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Protect Your Hearing While Out Hunting

When it comes to October, a major holiday usually comes to mind. We’ll give you three hints: It brings people together, people often dress up, and there’s a lot of orange. That’s right. We’re talking about Opening Pheasant Day. What were you thinking of?

Here In South Dakota, hunters from all over the United States take part in our annual pheasant-hunting tradition. With those hunters come their trusty firearms. With those firearms come loud noises.

Spotlight on International Week of the Deaf

As the International Week of the Deaf comes to a close, that doesn’t mean the celebration ends. Deaf people continue to make huge strides in the community - ones that deserve to be acknowledged. But we can’t do it alone. Anyone can be an ally. In this blog, we look at what it means to be an ally and how we can continue to understand and celebrate differences in our day-to-day lives.

Sensorineural vs Conductive Hearing Loss

Even though hearing loss affects everyone differently and can be caused by many different reasons, there are two types of hearing loss that you need to know about: sensorineural and conductive. Understanding the differences between these two types can help you better understand your health and treatment options.

Hearing Loss Denial Can Hurt Relationships

Communication, verbal or non-verbal, is at the heart of every relationship we have. From a simple smile to sharing a story, nothing binds us together like conversation – and nothing keeps us connected like sharing time with family and friends. But for many of us, age-related hearing loss can lead to unintended rifts that start small and snowball into bigger issues over time.

What Is Listening Fatigue

Listening fatigue is a very real occurrence for many people, which affects both physical and cognitive areas. Listening fatigue comes from the extra amount of concentration used when following along with a conversation. Continuous listening takes a lot of attention and energy.  People tend to strain their brains whenever exerting a lot of effort and energy toward one thing. This is even more exemplified for people with hearing loss.

That’s why understanding and treating listening fatigue for people with hearing loss could be life-changing.

Does Age-Related Hearing Loss Lead to Depression?

Depression and age-related hearing loss are two incredibly complex and difficult situations that impact everyone differently. While no two people have the exact same experience with hearing loss, the National Council on the Aging (NCOA) found that older people with untreated hearing loss have higher rates of depression, anxiety, paranoia and were less likely to participate in organized social activities when compared to those who wear hearing aids. 

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:

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.

How Talking On the Phone Positively Affects Your Mental Health

It’s no secret that talking on the phone with friends and family can be a great source of happiness – and even the most mundane, task-oriented calls give us a sense of connection and control over our lives.

Without this daily social connection, people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech impaired can be at risk for chronic sadness or depression. They may also experience feelings of irritability, poor self-image and feelings of inadequacy.

Here are 3 ways relay services can help people live happier, more connected lives.  

What Most Often Causes Hearing Loss in Children?

Hearing loss in children can vary, but some causes can be prevented with medical care. Middle and outer ear infections are the leading cause of hearing loss in children, with 75 percent of infants and children experiencing this type of infection by age three.

Learn more about ear infections and their implications below.