A Journey of Hope
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In December 1982, Ian entered the world with challenges immediately setting him on a unique path. His Apgar scores were not promising, and as the months passed, it became evident that he wasn’t meeting typical developmental milestones. Debbie Freece, a registered nurse and Ian’s determined mother became increasingly anxious about her son’s well-being. The doctor…
Can Hearing Aids Reduce The Risk of Early Death?
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In a groundbreaking article written in the January 2024 edition of The Lancet, researchers found an association between hearing aid use and mortality rates in adults with hearing loss in the United States. This discovery is pivotal as hearing loss is recognized as an independent risk factor for adverse health outcomes and mortality. The study…
Mekayla’s Story
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Mekayla is a longtime Audiology client at Columbus Speech & Hearing. Born with profound hearing loss, she wore hearing aids since she was a toddler and signed but made the choice at 16 to undergo cochlear implant surgery. She decided, on her own, that she wanted to expand her communication abilities and her parents supported…
Megan’s Story
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Megan is a teacher with hearing loss. Thanks to a visit to the CSH Audiology department, a hearing loss diagnosis, and a fitting with new hearing aids, she “couldn’t wait for school to start.” When she reflects on how her new hearing aids have already changed her life, she remembers a not-so-distant past when, “I…
From Watching to Participating
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Noah was born a healthy baby, with no complications. He passed all the newborn tests given, including the hearing screening. However, by 18 months, his parents began to notice that he wasn’t speaking as well as other children his age. By the time of his 3 year appointment, he still could not articulate his wants…
OTC Hearing Aids – One Year Later
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October 2023 marks one year since the FDA approved Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids (OTC). Despite predictions of disruption to the healthcare market, the devices have yet to gain widespread popularity. The American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) found that only 2% of those with hearing difficulties ages 40 and older have purchased the devices. Only 4%…
A Good Resource
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Kelsey Andrews has had the pleasure of forming new connections at Columbus Speech & Hearing, as we celebrate our 100th anniversary. Having undergone years of speech therapy since childhood, both at this center and at other practices, Kelsey recently took a significant step by adopting hearing aids for the first time. Their choice to entrust…
Can Cognitive Health Be Improved By Treating Hearing Loss?
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In a groundbreaking study unveiled in July 2023, researchers have unveiled a breakthrough in the field of cognitive health. The study, titled “The Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders” (ACHIEVE), was published in The Lancet and represents a significant milestone in our understanding of aging-related cognitive decline. This multicenter randomized trial sought to investigate…
History of the Hearing Aid
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Hearing aids have been around since the 17th century. In 1634, the first hearing aid was the “ear trumpet,” a device used to funnel sounds into the year. These were large devices made from wood, animal horns, snail shells, and sometimes metal. The first portable hearing aid was made in 1898. It was a mobile…
Types of Hearing Loss
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People can experience three types of hearing loss, which can be permanent or reversible. Let’s take a closer look at each of them. Sensorineural hearing loss is hearing loss that occurs in the organ of hearing (the cochlea) and the auditory nerve. This hearing loss happens from noise exposure, aging, taking medications that are harmful…