Hish Husein, Doctor of Audiology, hopes you’ve heard the news about the importance of protecting yourself from hearing loss.
Husein, owner of Auburn and Mountain Hearing Centres, has 20 years experience as a certified audiologist. He’s administered thousands of hearing tests for patients ranging from newborn to age 106.
If you find yourself asking for frequent repetition, you have trouble understanding people on the phone, you think that everyone mumbles, or you have difficulty hearing speakers in a group setting, there’s a good chance you may have a hearing loss.
In celebration of World Hearing Day, which was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 3, Auburn and Mountain Hearing Centres are offering free hearing screenings and consultations for patients of any age who make an appointment during the month of March.
Husein said patients shouldn’t put off getting their hearing tested, because untreated hearing loss is linked with several adverse health effects like dementia, balance and cardiovascular issues.
“There’s also social isolation,” said Husein. “You end up avoiding people.”
The WHO estimates 465 million people worldwide live with hearing loss and the global cost of unaddressed hearing loss is $750 billion.
Husein recommends an annual screening test for those over 50. On average, the test takes about 30 minutes. It measures a patient’s response to sound tones, which become progressively softer.
It’s important to remember that not all hearing losses are created equal. If a patient has what’s called a conductive hearing loss, possible causes could be fluid behind the ear drum, a pressure problem, or otosclerosis. In many of those cases, medical intervention could help.
When it comes to sensorineural hearing loss – a loss associated with damage to the cochlea – the focus shifts to the use of assistive listening devices or hearing aids.
With today’s modern technology, like wireless transmitters to help you hear the TV, and digital hearing aids, there are more options available than ever before.
Many hearing aids now come with rechargeable batteries and Bluetooth connectivity. Some can even monitor health indicators like steps, or tell you when someone’s ringing your door bell.
“Hearing aids are very inconspicuous now,” said Husein. They used to be very large and they’ve made them really tiny now.”
Government grants are also available through the provincial assistive devices program.
Even if you have excellent hearing, it’s important to take precautions to protect yourself from environmental noise exposure, Husein said. That’s especially true for occupations like factory jobs, landscaping or aviation.
“If you’re exposed to 85 decibels a day for eight hours, over an extended period you’ll damage your hearing,” Husein noted.
Repeated exposure to noise above 85 decibels can lead to tinnitus, which is characterized by a ringing in the ears.
Husein recommends customized hearing protection for the best results.
“Any time we do a hearing assessment and determine hearing loss is noise-induced, we will caution the patient and encourage them to get noise protection,” said Husein.
Husein understands that patients may put off getting a hearing test because they don’t want to be told they have a hearing loss.
“It’s important to come down and let the audiologist do the assessment. Hearing aids are a medical device so we need to look at the hearing loss and determine which hearing apparatus will work the best for that patient,” he said.
Auburn and Mountain has seven locations in Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Cambridge, Waterloo and Kitchener. See www.mountainhearing.ca or call 888-979-7196 for details.
Also on March 3, the WHO launched a free app that allows people to check their hearing. The HearWHO app will be used to raise awareness about the importance of hearing, to encourage people to check their hearing regularly and practice safe listening and to allow health workers to check the hearing status of people in their communities.
Hish Husein, Doctor of Audiology, hopes you’ve heard the news about the importance of protecting yourself from hearing loss.
Husein, owner of Auburn and Mountain Hearing Centres, has 20 years experience as a certified audiologist. He’s administered thousands of hearing tests for patients ranging from newborn to age 106.
If you find yourself asking for frequent repetition, you have trouble understanding people on the phone, you think that everyone mumbles, or you have difficulty hearing speakers in a group setting, there’s a good chance you may have a hearing loss.
In celebration of World Hearing Day, which was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 3, Auburn and Mountain Hearing Centres are offering free hearing screenings and consultations for patients of any age who make an appointment during the month of March.
Husein said patients shouldn’t put off getting their hearing tested, because untreated hearing loss is linked with several adverse health effects like dementia, balance and cardiovascular issues.
“There’s also social isolation,” said Husein. “You end up avoiding people.”
The WHO estimates 465 million people worldwide live with hearing loss and the global cost of unaddressed hearing loss is $750 billion.
Husein recommends an annual screening test for those over 50. On average, the test takes about 30 minutes. It measures a patient’s response to sound tones, which become progressively softer.
It’s important to remember that not all hearing losses are created equal. If a patient has what’s called a conductive hearing loss, possible causes could be fluid behind the ear drum, a pressure problem, or otosclerosis. In many of those cases, medical intervention could help.
When it comes to sensorineural hearing loss – a loss associated with damage to the cochlea – the focus shifts to the use of assistive listening devices or hearing aids.
With today’s modern technology, like wireless transmitters to help you hear the TV, and digital hearing aids, there are more options available than ever before.
