You're Invited to a Special Event at Better Hearing Systems!

Better Hearing Systems is proud to announce a special in-office event from July 19th-21st. For 3 days only, come into the office for a free exam, free hearing consultation, special discounts, promotions and more! Nationally-known hearing aid expert, Amanda Barnhart, will also be in the office to demonstrate Muse, a new development in hearing technology.

Stop in for:

• Free hearing consultation
• Free otoscopic examination
• A demonstration of the new MUSE hearing aids by special guest Amanda Barnhart. Muse is a line of wireless hearing aids that deliver ultra-high definition audio and superior sound quality--come and see what they can do!
• Free clean and check for current hearing instruments wearers
• Significant discounts on a pair of Advanced Digital Technology

Take advantage of the latest hearing science and cutting-edge digital technology with this summer event!

Do you...

Have trouble hearing in noise?

Need to turn your TV up loud to hear it?

Frequently ask people to repeat themselves?

Have a family history of hearing loss?

Have had a history of exposure to prolonged or loud noise?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, now is the time to come see us! Hearing loss affects 1 in 10 Americans. Yet, only 1 in 5 people who could benefit from hearing aids actually wears them. Improving the ability to hear translates to a higher quality of life, and a healthier social lifestyle. Visit Better Hearing System’s information section to learn more, and to take an online hearing test and hearing loss simulator. You deserve the best care for your hearing. No matter your level of hearing loss or lifestyle, we have a hearing aid for you!  

Please RSVP to this one-time, special summer event by calling (318) 402-4693 today!

At Better Hearing Systems of Northwest Louisiana, we are committed to comprehensive hearing care through state-of-the-art testing and fitting equipment. To learn more about Better Hearing Systems, located in Bossier City, visit our website or call (318) 309-4727 today to schedule a free hearing consultation!

Protect Your Hearing During The Summer Months

Summer brings lots of celebrations--and with celebrations, come noise! Whether it’s Fourth of July fireworks, live music concerts, street parades with fire engines showing off their horns and sirens, motorcycling, or even simply using a power mower and leaf-blower in the yard, the sounds of summer can be loud. There is a connection between noise exposure and hearing loss, so please take a few simple steps to protect your hearing this summer.


The link between noise and hearing loss: 

Sound travels down the ear canal in waves. Loud noises can cause waves so forceful that they dislodge the tiny bones in the middle ear. If the waves pass through the middle ear and reach the inner ear, they can damage the tiny hair cells that carry sound all the way to the brain, where the sounds are interpreted. Unfortunately, once destroyed, these hair cells can’t repair themselves, and can no longer pass sounds along to the brain--resulting in permanent damage.

Noise levels are measured in decibels. Any sound over 85 decibels can result in hearing loss. For example, a passing motorcycle is roughly 90 decibels, and a firework exploding at close range is around 150 decibels. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) can result from how loud the noise is, as well as the length of a person’s exposure to noise.

Noise-induced hearing loss can affect anyone, at any age. Children have a lower threshold for noise than adults, so it is even more important to protect their hearing during summer activities like watching fireworks or attending a festival with loud music.  

Types of hearing loss due to noise exposure:

There are three types of hearing loss that may result from noise exposure.

• Tinnitus: a temporary ringing or buzzing in the ears after exposure. Tinnitus sometimes, but not always, goes away by itself.
• Temporary changes in threshold: A small decrease in hearing that disappears, usually approximately 24-48 hours after the exposure occurs. Although the hearing distortion goes away, evidence suggests there may be long-term hearing damage.
• Permanent hearing damage: Unfortunately, the most severe noise damage can result in irreversible hearing loss, often from a ruptured eardrum or trauma to the delicate bones of the middle ear.

Tips to protect hearing:

• Stand as far away as possible from the source of the noise. For example, the further away you stand from exploding fireworks, the less trauma to the ears.
• If standing far away isn’t practical, or if the noise is loud even from afar, use earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones to muffle the sound. 
• Shorten the length of time exposed to loud noise. 
• Keep children away from loud noise caused by lawn mowers, fireworks, firearms, lawn and farm machinery, stereo speakers, and concerts. 

