by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A concerned daughter wrote: My dad is 74 years old, in great physical condition, slim and active. Within the past 5 months he has developed a loss of hearing, ringing in his ears and balance impairment. He has been taking Prozac for the past 20 years. He adjusts the dose to […]
An Effective Coping Strategy at the Doctor’s Office—Being Proactive Paid Off for Mary
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. If you have a severe hearing loss, hearing your name being called in a busy doctor’s office is stressful to say the least, and can be an exercise in futility when you keep being “missed” because you never heard your name called. The good news is that it doesn’t have to […]
I Can’t Hear My Cell Phone Ringing—What Can I Do?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A man wrote: I am somewhat hard of hearing. I can never hear my cell phone when it rings , even when it is my pocket. Do you have a remote little light that would blink when my phone rings? Sorry, I’m not aware of a portable blinking light device for […]
Which Is the Least Ototoxic Antidepressant?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A lady asked: Do you have an opinion on which antidepressants are the safest for our ears—e.g. Pamelor, Desipramine, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa, etc. Is there one that is significantly less ototoxic than the others? For my money, I wouldn’t use any of the above. Why? Because there is a much safer […]
Diabetes and Hearing Loss—Much More Common Than Previously Thought
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. Most people know that if you have diabetes, you run the risk of microvascular complications that can affect the retina of your eyes and your peripheral nerves, especially in your feet. Diabetes can also damage your hearing. That is not new. What is new is just how many people with diabetes […]
Which Is Better—Hearing Aids or Cochlear Implants?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A man asked: Which is better, hearing aids or cochlear implants? The true answer is “It depends.” You see, it’s not hearing aids or cochlear implants, rather its typically hearing aids first and then, when your hearing aids no longer significantly help you hear, its time to see about getting cochlear […]