Beverly Hills Hearing Center was founded in 1983 by Bonnie Baehr. Prior to that, Dr. Baehr practiced at the House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles as a staff audiologist for seven years. She was involved with diagnostic testing, hearing aid evaluations, research and rehabilitation. Dr. Baehr did her clinical fellowship training at the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in downtown Los Angeles. She is a member of the American Academy of Audiology, American Speech Language and Hearing Association, California Academy of Audiology and Academy of Doctors of Audiology.
Latest posts by Bonnie L. Baehr, Au.D. (see all)
- Exploring the Genetic Landscape of Hearing Loss: Understanding the Role of Genetics - April 15, 2024
- The Hazards of Pretending to Hear - March 25, 2024
- Navigating the World of Cochlear Implants: A Comprehensive Guide - March 15, 2024
As we enter the new year, many people make resolutions to improve their health and well-being. Common resolutions include losing weight, quitting smoking, and exercising more. While these goals are essential, we must consider our hearing health, which we pay less attention to nowadays.
Types of hearing loss
There are several types of hearing loss, including conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, and mixed hearing loss.
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound cannot pass through the outer ear and middle ear to the inner ear. This hearing loss is often caused by a blockage in the ear, such as earwax build-up or a punctured eardrum. Conductive hearing loss can sometimes be treated with medication or surgery.
Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the hair cells in the inner ear or to the auditory nerve. It is the most common hearing loss, often caused by exposure to loud noises or aging. This hearing loss is usually permanent and cannot be reversed with medication or surgery.
Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is treated based on the specific causes of the conductive and sensorineural components.
Why we should treat hearing loss in 2023
Treating hearing loss should be added as a goal for 2023, as it can have numerous benefits. For example, better hearing can improve job and school performance. When we have difficulty hearing, understanding and processing information can be challenging, leading to lower productivity and performance. We can improve our ability to listen and communicate by treating hearing loss, leading to better grades and job performance.
Additionally, treating hearing loss can improve our relationships. When we have difficulty hearing, it can be frustrating for the person with hearing loss and their loved ones. Misunderstandings and communication breakdowns can strain relationships and lead to social isolation. We can improve our ability to communicate and connect with others by treating hearing loss, leading to more robust and fulfilling relationships.
Another benefit of treating hearing loss is improved balance. Our ears play a crucial role in helping us maintain our balance, and hearing loss can disrupt this process. As a result, people with hearing loss may have difficulty walking, standing, and performing other physical activities. We can improve our balance by treating hearing loss and reducing the risk of falls and other accidents.
Furthermore, treating hearing loss can increase physical safety and confidence. When we have difficulty hearing, we may not be able to hear important sounds such as car horns, sirens, and warning signals. This can put us at greater risk of accidents and injuries. By treating hearing loss, we can improve our ability to hear these sounds and feel more confident in navigating the world around us.
Finally, treating hearing loss can help reduce cognitive decline. Research has shown that hearing loss can harm cognitive function, leading to memory loss, confusion, and other cognitive issues. We can reduce the risk of cognitive decline by treating hearing loss and maintaining our mental sharpness as we age.
Treat hearing loss to help you achieve your other life goals.
Treating hearing loss can also help us achieve our other new year’s resolutions.
- Suppose one of your goals is to be more active. In that case, improved hearing can make it easier to participate in group fitness classes or listen to instructions at the gym.
- If your goal is to learn something new, better hearing can help you take in more information and communicate with new classmates.
- If your goal is to be more social, treating hearing loss can improve your ability to hear and understand conversations, making it easier to connect with others.
Incorporating an annual hearing test into your new year’s resolutions can help monitor your hearing health and ensure that any issues are caught and treated early. Regular hearing tests can also help you identify any changes in your hearing over time and make any necessary adjustments to your hearing aids or other assistive devices.
In conclusion, treating hearing loss should be a goal for 2023. We can improve our job and school performance, relationships, balance, physical safety, and cognitive function by addressing our hearing health. Contact us today to set up an appointment! Let’s make hearing health a priority in the new year.