If you or a loved one has experienced hearing loss after noise exposure, it is a good idea to schedule a hearing test with a qualified audiologist. The audiologist will help determine if the change in hearing is temporary or permanent.

At Better Hearing Systems of Northwest Louisiana, we offer comprehensive hearing tests for adults and school-aged children, as well as video otoscopy for detailed viewing of the ear canal. Visit our website to learn more, or call (318) 309-4727 to schedule your free hearing consultation.

The Effects of Hearing Loss on Brain Function

Recent studies have found that the effects of hearing loss go beyond daily frustration, social isolation, and the inability to distinguish speech or enjoy music. Hearing loss is also linked to a decline in cognition and an increased risk of dementia. June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, so now is the perfect time to turn some attention to the effects of good hearing on brain health.

Neuroplasticity: The link between hearing loss and cognitive decline  

We tend to think of hearing as something we do with our ears, but it is actually the brain that processes the sounds we hear. Our ears carry electrical signals to the brain, which then turn those signals into sounds we recognize. When we experience hearing loss, the area of our brain that interprets those electrical signals becomes underused, and begins to decline.

Previously, it was believed that our brains remained mostly unchanged throughout our adult lives. We now know, however, that the brain reorganizes itself when it needs to adapt, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity. This reorganization begins even in the early stages of hearing loss, where other areas of the brain that are responsible for higher cognitive function attempt to compensate for the loss of hearing. In the elderly adult, especially, this overworks areas of the brain needed for high-level functioning, which may explain why hearing loss is so closely correlated with dementia.   

Early Intervention: Protecting brain function

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders estimates that one-third of adults aged 65-74, and nearly one-half of those over 75, have trouble hearing. Although we tend to think of hearing loss affecting primarily older adults, hearing loss can occur at any age, with 65% of people with hearing loss being below retirement age. Yet, less than 25% of those who need hearing aids get them right away, waiting an average of 7 years, in which time preventative cognitive decline may be occurring.

If you believe you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss, schedule a hearing test with a licensed audiologist. Early intervention can help preserve cognitive function and lower the risk of dementia.       

At Better Hearing Systems of Northwest Louisiana, we are committed to comprehensive hearing care through state-of-the-art testing and fitting equipment. We offer cutting-edge hearing aids, hearing devices, and premium hearing accessories. To learn more about what Better Hearing Systems can do for you, visit our website or call (318) 309-4727 today to schedule a free hearing consultation.

What Is Tinnitus?

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders claims that roughly 10 percent of the adult population has experienced tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the past year.  Tinnitus is not a disease but rather an auditory condition in which there is ringing or buzzing in the ears.  Although it is typically a ringing sound, tinnitus can also be hissing, clicking or whistling.  It may be soft or loud, high pitched or low pitched, depending on external sounds.

The noises we expose ourselves to everyday can have an effect on our hearing if they are too loud.  Both loud and long-lasting noises can damage sensitive structures in the inner ear and cause noise-induced hearing loss.  Because tinnitus originates in the inner ear, it often damages the sensory hair cells that are vital for hearing and balance.

One of the easiest ways to prevent tinnitus is avoiding excessive noise exposure.  A great way to lessen your risk is defending your ears with hearing protection like earplugs.  While you are in loud environments like concerts or health clubs, position yourself as far away from the source of sound as possible.  If you are listening to music with ear buds or headphones, adjust the volume to a low level.  The most important step you can take for your hearing is to make sure you limit your time in noisy environments and keep the volume down.

If you are experiencing ringing, buzzing, hissing or whistling in your ears, you may be suffering from tinnitus.  There is no cure for tinnitus but treatment options are available to help people cope with the condition.  If you are in need of tinnitus treatment, contact Better Heating Systems for a consultation.  We offer both counseling and state-of-the-art hearing instruments that will help you cope with tinnitus.

To set up your appointment with Better Hearing Systems, give us a call at (318) 309-4727 and let us help you get back to your daily life!

