Healthy Hearing

In Rural Areas Where Audiologists are Rare, Telemedicine Can Help

Katherine Bouton FDA and hearing aids, Healthy Hearing, telemedicine

In November, the FDA issued a ruling that will make life easier for cochlear implant recipients living in rural areas. Implant surgery and immediate follow-up for mapping and programming must be done at a medical center or specialized clinic, but the new FDA ruling would allow remote programming for later adjustments. The audiologist and patient … Continue reading In Rural Areas Where Audiologists are Rare, Telemedicine Can Help

One Step Closer to Prevention of Hereditary Hearing Loss

Katherine Bouton Genetic hearing loss, Healthy Hearing, Hereditary hearing loss

Almost half of all hearing loss has an underlying genetic cause. Late-onset hearing loss, which occurs after the acquisition of speech, may appear in generation after generation, often progressing to a severe or even profound loss. Or it may skip generations, passing the faulty gene along to unsuspecting offspring. Those affected, even if they were … Continue reading One Step Closer to Prevention of Hereditary Hearing Loss

Let’s Make Hearing Loss a Visible Disability

Katherine Bouton Healthy Hearing, Hearing Loss as a Disability , ,

Hearing loss is often referred to as an invisible disability, because there are no telltale markers -- no wheelchair, no white cane. It’s invisible even compared to Deafness, with its vibrant silent language. For a long time, people with hearing loss wanted to keep it invisible. They wanted hearing aids no one could see, they … Continue reading Let’s Make Hearing Loss a Visible Disability

Emergency Preparedness for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Katherine Bouton emergency preparedness, Healthy Hearing

This past summer, people all over the world experienced floods, tornadoes, wildfires, earthquakes and terrorist attacks, not to mention a host of other catastrophes. This is an old column but I thought it was worth reposting. . It goes without saying that everyone should be prepared with an emergency plan. But for people with hearing … Continue reading Emergency Preparedness for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

About Those OTC Hearing Aids

Katherine Bouton Healthy Hearing, OTC Hearing Aids

Thanks to Gael Hannan for inviting me to write about Over the Counter hearing aids for her column this week, on Hearing Health and Technology Matters. http://hearinghealthmatters.org/betterhearingconsumer/2017/4790/ This puts together much of what I have written previously on the subject, in one tidy package.

Great News for People With Hearing Loss

Katherine Bouton Healthy Hearing

Today the Senate passed the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act, which HLAA has actively supported, in the belief that this will bring relief to millions of Americans who do not now have hearing aids and improve hearing services for people with all levels of hearing loss. You can read HLAA's press release here: Senate Passes the … Continue reading Great News for People With Hearing Loss

The Toll of Hearing Loss is Global

Katherine Bouton Global Hearing Loss, Healthy Hearing, hearing loss and vision problems, noise-related hearing loss, OTC Hearing Aids, untreated hearing loss ,

A new study published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet offers an unblinking look at the tremendous burden of hearing loss worldwide. “Global hearing health care: new findings and perspectives” was published on July 10th. The authors are Blake S. Wilson, Debara L. Tucci, Michael H. Merson and Gerard M. O’Donoghue. The first and … Continue reading The Toll of Hearing Loss is Global

The Politics of OTC Hearing Aids

Katherine Bouton Healthy Hearing

Many people with hearing loss, and many professionals involved in hearing health care, either support or disagree with the Over the Counter Hearing Aid Act currently being considered by Congress. Their reasons have to do with their view of what's best for people with hearing loss. I'm a strong supporter, as readers know. I don't … Continue reading The Politics of OTC Hearing Aids

Advocacy: Lessons Learned

Katherine Bouton Healthy Hearing

My friend and HLAA colleague Ruth Bernstein gave me permission to repost this excellent essay. Posted by Ruth Bernstein on May 5, 2017 Accessibility + Advocacy, Communicate Well, Live Well | 2 Comments | Facebook Tweet Email Sound Advice by Ruth D. Bernstein I have a history as an advocate for people with hearing loss … Continue reading Advocacy: Lessons Learned