When You Should Seek a Professional Evaluation for Sound Exposure
Imagine this scenario: you went to see your favorite band in concert last night and danced and sang your heart out. This morning, you woke up to sore legs, a hoarse voice and…muffled hearing. It sounds like everything is underwater. Is it just temporary? Or has irreversible hearing damage occurred? Of course, this kind of…
Scheduling a Mid-Year Ear Health Check
It’s hard to believe, but June is just around the corner; 2026 is almost halfway over. This time of year always comes with a surge of energy and excitement as we anticipate summer and begin making summer plans. That’s why now is a great time to schedule an ear health check. Aspects of Ear Health…
Everyday Sound Hazards You Might Overlook (and How to Protect Your Hearing)
As we wrote in a blog post last month, it is sometimes the “not deafening, but still dangerous” sounds that pose the greatest threat to our hearing because we don’t realize at first that they are at hazardous volume levels. Hearing damage is permanent, but preventable, and we believe prevention is one of the most…
How High Altitude Affects Ear Health in New Mexico
You probably already know that Santa Fe is the highest U.S. state capital, soaring above the Mile High City by almost 2,000 feet. If you live here in Santa Fe, especially year-round, you’ve probably acclimated to the high elevation and high desert climate, but even so, those elements can have some interesting effects on our…
Protecting Your Hearing at Festivals and Fairs
Spring is upon us, and with it comes festivals and fairs! Spring festivals, art fairs and farmers’ markets will soon be popping up around town, inviting us all to browse, mingle and enjoy an afternoon out. These events may not seem like they could pose a risk to your hearing, but don’t be fooled. It’s…
Preparing for Your First Audiology Appointment
If you suspect you’re in the beginning stages of hearing loss, your first step toward hearing loss treatment is a hearing test. And just like any first step in a treatment journey, it can be nerve-wracking in the days leading up to your appointment. To help alleviate any of your worries and prepare you for…
What Is the Speech Banana?
If you’ve had a hearing test recently, you should have received your results on a page called an audiogram. The audiogram is a chart that creates a visual representation of your hearing thresholds (i.e., the softest volume at which you can hear a certain pitch). There’s a zone of the chart that we call the…
What Is Speech-In-Noise Testing?
Hearing tests are an insightful way to assess your hearing loss. There are many different types of hearing tests, all of which have their own function in determining the severity, type and cause of your personal hearing loss. One such test is called the speech-in-noise test. What Happens During a Speech-In-Noise Test? Your audiologist will…
Why Annual Hearing Tests Matter
This time of year is an excellent opportunity to set priorities for your health. Beyond New Year’s Resolutions, this is also a time for planning and getting organized. If you haven’t added your hearing health to your list of priorities for the year, this post is your sign to do so. The Importance of Routine…
How Do the Ears Affect Balance?
The ear is a complex organ. It isn’t just a part of the auditory process; it also plays a significant role in your sense of balance. With a complex network of organs and passageways, your ears assist with orienting yourself in space, communicating with the brain on which way is up and what direction your…