How to Enjoy the Fourth of July with Hearing Loss

Are you worried you may not be able to enjoy the Fourth of July due to hearing loss?

Here are some ways you can enjoy Independence Day with hearing loss and prevent further damage to your ears:

Parades: The holiday wouldn’t be the same without local parades! To prevent damage, wear ear plugs when the loud segments of the parade reach you. This includes service vehicles, the marching band, and the 21-gun salute if your parade has one. If possible, stand back from the road too. Distance between you and the noise can help prevent damage. 

Barbecue: At family barbecues, sit next to the people you want to talk to. You’ll have an easier time hearing them or reading lips if necessary. You may also want to position yourself away from children or grandchildren playing in the distance!

See tips for fireworks and swimming on our website!

See an Audiologist Near Mt. Pleasant, MI

If you can’t hear as clearly as you used to, have persistent ringing in the ears, or think you need a new hearing aid, come see us! A friendly audiologist can provide an audiology test near Mt. Pleasant, MI and decide the right solution for you. 

Contact us today! 

Prevent Noise Induced Hearing Loss this Independence Day

The Fourth of July is a one-of-a-kind celebration that all Americans can enjoy!

The day is marked by parades, cookouts, swimming, and outdoor fun.

How loud can the festivities get?

• Fireworks: 140 Decibels
• Fire Truck Sirens: 123 Decibels
• Marching Band: 100 Decibels

Noise induced hearing loss can occur over time or immediately depending on the sound’s volume. Listening to sounds at 95 decibels for about 15 minutes can cause hearing loss, and sounds louder than 120 decibels can cause pain and injury to the ear immediately.

Learn how you can enjoy Independence Day safely!

Receive an Audiology Test Near Mt. Pleasant, MI

If you can’t hear as clearly as you used to, have persistent ringing in the ears, or think you need a new hearing aid, come see us! A friendly audiologist can provide an audiology test near Mt. Pleasant, MI and decide the right solution for you. 

Contact us today! 

A Hearing Test Can Help You Hear the Sounds of Spring

Do you miss hearing cheers at a baseball game?

Or the sound of chalk on a sidewalk?

Missing the sounds of spring can affect you more than you may think. Sounds are directly related to emotions and mental health. According to Greentree Hearing and Audiology, “researchers at the National Institute for Neuroscience in Turin found that ‘sensory information’– a particular sound – is coupled with emotional information and stored in the auditory cortex. This allows the sound to acquire an emotional meaning.” When we hear sounds we like, such as the sounds of spring, “our brains release dopamine into our systems, giving us a pleasant feeling.”  Those with untreated hearing loss may experience depression when they can no longer enjoy the sounds they love. All the more reason to treat your hearing loss by first receiving a hearing test near St. Johns, Michigan.

Enjoy Spring More with a Hearing Test Near St. Johns, MI

After your hearing test, you’ll receive an audiogram – a graph that measures your hearing ability. We’ll go over the audiogram with you and discuss your treatment options. Our hearing specialists will be with you every step of the way, answering your questions and making sure you have the information you need to make the best choice for your hearing.

Get started today with a hearing test near St. Johns, MI!

Don’t Miss the Sounds of Spring!

Can you hear the birds chirping outside your window?

They’re telling you spring is here!

Spring is the season of light, warmth, and new life. The birds return from winter migration, wildflowers pop up in unexpected places, and balmy nights are accompanied by crickets and frogs. The background noise of spring adds to its tranquility and makes the season so great. You don’t want to miss that!

Spring is a time full of life. You deserve to feel full of life too! Better hearing can improve your quality of life and can keep you independent. When you lose your hearing, your other senses can also deteriorate and your cognitive ability can decline. It’s never too late to receive hearing care and make your life just as colorful and bright as a spring day!

See how you could be missing out.

Enjoy Spring More with a Hearing Test Near St. Johns, MI

After your hearing test, you’ll receive an audiogram – a graph that measures your hearing ability. We’ll go over the audiogram with you and discuss your treatment options. Our hearing specialists will be with you every step of the way, answering your questions and making sure you have the information you need to make the best choice for your hearing.

Get started today with a hearing test near St. Johns, MI!

Should You Get Your Ears Checked for Tinnitus?

Do you have a hard time falling asleep because of “noise” that doesn’t seem to have a source? 

If you hear a constant sound that those around you don’t, you may have tinnitus — an audiological and neurological condition that makes you experience a perception of sound when there isn’t actually an external source for the sound. 

You’re not alone! The American Tinnitus Association estimates that almost 50 million Americans experience tinnitus.

Most people think of tinnitus as a constant ringing in both ears, but it differs from person to person. It can affect one ear or both, can be constant or pulsing, and can sound like different types of noises, including ringing, whooshing, and clicking!

