Author: Vy Tran

What comes to mind when you think of healthy ageing? A tai chi class in the park? Volunteering your time and skills in the community? Finally learning French or taking up pottery? New experiences and travel? Physical activity, a healthy diet, making a meaningful contribution to the world and keeping your mind active are all important elements of healthy ageing. But there’s another crucial factor that’s often overlooked. That’s protecting your hearing. Why? Because research shows there’s a strong link between untreated hearing loss and dementia. What is dementia? Dementia is a group of symptoms that can cause progressive memory…

Have you recently learned that you have hearing loss and may need a hearing aid? It can be a lot to take in. While you may only buy a hearing aid once or twice in life, we’ve helped many, many people to choose a device that improves their hearing and fits with their lifestyle. Here are the answers to the most common questions we’re asked. 1. How do I know if I need a hearing aid? You know you need a hearing aid if a hearing test performed by a qualified independent audiologist shows that you have a type or…

1. Why Audiology was my choice Growing up I was always passionate about helping people improve their quality of life. From a young age I knew that I wanted to work as a health professional and help those in need with their daily difficulties. Many people don’t realize how important our hearing is until it’s damaged or even worse, lost. Unlike our vision where any difficulties are easily recognized, people with a hearing loss are often not aware they have one. Having a hearing loss is a hidden disease where symptoms are slow and gradual and can vary immensely from…

Many of us think about a loved one or a friend suffering from dementia and can clearly picture how tough it can be. Not only is it very difficult on the person with dementia, it can also be very stressful and emotionally challenging for the family members and carers around. Dementia is a complex disorder which often occurs as a result of brain disease or injury. It can affect an individual’s memory, personality and thinking processes. The exact cause of dementia is still unknown and whilst an effective cure does not exist at this stage, 12 risk factors have been…

The experience of using hearing aids for the first time can be confusing. This is especially true if your hearing loss occurs gradually over several years. You may find the first use uncomfortable with sounds appearing louder than you expected. Moreover, there are sounds that you have not heard over a long time and your brain may take time to interpret these sounds and adjust to the change. While the experience can be overwhelming, make sure that you do not allow it to put you off. Getting used to the feeling of having a device in your ears will take…

Hearing impairment is a common sensory deficit and often develops with age. Also referred to as presbycusis, age-related hearing loss occurs gradually as people age and makes it difficult for them to follow conversations with family and friends. The inability to hear clearly impacts several aspects of life and may even lead to feelings of isolation. Age-related hearing loss affects both ears and occurs gradually. This often makes it difficult to identify the problem and people may not even realize that they have lost some of their ability to hear. Causes of Age-related Hearing Loss A decline in the ability…

Hearing loss is a common concern and implies the partial or complete inability to hear. It is caused by a variety of factors and affects people of all ages. Based on the cause, hearing impairment can be temporary or permanent, sudden or gradual. Not only is the inability to hear sounds clearly frustrating, but it can also have an impact on the emotional, social and psychological well-being of an individual. Being aware of the signs of hearing loss can enable you to identify the exact problem and take measures to prevent the problem from aggravating further. However, which are the…