What You Can Do To Protect Your Hearing

If you work in an at-risk occupation, check with your employer to make sure that your jobsite has an effective program to adequately protect your hearing, meeting federal or state regulations.

Wear hearing protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs, consistently when using loud equipment at work or at home. Foam earplugs are available at your pharmacy, earmuffs can be purchased at sporting goods or safety equipment stores, and specialized hearing protection is available from hearing clinics.
 

Limit exposure to noisy activities at home. Monitor your listening level and how long you are listening to personal listening devices (like MP3 players, such as iPods). Encourage your children to use their headphones conservatively. Consider investing in higher quality earphones that block out background noise, to help you moderate your listening levels in noisier places. Note: being able to overhear your child's headphones is not a good way to tell if they are listening too loud! If you can hear it, their music might be too loud, but just because you can't hear it, that doesn't mean the levels are ok.
 

Buy quieter products (compare dB ratings and ask for low-noise products).

Keep an "eye" on your hearing – see a hearing health professional routinely for hearing testing, or if offered through your employer, ensure you know your hearing test results and track it year-to-year.

An Ounce of Prevention

Be alert to risks of hazardous noise in your life. Since prevention of hearing loss is so critical, make sure that your family (especially children), friends, and colleagues are aware of the hazards of noise and how they can protect themselves. Remember: One-third of permanent hearing loss is preventable with proper hearing loss prevention strategies.

Have a great day!

Dr. Sarah Nelson

Hearing Loss

What can I expect when I come in for hearing test?  And what are consequences if I don’t get my hearing tested?

800 million people in the world are affected by hearing loss - By 2015 it is estimated to be 1.1 billion.

·        65% have mild hearing loss

·        30% moderate loss

·        5% severe or profound loss

About 1/3 of people with hearing loss are of retirement age.  The majority are school and working age.  It’s not a symptom of just the older generation. More and more young people experience hearing loss, mainly due to excessive noise levels and listening to music too loud (i.e. MP3 players, etc.)

Only 1 in 5 who would benefit from hearing aids actually use one.  On the average, people with hearing loss wait almost 10 years before doing something about it. 

Your quality of life can be affected.  Hearing loss can cause physical consequences such as tiredness or fatigue, headaches, vertigo.  Get your hearing tested.

Call 218-454-(EARS)3277 for an appointment today!

Enjoy your day!

Dr. Sarah Nelson

PROTECT THE HEARING THAT YOU HAVE NOW!

Noise "Ages" Hearing

Excessive noise exposure damages the delicate hair cells in the inner ear, not dissimilar to the accelerated "wear and tear" on the ear. This damage often results in permanent, sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing of the ears). Hazardous noise exposures can occur on the job, but also in common recreational activities.

• Beware of recreational sources of hazardous noise like music concerts, dance clubs, mp3 players, NASCAR, sporting events, firearms, firecrackers, power tools, motorcycles, motorboats, snowmobiles, powerboats, and "boom cars".
• The risk for hearing loss due to exposure to noise is especially high among factory and heavy industry workers, transportation workers, military personnel, construction workers, miners, farmers, firefighters, police officers, musicians, and entertainment industry professionals.

If you have to raise your voice to shout over the noise to be heard by someone within an arm’s length, that noise could be a serious risk to your hearing.

To read more, click this link....http://www.betterhearing.org/hearing_loss_prevention/

Dr. Sarah Nelson

Meet Dr. Sarah Nelson

Dr. Sarah Nelson has over 10 years of experience as an Audiologist. She has a Doctorate of Audiology from Salus University, Elkins Park, PA, a Master of Science degree in Audiology from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, WI and a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech/Language/Hearing Sciences from Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MN.

 

She is a member the following organizations:

· Minnesota Registered Audiologist

· American Academy of Audiology (AAA)

· Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA)

· American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

· American Legion Auxiliary

 

Community Service:  United Way Board of Directors

Dr. Nelson is a daughter, wife and a mom.  She is aware of the importance of leading a healthy life and having healthy hearing - for her family, herself and her community. She wants the same quality of life for you.

Call 218-454-EARS (3277) or visit our website: www.454ears.com

Dr. Sarah Nelson, Accucare Audiology

 

CHILDREN AND HEARING LOSS

A child’s development depends fundamentally on his ability to hear. Children learn how to speak by listening to others and then they communicate themselves. Healthy hearing helps your child tackle life’s challenges and opportunities, at home and at school.

What do you do if your child is hard of hearing? If you have concerns about your child’s hearing, make an appointment for an audiological (hearing) assessment. This assessment will determine whether, and to what extent, a hearing loss is present. No child is too young to have his hearing checked. With the modern technologies, even newborn babies can be examined for hearing loss.

With the latest technology, this early diagnosis gives you and your child the chance to compensate the hearing loss. The success of numerous forms of treatment for children prove that if the child has optimal hearing he/she is likely to have better opportunities to reach his/her potential.

Dr. Sarah Nelson

How Did This Happen?

Hearing loss that occurs gradually as you age is common. Today approximately 800 million people in the world are affected by hearing loss. By 2015 it is estimated to be 1.1 billion.

· 65% have mild hearing loss

· 30% moderate loss

· 5% severe or profound loss

Doctors believe that heredity and chronic exposure to loud noises are the main factors that contribute to hearing loss over time. Other factors, such as earwax blockage, can prevent your ears from conducting sounds.

Hearing loss is not a symptom of just the older generation. The majority of people with hearing loss are school and working age. More and more young people experience hearing loss, mainly due to excessive noise levels and listening to music too loud (i.e. MP3 players, iPods, etc.)

You can't reverse hearing loss. However, you don't have to live in a world of muted, less distinct sounds. With Dr. Nelson’s help, you can take steps to improve what you hear and enjoy your life.

Dr. Sarah Nelson

Untreated Hearing Loss

People with untreated hearing loss oftentimes have an increase in negative psychosocial conditions, such as depression, anxiety and isolation, especially in the older generation. The quality of life for the hearing impaired individual is affected if left untreated.

Among people over the age of 50 suffering from hearing loss, the survey revealed that those who did not use hearing aids were more likely to report the following:

 

· Sadness and depression

· Worry and anxiety

· Paranoia

· Less social activity

· Emotional turmoil and insecurity

 

Don't suffer with untreated hearing loss. Call today to schedule a hearing test for yourself or a

loved one. 218-454-EARS (3277).

 

Dr. Sarah Nelson