Danny W. Gnewikow, PhD, FAAA
Audiologist, CCC
Founder & Chief Audiologist

 

Danville, VA
(434) 799-6288

Lynchburg, VA
(434) 528-4245

Educational Videos & Blog

5 Reasons Why People Don’t Get Their Hearing Tested

Danny Gnewikow 0 2806
Many people are hesitant to get their hearing tested. Common excuses: 1. “I can hear fine – as long as you look right at me or speak up.” 2. “Too many people mumble, and isn’t it hard from everyone to hear in background noise?” 3. “I have ‘selective hearing.’” 4. “If a hearing exam were important, my family physician would have recommended it.” 5. “I don’t want my boss to know my hearing is going.”

4 Habits for Healthier Hearing for People with Diabetes

Danny Gnewikow 0 2766
Because hearing depends on small blood vessels and nerves in the inner ear, researchers theorize that high blood glucose levels over time in diabetics can damage these blood vessels and nerves causing diminished ability to hear. 13 studies found that diabetics were 2.15 times more likely to have hearing loss even in their early years. 1. Annual Hearing Exam by an Audiologist. You do it for your eyes. Now do it for your ears. 2. Use hearing aids, if recommended. Hearing aid technology has advanced radically in recent years. Hearing loss is not reversible; however, today’s hearing aids - virtually invisible - can dramatically enhance your ability to hear and engage with others. Hearing aids today can stream sound directly from your smartphone and other Bluetooth devices. 3. Keep your blood sugar under control. Blood sugar levels can affect your hearing health. 4. Use ear protection. Using ear protection is one of the best - and simplest - things you can do to preserve your hearing. Carry disposable earplugs with you. Limit your use of headphones and ear buds.

Love Your Heart, Test Your Hearing

Danny Gnewikow 0 3094
Your heart and hearing may have more in common than you realize. A person’s hearing health and cardiovascular health frequently correspond. A healthy cardiovascular system—a person’s heart, arteries, and veins—has a positive effect on hearing. Conversely, inadequate blood flow and trauma to the blood vessels of the inner ear can contribute to hearing loss. David R. Friedland, MD, PhD, Professor and Vice-Chair of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee says, “The inner ear is so sensitive to blood flow that it is possible that abnormalities in the cardiovascular system could be noted here earlier than in other less sensitive parts of the body.” 4 heart-healthy reasons to get a hearing test: 1. Research points to heart-hearing health link. 2. The ear may be a window to the heart. 3. The same lifestyle behaviors that affect the heart impact hearing. 4. Addressing hearing loss improves quality of life, helps reduce stress.

Raising the Red Flag on the Heart-Hearing Connection

Danny Gnewikow 0 2318
Gen Xers and baby boomers should no longer ignore their hearing loss because of the link between cardiovascular and hearing health. A growing body of research shows that a person’s hearing health and cardiovascular health frequently correspond. Charles E. Bishop, AuD, Assistant Professor in the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences—finds the evidence showing a link between cardiovascular and hearing health so compelling that they say “the ear may be a window to the heart.” “Hearing health should not be assessed in a vacuum,” says Bishop. Why the Heart-Hearing Connection? Studies have shown that a healthy cardiovascular system—a person’s heart, arteries, and veins—has a positive effect on hearing. Conversely, inadequate blood flow and trauma to the blood vessels of the inner ear can contribute to hearing loss. David R. Friedland, MD, PhD, Professor and Vice-Chair of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, has been studying the relationship between cardiovascular and hearing health for years. He offers up this response: “The inner ear is so sensitive to blood flow that it is possible that abnormalities in the cardiovascular system could be noted here earlier than in other less sensitive parts of the body.” In one study, published in The Laryngoscope, Dr. Friedland and fellow researchers found that audiogram patterns correlate strongly with cerebrovascular and peripheral arterial disease and may represent a screening test for those at risk. They even concluded that patients with low-frequency hearing loss should be regarded as at risk for cardiovascular events, and appropriate referrals should be considered.
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