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One in Seven Middle-Aged Adults Has Hearing Loss
03-21-2011Researchers in Madison, Wisconsin have discovered that 14% of middle-aged Americans have some sort of hearing loss. For those aged 48 to 59, that percentage jumps to around 20%, and for those 80 years old and older, the percentage skyrockets to 90%. The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health research study included 3,285 subjects from 21 to 84 years of age.
Siemens Motion 501
04-13-2010I've had three different hearing aids in my life, and the Motion 501 ITE is the best and most comfortable out of all of them. It isn't very hidden on my ear, but it is quite stylish. My hearing loss isn't severe, so I wasn't in need of something too strong. If you have severe hearing loss this many not be the one for you. I have it on the second to highest setting and it is perfect for me. If you are looking for an everyday hearing aid I would recommend this one.
Loud TV Commercials Banned
03-16-2011For years, Americans have suffered as their besieged ears were assaulted by blaring television commercials. As time went on, TV pitchmen seemed to get louder and louder, and more and more frenzied. We retaliated with the ‘mute’ button on our remote. We recorded our television programs and fast forwarded through the commercials. The Federal Communications Commission put standards in place in an effort to remedy the problem, but savvy advertisers found ways to beat the system. Clever inventors devised ‘sound leveling technologies’ for home theater systems.
On January 4 of this year President Obama signed into law the CALM Act, S. 2847.(1) The ‘Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation’ Act requires the volume of television commercials to be no louder than the television programs during which the ads appear. Introduced by House Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA) in February of 2009, the popular bill had broad support in Congress and on both sides of the aisle. Also supporting the bill were the enthusiastic ears of the American public.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who sponsored the bill in the Senate, responded to criticism from those who suggested that Congress should maintain its focus on weightier matters. “While this is far from the biggest issue we face, it will mean one less daily annoyance in our lives. I appreciate the House's action and congratulate Representative Eshoo.”
Canada may soon follow suit with Bill C-621 which would require broadcasters to make sure the volume of commercials is consistent with the programs they accompany.(2)
Research shows that loud television commercials are universally reviled. It should be added that loud noises in general can put one’s hearing health in jeopardy and even lead to hearing loss. Demo Dirt, a website that studies Demographic Trends, references an Adweek Media/Harris Poll of more than 2,000 adult Americans showing that 86 percent say that commercials are louder than the shows they are watching, with 57 percent contending that the commercials are “much louder” than the shows. Of those who say that commercials are louder, 93 percent are bothered by the volume. 62 percent say the excess volume bothers them “a lot”, 31 percent say the louder ads bother them “a little”, and only 7 percent state that it doesn’t bother them at all. (3)
References:
(1) Rep Eshoo’s press release
(2) Conservative MP wants to dial down loud commercials, By Carmen Chai, Postmedia News February 11, 2011
(3) Loud Commercials Are a Big Turnoff, by Galia Myron Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Hearing Loss and Dementia
03-30-2011Researchers are calling for “critically needed” “rehabilitative strategies” for confronting a newly discovered association between hearing loss and the progression of dementia.
How to be a smart hearing aid buyer
03-18-2011
Many people have a misconceptions about hearing aids and believe there is no solution to their hearing problem. Consumerrespots.org conducted a national survey of 1,100 people who bought hearing aids in the past three years, and lab-tested the features of 44 hearing aids to learn more about the following challenges.
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