During August 6th’s Republican debate, where Donald Trump’s remarks gained him disproportionate attention, Trump seemed to comment on Rand Paul’s hearing aids. As the Times’s David Barbaro reported: “‘I don’t think you heard me,’ [Trump] scowled at Senator Rand Paul, when the lawmaker — who uses hearing aids — sought to interrupt him, then added … Continue reading Rand Paul’s Hearing Aids: Why You Should Care

Hearing loss is often referred to as a hidden disability, but one place it shouldn’t be invisible is in a government report on disability. That’s what happened last week when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a report on the prevalence of disability in the United States. The report found that more … Continue reading Why Did CDC Disability Report Exclude Hearing Loss?

One of the major complaints about hearing aids is that they don’t work well in noise. Dinner in a restaurant can mean choosing to be assaulted by the din and still not hear your dinner companions, or taking the hearing aids out and trying to get along by lip reading. The reason for the din … Continue reading Hybrid Implants Could Help Millions Hear Better

The Persistent Stigma of Hearing Loss—Even 25 Years After ADA Posted: 07/29/2015 by Katherine Bouton | Comments: 0 Thinking and reading about the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act, 25 years ago this week, has been a surprising reminder of how far we have come in a relatively short span. Twenty-five years — July … Continue reading Hearing Loss Remains a Hidden Disability. Why?

How to Enjoy the Party — Even With Hearing Loss Posted: 07/23/2015 by Katherine Bouton | 0 Comments Summertime offers the opportunity for a kind of social encounter that those with significant hearing loss don’t get often enough — an outdoor party. Being outside, without air conditioners humming or loud music blaring, makes it easier … Continue reading Fire Up the Tiki Torches — Summer Parties and Hearing Loss

My new book “Living Better With Hearing Loss: A Guide to Health, Happiness, Love, Sex, Work, Friends… and Hearing Aids” is just what it says: a one-stop shop for dealing with hearing loss. The book is available as an ebook or a paperback. You can buy it any bookstore, though they may have to order … Continue reading Everything You Need to Know About Hearing Loss — in One Easy Read

Five Ways to Hear Better Posted: 07/15/2015 by Katherine Bouton | 0 Comments Do you think you’re losing your hearing? You probably are. Two-thirds of those over 75 have some degree of hearing loss, and so do a substantial percentage of younger people. The most effective way to deal with hearing loss is to get … Continue reading LIsten Better to Hear Better

Five Ways to Hear Better Posted: 07/15/2015 by Katherine Bouton | Comments: 0 Do you think you’re losing your hearing? You probably are. Two-thirds of those over 75 have some degree of hearing loss and so do a substantial percentage of younger people. The most effective way to deal with hearing loss is to get … Continue reading The Key to Hearing Better is Listening Better

Posted: 07/08/2015 by Katherine Bouton | Comments: 0 Remember those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer with the top down—or at least the windows open—and Top 40 blasting from the radio. I thought that was one of the things I had to give up as my hearing loss got worse. I drive a lot, especially in … Continue reading The Soundtrack of Summer Drive Time

That's the Affordable Care Act, and it doesn't solve quite everything. Last week’s Supreme Court affirmation of the Affordable Care Act is good news for the 6.4 million Americans who stood to lose their health insurance if the decision had gone the other way. But it doesn’t improve matters for those with hearing loss. The … Continue reading The Ins and Outs of Hearing Aid Coverage Under the ACA