Katie Couric Gets a Hearing Test

On July 10, 2012, Katie Couric reported on a personal story during which she obtained a hearing test.

In a modern society like the United States, there are many sources for hearing loss with our alarms, lawn-mowers, and loud music.

As the article correctly pointed out, damage due to loud noises is due to two factors: loudness and duration.

The louder something is, the shorter time of exposure before hearing damage can occur. The quieter something is, the longer a person can listen before suffering noise-induced hearing loss.

Otherwise, hearing aids may be in your future... even if you are in your 20s or 30s!

Source:
Am I Going Deaf? Yahoo News 7/10/12

Hearing Aid Styles and Colors - There Are Many!

It is not uncommon that a patient with hearing loss interested in hearing aids mistakenly believe there's only TWO hearing aid styles.

The kind that goes in the ear and the kind that goes behind the ear.

Although that is true, there are more different variations of both types that catches many people by surprise.

Image taken from NIH

There also seems to be a generational gap in what style is preferred by patients.

"Older" folks in their 60's or older prefer the styles that go in the ear, mostly because of the stigma associated with hearing loss and use of a hearing aid that reinforces and reminds them of their age. Also, because they remember the large skin-toned BTE that used to be the only option.

The "younger" generation typically prefer the min-BTE that go behind the ear. It probably helps that so many people use wireless bluetooth earpieces almost like a status symbol.

Beyond where hearing aids go, they now come in different colors and patterns for further personalization! Skin-tone is no longer the only color option.

Magic Ears Club Founded by Fauquier ENT Hosts Halloween Party

The Magic Ears Club kicked off its existence with a first ever Halloween Party on October 29, 2011 where over 15 kids from elementary to high school ages who wear hearing aids co-mingled and played games while their parents talked amongst each other their experiences. Prizes and free hearing aid goodies were also distributed.

Dr. Catie Chalmers, audiologist with Fauquier ENT who founded the Magic Ears Club, stated that the purpose of the club is to help parents, as well as their hard-of-hearing children, connect, share, and provide support for each other.

Being a member of this unique club means being able to participate in practice-sponsored parties as well as meeting new friends who also have "magic ears" (aka, hearing aids).

Furthermore, members can participate over the internet in either open or closed forums hosted by Fauquier ENT where members can ask questions or provide other meaningful support to each other wherever and whenever they wish.

The open forum is through Facebook which is open to all who support our goals whereas the closed forum is hosted through Yahoo Groups and limited to ONLY those individuals who are patients of Fauquier ENT.

For more information, go to http://www.MagicEarsClub.com