Protecting Your Hearing at Concerts

With summer on the horizon, festival season is fast approaching. Music festivals are a fun, wonderful summertime tradition across the U.S., but did you know the noise levels around a stage can reach 110 decibels or more? That’s the near-equivalent of standing next to a jackhammer that’s drilling into concrete. In short: loud music can damage your hearing.

Many music-lovers and concert-goers are unaware of just how acute the dangers of high-volume music is to their hearing. If you’ve ever been to a concert, you’re probably familiar with the ringing that stays in your ears for the hours or even days following the show. This is usually a temporary issue, and the time taken to recover can vary from person to person. If the ringing doesn’t stop and normal hearing does not recover, then it is considered tinnitus - a symptom of noise-induced hearing loss caused by damage to the tiny hair cells in your inner ear. A person with tinnitus may experience ringing, clicking, or roaring in their ears for which there is currently no cure. Most individuals with tinnitus simply get used to the ringing sounds in their ear and learn to live with it over time. When it comes to tinnitus and hearing loss, prevention is key!

Without completely forgoing music festivals this year in the best interest of your ears, what can do to protect your hearing?

Use Earplugs!

If you’re an avid concert-goer, you’re most at risk of noise-induced hearing loss due to the high volume and length of time you’re listening to it. If you go to multiple concerts, you up your chances of tinnitus simply by exposing your ears to the high decibels for long periods of time. The best thing you can do to protect your hearing while still enjoying the show is to wear earplugs. Musicians and DJs often wear earplugs themselves, so that’s all the more reason you should, too! The silicone and foam earplugs you can find easily at any drug store may not be your best bet, though. They often fit poorly and muffle sound. Instead, you can get special musicians earplugs that are custom-fit to your ear and will not distort sound quality. If you’re a music-enthusiast, they’re your best option to still enjoy loud music and concerts while protecting your hearing from damage. (If you don’t have earplugs but plan on attending a concert in the near future, try to stand at least 10 feet away from speakers and escape to a quieter area for breaks if you notice your ears are hurting.)

The best solution to hearing loss is prevention. Better Hearing Systems of NWLA can help! We offer the aforementioned musicians earplugs among other hearing accessories. If you’re unsure whether you may already be experiencing hearing loss, we also offer free hearing consultations and evaluations. Contact Better Hearing Systems before festival season is here, so you can enjoy with peace of mind (and ears) all the great music and shows summer has to offer!

Discover The Possibilities At Better Hearing Systems

Did you know hearing loss affects 1 in every 10 Americans? Located in Bossier City, Better Hearing Systems of Northwest Louisiana offers audiology services customized to each patient's individual needs. Our caring and trained professionals provide a suite of audiological services including prevention, diagnostic care, hearing aids and accessories, counseling, rehabilitation and personalized aftercare. We will guide through every step and will help you find the right hearing solution that best matches your lifestyle.

Take a look at our hearing services designed for a range of needs:

Hearing Evaluations

• Comprehensively diagnostic audiological evaluations and hearing tests for adults and school-aged children
• Video otoscopy for detailed viewing of your ear canal

Hearing Aids

• Full line of hearing aids, specializing in digital hearing aid technology
• Assistive listening devices
• Follow-up fine-tuning visit to ensure maximum benefits 

Hearing Accessories

• Premium batteries and other hearing aid accessories
• Custom ear molds for hearing aids, iPods, and MP3s
• Water protection earplugs

Additional Services

• Hearing aid repair services for all makes and models
• Hearing aid cleaning services
• Routine maintenance and cleaing
• Rehabilitation Services
• Counseling for hearing loss and Tinnitus
• Seminars for groups and organizations, including support groups

Led by licensed audiologist Sarah Smith, the staff at Better Hearing Systems of Northwest Louisiana is certified and trained to understand your hearing needs. We promise to provide outstanding customer care using cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art instuments that will enhance your hearing.

If you're ready to improve your hearing and get back to your daily life, visit www.betterhearingsystemsla.com or call 318-309-4727.