Attune Hearing

Cochlear implant A cochlear implant is a gadget that stimulates the central auditory nervous system to sense sounds. It skips damaged portions of the inner ear and can help people who are deaf or have hearing loss. Cochlear implants are connected to the auditory nerve using a surgically implanted electrode array. A microphone picks up sound, and software within the implant converts it into electrical impulses that travel along nerve fibres to stimulate the auditory nerve. These electrical impulses are then sent to an electrode that stimulates the auditory nerve. This stimulation occasionally leads to certain sounds recorded as vibrations by the electrode, even in people with no hearing damage.   Hearing aid  Hearing aids have traditionally been used for treating age-related hearing loss but can also be used by those who have some kind of damage to their ears. Specifically, hearing aids may include amplifiers and other sound processing technologies that help translate every sound into an audible format for people with mild, moderate, or severe hearing impairment. Hearing aids are gadgets that amplify sound and assist people with mild to severe hearing loss in "understanding" the conversation when they are present in the vicinity of their natural ear. They do not cure hearing loss or replace damaged portions of the inner ear but can improve sound discrimination and quality for mild to moderate hearing damage.     The significant difference between a cochlear implant and a hearing aid hears aids are designed to effectively only amplify sound; this makes them especially beneficial to those with trouble hearing in certain situations or environments. The cochlear implant simulates sounds instead of just amplifying them.     Attune Hearing clinicsprovide medical hearing services, including hearing tests. If you need hearing aids or cochlear implants,get in touch with Attune to book an appointment or for more details.

Wearing earplugs Earplugs can be used in loud work settings. Earplugs stop sounds from entering the ears, and that way, the noise will not harm your hearing. Sound is usually dampened with earplugs, so make sure the sound is not too low. Wearing headphones Wearing headphones offer an improved level of protection when protecting your hearing in the workplace because they cover both your ears instead of just one. When working with headphones, make sure they fit tightly on your head to prevent any noise from leaking out through them. Using hearing protectors Hearing protectors are the best choice in the workplace; they are light and don't add any weight to your gear. The hearing protectors can be used as a medium to a high level of protection without any problem. When working with protectors, make sure that they do not cause discomfort or pain when using them, especially if you are wearing them for long periods.   The best quality hearing protectors are the ones that offer good sound reduction and comfort at the same time. You should pay attention to this fact because if you are not wearing them properly, you might not get the maximum protection. You can quickly solve this problem by taking a training course so you can learn how to use them correctly.   Stay away from loud machines and equipment. Loud equipment will always make a lot of noise, so when you see the machines, stay away or do not stand near them. When using such machines, work with extra care to make sure you don't hurt your hearing by accident. Keep yourself aware of the sound around you, so you can know what is happening around you loud and clear and that way, you won't have any problems with protecting your hearing in the workplace.   Listen to the caution warning given by the manufacturer Always check the safety instructions mentioned on the packaging before using any product that offers ear protection. If they give you any kind of caution or warning on using it, then follow. These suggestions are carefully, especially if the instructions give you hints about protecting your ears in the workplace.   If you think you may have hearing loss, book a hearing test at your nearest Attune Hearing clinic. Visit their website to book an appointment or for more information.

What is age-related hearing loss? Age-related hearing loss is loss of hearing that occurs gradually to most of us as we grow older. This type of hearing loss commonly affects older and elderly adults. Age-related hearing loss can make hearing doorbells, phone ringing, and smoke alarms challenging. Due to difficulty and straining to understand conversations, one can opt to stay in isolation that leads to feeling lonely and depressed. What cause age-related hearing loss? The most common cause is the changes that arise in the inner ear as we age. It can also result from middle ear changes or complex changes along the nerve pathways from the ear to the brain. Some medications and medical conditions can play a significant role too. Can age-related hearing loss be prevented? The best and most effective way to prevent age-related hearing loss is to protect your hearing. Avoid loud noises Keep away from blaring noises and minimise noise exposure. Noise is loud enough to damage your hearing if it hurts your ears, you cannot hear what the individual next to you is saying, or you have ringing in your ears or muffled hearing afterwards. Keep the volume of earbuds and headsets at a safe level If the person near you can hear the music you are listening to, your volume is too loud. Music volume on your earbud should be less than 60% of the maximum volume. Some gadgets have settings that help limit your volume. Use earphones or earbuds for a maximum of one hour, then take a break for five minutes before using them again. Quit smoking Get prompt care for health issues, including ear infections Wear earplugs or special fluid-filled ear muffs Get your hearing tested Get a test if you are exposed to conditions that might cause hearing loss. The earlier a problem is detected, the earlier something is done. Also, consider getting regular checkups. If you think you may be developing hearing loss, book an appointment to get your hearing tested. At Attune, we offer comprehensive hearing tests to diagnose your hearing loss. Visit our website or contact us for more information.

