You At Your Best

Stop eye strain before it starts BY KAREN RICE YOU AT YOUR BEST It's difficult to say which of our senses most connects us with the outside world, but some would argue it's hearing. COVID has demonstrated how important staying connected is to our happiness and well being. Now more than ever, hearing well is a priority. "Good hearing increases social engagement, improves communication, lowers the risk of isolation and depression, and is part of healthy aging," says Dr. Molly Dillon, audiologist and owner of Blue Wave Hearing Centers in Bella Vista and Bentonville. Hearing loss: a sign of the times Today, people of all ages are using earbuds or headsets. Adults and kids are plugged in for hours at a time for phone calls, meetings, and schoolwork. Excessive noise exposure contributes to hearing loss. "We don't realize how important good hearing is until it begins to fade," Dr. Dillon points out. "It happens gradually. Many of my new patients often cite problems with speech understanding, especially with television or during phone calls. Following their free hearing exam, they are often surprised to learn that they have a high frequency hearing loss." Here are some ways to protect your precious sense of hearing: • Use disposable or reusable earplugs that are placed inside the ear canal and block out noise. Closely follow instructions on the earplug packaging to ensure your earplug is properly fit. • Use sound isolating earbuds or earmuff headphones when listening to a personal music device. This will block out environmental noise and allow you to listen to audio at lower volume levels. • Turn down the volume on audio devices, no matter how you listen, to allow you to enjoy your audio for longer periods of time without the threat of hearing loss. • Look for quieter products when purchasing power tools, home appliances, or sporting equipment. • Give your ears time to rest after long exposure to noise. Just like giving rest to your body after a vigorous workout, it is also beneficial to give your ears rest. Researchers have found that ears need at least 16 hours of recovery after one loud night out. Don't wait On average, Americans wait 6 years to address hearing loss, ignoring some of the signs of early hearing loss. When should you start testing? According to The American Speech- Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), if you are not having hearing loss, you should get tested every 10 years until you turn 50, and at least every 3 years after that. Some suggest a hearing screening every year. "Like an annual physical, dental or eye exam, a hearing test needs to be part of our routine checkups. Good hearing is a key element of being healthy and an important contributor to our overall quality of life," says Dr. Dillon. New research from the Hearing Industries Association (HIA) reveals that while four out of five Americans consider hearing loss serious, fewer than 16% of adults ages 20-69 who need a hearing aid use one. That number almost doubles to 30% for adults over age 70 who need a hearing aid but don't use one. If you need a hearing aid, you may be surprised at how inconspicuous and sophisticated they now are. Worn in or behind the ears, hearing aids with Bluetooth can stream sound from a phone or TV directly into your ear. New processor technology can help amplify the sounds you want to hear and help mask tinnitus. Some hearing aids can adapt to your habits and environments to improve your hearing experience. "Luckily, my offices provide patients the opportunity to try out hearing devices with our free Test Drive to determine if the technology makes a difference in their quality of life," Dr. Dillon points out. HEARING connects us to the world BY KAREN RICE YOU AT YOUR BEST During the past year, the pandemic has taken its toll in many areas of our lives. Quarantine translated into an increase in time spent indoors, working from home in front of computers, and more time relying on devices to pass the hours. Spending more time on the computer, watching television, playing video games, texting friends, or browsing the internet can lead to a condition known as "computer vision eye strain." Eye strain also may be caused through intense eye use, such as while driving long distances or engaging in activities that require close attention, such as crafting or reading. The American Optometric Association (AOA) says digital eye strain can result in various forms of discomfort, which increase with the amount of screen use. The most common symptoms include: • headaches; • blurred vision; • dry, watery or burning eyes; 6 | YOU AT YOUR BEST | YOUATYOURBEST.NWAONLINE.COM SEPTEMBER - THE 5 SENSES | SUNDAY, AUGUST 29, 2021

• Cover