Whatever the sound — it can be annoying or disruptive. For some, it’s quiet enough that it’s barely noticeable. For others, it can be so loud it disrupts their sleep, concentration, or ability to hear other sounds. 

If you think you have tinnitus, call to have your ears checked in our Alma or St. Johns office. We’ve helped many people like you manage their tinnitus. 

Visit our website to learn more or to schedule an appointment.

What's That Ringing?

Are you bothered by a constant ringing or clicking that nobody else can hear? You might have tinnitus.

There’s no cure for tinnitus, but there are options for managing it. In many cases, treating the underlying cause will stop the disruptive sound. But for many other people, tinnitus is a lifelong condition. For them, current treatment may focus on improving their quality of life. Tools and treatments improve their listening skills and ease the cognitive and emotional burden of living with tinnitus. Treatments might include hearing aids, sound or behavioral therapies, and medications.

Each person experiences tinnitus differently. That’s why we customize treatment to your specific needs and lifestyle. The first step is getting your ears checked!

Visit our website to learn more or to schedule an appointment.

Are Your Headphones Causing Hidden Hearing Loss?

If you love music but don’t want to bother your roommates or your family, you probably enjoy using headphones. Aren’t they great? But be careful. When you crank up the volume, you can cause damage to the tiny hairs and nerve cells that transmit sound impulses to your brain. Over time, you may develop hearing loss.

Your hearing test might result in a normal hearing audiogram, even though you might notice you have trouble understanding people talking over background noise. 

This kind of hidden hearing loss is common, especially in people who have been regularly exposed to loud sounds. If you’ve had a normal hearing audiogram but still have trouble hearing, talk to our hearing specialists!

Learn more on our website!

You Had a Normal Hearing Audiogram — Now What?

An audiogram shows how your brain perceives sounds in a testing situation: in a quiet room, wearing headphones, with one sound at a time. Many people who have a normal hearing audiogram still struggle to hear conversation in a crowd. Maybe you notice that you can’t hear your phone if the TV is on. 

You're not alone! 

This type of hearing trouble is called hidden hearing loss and it is common. It’s especially common in people who have been regularly exposed to loud sounds. 

If you’ve had a normal hearing audiogram but still have trouble hearing, talk to our hearing specialists!

Learn more on our website! 

Everyday Activities Contribute to Hearing Loss

Did you know that noise that measures over 85 decibels (dB) can permanently damage your hearing? 

That means that common daily activities like lawn care and driving through road construction can be loud enough to damage your hearing. You might even be exposed to several potentially damaging activities in a single summer day. Summer can be hard on your hearing!

You can protect your hearing by wearing earplugs or noise canceling headphones — even if you already wear hearing aids.

Learn more about protecting your hearing on our website.

 

Will the Sounds of Summer Lead to a Hearing Aid?

What are some of your favorite summertime activities in Michigan? Concerts? Boating? Tigers games?  

We love our outdoor activities in the summer, maybe a little too much. That ringing in your ears after a loud concert or rowdy ball game is a symptom of ear damage. Most people will get over a short exposure in a few days and the ringing will go away. But long-term exposure or sudden intense sounds, like an explosion, can cause permanent hearing loss. If you can’t hear the sounds of summer anymore, you might need a hearing aid.

To schedule an appointment, visit our website.

Could Auditory Training Help You Hear Better?

Auditory training might be helpful for more people than those with hearing loss. For example:

• Children with auditory processing disorders can benefit from training that helps them concentrate on the sound of spoken language. 
• People with autism, or others who are very sensitive to sound, could also benefit.

Imagine that auditory training is like coaching. You will be a better swimmer if you have a coach who can teach you to be strong and confident in the water. An auditory trainer can help you move more easily through conversation and communication. 

Ask your hearing professional at CCMC for more information about auditory training, also called audiologic rehabilitation.

We help people with hearing loss in St. Johns, Alma, Dewitt, Ovid-Elsie, and surrounding areas. Learn more on our website!

Can Auditory Training Help Your Hearing Loss?

If you have hearing loss, you know that your impairment can make it a challenge to socialize and could lead to isolation and even depression. 

Ask your hearing consultant about auditory training. It is possible to improve the way you are managing your hearing loss. Training can help you improve your listening skills and take some of the strain out of conversation. 

Our training can help you focus on important sounds and block out non-language noises, making best use of the hearing you maintain. CCMC wants to help you live your best life, communicating freely with the people you love. 

We help people with hearing loss in St. Johns, Alma, Dewitt, Ovid-Elsie, and surrounding areas. Learn more on our website!

Is Hearing Loss Stealing Your Joy?

Are you missing the sounds of spring in Michigan? 

It’s estimated that over 28 million adults in the United States could improve their hearing with hearing aids (but don’t). Are you one of them? 