The inner ear, middle ear and outer ear are the three parts of the human ear. Each part has its subparts responsible for different roles in the ear. Outer ear The outer ear comprises three parts; pinna, ear canal and eardrum. The pinna is the part that everyone can see in our ear. It is the only visible part of the ear, and it is the first part that reacts to sound. Its role is to direct sound onto the ear canal. The ear canal or the auditory canal is a tube that starts at the pinna to the eardrum. It transport sound collected by the pinna to the eardrum. The eardrum (tympanic membrane) is the part of the ear that separates the outer ear from the middle ear. When sound reaches the eardrum, it vibrates. The vibrations are conveyed to the bones in the middle ear. The vibrating signals get to the inner ear through the middle ear bones.    2. Middle ear The middle ear is the second part of the ear. None of its parts are visible. It consists of three small bones, the malleus, incus and stapes, that send movement from the eardrum to the inner ear. The bones are collectively known as ossicles and are vital to hearing.  The middle ear converts the vibrations from the outer ear into fluid vibrations in the cochlea.    3. Inner ear  It comprises the cochlea, semicircular canals and nerves that go to the brain. The cochlea is a snail-shaped bone that is responsible for hearing. It also has a crucial part in the process of auditory transduction. Sound waves are transduced into electrical impulses that the brain can interpret as individual sound frequencies. The semicircular canals are three fluid-filled tubes that help with balance. Your ears are in charge of your balance and hearing. If you think you may be suffering from hearing loss, you should get your hearing checked. The audiologists at Attune provide comprehensive hearing tests. Visit our website to book an appointment.

Tinnitus is the sounds that one hears, but people around them cannot. The sounds could be clicking, humming, low-pitched or high-pitched ringing. It leads to sleep disruption, stress, and anxiety and interferes with memory and concentration.   How do you cope with hearing loss and tinnitus? Seek medical help The first step in coping with tinnitus and hearing loss is visiting your audiologist. Make an appointment to see them. The specialist will conduct a hearing test and diagnose the cause of your tinnitus. Sometimes your hearing and tinnitus are caused by too much earwax. Your audiologist will also recommend medication for tinnitus.   Hearing aids Your audiologist might also recommend hearing aids. Hearing aids intensify sounds and help you hear well. They help restore the frequency of your hearing and help manage tinnitus. With better hearing, you will not notice the tinnitus sounds. Sounds from the environment will cover the ringing in your ears.   Relaxation techniques Stress and anxiety can worsen tinnitus; hence it is essential to practise some relaxation techniques to calm down. When you are calm, the ringing in your ears will go unnoticed.  Create a schedule in which you include relaxation techniques into your routine. Breathing exercises are a great way to reduce anxiety.   Tinnitus triggers Reduce tinnitus triggers. Most of the time, especially if you are experiencing hearing loss, they will catch you off the guard, making it difficult to cope. So, what do you do? Keep a journal about your tinnitus. Keep track of your diet, environment and lifestyle. This will help you identify the triggers.   Counselling Behavioural treatment options help people living with tinnitus cope with it. The counselling options include tinnitus retraining therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy.   Support groups Join a support group; it could be local or online. There are many networks offering support and advice to individuals with hearing loss. Online support groups make it simple to connect with people, even if you don't want to face-to-face.   If you think you may have tinnitus, book an appointment for a hearing test with one of the audiologists at Attune. Visit our website or contact us to book an appointment.

Face others when they are talking Ensure you can see the speaker's face and lips when they are talking. Their body language and facial expression will help you put what they are saying or trying to communicate into context. Keep a plain view of a person's face by looking at them when they talk and making sure the room is well-lit.   Ask for a heads up Have your friends and family say your name before they start speaking to you. By calling your name, you will know whatever they are talking about or asking is directed at you.     Repeat information back When you get important information from someone, such as dates, numbers and directions, repeat the information back to them. This will give them room to correct any misinformation.   Write down delicate information Suppose you keep misunderstanding or receiving the wrong information. Ask the person to write it down on paper. Writing information down will give your clarity.   Reduce background noise When you are having a conversation with someone, turn the TV or radio volume down. If they are in another room, you should go to the room or request them to come to your room.   Know your limits When you are sick or tired, your hearing and understanding of information will be worse than usual. Always ensure you know when to stop straining or engaging in conversation. If you are straining to hear, ask the person to write it down on paper.   Communicate your needs to others Be assertive. Inform people that you have hearing loss and be clear about what you need them to do or how they can help. For example, you can ask them to face you when they speak, not to chew or smoke when they talk to you so you can read their lips. Also, explain to them that they don't need to shout for you to hear them.   If you think you are suffering from hearing loss and are searching for a clinic to test your hearing, look no further than Attune Hearing. We provide comprehensive hearing tests and help you find the best hearing aids for you. Visit our website to see our services or book an appointment.

