Hearing & Hearing Loss articles, page 7

Your Guide to World Hearing Day 2024: Changing Mindsets

3 March 2024 is World Hearing Day. This years’ theme is ‘Changing Mindsets’. With around 80% of ear and hearing care needs unmet¹, we believe World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was right to say that: <br><br> “Hearing loss has often been referred to as an ‘invisible disability’, not just because of the lack of visible symptoms but because it has long been stigmatised in communities and ignored by policymakers”.

Why get a hearing test?

Hearing tests are a good way for people of all ages to make their hearing health a priority. If you’ve never had a hearing test before, this is your sign to book one! Annual hearing tests are a great preventative measure against long-term hearing loss and give you valuable insights into your hearing health.

Why Do I Hear Different Pitches in Each Ear? Diplacusis Causes and Treatments

Are you hearing things lower pitch in one ear? Diplacusis, also known as “double hearing” is a condition where a single sound is perceived as a different pitch in each ear.

What Happens in a Hearing Check?

Hearing checks are quick, painless and potentially life-changing. Like a check up with a doctor, you should consider having an annual hearing check. After all, if you’re suffering from hearing loss, the sooner you get a diagnosis, the better. <br><br> Hearing is a complex system, so getting a comprehensive hearing check will involve several procedures, none of which are painful or invasive. Together, they’ll give you a clear understanding of your hearing health – and your Audiologist a clear understanding of what precautions, treatments or hearing aids to recommend. <br>

What causes pain behind the ears?

If you have ever experienced pain behind your ears, you know how uncomfortable and worrisome this feeling can be. Although it is easy to jump the gun and point the finger at your ears for being the source of pain, this is often not the case. Your ears are well connected to various parts of your head and neck. Due to its shared nerve supply, it is not uncommon for ailments, such as dental infection or jaw joint inflammation to be at the root of your ear pain. Nerve-related headaches can also manifest themselves through pain behind your ears.

What causes echo in ear?

Do you hear an echo in your ear for no apparent reason? If so, you are certainly not alone!

Understanding Your Ears, the Ultimate Hi-Fi System

Hearing, unlike vision, is always ‘on’: your ears never blink. Understanding how sound works, how your ears operate and how the two interact will help you enjoy music, conversation and the world around you. <br><br> Better still, it can help you protect your ears from potentially irreversible damage caused by extremely loud noise, and maintain the best hearing possible throughout your life. <br>

Understanding the Speech Perception Test

You may be familiar with having your hearing tested in a sound proof booth or clinic room, but have you ever tested your hearing online? Did you understand it? <br/> <br/> We’re not talking about any old online hearing test, but instead an online hearing test that can actually tell you, specifically, how many words you may be mis-hearing. It is called the Speech Perception test or the SPT. <br/> <br/> Read on to find out more.

Tinnitus Relief: How Can I Support a Family Member?

Someone who has never experienced tinnitus can be at a loss when it comes to dealing with a friend or loved one who has it. The first step in being able to help a friend or family member who has tinnitus is trying to understand how they might be feeling. It can be tempting to simply dismiss the sufferer’s complaints, assuming that he or she is imagining things. However, for the person experiencing tinnitus, it’s no laughing matter.

There’s Music in Your Soul – Don’t Let Your Ears Miss Out

Not everyone in the world is a music lover, but very few people in the world would say they’re music haters. <br><br> There’s a reason for that. Music engages us deeply because it activates almost the entire brain, from the auditory cortex, to our memory and motor systems.¹ <br><br> Here are some tips on how to enjoy your favourite tunes, however you like listening to them. <br>

Perforated Eardrum

A perforated eardrum is when the thin, oval layer of tissue deep in the ear canal – which helps protect the delicate middle and inner ear from the outside – bursts. This can happen for several reasons, but the results are usually the same: ear pain and temporary hearing loss. Because the ear has been exposed to potential damage and/or infection, it’s best to seek medical advice immediately regarding your perforated eardrum. In more serious cases, surgery may be required to repair the ruptured membrane. Let’s look at some of the symptoms, causes, and treatments for a perforated eardrum.