What is Sudden Hearing Loss?
For most people who experience hearing loss, the condition comes on gradually over a period of years. In rare cases, an abrupt loss of hearing occurs with little or no warning. This condition is known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). What is Sudden Deafness? Sudden deafness is an unexplained and rapid hearing loss that…
What is Noise Induced Hearing Loss?
How Can Sounds Hurt Your Ears? Background sound is a constant in our busy lives. Normally, background noises are at safe levels that do not negatively impact our hearing. But repeated exposure to noise above 85 decibels (dB) can cause noise induced hearing loss. The louder the sound, the less amount of time it takes…
How Does Hearing Loss Impact Cognitive Decline?
Hearing loss not only makes it more difficult to understand sound and speech, but it can also negatively impact your health in a variety of ways, including: Hearing loss has also been linked to an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Thankfully, treating hearing loss may prevent or delay the onset of symptoms. The…
Everything You Need to Know About Viral Causes of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can have a variety of different causes. Some of these include: Aging Injury Excessive noise exposure Certain medications Meningitis Certain genetic conditions Another cause of hearing loss you might not know about is viral illnesses that affect the cochlea, blood vessels in the ear or other parts of the body that play an…
How & Why to Protect Your Ears When Flying
Millions of Americans will be traveling in the next few weeks as they prepare to celebrate the holidays with loved ones, and many of those will be going by plane. While potential travelers might worry about what to pack or what time to arrive at LAX, they probably don’t spend much time worrying about protecting…
What is Causing Your Behind-the-Ear Headache?
A headache or pain behind your ear can have several different causes. While several issues are directly related to the ear, dental problems or compressed nerves in your head and neck could also cause similar symptoms. Depending on the cause, the pain could feel sharp or dull, burning, throbbing or like there is pressure behind…
How Genetics Can Play a Role in Hearing Loss
Genetics plays a role in so many aspects of your life. From the color of your eyes to your ability to roll your tongue. They also play a role in many health conditions, including hearing loss. Let’s examine some of the ways genetics can affect your hearing and look at a few genetic disorders that…
4 Common Ear, Nose & Throat Complaints
There are a lot of reasons to visit an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, also known as an otolaryngologist. Below we review four of the most common ones, including their symptoms and treatments. Ear Infections Ear infections occur when fluid becomes trapped in the middle ear and creates a breeding ground for bacteria. This…
Trouble Processing Sounds Associated with Decline in Other Cognitive Functions
Do you like attending classes at Makers Mess with your friends to learn new skills? It may be easy for you to follow along now, but if you’re developing hearing loss, it could make it difficult in the future. This is especially true because recent research has linked a certain type of hearing loss with…
Why Are Some Sounds Spookier than Others?
With Halloween coming up, you’re probably spending time at Los Angeles Haunted Hayride. But it’s not just the visuals of these Halloween activities that can give you a fright; studies show that certain sounds can elicit a biological response that is meant to keep us safe. How We Hear In order to understand how some…