When you begin experiencing hearing loss, most people around you may start to notice it before you do. You might start to notice small changes here and there, but they will notice the major ones. For instance, you might begin to prefer a louder TV volume. To you, it will seem normal, but to the others, it will be suspicious. Hearing loss symptoms include: Difficulty hearing It becomes difficult to hear people clearly, and you keep misunderstanding what they say, especially in crowded areas. As a result, you might find yourself frequently asking people to repeat themselves. You will also have a hard time differentiating speech in noisy and crowded surroundings. Finding conversations exhausting You will find yourself straining to hear; hence any conversation you engage in will be exhausting. Ringing in the ear Hearing loss cause tinnitus. Tinnitus is hearing sounds such as ringing, buzzing and hissing, that no one else can hear. You are requesting people to repeat themselves several times You keep telling people to repeat statements they said because you didn't hear. This happens several times. At some point, you no longer participate in the conversation because you are afraid that you will ask them to repeat themselves a lot. Other symptoms of hearing loss include: Listening to music and watching television in higher volume than others Difficulty hearing phone calls Hearing loss in one ear You experience softer and more quiet sounds. Sounds seem to come from a particular side. It is challenging to find where sounds are coming from You cannot differentiate sounds. If you or a family member are experiencing signs of hearing loss, visit Attune Hearing to undergo a hearing test. Visit our website or contact us to book an appointment.

An individual who experiences depression finds it very difficult to conduct their everyday activities such as cleaning, cooking etc. They also experience feelings of loneliness, sadness and low energy. Depression may lead to social isolation and social withdraw.   Risk factors of depression are complex as they can include a combination of genetic, biological, environmental and psychological elements, including hearing loss. If hearing loss is left untreated, it can contribute to or even lead to depression.     How is Hearing Loss Linked to Depression?   A study showed that individuals who didn't receive hearing loss treatment reported high rates of sadness and were more perceived by others as angry for no reason. People experiencing hearing loss are also more likely to self-isolate and experience social withdrawal due to their conditions, which can result in depression.   Do you know someone suffering from depression due to untreated hearing loss? What should you do?   Untreated hearing loss can contribute to depression. Hence, if a loved one is going through this, they should seek medical attention. Take your loved one to an audiologist. They will get their hearing tested, and the specialist will establish the kind of hearing loss they are experiencing. The specialist will then recommend hearing aids.   Hearing aids help individuals with hearing loss to communicate more easily with others. This will help them overcome feelings of loneliness. Hearing aids will naturally improve the quality of life. They will have the opportunity to meet more people and enjoy shared activities.   Once they have experienced hearing aid treatment, you and other people will notice behavioural changes. You can also help the person enrol in a support group or see a therapist who will help them deal with the changes they are experiencing.   If you’re looking for somewhere to get your hearing tested, book an appointment at one of the Attune Hearing clinics. We provide comprehensive hearing tests and offer solutions to help with hearing loss. Visit our website to book an appointment or contact us for more information.

Hearing loss has significant effects on both children and adults. Studies have shown that children with mild or moderate hearing loss can have difficulties learning and developing the necessary speech and language skills. As a result, their self-esteem and their performance in school drop.   Hearing loss will change how your child speaks, learns, and interacts with others if not detected early. Therefore, being conscious about your child's hearing ability soon after they are born is very important. If hearing loss is detected early, the required measures are taken, and the child can develop normally.   In adults, when hearing loss is left untreated, it affects both their social life and health. It reduces their quality of life too. Hearing loss impacts health in various ways including frequent headaches, increased stress and blood pressure. Hearing loss is also linked to depression, withdrawal and impaired memory.   Hearing Loss Effects on Children Delayed speech and language skills Children with hearing loss cannot hear sounds well. They may have problems speaking clearly and may not use sounds like s, sh, f, t, or k.   Learning problems in school Children with hearing loss don't learn words as fast as those with normal hearing. They will have difficulties learning abstract words and have trouble understanding and using sentences too. As a result, they fall further behind in their academic work.   Social skills Hearing loss makes it difficult for the children to talk to others. They will not want to play or interact with other kids. Children with hearing loss will have low self-esteem, feel alone and are always unhappy.   Hearing Loss Effects on Adults Depression Studies have linked hearing loss with depression. Adults who experience hearing loss will tend to self-isolate and withdraw. They will also have a prolonged feeling of sadness and loneliness. Most of the time, they might be perceived as angry by others because of how they treat themselves and the people around them.   Quality of life Hearing loss will reduce an individual's quality of life. It gives an individual self-esteem issues and a lack of confidence to interact with others.   When you suspect that you are experiencing hearing loss, the first thing you need to do is see an audiologist and get a hearing test. The audiologist will then recommend the best treatment. Don’t leave your hearing loss untreated.   If you think it’s time to get a hearing test, visit an Attune Hearing clinic near you. We provide comprehensive hearing tests and offer custom earplugs to protect your hearing. Visit our website to book an appointment.