Since 1947, Southwestern Hearing Centers has been a family owned and operated full service hearing care provider, dedicated to helping the community. With over 40 offices staffed by professional audiologists and/or hearing instrument specialists, we have been helping people enjoy life by offering high-quality hearing instruments and hearing services. As the oldest hearing instrument dispenser in the state of Missouri, our great reputation for excellence makes us the #1 independent hearing care provider in the USA. Contact us 855-900-3489 or email us at info@southwesternhearing.com
There is no doubt that hearing loss has put a significant impact on mental health. Those who suffer from loss of hearing usually experience issues in communicating, which can lead to a loss of close relationships and shame. Sadly, there are many effects with the loss of hearing that match the symptoms of depression. Depression symptoms persist amongst those with hearing loss regardless of their use of hearing aids. The moderate effects of hearing loss on mental health and subjective well-being have been shown to have a correlation.
Mental health departments should be taking culture into account when they are handling people who suffer from loss of hearing as they are required to develop services that are sensitive to the needs of the deaf community. The need for mental health services for the deaf community is very abundant as public health systems have done a very poor job of responding to this specific population's needs. Unfortunately, having a mental illness can be a much greater barrier to successful functioning in society than being deaf is, especially for people who have been without hearing since birth, or from a young age and have that independence.
The National Institute of mental health has investigated the effectiveness of two psychotherapies which include interpersonal psychotherapy and cognitive behavior therapy for the treatment of outpatients with depressive disorder. It was recognized that patients in all treatments showed a substantial reduction in depressive symptoms and progress in functioning over the course of treatment. With that being said, the need for action on mental health within the correlation of hearing loss is vital in todays day and age, preferably in the earlier stages of hearing loss. In a perfect world, it would be extremely beneficial to have enough providers who specialize in both mental health and deafness to understand and be able to treat this correlation even more.
Up until recently, the mental health systems have thought that techniques, services, and interventions that work for people in the general population are equally effective for people who are deaf. The public mental health systems have done a weak job of reacting to the population and cultural needs of the deaf community. The demand for mental health services for the deaf community could not be more clear that it needs more time and assistance allocated to it, as people who are deaf develop services that are susceptible to the needs, desires, and aspirations that specialize in the deaf community. It would be much more beneficial if the national institute of mental health would involve individuals who are actually deaf within every step of the planning and development, that way, the department could deliver more of a high-quality mental health service to support this population of people.
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As stated, hearing loss has been linked with depression, anxiety, insomnia, PTSD, and even suicide. The effects on mental health is not an easy situation to handle. When people think of the relationship between hearing loss and mental health, many people think automatically of older people when it comes to depression and loss of hearing, but it turns out that they could not be more wrong. Not only is it crucial to take care of our older generation, but we need to take note and notice the stigmatism around mental health in children with severe hearing impairment. Children are at great risk of the development of emotional/behavioural problems or disorders when they suffer from a loss of hearing. It is extremely important that parents educate themselves and develop the skills that will promote good mental health in kids, and notice the signs of depression to try and help any child from a young age with their mental health and hearing loss.
Important Actions Which Promote Positive Mental Health in Children:
Social connections
Promote high self-esteem and confidence
Allowing your child to have the feeling of having options
Positive nurturing and attachment
Knowledge of parenting and of child/youth development
Hearing loss is when your ability to hear is greatly reduced. Living with a hearing loss makes it difficult for you to hear speech and other sounds in the world around you. Hearing loss is quite common these days but the good news is that it is treatable. The most common causes of hearing loss are loud noises and aging. In most cases, a hearing loss cannot be cured, but treated with hearing aids.
Causes of hearing loss
Hearing loss can be caused by many factors, but age and repeated exposure to loud noises are the two most common causes.
The loss of hearing is a natural consequence of getting older. Our ability to hear starts to decline in our 40s and onwards. When we reach our 80s, more than half will suffer from severe hearing loss.
Another common reason for hearing loss is exposure to loud noises. It can be from your living situation if you live in a noisy environment, your job, or the activities you love – such as attending loud rock concerts, going to night clubs or listening to the stereo too loud. In the ear headphones can also damage your hearing if the volume exceeds normal listening levels.
Hearing loss can also occur as a result of other causes:
Some diseases
Ear infections
Medications and drugs
Damages to the ears
Injuries to the head
Blockage of the ear
Genetic factors
Tumors in the head
Alcohol and tobacco
Solvents
High cholesterol
There are two main types of hearing loss: sensorineural or conductive. In some cases, you can have a mixed hearing loss which is a combination of the two hearing losses.
Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to the tiny hair cells in the inner ear. Age-related hearing loss is also known as Presbycusis and is a type of sensorineural hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss is also a type of sensorineural hearing loss and is permanent hearing loss caused by repeated or prolonged exposure to high levels of noise.
Conductive hearing loss occurs when the ears’ ability to conduct sound from the outer ear through the middle ear and into the inner ear is blocked.
Some may experience hearing loss in only one ear, this is known as unilateral hearing loss or single-sided deafness. Hearing loss in both ears is referred to as bilateral hearing loss.
Sudden hearing loss is common and occurs suddenly as its name suggests. The reason for sudden deafness is unknown.
Untreated hearing loss has been connected to cognitive decline, dementia, balance issues, social isolation, and Alzheimer’s. Untreated hearing loss can impact your health as well as your well-being.
We offer free hearing tests at all of our locations. We will test your hearing and explain to you the type of hearing loss you have and your options to combat it.
It can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, or status. The number of reasons for hearing loss are endless. One thing many people who suffer from hearing loss have in common is that they don’t like to admit they have a problem, so they put off getting help for many years. People wait on average about 7 years before accepting that they have a hearing loss. That is 7 years of missing certain sounds, words, and experiences coupled with a reduced quality of life. When they finally do seek help their hearing has deteriorated even further and in some cases too far for appropriate help.
People who cannot hear well often experience anxiety, insecurity, isolation, and depression. This eventually causes them to gradually withdraw from social situations altogether. With any level of hearing loss, a person is missing certain sounds which means that their hearing nerve and the part of the brain that processes sounds are not being stimulated, which can lead to a decrease in the ability to recognize speech.
The good news is hearing aids can help you! If you want to take care of your hearing, make sure to wear ear protection during potentially loud activities such as concerts or sporting events. Exposure to noise for even 10 minutes can cause permanent hearing loss. Don’t wait, call us today! Hearing instruments can improve 90-95 percent of hearing loss cases. Sadly, only one in five people who could benefit from hearing aids actually wear them. We want to change this statistic because everyone deserves to hear.
Natural aging – as you grow older, your inner ear changes. These changes can cause hearing loss.
Exposure to loud noises – sounds played at a harmful volume can damage hearing permanently.
Medications – certain medications are ototoxic and can permanently hurt your hearing.
Infections – chronic ear infections or serious illnesses can both lead to hearing loss.
Head or ear trauma – a traumatic injury outside the ear can affect the inside, too.
Congenital or hereditary factors – your genes can factor into whether or not you’ll lose your hearing.
Disease – conditions like Meniere’s Disease can cause hearing loss.
Hearing aids come in many different styles, from digital hearing aids, iPhone hearing aids, and now rechargeable hearing aids. Each device looks and feels different than the next. Hearing aids are small electronic devices that you wear in or behind your ears to help you hear. It amplifies the sounds you want to hear while removing background noise. Hearing aids allow you to hear the world around you and help you to live a more fulfilled life. It allows the wearer to listen and communicate so they can participate in daily activities. Hearing aids come in a number of sizes from the Invisible-In-Canal to a Receiver-In-Canal. The hearing aid you choose will ultimately depend on your hearing loss, your ears, and your lifestyle. Our hearing instrument specialist will show you all the available options that will fit your hearing loss! There’s something for everyone.
A hearing aid has three basic parts: a microphone, amplifier, and speaker. The hearing aid receives the sound through the microphone, which converts the sound waves to electrical signals and sends them to an amplifier. The amplifier increases the power of the signal and then sends them to the ear through the speaker.
A hearing aid can help people to hear more efficiently in both quiet and noisy social situations. Unfortunately, only one out of five people who would benefit from a hearing aid actually wears one. There is ever-increasing evidence showing that treating hearing loss with hearing aids can improve or limit some serious health issues such as cognitive decline and dementia. In fact, a 2017 study revealed that treating hearing loss is the single greatest change a person can make to help lower their risk for dementia.
We want to help you find hearing aids that best fit your lifestyle, your loss, and your budget. Stop by one of our many locations and a hearing specialist will walk you through the process. Call us today for your free appointment!
Depending on your personal preferences and hearing needs, our hearing aids come in a wide variety of styles.
The best hearing aids for you will be based solely on your hearing range, determined by your hearing test. Our hearing specialist will work with you to get you into the best hearing aid for your hearing loss and your lifestyle.
