A recent essay contest in the midwest created some interesting responses from middle school and high school students. When given the chance to write on any topic it should come as no surprise that many students selected cell phones. Nearly like an appendage these days there are so many people who rely on phones for the majority of their communication. Creating a fictional story about what students could do to change their world is an idea that quickly leads to what real relationships are like and how phones can limit these connections.
In reality, of course, it is nearly impossible to exist in today’s world if you do not have access to technology. Finding a healthy balance between the digital world that we depend on and the human connections that are essential is a challenge, but there are many people who lack the skills that they need to interact face to face. It is difficult to know, of course, whether or not these same people would have struggled with one on one interactions before technology became so prevalent.
Both Adult and Pediatric Hearing Tests Provide the First Step to the Best Connections
With or without technology, human connections are difficult to make if you cannot hear. Unfortunately, there are a number of causes of hearing impairment that can limit the connections that some people have. With the help of an audiologist and the the latest hearing devices, however, many people can find the connections they need to lead a healthy and full life.
With the latest research, doctors know that two to three of every 1,000 children in the U.S. are born with a detectable hearing loss in one or both ears. For this reason, early detection is important so that these youngest of listeners can get the help that they need to start them onto the best path of a lifetime of successful connections.
Although the causes of hearing impairment can vary, the solution to dealing with this loss is often the same: the right kind of hearing aid. With a detailed tinnitus exam it is possible for audiologists to determine the kind of hearing aid that will be the most effective. Basically, there are two types of tinnitus: subjective tinnitus and objective tinnitus. More than 99% of all reported tinnitus cases are subjective. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that as many as 15% of the general public, more than 50 million Americans, experience some form of tinnitus. Consider some of these other facts and figures about the many ways that hearing loss can effect the general population:
- Although the first all-transistor hearing aid was invented in 1952, the first electric hearing aid was invented in 1898.
- 26 million Americans, which represent 15% of the countries population, between the ages of 20 and 69 have high frequency hearing loss due to exposure to loud sounds.
- Across all ages, about 20% of Americans report some degree of hearing loss.
- By age 65, one out of every three people has some degree of hearing loss, although there are several causes of hearing impairment.
- How do I know when to call a personal injury lawyer?
- Who should I call after a car accident? 911? My insurance company? An attorney?
It is estimated that by 2025, 900 million people throughout the world will be hearing impaired. And while the causes for hearing impairment may differ, all of these people will be searching for a way to make the best connections to the world around them. Fortunately, in a time of continually expanding digital technology there are many new kinds of hearing devices that can provide the help that so many people will need.
We live in a golden age of digital technology and communication. The fact of the matter is, however, the human connection of being able to talk and listen to friends, family, and co workers is one of the most important. When hearing loss, no matter what the causes of hearing impairment are, limit this ability to communicate it is impossible to stay as successfully connected. With the work of the best audiologists and the use of the latest hearing aids, however, there are opportunities that wil allow everyone to reconnect by listening well.
