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...]

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...]

Is one of your goals this year to have a better marriage? Seems kind of silly to have an audiologist talk about relationships, but I actually help improve communication. According to the NBC News article sourced below “thoughtful communication can improve your marriage”! Most people who wear hearing aids will tell you they can hear people talking but they don’t understand what their family members are saying so they get frustrated and withdraw. To learn more about … [Read more...]

I was hoping that we would be done with face masks by now, but that isn’t going to happen. Masks have made wearing hearing aids a lot more challenging. There are a few things that you can do to make it easier: 1.  Use a mask holder that keeps the mask off of your ears.2.  Make sure that your mask fits properly. If the elastic is too tight, it pulls your ears forward. This causes a poor fit with your hearing aids, making it more likely that you will lose them. 3.  Always remove your … [Read more...]

One of my patients shared a helpful event with me. He had knocked his hearing aids out of his ears into the grass. It was late. Visibility was poor. Luckily his hearing aids were connected to his mobile phone via Bluetooth. He had the hearing aid app with find my hearing aids; however, that only works for a general area. His son suggested that he turn the music that he streams up as loud as possible so that they could “hear” the hearing aids. It worked! They were able to find the … [Read more...]

I get A LOT of questions about ear wax! Did you know that your ears are self-cleaning? ???? Pores in your ear canal produce ear wax and tiny hairs called cilia push it out of the ear canal naturally. So next time you think about using a Q-Tip, don’t do it! ❌ Audiologists are trained in wax removal and can ensure your ear canals are clear! When was the last time you had your ears cleaned? We are here to help if you or a family member is having any difficulties with hearing, … [Read more...]

Great article on 'How to Get Water out of my Ears?' by Healthy Hearing staff writer, Debbie Clason. Playing in the water can be fun for people of all ages. While summer is a great time to enjoy swimming to its fullest, all of the splashing around can occasionally lead to water getting trapped in your ears. Symptoms include a feeling of fullness in the ear canal and a sensation that water is jostling around in your ear. It can happen in one or both ears. When the water doesn’t trickle out … [Read more...]