The Audiology Condition

Everybody knows by now that smoking is bad for you, and many also know that “second-hand” smoke may harm those around them.  The following study ups the ante by demonstrating that those who don’t smoke may have their hearing compromised by others smoking in their environments.  The study was done on teenagers, but that doesn’t mean the harm is limited

Red Ear Syndrome (RES) is a condition that may be unfamiliar to audiologists but is well known to those who suffer from it. It has its own Facebook page, Red Ear Syndrome (RES) Sufferers Unite!  RES is weird and there is no single treatment for it.  Wisegeek describes RES as follows:    “one or both ears become extremely red and

Audiologists counsel patients on a variety of noise-related situational topics and they do so repeatedly and repetitively.  Here are some common talking points in audiology offices, as well as a quick look at noise in the extreme.   Realistic Assessments   It’s important for people with hearing loss and hearing aids to make realistic assessments of speech-in-noise situations.  Basically, if

Five years ago, if hearing professionals received a nickel every time patients complained about excessive volume of TV commercials, they could’ve all retired in short order. The retirement fund kitty started to disappear back in 2012 when the US Congress reached consensus and passed the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act (CALM Act).  The story of that bill is that it originally came into effect after

by Harvey Abrams, PhD A recent post  in this section referenced the Ida Institute in an appeal to have us refocus our efforts on the patient rather than on the technology.  The post provided an excellent overview of Ida, its mission (to foster a better understanding of the human dynamics associated with hearing loss) and its activities. I thought this might

Today’s topic is a vexious problem that gets far less attention by hearing health professionals than you would think.  Tinnitus is a big issue for patients, but not one that is treatable by pills, surgery, or other traditional treatments.  However, there are treatments that are effective for some people.   What It Is   Tinnitus (pronounced “tin EYE tus”) is

What can someone with normal hearing possibly say about hearing loss? That question intrigued many readers, making About hearing loss—from someone with normal hearing (originally published 1/26/2016)  the most-read post of the year in The Audiology Condition  (originally published 1/26/2016).   Click on the link to read the four basic, yet significant, facts related to hearing loss and hearing aids that writer Jesse

Seriously, Does This Look Like a Good Idea?! (The Audiologist, anonymous)  Audiologists spend a good deal of time talking to patients and the public about ear protection, often via use of Hearing Protection Devices (HDPs).  Today’s posts picks up the protection theme, but this time it’s all about ear wax and the weird ways people adopt to remove it from

  “Years ago, I worked in a Ear Nose Throat (ENT) clinic where my opportunity to explain audiological results and make recommendations to the patients was limited. It occurred during the short walk down the hall from the sound booth to the exam room, where I handed the patient off to the ENT doctor. Often, the patients wanted to ask me questions about what I

Heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and hearing loss are health risks each of us face.  As we are all aware, those risks increase with every year we manage to stay alive.  Now, and perhaps not surprisingly, research is finding that some of those risks are related.  In particular, a large cohort study published this month makes it clear that some hearing