What is Unilateral Hearing Loss?
What is Single Sided Deafness? Sometimes referred to as unilateral hearing loss, single sided deafness is a condition in which an individual experiences hearing loss in only one ear but can hear normally out of the other ear. While most patients with a hearing impairment suffer from bilateral (two-sided) hearing loss, SSD affects approximately 60,000…
What is Sudden Hearing Loss?
For most people who experience hearing loss, the condition comes on gradually over a period of years. In rare cases, an abrupt loss of hearing occurs with little or no warning. This condition is known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). What is Sudden Deafness? Sudden deafness is an unexplained and rapid hearing loss that…
What is Noise Induced Hearing Loss?
How Can Sounds Hurt Your Ears? Background sound is a constant in our busy lives. Normally, background noises are at safe levels that do not negatively impact our hearing. But repeated exposure to noise above 85 decibels (dB) can cause noise induced hearing loss. The louder the sound, the less amount of time it takes…
Do Sounds Seem Muffled? It May Just Be Temporary.
When leaving a concert or a loud sporting event, it is common to feel like your hearing is off. Sounds may seem muffled, your ears may feel full or you may even experience a ringing in one or both of your ears. This sensation is known as temporary threshold shift (TTS). What Causes Temporary Threshold…
Teaching Kids About Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
You teach your children how to drive safely, how to correctly cross the street and how to take care of their mental and physical health. But what about instilling healthy hearing habits? Below is a look at the importance of teaching your children about what can cause noise-induced hearing loss and what they can do…
Can Headphones and Earbuds Harm Your Hearing?
Listening to your favorite band or podcast while on a walk through Balboa Park may be beneficial for your mental health, but it could be putting your ears at risk. Exposure to music that is too loud can cause permanent damage to your hearing. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Sounds are measured in decibels (dB). Anything over…
What Hearing Protection Options Do Musicians Have?
A musician’s ears and ability to hear is one of their greatest assets and holds the key to their livelihood. But continuous exposure to loud rehearsals and long shows can put their ears at risk. If you are in a band or spend a lot of time around instruments, wearing hearing protection can significantly decrease…
How Tinnitus Affects Musicians
Tinnitus is a phantom ringing, roaring, hissing, whistling, buzzing or humming sound in your ears with no external sound source. Tinnitus is fairly common among the general population, affecting approximately 10-15% of people in the U.S., but its prevalence among musicians is much higher – around 30-50%. What Causes Tinnitus? Within the ears are tiny…
Can Music Cause Hearing Loss?
The two most common causes of hearing loss are aging and exposure to noise. While there may not be anything you can do to prevent yourself from getting older, you can do something about loud noises. One of the biggest culprits of exposure to noise is listening to music. Noised-Induced Hearing Loss In order to…
Is Technology Hurting Your Hearing?
The technology around us is continuing to evolve at a staggering rate. As the number of individuals being diagnosed with hearing loss also increases, it may be tempting to connect the two. But is technology really to blame for the increased prevalence of hearing loss? The Rise of the Earbud In-ear earbuds have become increasingly…