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When to Take a Hearing Test

In Uncategorized by Ed Kocher, ACA, BC-HIS

You use your sense of hearing all day, every day. While our sense of  hearing is so important it is a constant awareness in our life, it also means that sometimes it can be hard to notice gradual or subtle changes to the way we hear.  Although some hearing loss happens dramatically and suddenly, most hearing issues start small and …

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Celebrate World Alzheimer’s Month with a Hearing Test

In Uncategorized by Ed Kocher, ACA, BC-HIS

Did you know that September is World Alzheimer’s Month? Alzheimer’s Disease International uses this month to educate people about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. They want you to know the facts about Alzheimer’s disease, and recognize the early signs of this disease. World Alzheimer’s Month is also an opportunity to address the stigma of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Everything You Need to …

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The Benefits of Being Social for Older Americans

In Uncategorized by Ed Kocher, ACA, BC-HIS

Being social and having an active social life is a major way we create belonging, grow, and experience joy and happiness. Having healthy relationships and a sense of community helps us understand who we are throughout life and sustains well-being.  Social well-being is just as important, though overlooked, as physical exercise is to nurturing our health. This is particularly important …

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A Healthy Diet Can Lower the Risk of Hearing Loss

In Uncategorized by Ed Kocher, ACA, BC-HIS

You might think age-related hearing loss is an inevitable part of getting older. To some extent, that’s correct, but a new study by Brigham and Women’s Hospital finds that diet plays a very significant role in the severity of hearing loss and the age at which it begins. The study followed middle-aged, white women over the course of three years, …

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Common Excuses for Not Buying Hearing Aids

In Uncategorized by Ed Kocher, ACA, BC-HIS

It seems that we all have a loved one whose pride gets the better of them when it comes to hearing aids. We tell them about just how much sound they’re missing out on and they insist they’re fine, or they’re not ready for hearing aids, or they can get by without them. While it hurts to see our loved …

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Communication At Work | May is Better Hearing and Speech Month!

In Uncategorized by Ed Kocher, ACA, BC-HIS

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month! Every year for the over 90 years, the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association has spent the month of May raising awareness about hearing and speech disorders that affect Americans of all ages. This year’s theme is Communication at Work, and as many of us move our personal and professional lives online during the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s …

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Conductive Hearing Loss: Signs, Causes, and Treatments

In Uncategorized by Ed Kocher, ACA, BC-HIS

Hearing loss falls into one of two main categories: sensorineural or conductive. While a person can have one or both types, they affect distinct mechanisms in the ears. Sensorineural hearing loss gets a lot of media coverage. It’s the kind of hearing loss that is caused by damage to the cilia (tiny hair-like cells) in the cochlea, or the auditory …

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Ear Infections & Hearing Loss

In Uncategorized by Ed Kocher, ACA, BC-HIS

This is a time when health concerns are on our minds more than ever. Taking reasonable precautions without letting our reactions become unreasonable will be crucial for our physical health and our mental wellbeing as we move forward. With serious health concerns on our minds, it is more important than ever to understand the causes and effects of infections. Let’s …

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Being an Effective Listener: Communication is the Key to Connection

In Uncategorized by Ed Kocher, ACA, BC-HIS

“We have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak,” said Epictetus, the Greek philosopher. Being a good listener is a crucial part of good communication. According to a study from Wright State University in Ohio, conducted with 8,000 participants employed in businesses, hospitals, universities, and military and government agencies, “the average person …