Can Using Headphones Lead to Tinnitus?

Using headphones to listen to music or your favorite podcast is a great way to reduce stress or enhance your walk at La Orilla Trailhead. However, listening at too high a volume can do damage to your ears and lead to problems like hearing loss and tinnitus. What is Tinnitus? Tinnitus is frequently described as…
Tips For Falling Asleep With Tinnitus

There are few things worse than not being able to get good sleep. Not only can it leave you feeling exhausted and stressed the next day, but regular poor sleep can lead to more serious health issues. If your tinnitus is keeping you up, try some of these tips to improve your sleep. What is…
How Do Our Brains’ Expectations Influence What We Hear?

Throughout the past several decades, the field of neuroscience has exploded with new findings. One theory that has become accepted in these years is that the cerebral cortex generates predictions, and in response, neurons in charge of sensory processing encode the difference between our predictions and reality. The purpose of this post is to review…
What to Know About Your First Hearing Aid

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, “About 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids.” If you got a hearing test recently that revealed you could benefit from hearing aids, you may be wondering what to expect. We review everything you need to know below. You May Need…
How To Come to Terms With Your Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is a common condition. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), approximately 15% of American adults aged 18 and older report that they have at least some trouble hearing. While some people are born with hearing difficulties, the majority of people with hearing loss start experiencing symptoms gradually…
What Is Congenital Hearing Loss & How Is It Treated?

When hearing loss is present at birth, it is said to be congenital. We review the types of congenital hearing loss, the symptoms of congenital hearing loss, the causes of congenital hearing loss and the treatments for congenital hearing loss below. Types of Congenital Hearing Loss There are three types of congenital hearing loss: Conductive…
Protect Your Hearing This Audiology Awareness Month

October is Audiology Awareness Month and the perfect time to discuss all the different ways you can prioritize your hearing health. One of the most important things you can do is protect your hearing from loud noises that can damage your ears. The Risks of Noise-induced Hearing Loss While you may assume that only extremely…
Is There a Link Between Balance Disorders & Anxiety?

There are many conditions that co-occur with balance disorders, including hearing loss, tinnitus and anxiety. When two conditions occur together, they are said to be comorbidities. In this post, we explore the connection between these two comorbidities: balance disorders and anxiety. The Connection Between Balance Disorders & Anxiety Practically everything about the experience of being…
What’s the Link Between Hearing Loss and Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is an infection caused by being bitten by an infected black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick. Left untreated, it can cause long-term health consequences, including hearing loss. Patients With Lyme Disease Report Hearing Problems A study published in 2018 asked 216 patients with tick-borne illnesses about their condition. Researchers found that…
What Is Tinnitus Retraining Therapy?

The term “tinnitus” describes a phantom ringing, roaring, whistling, hissing, humming or buzzing sound with no external source. Tinnitus is common, affecting about 50 million Americans, yet everyone experiences it differently. For some it is a mild nuisance, while for others it is a debilitating experience. Unfortunately, there is no cure for tinnitus, but there…