Many hearing aids now come with rechargeable batteries and Bluetooth connectivity. Some can even monitor health indicators like steps, or tell you when someone’s ringing your door bell.
“Hearing aids are very inconspicuous now,” said Husein. They used to be very large and they’ve made them really tiny now.”
Government grants are also available through the provincial assistive devices program.
Even if you have excellent hearing, it’s important to take precautions to protect yourself from environmental noise exposure, Husein said. That’s especially true for occupations like factory jobs, landscaping or aviation.
“If you’re exposed to 85 decibels a day for eight hours, over an extended period you’ll damage your hearing,” Husein noted.
Repeated exposure to noise above 85 decibels can lead to tinnitus, which is characterized by a ringing in the ears.
Husein recommends customized hearing protection for the best results.
“Any time we do a hearing assessment and determine hearing loss is noise-induced, we will caution the patient and encourage them to get noise protection,” said Husein.
Husein understands that patients may put off getting a hearing test because they don’t want to be told they have a hearing loss.
“It’s important to come down and let the audiologist do the assessment. Hearing aids are a medical device so we need to look at the hearing loss and determine which hearing apparatus will work the best for that patient,” he said.
Auburn and Mountain has seven locations in Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Cambridge, Waterloo and Kitchener. See www.mountainhearing.ca or call 888-979-7196 for details.
Also on March 3, the WHO launched a free app that allows people to check their hearing. The HearWHO app will be used to raise awareness about the importance of hearing, to encourage people to check their hearing regularly and practice safe listening and to allow health workers to check the hearing status of people in their communities.
Hish Husein, Doctor of Audiology, hopes you’ve heard the news about the importance of protecting yourself from hearing loss.
Husein, owner of Auburn and Mountain Hearing Centres, has 20 years experience as a certified audiologist. He’s administered thousands of hearing tests for patients ranging from newborn to age 106.
If you find yourself asking for frequent repetition, you have trouble understanding people on the phone, you think that everyone mumbles, or you have difficulty hearing speakers in a group setting, there’s a good chance you may have a hearing loss.
In celebration of World Hearing Day, which was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 3, Auburn and Mountain Hearing Centres are offering free hearing screenings and consultations for patients of any age who make an appointment during the month of March.
Husein said patients shouldn’t put off getting their hearing tested, because untreated hearing loss is linked with several adverse health effects like dementia, balance and cardiovascular issues.
“There’s also social isolation,” said Husein. “You end up avoiding people.”
The WHO estimates 465 million people worldwide live with hearing loss and the global cost of unaddressed hearing loss is $750 billion.
Husein recommends an annual screening test for those over 50. On average, the test takes about 30 minutes. It measures a patient’s response to sound tones, which become progressively softer.
It’s important to remember that not all hearing losses are created equal. If a patient has what’s called a conductive hearing loss, possible causes could be fluid behind the ear drum, a pressure problem, or otosclerosis. In many of those cases, medical intervention could help.
When it comes to sensorineural hearing loss – a loss associated with damage to the cochlea – the focus shifts to the use of assistive listening devices or hearing aids.
With today’s modern technology, like wireless transmitters to help you hear the TV, and digital hearing aids, there are more options available than ever before.
Many hearing aids now come with rechargeable batteries and Bluetooth connectivity. Some can even monitor health indicators like steps, or tell you when someone’s ringing your door bell.
“Hearing aids are very inconspicuous now,” said Husein. They used to be very large and they’ve made them really tiny now.”
Government grants are also available through the provincial assistive devices program.
Even if you have excellent hearing, it’s important to take precautions to protect yourself from environmental noise exposure, Husein said. That’s especially true for occupations like factory jobs, landscaping or aviation.
“If you’re exposed to 85 decibels a day for eight hours, over an extended period you’ll damage your hearing,” Husein noted.
Repeated exposure to noise above 85 decibels can lead to tinnitus, which is characterized by a ringing in the ears.
Husein recommends customized hearing protection for the best results.
“Any time we do a hearing assessment and determine hearing loss is noise-induced, we will caution the patient and encourage them to get noise protection,” said Husein.
Husein understands that patients may put off getting a hearing test because they don’t want to be told they have a hearing loss.
“It’s important to come down and let the audiologist do the assessment. Hearing aids are a medical device so we need to look at the hearing loss and determine which hearing apparatus will work the best for that patient,” he said.
Auburn and Mountain has seven locations in Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Cambridge, Waterloo and Kitchener. See www.mountainhearing.ca or call 888-979-7196 for details.
Also on March 3, the WHO launched a free app that allows people to check their hearing. The HearWHO app will be used to raise awareness about the importance of hearing, to encourage people to check their hearing regularly and practice safe listening and to allow health workers to check the hearing status of people in their communities.