Today’s hearing aids do so much more than just help you to hear better, they are a mini-computer for your ears. Circa AI is not only our best sounding hearing aid ever, it’s the world’s first hearing aid that monitors brain and body activity and provides convenient features that can help simplify your life.
Hearing aids connect you to the ever-changing world around you, allowing you to do the things you love to do with the people you love to do them with. Today’s hearing aids are called healthables and help you to live a more fulfilled life. You can enjoy the sense of freedom that you get with our hearing aids. They can detect falls and alert your loved ones, monitor your heart rate, remind you to take your medication, translate over 27 languages in real-time, and of course deliver superior sound quality.
You no longer have to worry about going out to social situations and getting frustrated because you can’t hear. You won’t have to ask others to repeat because our hearing aids will amplify the sounds you want to hear while reducing background noise. With our hearing aids, we encourage you to go to dinner with friends in noisy restaurants or go to the local bar to hear your favorite band rock out. It’s time to take charge of your hearing health!
Benefits of wearing hearing aids may include:
Reduced mental fatigue
Decreased feelings of isolation and depression
Improved ability to do several things at once
Improved memory, attention and focus
Improved communication skills
Hearing aids have been proven to slow down cognitive decline and decrease your risk of dementia. A growing body of evidence points to a strong connection between hearing health and overall health. People who treat their hearing loss not only hear better, they lower their risk for serious health issues such as cognitive decline and dementia.
Some other benefits of hearing aids can be a more positive outlook and more satisfying relationships. You may experience a reduction in anxiety and gain more confidence in public situations. Treating your hearing loss has many benefits and will allow you to enjoy life.
Your ears need special care in order to allow you to hear your best! You should have your ears checked regularly by a hearing care specialist to stay on top of your hearing health. Hearing loss is typically gradual and age-related. However, the only preventable kind of hearing loss is Noise-Induced Hearing Loss or NIHL. Although you may adjust to the loud sounds over time, unfortunately, your ears and brain will not. By the time you notice your hearing loss, it is often already too late to prevent damage to your ears. The sounds around us connect us to other people, memories, and activities we enjoy. Our hearing is a precious commodity that enhances our life and learning experiences. To enjoy all the sounds of your life, properly caring for your ears is the best way to prevent hearing loss and protect all that your hearing does for you.
Noise can be harmful if you are exposed to it for an extended period of time or if it is a very loud impact noise that is short in duration.
Firefighters, police officers, factory workers, military personnel, musicians and construction workers are most at risk for hearing loss in the workplace. Always be aware and alert to potentially noisy occupational or recreational activities.
It is important to follow some basic rules to protect your hearing and prevent hearing loss. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) can be prevented if you remember to:
Turn it down
Walk away
Protect your ears
More specifically, you can:
Limit your amount of time that you are exposed to noise
Wear hearing protection (foam earplugs, ear muffs, custom hearing protection)
Turn down the volume of your radio, MP3 player, television, etc.
Avoid medications that may be harmful to your hearing
Signs that your environment may be too loud:
You have difficulty hearing someone who is within three feet of you
You have pain in your ears, ringing or buzzing (tinnitus), and/or difficulty understanding speech after being in a loud setting
Remember only you can protect your hearing and prevent any kind of hearing loss!
( https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17053-hearing-loss-prevention)
Ever-increasing evidence shows treatment of hearing loss with hearing aids can improve or limit some serious health issues such as cognitive decline and dementia. In fact, a 2017 study revealed that treating hearing loss is the single greatest change a person can make to lower their risk for dementia.
Here are some simple but very effective ways to protect your ears.
Avoid harmful noise
If you are going to a concert make sure to wear ear protection. Wear proper ear protection when firing guns or near people who are.
Get your hearing checked regularly
Stay on top of your hearing health. If you notice that you aren’t hearing as well as you were, give us a call or visit any one of our Southwestern Hearing Centers locations for a free screening.
Control ear wax
Ear wax helps to keep our ears protected and moisturized. However if you produce too much wax, it can become impacted and prevent sound from entering the ear. This is one of the most common causes of conductive hearing loss. Luckily this type of hearing loss is usually temporary. If impacted ear wax is left untreated, it may lead to more permanent hearing loss.
Reduce stress
Excessive stress can cripple your mental and physical health. Make sure to keep stress levels low by practicing stress relief techniques such as meditation and relaxation. The development of hypertension can result from significant long-term stress, which is another condition linked to hearing loss and tinnitus. Hypertension has been shown to accelerate age-related hearing loss.
