Speak Today, Hear Forever

22/05/2023

Catch me on DSTV this week on the Home Channel (176) and Open View (113) talking about hearing Health and Hearing Loss during an insert interview! Here are the times:

Monday, 22 May - 6pm
Tuesday, 23 May - pm
Wednesday, 24 May - 10am
Thursday, 25 May - 2pm
Saturday, 27 May - 9.30am
Sunday, 28 May - 8am

08/02/2023

19/09/2022

https://youtu.be/kIjd7VfxuaM

A build up of wax is the most common cause of hearing aids getting blocked and not working correctly. Here's a video on how to clean your hearing aids at lea...

19/09/2022

https://youtu.be/0D4RzLRVThY

Here's a quick demonstration on how to connect your cellphone to your hearing aids...

29/06/2022

What is the Best Type of Hearing Aid?

Approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has a hearing loss!

After your audiologist has prescribed hearing aids for you, one of the first decisions you'll have to take is regarding the style of the hearing aids. You will need to decide which style of hearing aids you actually want to go for.

The most common types of hearing aids are Receiver-in-the-Canal (RIC) hearing aids , Behind-The-Ear (BTE) hearing aids and In-The-Ear (ITE) hearing aids.

Hearing aids should be selected, first and foremost, based on the type and severity of the hearing loss and, secondly, based on your lifestyle needs. Every person is unique, so we recommend that you consult an audiologist who can help you find the best solution for you.

Overall, RIC and BTE hearing aids are more powerful and can provide better sound access especially if your hearing gets worse. They are sleek and less visible than the ITE hearing aids! If you have poor dexterity with your hands you can go for the rechargeable option. The ITE hearing aids are suitable for a mild to moderate hearing loss but they cannot connect to bluetooth for phone calls, they are not rechargeable and they are not suitable for people who have alot of wax.

Contact u son 079 265 0487 for more information.

10/06/2022

Loving these eco-friendly handmade drawstring bags for hearing aid batteries and extras!

Thank you Marla@ Lula.handmade

09/06/2022

Beautiful flowers as a 'Thank You' gesture from a special patient!

09/06/2022

Making the experience of getting new hearing aids a fun and exciting one!

16/05/2022

Does Hearing Loss Lead to Dementia?


Scientists are finding more evidence that hearing loss makes you more likely to have dementia. Studies of older adults who had lost some level of hearing loss found that they had mental decline 30% - 40% faster than average. Hearing loss can make the brain work harder forcing it to strain to hear to fill in the gaps. This causes strain on the memory center and other areas of the brain. That doesn't mean that people with hearing loss are guaranteed to have dementia, but the odds are higher. There are things that can be done to lower the chances for mental decline.

Check out these articles for more information and contact us on 079 265 0487 to book a hearing test for you or your loved one:

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2021/hearing-loss-and-the-dementia-connection #:~:text=If%20you%20have%20hearing%20loss,top%20risk%20factors%20for%20dementia.&text=Hearing%20loss%20can%20make%20the,and%20fill%20in%20the%20gaps.
https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/hearing-loss-dementia

Cochlear Center director Frank R. Lin explains why hearing loss has been linked to cognitive issues like dementia.

28/03/2022

Can Loud Music Hurt You Ears?

Do you like to put on your headphones and crank up the volume?

Loud noise, even from music, can lead to either a temporary or permanent hearing loss. You could also have Tinnitus which is medical term for ringing in your ears. When you are often exposed to loud noise over a long time, it may lead to a permanent hearing loss.

Listening to loud music alot can cause the same deterioration, especially if you use headphones or earbuds. Protect your ears by wearing noise plugs. If you are a musician, try out custom in-ear monitors with built-in noise dampening that still gives you excellent sound-quality!

Contact us on 079 265 0487 for more information.

10/11/2021

Choosing The Right Hearing Aid....

If you are finding out about hearing aids, it's probably because you have noticed a change in your hearing. Hearing aids can make a big improvement in your quality of life. Today’s hearing aids are like mini-computers to help improve the frequencies of sound you hear as well as amplify that sound. Here are four tips to help choose the right hearing aid.

1. Visit An Audiologist
You will need to have a comprehensive hearing test prior to
purchasing hearing aids. An audiologist is a trained professional with an advanced degree who performs a physical examination of your ears along with several hearing tests. He or she can evaluate the reasons why your hearing has changed and determine how best to make improvements, offer counseling and guidance.

2. Research The Different Styles Of Hearing Aids
There are four common styles of hearing aids and each has its benefits. They are: invisible-in-canal (IIC), in-the-ear canal (ITC), in-the-ear (ITE) and behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids. The first device, the IIC, is so small it sits inside the ear canal and can’t be seen. ITC and ITE styles sit in the inside of your outer ear and offer more features (because they are larger). BTE hearing aids may be the most familiar – these sit behind the ear with a tube that runs over the top of the ear. At the end of the tube is a microphone that is inserted in the ear canal. Each style offers benefits and your audiologist can discuss details with you.