We can help you answer that question and find the right treatment. Hearing aids aren’t right for everybody, but they aren’t the only treatment for hearing loss. Our hearing care specialists can diagnose your hearing loss and help you understand the causes, treatment options, and steps you can take to improve your quality of life.

We help people with hearing loss in St. Johns, Alma, Dewitt, Ovid-Elsie, and surrounding areas. To schedule an appointment at one of our mid-Michigan locations, visit our website.

Can You Hear the Sweet Sounds of Spring in Michigan?

What do these three things have in common?

The thump of a perfect pitch hitting a catcher’s mitt

Robins and mourning doves singing at sunrise

The quiet slosh of waves on a lake

If they made you think of spring, you might be from Michigan! Every season has its own soundtrack, but what if you can’t hear your favorite sounds anymore? 

Nearly 48 million Americans have some form of hearing loss. If you’re one of them, CCMC Hearing Care can diagnose your hearing loss and help you understand the causes, treatment options, and steps you can take to improve your quality of life. So you can hear what you’ve been missing.

We help people with hearing loss in St. Johns, Alma, Dewitt, Ovid-Elsie, and surrounding areas. To schedule an appointment, visit our website.

Seasonal Allergies Can Affect Your Hearing

Are allergies causing your hearing loss? If you have seasonal allergies, you may also have itchy, swollen, clogged ears with some hearing loss. Hearing loss from seasonal allergies is usually temporary but if you get frequent ear infections, it could become permanent. 

If you’re not sure if you have allergies that might be causing hearing loss, or if you’ve noticed hearing loss you can’t explain, we can help. 

We help people with hearing loss in St. Johns, Alma, Dewitt, Ovid-Elsie, and surrounding areas. Visit our website to learn more or to schedule an appointment with a hearing care professional.

Are Allergies Harming Your Hearing?

Do you feel pressure in and around your ears recently?

The problem might not be your ears. You might have seasonal allergies or “hay fever.” In spring, pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds travels in the wind – and into the air you breath. If you’re sensitive to these, you may experience allergy symptoms like:

• Runny and/or stuffy nose
• Itchy eyes and nose
• Red, watery, swollen eyes
• Swollen, itchy, or painful ears
• Muffled hearing

If you’re not sure, we’re here to help!

Visit our website to learn more or to schedule an appointment with a hearing care professional.

Hearing Loss Has Many Causes

Many people think of hearing loss as something that only affects us as we age. While age is the most common cause of hearing loss, it’s not the only one. People of any age can suffer a loss of hearing. 

For some, it’s a gradual process that takes years to notice. For others, it may be sudden. In fact, you might be surprised by some of the causes, like:

• Health conditions
• Medications, and
• Chronic stress

Whatever the cause, hearing loss can affect your relationships, your social life, and your everyday enjoyment of the little things. At CCMC Hearing Care, we’ll diagnose your hearing loss and help you understand your treatment options. 

Visit our website to learn more or to schedule an appointment!

What's Harming Your Hearing?

You probably know that noise exposure and aging can both cause hearing loss, but did you know that certain health conditions and medications can too? 

Conditions that affect blood circulation can affect your hearing. For example, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol can all decrease blood flow to the tiny blood vessels in your ears, affecting how they function.

Some medications can also damage your ears, temporarily or permanently. These are called ototoxic, meaning toxic to your ears. Some antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and diuretics (water pills) can be ototoxic, as well as some over the counter pain killers, if taken in large doses for a long time. 

Visit our website to learn more about hearing loss or to schedule an appointment!

What Causes Hearing Loss?

Did you know there are four main types of hearing loss? 

1. Sensorineural is the most common type. It is a gradual loss caused by damage to the cells and/or nerves in the ear. 
2. Conductive is when sound waves can’t reach the inner ear. It can be caused by infection, trauma to the ear, or a blockage. Conductive hearing loss can often be reversed, or partially reversed, with the right treatment.
3. Congenital is hearing loss that a person is born with. There are many different causes, including genetic factors, infections, premature birth. It’s important to diagnose hearing loss in newborns because it can affect their development.
4. Mixed hearing loss is a combination of the other types. For example, a person could have sensorineural loss and also have an infection in the inner ear (conductive).

Visit our website to learn more about hearing loss or to schedule an appointment.

Are You Experiencing Hearing Loss?

According to the Hearing Loss Association of America, about 48 million Americans have hearing loss. Although age-related loss is common, children and young adults are also affected. Age is just one factor to consider when diagnosing hearing loss. 

It’s also important to know:

• When did it start?
• Is it a temporary or permanent type of loss?
• What part of the ear is involved?

Diagnosing the type of hearing loss helps us determine the best way to treat it and how to prevent further loss. Do you know the four types of hearing loss?

Visit our website to learn more!