Hearing loss is a family affair: “Conversation, as you know it, gradually comes to a complete halt. Going to parties becomes a whole lot less fun because of the noise level of the room; you will eventually resort to taking separate cars so that the person with hearing loss can leave early. Communication is reduced to a series of nouns shouted out. Restaurants will be picked based not on the quality of the food, but on their acoustics.  The television volume will become a point of contention, as will the distraction caused by closed captions.” (Ann Brenoff, wife of a man with hearing loss, 2017)

Everyone benefits when hearing loss is treated.
Ear train the brain: www.clearworks4ears.com

Attitudes about hearing loss: The times are changing

Hearing loss is becoming less and less of a taboo topic in American conversations. From an online survey of 2,264 American adults, MED-EL USA reported the following results (Sept., 2017):
• 83% of adults polled said that they would feel comfortable about talking with an acquaintance or family member about hearing loss if they suspected that person was experiencing hearing difficulties.
• 78% said that they would not be offended of someone they knew approached them because they suspected they might have hearing loss.
• 79% of the adults who are over the age of 65 said that they would be motivated to seek a hearing test if a loved one suggested that they were experiencing listening difficulties.
Ear train the brain: www.clearworks4ears.com

Hearing Loss and Auditory Training: Why Playing Games is so Helpful

Why auditory brain training that is “gamified” is more likely to be effective than ordinary auditory training for people who have hearing loss: • Playing video games is pleasurable. • Pleasant activities causes the brain to increase production of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that acts as a “messenger” between brain cells. • Research has shown that playing video games increases production of dopamine. • Increased dopamine levels enhance neural plasticity. • Enhanced neural plasticity allows for greater perceptual learning. • Adults with hearing loss have better potential for learning to use their residual hearing when playing auditory brain training games than when engaging in rote auditory training tasks. Ear train the brain: www.clearworks4ears.com