3. Ask About A Trial Period
You can usually get a hearing aid with a trial period. It may take you a while to get used to the device and decide if it's right for you.

4. Think About Your Lifestyle and Needs
These different styles of hearing aids have many features that may provide advantages to your lifestyle. There are additional features that can help with work or hobbies, such as waterproof hearing aids, wireless streaming to connect to phones and digital music players, or sound generators to help mask tinnitus (ringing in the ears).Ask whether the hearing aid you've chosen is capable of increased power so that it will still be useful if your hearing loss gets worse. Hearing aids do not function indefinitely, but they should last about five years.

Contact us on 079 265 0487 to book an appointment

21/10/2021

Types of Hearing Loss

If you suspect that you or your loved one may have a hearing loss, contact us on 079 265 0487 for an appointment.

30/08/2021

Age-Related Hearing Loss
- Almost one-third of adults over the age of 65 experience disabling hearing loss. It begins at an earlier age but it may not be noticeable at first.

- You might find that you have to increase the volume on the TV or radio, have trouble hearing over the phone, difficulty understanding a conversation in a noisy place such as a restaurant and often asking for repetitions.

- Age-related hearing loss is known as presbycusis and can be linked to a family-history.

- If you think you may have a hearing loss, you should contact an audiologist to have your hearing tested.

- Hearing loss can lead to other problems such as depression, isolation and anxiety. Adults over the age of 60 have a 36% risk of Dementia associated with hearing loss.

- Actively using hearing aids can reduce the risk of cognitive decline associated with hearing loss.

Contact us on 079 265 0487 for more information

02/08/2021

Myths About Hearing Loss & Hearing Aids

Myth: Hearing loss only affects older people.
Fact: Hearing loss affects people of all ages, and is increasingly common in younger adults and children. 7% of the School-age population has some level of hearing loss.

Myth: Only loud noises cause hearing loss.
Fact: Prolonged exposure to even moderately loud noises can lead to gradual damage of your ears. Other causes of hearing loss include a hole in the eardrum, middle-ear infections, certain illnesses, and medication.

Myth: Hearing aids will make me look older.
Fact: Modern hearing aids are small, sleek and discrete. In many cases, others will never know you’re even wearing a hearing aid.

Myth: Hearing aids won’t help with hearing loss.
Fact: There are hearing aids designed for all levels of hearing loss. Correct fitting procedures and follow up care will ensure that you gain the maximum benefit from the hearing aids. Consult with your audiologist to determine which style is best for you.

Myth: Hearing aids are difficult to use.
Fact: Hearing aids are programmed based on your individual hearing preferences and lifestyle, and automatically adjust to different listening environments. They can wirelessly connect to entertainment and communication devices, offering flexibility and ease of control.

Myth: Hearing aids will make everything too loud.
Fact: Today’s digital hearing aids have technology that allow you to hear in real-time and stabilize the background noise and enhance speech. Many hearing aids no longer need a volume control. Your audiologist will program the instrument for your individual needs.

Myth: Wearing two hearing aids is unnecessary.
Fact: We have two ears for a reason: they give us directional hearing so we can localize sounds, hear better in noisy settings, and improve natural sound quality. Most types of hearing loss affect both ears equally; nine out of 10 people with a hearing impairment will benefit from wearing two hearing aids.

Contact our audiologist on 079 265 0487 for more information

23/07/2021

Musicians and Hearing Loss

musicians are almost four times as likely to develop noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) as the general public, reveals research. And they are 57% more likely to develop tinnitus—incessant ringing in the ears—as a result of their job, the findings show, suggest the authors of study published in British Medical Journal.

“For a musician, losing your hearing is like losing a hand,” says Steve Lukather of Toto, who developed tinnitus in 1986 and also suffers from hearing loss.

Without proper hearing protection, the loud sounds most musicians experience on stage and while playing their instrument can cause permanent damage to their hearing. Additionally, musicians are also at risk for developing tinnitus, or a ringing-in-the-ears sensation. Tinnitus can be present with or without hearing loss, and while not life-threatening, can seriously deteriorate the quality of life for an individual.

Contact us on 079 265 0487 for more information or to book an appointment.

28/06/2021

Online/ Tele-Practice Services

Telepractice is the use of telecommunications technology to provide speech therapy and audiology professional services at a distance by linking the clinician to the client for for assessments, intervention, and/or consultation. In 2005, it was determined that telepractice is an appropriate model of service delivery for audiologists and speech-therapists.

At Speak Today, Hear Forever, we óffer these inline services via various platforms including Teams, Zoom, Google Meet etc.

Contact us on 079 265 0487 if you have a query

28/06/2021

We are Open...!

Our doors will remain open on Level 4 of the lockdown as we are part of essential services. We look forward to being of assistance to you!

17/05/2021

Building Babies Brains

Check out this 3-minute read on how babies develop language: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearingandkids/2021/building-babies-brains/

Contact us on 079 265 0487 for more information!

Hearing babies are listening to their mothers for at least the last 20 weeks of pregnancy. They recognize their mother’s voices and even cry in the languages they hear.