What to Know About Ear Piercings and Hearing

Ear piercing is a popular form of self-expression in which jewelry is displayed along various parts of the ear. The lobe is the safest and most common part of the ear to have pierced, but piercings along other parts of the ear are gaining popularity. You may be curious how ear piercings from places like…
Hearing Loss in Young Adults is More Common Than You Might Think

Hearing loss is often associated with old age. While it’s true that the condition becomes more common the older we get, young adults can experience hearing loss as well. Oftentimes, hearing loss in younger people is associated with exposure to loud noise. Noise Exposure Causing Hearing Loss in Young Adults The Centers for Disease Control…
Make The Most of a Night Out with Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is one of the most common chronic conditions in the United States, and it becomes more common with age. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) states that, “About 2% of adults aged 45 to 54 have disabling hearing loss. The rate increases to 8.5% for adults aged 55 to…
How Untreated Hearing Loss Can Affect Your Mood

There are many great reasons to treat your hearing loss. One of the best reasons is that doing so can help improve your mood and help minimize feelings of loneliness and depression. Untreated Hearing Loss Affects Your Ability to Connect With Others It makes sense that hearing loss can affect your mood. Speech is one…
Ways to Support a Coworker with Hearing Loss

Whether you realize it or not, it is statistically likely you work with someone who has hearing loss. In fact, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, “Approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) aged 18 and over report some trouble hearing.” We review ways you can support a coworker with…
Is It Safe to Sleep with Headphones or Earbuds?
If you’re trying to wind down before bed by listening to music or drown out the sounds of the bustling city, you may be tempted to sleep with headphones or earbuds. But is doing so safe? We review what one study shows and how to listen safely below. What One Study Shows One 2017 Swedish…
Metabolic Syndrome Can Increase the Risk of Hearing Loss

According to a recent study, there is a link between metabolic syndrome and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). In this post, we review what exactly metabolic syndrome is, what SSNHL is, and how the two conditions are linked. What Is Metabolic Syndrome? Metabolic syndrome describes the presence of a cluster of risk factors for cardiovascular…
Why Do I Get Occasional Bouts of Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a phantom ringing, roaring, hissing, whistling, buzzing, humming or other sound in the ear that has no external sound source. You may hear it in noisy environments like near construction sites or in quiet environments like the Wilmington Public Library during their Voices of Power events. If you experience occasional bouts of tinnitus…
Three Causes of Fluttering in the Ear

Have you ever felt as though there were helicopter blades or butterfly wings flapping in your ear? These sensations, also described as fluttering in the ear, are not entirely uncommon. Let’s examine three possible causes of fluttering in the ear, as well as treatment options. Tinnitus Tinnitus is experienced as a ringing in the ear….
What Is Congenital Hearing Loss & How Is it Treated?

Congenital hearing loss is partial or total loss of hearing that is present at birth. In this post, we review the types, symptoms, causes and treatments for congenital hearing loss. Types of Congenital Hearing Loss There are three types of congenital hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural and mixed. Conductive Hearing Loss Conductive hearing loss is caused…