Broadwater Hearing Care

St. Petersburg, Florida

Noisy Toys

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A lot of us are starting our holiday shopping early this year. When picking out toys for children, make sure to consider the volume of any sounds the toy makes! Some toys produce sounds that are loud enough to induce hearing loss if the child is exposed to the sounds for long enough! The Sight & Hearing Association releases a list of Noisy Toys every year. While the 2021 list has not yet been released, the 2020 list of noisy toys is a good reference for some toys that are too loud and … [Read more...]

Press Release in Tampa Bay Newswire

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The American Academy of Audiology and Susan E. Terry, Au.D., Cautions Parents on Selecting Noisy Toys this Holiday Season – Loud toys can damage hearing in children The American Academy of Audiology and Broadwater Hearing Care urges parents to be cautious when selecting toys this holiday season. Recognizing that tiny ears are particularly susceptible to hearing damage, it is important to check noise levels before purchasing them. “Many parents don’t realize the permanent damage a simple … [Read more...]

Socializing Over the Holidays

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Will you be socializing with others this holiday season? Remember your good communication strategies! Use speaker clues: You can say something like, “I think you said something about eating dessert, is that correct?” Rephrase instead of repeat, they can change a sentence from “I really like all of your decorations” to “Those lights that you hung in the living room look very nice.” Ask the speaker to slow down their rate of speech Can you hear your family but don't understand what … [Read more...]

Diabetes and Hearing Loss

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If you or someone you know has diabetes, the likelihood of hearing loss multiplies by two. Scientists are not entirely sure why this relationship occurs, but it is speculated that high blood glucose levels cause damage to the small blood vessels in the inner ear. Once these hair cells are permanently damaged it results in sensorineural hearing loss. The next time you are seen for a hearing evaluation, make sure to include your diabetes diagnosis as part of your medical history! We are … [Read more...]

About Communication

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“He thinks I’m yelling, but I’m not. I’m trying to speak louder so he can hear me. But after raising my voice and repeating myself multiple times, he thinks I’m aggressive and mad. Upset, he asks me why I’m being so short with him. I just want to be heard, but sometimes, saying nothing would be much easier.” Ahhh, the joys of relationships! Quite often, I see the highs and lows of relationships in our clinic—the agitated spouse bringing in her loved one for a hearing test, or the … [Read more...]

Television too Loud

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Does anyone complain about the volume of the television? A lot of my patients say they can hear the television but they don’t understand what is being said! Some stations are worse than others - but hearing loss is usually the culprit. I would be happy to consult you regarding your communication needs if you are ever looking for someone to talk to! You deserve to be able to enjoy the simple things in life! We are here to help if you or a family member is having any difficulties with … [Read more...]

Family Members with Hearing Loss

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Stories like this are more frequent than we think: “Recently I was visiting my aunt who was hosting a few family members for a birthday party. We were all excited to spend some quality time together. I walked in to greet my aunt, who I haven’t seen in nearly 2 years. She’s the kind of person who enjoys hosting, cooking, and entertaining. It’s what she LIVES for. We arrived and I waltzed into the kitchen while she was prepping some food and asked: ‘How’s it going?!’ My aunt paused, then … [Read more...]

NATIONAL ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE MONTH

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There has been a lot in the media regarding cognitive decline and isolation. I actually have been counseling patients about this issue for over two years now! Why? Because hearing loss, just like social distancing, causes isolation. When your brain continues to pour all of its energy into processing speech information due to untreated hearing loss, it doesn’t allow your brain to focus as much energy on cognitive functions. Therefore, this area will actually start to atrophy and get … [Read more...]

Use it or Lose it

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Have you ever heard the phrase, “Use it or lose it”? It turns out this phrase is applicable to hearing loss, hearing aid use, and one’s ability to understand speech. If you don’t catch hearing loss early, it may start to affect the way your brain understands speech. We are here to help if you or a family member is having any difficulties with hearing, hearing aids, hearing aid apps or Tinnitus please give us a call at 727-323-2471 and set up an appointment. We can help … [Read more...]

Untreated Hearing Loss & Loneliness

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Adults with untreated hearing loss tend to withdraw from engaging with family and friends. I mean, it makes sense if you think about it, right? Why go out to eat if you can’t participate in conversation? Why make a phone call if you can’t understand the person on the other end? Why go to a community event if you can’t hear the entertainment? How do you think hearing loss would impact your life the most? We are here to help if you or a family member is having any difficulties … [Read more...]