HAVE YOU HEARD?

Hearing Solutions of North Carolina is conveniently located on Jake Alexander Blvd. Driving that busy road can be a bit overwhelming at times! It is hard to take in all the passing signs as well as watch the traffic so you may not have noticed the change to our office sign. My name (Dr. Lorin S. Oden, Board Certified Audiologist) has been replaced with Hearing * Tinnitus * Balance. With the addition of Dr. Mussler and Dr. Carpenter to the practice, it was time to make the change.  Although it felt as if I was fired from my own practice, I am thrilled for the growth!.

As audiologists, we are responsible for the entire auditory system which consists of the hearing organ as well as the balance organ.  Frequently we get asked: Why do I need a hearing test if I am dizzy or have vertigo? Why do I need a hearing test when I have a buzzing/ringing noise in my head? Everything is connected.  Fluids are shared and all the information travels up the auditory nerve to be processed by the brain.

When we recommend treatment either for tinnitus or hearing loss we need to understand how your brain works.  Do you have sound tolerance issues? Do you have difficulty understanding in background noise? Does your brain need a little extra help because it has slowed down over the years?  Prescriptive hearing devices are not amplifiers.  Our auditory system does not need to have everything made louder.  It needs precise information so it can make sense of the world around you.

Since we do focus on brain health, I was excited to see in the March/April edition of the AARP Bulletin:  Ask Dr. Adam “Can I Strengthen my Brain Later in Life?” Dr. Adam reports that our brain can form new connections and even grow new cells throughout our lives with the right conditions. These are the five things he suggests we focus on.

Exercise: Movement improves blood flow, lowers inflammation and strengthens the vascular network that keeps your kidneys and brain alive. At Hearing Solutions, we  measure your balance to see if you are at risk of falling. Your brain needs information from your ears, eyes and joints to keep you stable.  Keep your body and brain strong by moving.

Food: Eating a diet rich in leafy greens, berries, nuts, lean proteins and whole grains can reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s Disease by 53%.  Stay away from sugar and processed foods.

Sleep: This is essential for memory and removal of metabolic waste from your brain. Shoot for 7-9 hours of sleep every night.

Curiosity: Lifelong learning protects cognition. These challenges engage neuroplasticity which is the brain’s ability to rewire and strengthen itself.

Connections: Staying engaged with friends and your community buffers against loneliness, depression and the brain decline that can follow.  Addressing your hearing loss and initiating treatment is critical to maintaining good cognitive function.  If you have invested in treatment, wear your hearing devices.  All day, every day!  Your brain will thank you. Your body will thank you.  Your overall health will thank you.

If you would like more information on hearing treatment or would like to see if you are at risk of falling, give Katlin a call to schedule an appointment. Remember to visit our website: www.hearingsolutionsofnc.com, like us on Facebook.  Dr. Mussler, Dr. Carpenter, Jane, Cheryl, Jamie, Diane and I look forward to seeing you soon.