OTC Hearing Aids – One Year Later
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%…
Can Cognitive Health Be Improved By Treating Hearing Loss?
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
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
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…
What Hearing Aid is the Best for me?
You had your hearing tested and you’re now thinking about hearing aids? How do you know which hearing aid is right for you? Hearing aids can be a new and challenging road to navigate, and Columbus Speech & Hearing is here to help. At Columbus Speech & Hearing, our experienced Audiologists work with individuals of…
Mike & Drema
Real Ear Verification: What is it and Why Does it Matter?
Real-Ear Verification is the only objective measure of hearing aid performance on a patient’s ear and is considered the “gold standard” of hearing aid care. At Columbus Speech & Hearing, we complete these measures on every hearing aid patient.
World Hearing Day
Every year on March 3, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes World Hearing Day. This year’s theme is “Ear and hearing care for all!” Ear and hearing problems are among the most common problems encountered in the community. Approximately 48 million people in the United States have some degree of hearing loss. Some were born…
Over 30 Years of Trust and Support
When I was about 7 or 8, my mother brought me to Columbus Speech & Hearing to get a hearing evaluation and fitted for the best hearing aid to fit me. Ann Wheat was the one who helped my mother get everything she needed for me. So we kept going to her, and Ann was…
How to Manage Your Hearing Aids During a Hospital Stay
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “In 2019, 7.1% of adults aged 45 and over used a hearing aid.” If you’re among this population and you’re anticipating a hospital stay, it’s important that you’re ready to manage your hearing aids. We review some tips for this below. Bring a Carrying Case…