Have you had a lot of company lately? I know that lots of grandchildren come to visit their Florida grandparents this time of year. Most kids love to spend a lot of time in the water whether it is the pool or the beach. Nothing ruins a vacation faster than Swimmer's Ear. It is very painful and means a trip to the doctor's office for a prescription and staying out of the water for 10 days. Certainly not what anyone plans for a vacation. There is a very simple preventative measure that … [Read more...]
HealthyHearing.com interviews Dr. Susan Terry
You can read our entire Hearing Center Interview on HealthyHearing.com - but here are some excerpts from the interview. “Part of what I saw when I was working with other people is that I couldn’t take the amount of time I thought was necessary to work with each patient,” she said. “I knew I either had to go into private practice or find another career.” That element of personal care is what sets Broadwater Hearing Care apart from other hearing centers in the area. “I structure my practice … [Read more...]
Flying with Hearing Aids
Are you flying this summer? Flying isn't as much fun anymore, but there are ways to make it better. If you wear hearing aids, there is no reason to take you aids out before you go through security. The screening devices won't hurt hearing aids and it is always easier if you can hear the directions. Once on the plane, you do not need to turn your hearing aids off when they tell you to turn off your electronic devices. If you find the plane noisy, you can take your hearing aids out. Please … [Read more...]
Fourth of July Fireworks
Happy Independence Day! I hope you have plans for all sorts of fun activities. 4th of July Celebrations are great fun, but remember to protect your hearing. Millions of Americans are suffering from noise induced permanent hearing loss. Exploding Fireworks can reach over 130 decibels of impact causing damage to your hearing. If you have to shout to be heard by someone standing right next to you, if your ears hurt or you have ringing in the ears, it's a good sign of excessive noise … [Read more...]
Bluetooth Compatible Hearing Aids
Did you know that most of today’s hearing aids are Bluetooth compatible? This can give you a much more effective way of using your hearing aids in a variety of settings. Your hearing aids can be linked to your cell phone, so that you can hear out of both ears and you don’t have to even pick up the phone. For individuals that have difficulty understanding the television, there are devices that allow the wearer to hear clearly. There are even lapel microphones that can allow you to hear … [Read more...]
Water Resistant Hearing Aids
Summer is here and so is the hot weather. You can wear your hearing aids outside for your normal activities. If you perspire (and who doesn’t in this weather) you don’t need to worry about damaging your hearing aids. Most newer behind-the-ear hearing aids are water resistant. You still don’t want to swim with them, but you can work in your yard, play tennis, golf, etc. without worrying. If your hearing aids are not water resistant, we have inexpensive dehumidifiers that you can use with … [Read more...]
Always losing your Hearing Aids?
Over the past few weeks I have had several people lose their hearing aids. Needless to say, this can be traumatic and expensive. Most of these accidents can be avoided with a little care. Here is a guideline to help you keep track of your aids. 1. Never wrap your hearing aids in a tissue. Someone will think it is garbage and throw it out. 2. Do not leave your hearing aids where your dog or cat can get to it. They will eat it. (Yes, even your very well behaved dog will eat it!) 3. Always put … [Read more...]
Can you Hear the Smoke Detector?
Did you know that the leading cause of death in house fires is not hearing the smoke detector? A regular smoke detector may not be the best choice for you. Just about everyone can hear their smoke detector when they are awake and most hearing aid wearers can also hear their smoke alarms. However, after the hearing aids are removed at night and the individual is asleep, the smoke detector is not heard in a timely manner. There are smoke detectors made specifically for individuals with hearing … [Read more...]
Ear Plugs Protect Against Hearing Loss
One in three Americans develops hearing loss from exposure to noise. Damage occurs when sounds are too loud (firecrackers or gunfire) or are present for too long (concerts, lawn mowers, motorcycles). Today we have all sorts of hearing protection available. From the inexpensive throw away ear plugs, to very sophisticated electronic shooter plugs for hunting. The bottom line is that they are all far less expensive than hearing loss and hearing aids. I would much rather help you protect your … [Read more...]
Why Ear Candles Are A Bad Idea
I am often asked if ear candles are a good way to manage excessive cerumen (wax) in the ear canals. Ear candles are about the worst thing that you can do to your ears. It is very difficult to clean your own ears, because you can’t see what you are doing. When you use an ear candle, most of the debris that you see is soot from the candle. There have been incidences of people setting their hair on fire, burning skin, rupturing ear drums, getting candle wax stuck on the walls of the ear canal … [Read more...]