Watch your diet
Your diet plays a crucial role in both your health and the way you hear. Make sure to choose healthy choices over fast food or processed junk.
Nix the nicotine
Smokers have a 15% increased risk to have hearing loss than non-smokers. The chemicals found in cigarettes affect the way your ears process sound.
Minimize pain reliever use
Overuse of pain relievers can lead to temporary or permanent hearing loss. These types of medication are classified as ototoxic, which means that over time they poison your ears.
Your hearing aids allow you to connect with the people and things you love. Hearing aids are easy to maintain and will help you to hear as long as you make it a routine. Below are some tips for taking care of your hearing aids.
Proper hearing aid cleaning begins with having the right tools to get the job done safely and effectively. You’ll need a hearing aid cleaning kit, which will help to combat moisture and wax.
These common tools help keep hearing aids in pristine condition:
Hearing aid cleaning brush: The soft brush tip end cleans the body, faceplate or sound port of a hearing device. Some brushes have a magnetic battery removal tool to ease daily cleaning of aids.
Wax pick or wire loop: This tool is designed to help remove wax and other debris safely from hearing aid nooks and holes.
Multitool: These all-in-one tools are versatile because they contain both a brush and a wax loop for thorough cleaning.
Set up a daily routine to make cleaning your hearing aids easier and faster. Each morning, use the pick and brush to remove any wax on your hearing aids. Before bed, wipe your hearing aids down with a soft, dry cloth, then remove the batteries and leave the battery door open overnight. This helps air out the device and extends battery life. Make sure to store your hearing aids and batteries in a cool, dry place.
Remember to take off your hearing aids during your showers, to protect them against water or soap damage. Shower and wash your face and hair without your hearing aids in so water and soap can’t damage them. Put your aids in after you apply hair products like sprays or gels. If you forget and start to suds up with your hearing aids still on, don’t worry just take them off right away, remove the batteries and leave the battery door open to air out.
If the temperature is below freezing and you take your hearing aids out of your ears to shovel the driveway, leave them inside the house instead of stashing them in your coat pocket. Likewise, if you take your hearing aids out to jump in the pool on the hottest day of the summer, take them inside the house instead of leaving them on a poolside table.
You should remove the batteries and keep the battery compartment open to dry overnight. If you have rechargeable hearing aids be sure to dock them according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Brush the battery compartment with the cleaning brush to keep it clean from debris.
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Many people assume that they can’t wear their hearing aids while playing sports or exercising simply because it will fall out of their ears. We want you to hear your best and still keep playing sports, going on hikes, and taking the dog out for a walk in the rain. Thanks to the revolutionary technology, our hearing aids track your physical activity as well as your brain health. If you’re thinking of getting back into shape or just going for a walk, our hearing aids are designed to work with your active lifestyle. Hearing aids are for everyone! You can still be active and healthy, and enjoy superior hearing.
Don’t let these common fears about hearing aids get in the way.
We hear from our patients a lot that they don’t think they should wear their hearing aids while working out or playing golf, riding a bike, playing tennis, and other physical activities. Why? I’ll tell you their reasons and explain how to overcome these negative perceptions.
“I don’t wear my hearing aids when I go to the gym because I sweat a lot.”
Most hearing aids have high Ingress Protection (IP) ratings. This rates the sealing of the device effective against the intrusion of moisture, dust, and dirt. Hearing aids have high IP ratings because they are made for all-day, everyday use. This means wearing them when you’re sweating is OK! The best tip I have for “preventative maintenance” is using a dehumidifier. Place your hearing aids in a dehumidifier overnight to remove excess moisture and prolong the components of your hearing device.
“I don’t wear my hearing aids when I play golf because I can’t stand the wind noise.”
Thanks to our revolutionary technology, our hearing aids cut down on the background noise so you only hear the sounds you want to hear. They automatically adjust to your social settings making for a great time. Our hearing specialists are happy to go over your custom environments and create certain settings for your different activities.
“I don’t wear my hearing aids when I play basketball or go running because I’m worried they will fall out of my ear.”
Hearing aids are meant to have a secure fit to your ear and not just slip off/out. When you are fitted for your hearing aids, our specialist ensures that the hearing aids fit comfortably and snug in your ear. If this is a major concern for you, an easy option of wearing a headband should help to keep them in place while you are active.
Contact Details:
1306 East Sunshine Street, Springfield, MO 65804
Phone: 855-900-3489
Email: info@southwesternhearing.com
Website: https://www.southwesternhearing.com/hearing-loss-and-mental-health
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