Broadwater Hearing Care

St. Petersburg, Florida

Hearing Loss and Diabetes

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Diabetes causes blood sugar levels to fluctuate too high or too low. Over time, these changes damage the nerves throughout your body, including in your ears! A person with diabetes is twice as likely to have hearing loss as someone the same age who does not have diabetes. Pre-diabetes increases the likelihood of hearing loss as well! If you have diabetes, monitoring your hearing is as important as monitoring your eyes or your feet for diabetic complications. Schedule an … [Read more...]

Hearing Loss 3rd Most Common Chronic Condition

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Did you know that hearing loss is the third most common chronic physical condition in the US? Hearing loss is more prevalent than diabetes or cancer! The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders estimates that: 1 in 3 Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing loss AND 1 in 2 Americans over the age of 75 have hearing loss! May is Better Hearing and Speech Month. If you haven’t had your hearing tested or if it has … [Read more...]

May is Better Hearing Month

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Better Speech and Hearing Month is observed in May each year to increase awareness about communication disorders and hearing health. Founded by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), this day also provides an opportunity to honor the roles of ASHA members in providing treatment to those affected by speech and hearing disorders. For 2022, the ASHA theme is “Connecting People.” This year, the month of May is extra special because the 24th Summer Deaflympics will be held … [Read more...]

Hearing Aid Batteries

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We have discussed batteries several times; however, I think it is time for a little refresher. Most of my patients think that hearing aid batteries are all the same. Unfortunately, they are not. Hearing aid batteries that you purchase at the drug store, grocery store, or big box discount store can have issues. They often haven’t been stored correctly and may have been sitting in a warehouse for several months before even being placed in the store. Recently I have had two patients who have … [Read more...]

Are Your Hearing Aids Living in Your Drawer?

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It happens. Have you gotten discouraged and don’t know where to start or how to get back on track?  Are you embarrassed that you don’t know where to start? It happens to all of us at one time or another. We can help you get back on track. Today’s hearing aids are very flexible, meaning that they can be reprogrammed for almost any situation. Are you having difficulty putting them on or caring from them? We are happy to help. If you are one of our patients, please let us know that you need … [Read more...]

Real Ear Measurements – REMs

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When it comes to healthcare needs, a prescription often guides treatment and is catered to the patient. When you have problems with your eyesight, your glasses are fit to a prescription to correct your eyesight perfectly. When you need medicine for a problem, your medication is prescribed based on your exact diagnosis and to fix your issue. Real Ear Measurements (REMs) are used in the hearing aid programming process. REMs allow your hearing aids to be programmed based … [Read more...]

Qtips are not for Ears

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Never put Q-tips in your ears! It says so on the box. Q-tips can damage your ears and push wax further down the canal, impacting it within your ear. A much better use for Q-tips is cleaning small, hard-to-reach places like the space in between your computer keys or the vents in your car. Concerned with wax buildup in your ears? Over-the-counter ear drops (like Debrox) can be used to soften the wax and lower the chance of buildup. We can also remove wax in the office! We are … [Read more...]

Tips if wearing new hearing aids

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First time hearing aid user? Here’s some helpful tips to make sure your experience is a good one! Start out with wearing your hearing aids in quiet environments or at home to help yourself get used to extra sounds before heading out to a party or restaurant setting. Take breaks in the beginning if you need to! If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all of the sounds you’re suddenly hearing, take a break from your hearing aids. You can work up to full time hearing aid use … [Read more...]

Headphones and Hearing Loss

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In today’s virtual world, many young people are glued to their tech devices: smartphones, tablets, computers, video games. While headphones can contain the noise, making the home a little more peaceful, always check the volume. At the highest volume setting, most technology can produce sounds at 105 dB or higher. This volume can damage hearing in as little as 5 minutes! If you can hear the sounds playing from your child’s earbuds or headphones from a few feet away, the volume is … [Read more...]

Warning Signs: When do you need to see an audiologist – hearing aid specialist?

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For most people, hearing loss occurs gradually over several years. Often, family and friends notice the hearing loss first. If you suspect that you might have a hearing loss, it is important to have your hearing evaluated by a doctor of audiology near me. Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is also a sign of hearing loss and an indication that it is time to have your hearing checked. What are the Warning Signs? Trouble Understanding Television Do you have difficulty understanding … [Read more...]