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Top 5 Online Resources for Age-Related Hearing Loss

One of the most common conditions affecting older people is age-related hearing loss. As you age, many different factors can negatively impact your hearing, such as exposure to loud noises, certain medications, and other conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Experiencing age-related hearing loss can be frightening and confusing, but it can be managed with access to the right resources.

Check out our top 5 online resources for age-related hearing loss:

Sign Language History Heroes: Heather Whitestone

In 1995, a 21-year-old woman from Alabama won the Miss America pageant. Heather Whitestone may not be a household name for many, but—for those in the deaf and hard of hearing community—her story is an inspiration.

Heather Whitestone was the first hearing impaired woman to win the title of Miss America.

Family History: Hearing Loss and Genetics

Hearing loss is one of the most common sensory disorders, and it often results from aging or exposure to loud noises. However, sensorineural hearing loss is a type of hearing loss that is as tied to genetics and can be passed down through the family.

Here are some helpful things to know when facing sensorineural hearing loss:

Sign Language History Heroes: William Hoy

Left deaf and mute after contracting meningitis at age 3, William Ellsworth Hoy (1862-1961) could have spent his life dependent on others. Instead, he became a successful entrepreneur and major league baseball player.

Sign Language History Heroes: Charles-Michele De L’Epee

Can you imagine a world where deaf people not only have no rights – but were considered “senseless” and incapable of learning? That was 18th century Europe. French priest Charles-Michel de l’Epee (1712-1789) set a course for change.

Centuries after his death, he is still recognized as The Father of Sign Language and Deaf Education.

Must-See Movies: 5 Deaf Stars & Characters We Love

If you ask most people to name popular deaf or hard-of-hearing stars in Hollywood, one actress reliably comes to mind: Marlee Matlin, Oscar-winner for “Children of a Lesser God” in 1987. After that, it’s usually silence. But recently deaf stars and deaf characters are retaking the spotlight.

Let’s hear it (ugh, bad pun) for these five deaf stars and characters we love.  

Your Parent Has Been Diagnosed with Hearing Loss. Now What?

Age-related hearing loss is very common. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), nearly 25% of those ages 65 to 74 and 50% of those who are 75 and older have disabling hearing loss.

Much of the turmoil surrounding this time for aging adults is rooted in a fear of losing their independence. This can lead to a wide variety of emotions for everyone in the family, but most especially for your mom or dad.  

Here’s what to do after your parent has been diagnosed with hearing loss.  

Top 5 Amplified Phones for Seniors

All amplified phones are not created equal! From a phone’s design to the features it comes with, it can be confusing to know which one is right for you. We turned to Amazon, one of the world’s largest online retailers, to find some of the highest-rated cordless and corded amplified phones available from Relay South Dakota.   

Check out the top five amplified phones for seniors, as rated by Amazon.com consumer reviews. 

Leaving on a Jet Plane: Travel Tips for People with Hearing Loss

Traveling for fun is scientifically proven to make us happier and healthier, but if you’re traveling with hearing loss it can be stressful, too. If you’re one of the over 20 million people in the U.S. with hearing loss, don’t stay home. Travel prepared!   

Check out these travel tips for people with hearing loss. 

Understanding Tinnitus: Top 5 Things To Know

Tinnitus is Latin for “to tinkle or to ring like a bell.” It can come as a ringing, a hiss, a crackle, a buzz or even a whistle… but in whatever form you hear it, it’s actually a sign of hearing loss. Tinnitus can be a temporary or permanent condition, depending upon the cause.

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with tinnitus or you’ve been struggling to manage symptoms on your own, here are the top 5 things to know.