FAQs

Prolonged exposure to sound levels above 80 dB can cause permanent hearing damage. The risk increases as sound levels rise and exposure time lengthens. As a general guideline, 80 dB is considered safe for up to 8 hours. For every 5 dB increase above 80 dB, the [...]

No, the 60-60 rule is not an official medical or regulatory standard. It is an informal guideline sometimes used to help communicate safer listening habits, but it is not based on a defined or enforceable measurement. Medical and occupational hearing safety standards rely on measurable sound levels [...]

The “60-60 rule” is not an official medical rule or standard. It is a general guideline sometimes used to help people think about safer listening habits. The concept is meant to discourage listening to sound at excessive volumes for long periods of time. Sound is measured in [...]

There are a number of different hearing healthcare professionals available, but each has different education and training requirements. An audiologist and a hearing instrument specialist (HIS) are two of the most common professionals when seeking treatment for hearing loss. To better understand which professional is best for [...]

Depending on the severity and underlying condition causing the tinnitus, there are several treatments available to improve the perception of unwanted noise. The most common treatments for tinnitus include: Hearing aids with tinnitus-masking features Tinnitus retraining therapy Sound therapy Avoidance measures Avoidance of certain medications Behavioral therapy

The exact cause of tinnitus is not known in every case. However, there are several likely factors that may worsen tinnitus. These include: Noise-induced hearing loss Wax build-up in the ear canal Certain medications Ear or sinus infections Age-related hearing loss Ear diseases and disorders Jaw misalignment [...]

People with all types and degrees of hearing loss can benefit from an assistive listening device (ALD). Since the microphone of a typical hearing aid is worn on or behind your ear, its ability to enhance the talker-to-background-noise ratio can be limited. However, ALDs are designed to [...]

There are many types of hearing aids today and the style or device depends on your lifestyle, budget and hearing loss needs. There are in-the-ear styles as well as behind-the-ear styles. In addition to selecting the right style of device, it’s also important to consider what features [...]

Hearing loss in children can occur at any time in life from acquired factors such as ear infections, head trauma, certain medications and genetic factors. You may suspect your child has a hearing loss if you observe any of the following: Failed newborn hearing screening Delays in [...]

There are three main types of hearing loss and each can be caused by different factors and require different hearing aid technology and features to have the best listening experience. The three types of hearing loss include: Sensorineural hearing loss: When the problem is in the inner ear [...]