Hearing Aids

Ear is the new wrist Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on December 15, 2020 Stick it in your ear — why the ear is a smart place to put a fitness tracker Health and fitness trackers are now commonplace in our digital lives. As we strive to stay healthier and live longer, we look to these body-worn gadgets to tell us how were doing with our daily exercise goals, and as a gateway to our overall health and wellness. Wrist-worn... Read More
Made for face masks Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on December 02, 2020 Face masks have unequivocally been a good thing when it comes to helping prevent the spread of COVID-19. But they present challenges when trying to communicate with others. Especially if you or the person you’re communicating with has hearing loss. Face masks muffle speech and block important lip-reading cues. Both are key to understanding speech. Add in... Read More
All ears: How often should I replace my hearing aids? Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on November 17, 2020 Today’s hearing aids are more sophisticated than ever before. They utilize the most advanced microelectronics, wireless radios, and computer processors, and they are built to exacting specifications to offer the best hearing possible. This includes being as resistant to moisture, dust and dirt as a high-tech instrument that sits in your ear all day can be.... Read More
Four ways hearing better can help you age better Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on November 04, 2020 We all want to stay healthy and happy as we age. Exercising and eating right are two obvious things we can do to help. But did you know hearing our best has a big impact, too? Here are four ways hearing your best can help you age your best. Hearing your best helps keep you social When we hear clearly and without limitations, it’s easier to be engaged,... Read More
Have you seen our Livio Edge AI custom rechargeable hearing aids? Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on October 16, 2020 Have you seen our Livio Edge AI custom rechargeable hearing aids? If we say so ourselves, our new Livio Edge AI custom rechargeable hearing aids are pretty great. But we’re biased. So we won’t blame you if you want a second opinion. How about this one? Youtuber and audiologist, Dr. Cliff Olson, recently called them “the most significant... Read More
Can treating hearing loss help stave off cognitive decline? Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on October 02, 2020 We all want to maintain our mental sharpness as we get older. Dementia, Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline are conditions everyone hopes to avoid. A growing body of research has shown that hearing loss plays a role in our ability to stay mentally sharp as we age. In fact, in a 2018 review of the research, it was concluded that untreated hearing loss... Read More
Can COVID-19 cause tinnitus or hearing loss? Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on September 16, 2020 COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, brings with it a host of health concerns. Most of these symptoms are respiratory in nature as reported by the CDC; shortness of breath, coughing, sore throat [1]. However, there is some concern that the coronavirus may cause some neurological symptoms as well. In a study of 214 patients with varying degrees... Read More
Seven reasons to treat your hearing loss early Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on September 03, 2020 Hearing loss is typically gradual, and therefore, often something we adapt to over time. We might not notice it for months or years. However, age-related hearing loss, known as presbycusis, is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults, so experiencing hearing loss is not uncommon. Approximately one in three people in the United States between the... Read More
Simple hearing aid troubleshooting tips you can do at home Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on August 18, 2020 Like any high-tech device, hearing aids may occasionally become fussy. Not to worry – most issues can be solved easily and at home. Below are some of the most common calls we get at our Support line, and the simple troubleshooting tips you can do to fix them from the safety of your home. If you experience one of the following problems: • Loss of... Read More
Why you should wear your hearing aids every day, even if you are sheltered at home! Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on August 03, 2020 Many wearers of hearing aids view them as communication devices. They are! Really great ones! Communication is often the primary function that we ask hearing aids to fill in our lives. But it is also thoughtful to note that your hearing aids are also brain activators, emergency alert notification tools, and connectivity devices! That’s why hearing... Read More
Hearing loss, talking loudly and COVID-19 Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on July 15, 2020 By now we should all know that infectious pathogens — like COVID-19 — can be transmitted from person to person through coughing and sneezing. But did you know it may be transmitted simply by talking, too? In a study published in May in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers found that normal human speech produces thousands... Read More
Stress relief tips and tactics Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on July 01, 2020 During these uncertain times of COVID-19, many of us are feeling increased levels of stress — whether it’s stress about our health or the health of a loved one, stress about our finances or job, the future of the economy, or...(fill in your own stress here). Just know that these feelings are all completely valid. You’ve likely seen more media... Read More
Do’s and don’ts of living with tinnitus Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on May 19, 2020 Over 50 million Americans experience tinnitus — or ringing in the ears. When you first realize you have tinnitus, it can be difficult to know what to do. Here is a starter list of dos and don’ts for people dealing with tinnitus. Do’s 1. Do talk to a hearing health professional if tinnitus is affecting your ability to sleep, read, concentrate... Read More
Noise is the antithesis of the best sounds ever Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on May 08, 2020 The best sounds ever relax us, entice us, evoke fond memories, and force smiles on our faces. They are the opposite of noise. Noise — according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — can cause bad things, like stress or anxiety or depression or high blood pressure. Especially if you are regularly exposed to it without hearing... Read More
Hearing loss increases the risk of accidental injuries Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on April 02, 2020 An analysis of data from the National Health Interview Survey found that, over an eight year period (2007 – 2015), people who reported that they had “a lot of trouble” hearing ended up being twice as likely to have an accidental injury — both at work and leisure — as people who reported no trouble hearing. While the study... Read More
The inability to distinguish sounds is a form of hearing loss Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on March 17, 2020 The National Safety Council’s Safety + Health magazine recently published an article about ototoxicants, chemicals that can cause hearing loss and balance issues. In the article, warnings were shared from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) about which industries have higher exposure risks to these chemicals — and how the adverse... Read More
Five reasons why you should not ignore hearing loss Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on March 02, 2020 Does this sound familiar? Either you or someone you know is just starting to deal with hearing loss. But instead of taking it seriously, you brush it aside. You can cope, you’ve decided. You’ll just turn the TV up a little louder. Ask people to speak up or repeat what they said. And really, the quiet can be kind of nice, right? “Why should I... Read More
Five things you should know about tinnitus Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on February 03, 2020 The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 50 million Americans experience tinnitus. That’s over 15 percent of the U.S. population, or nearly one in every six of us. So what is this condition that affects so many people — and what can tinnitus sufferers do about it? We cover the basics here. 1. What is tinnitus? Tinnitus is the... Read More
"I can hear, but I can't understand" Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on February 03, 2020 One of the first things people with hearing loss observe is “I hear people fine, but I don’t understand what they are saying.” This is a consistent complaint of individuals who are experiencing the effects of a “sloping high frequency hearing loss." What’s happening and why do so many have this complaint? Hearing loss involves... Read More
Wearing hearing aids can reduce the risk of cognitive decline Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on January 17, 2020 Research by Johns Hopkins and other institutions have linked cognitive decline and even dementia to hearing loss for reasons you can read about here. One study found that older adults with hearing loss experience a 30-40 percent faster decline in cognitive abilities than peers with normal hearing. But a 25-year-long study published in 2015 found that hearing aid... Read More
Hearing loss impacts memory and comprehension Posted by Kelly Reynolds, Hearing Instrument Specialist on January 03, 2020 Readers of the publication Trends in Neurosciences will already know today’s fact. For the other 99.9 percent of us, though, it is definitely interesting. According to a story in the June 2016 edition, research has confirmed that “even relatively mild levels of hearing loss” can lead to cascading negative effects on the brain. Those effects can... Read More

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Sterling Hearing Aid Center

603-D Freeport Rd

Sterling, Illinois 61081

(815) 626-3220

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