Is there a good return on investment in hearing aids?

When it comes to an investment in the quality of your life, there’s more than one way to measure value. Diagnosing and treating hearing problems has a positive impact on every aspect of your life, personally, professionally and even financially.

New technology has revolutionized hearing aids. They can automatically adapt to different environments, reducing the interference from background noise. There are daily wear and extended wear instruments.  Many are virtually invisible, sitting discreetly and comfortably inside the ear canal. Best of all, many are wireless, so you can stream sound from smartphones, home entertainment systems and other electronics directly into your hearing aid(s) at volumes just right for you.

When it comes to the purchase of personal items that enhance your life, there’s more than one way to measure value. Here are six ways that investing in professionally fitted hearing aids could bring you a greater return on your investment than you ever imagined. 

Using hearing aids reduces the risk of income loss.  People with untreated hearing loss can lose as much as $30,000 in income a year.

There is a link between hearing loss and dementia, leading experts to believe that interventions, like hearing aids, could potentially delay dementia. 

People with even a mild hearing loss are nearly three times more likely to have a history of falling. The intensive listening effort demanded by unaddressed hearing loss may take cognitive resources away from what is needed for balance and gait.

People with hearing loss who use hearing aids, may feel more in control of their lives and less self-critical. One study found that the majority of people with mild to severe hearing loss felt better about themselves and life overall as a result of using hearing aids.

Hearing aids can help reduce the prominence of tinnitus by amplifying background sound.

Using hearing aids can help improve interpersonal relationships.  People with hearing loss reported that using hearing aids improved their relationships at home, their social lives and their ability to join in groups.

Addressing hearing loss really is a smart buying decision. Start with a hearing evaluation.  


Life sounds great!  Enjoy every moment!

Jane Kukula, AuD & Ashley Spisak, AuD

8897 Mentor Ave

Mentor, Ohio 44060

440-205-8848

Fax: 440-205-9818

http://aacHEAR.org

How loud is too loud?

We are often asked "how loud does a sound need to be before it’s harmful to hearing?"  "How do you know how loud a sound is?"

These are great questions.  People are often uncertain about how loud is too loud. “Too loud” is a combination of the volume of the sound and how long one is exposed to the sound.  The louder a sound is, the shorter the permissible duration.  Generally 85 decibel (decibel (dB) is a measure of sound loudness) over an 8 hour exposure is considered acceptable.  For every three dB increase the acceptable time is cut in half.  For example if the volume is 88 dB, it is safe for 4 hours, 91 dB is safe for 2 hours.

Here is a guide to help you determine the volume of some common sounds. 

• 60 dB—Normal conversations or dishwasher
•  80 dB—Alarm clock
•  90 dB—Hair dryers, blenders, and lawnmower
• 100 dB—MP3 players at full volume
• 110 dB—Concerts, car racing, and sporting events
• 120 dB—Jet planes at take off
• 130 dB—Ambulances and fire engine sirens
• 140 dB—Gun shots, fireworks, and custom car stereos at full volume

One dangerous trend we see among you people is using a music player to cover up the sound of the lawn mower.  When you do the calculations, listening to 100 dB is safe for only 15 minutes.

Here a few good “rules of thumb”.  You know the noise is too loud if; you have to shout over the background noise to be heard, if the volume actually causes pain, if the noise makes your ears ring or if you have decreased or muffled hearing after being exposed to the sound.  There are three ways to protect your hearing; use earplugs or muffs, move away from the source of the sound or turn the volume down when using a music player.

When someone is exposed to loud sounds it is important to have regular hearing evaluations.  If you or a loved one is exposed to loud sound, have a baseline hearing evaluation.  Why wait?  Call now for an appointment. 

Life Sounds Great!  Enjoy Every Moment!

Dr. Jane Kukula, AuD

Paula Webster, MA

Advanced Audiology Concepts

8897 Mentor Ave

Mentor, Ohio 44060

440-205-8848

www.aacHEAR.org