world. It is difficult to pick up a newspaper or magazine without seeing some mention of the internet, cyberspace or some other terminology associated with the rapid expansion of computers into our daily lives. (more…)

Currently, only 20% of all people who need hearing aids actually get them. Most people also don’t realize that untreated hearing loss causes embarrassment, social stress, tension, and fatigue, not only for the person with the hearing loss but also for family members, friends and work associates. A recent study by the National Council on Aging demonstrated a dramatic benefit in quality of life from wearing hearing aids.

When someone first begins to notice hearing loss, they find that they have difficulty staying with the conversation in only certain situations. For most people, the hearing loss starts in the high pitches, This is why many people have more difficulty understanding women and children, who typically have higher pitched voices than do men. (more…)

Helen Keller called hearing loss “A worse misfortune than being blind, because when you lose your vision you lose contact with things, when you lose your hearing, you lose contact with people.” Hearing loss is the third most common chronic health condition in the elderly population, and in the United States, only one out five people with hearing loss receives treatment. As hearing loss develops with age, many patients withdraw from previous enjoyable activities and may suffer from social isolation. This is particularly distressing in the elderly, who are often restricted from certain physical activities due to health problems. Social interaction through verbal communication becomes their only link with the world. A recent study by the National Council on Aging showed a definite link between hearing loss and depression in the elderly. (more…)