Post-holiday debt can pile up quickly. Rising interest rates and the cost of living, food and fuel can become very overwhelming. Sometimes gambling can be seen as a quick fix to achieve financial relief. When we’re vulnerable, gambling can cost us more than money; it can also cost our relationships, our mental and physical health. If finances are tight, seek credit counselling; talk to your bank or financial advisor. Gambling is meant to be entertainment and not a solution to financial problems. Reach out to us here at VI Gaming Support. We’re here to help!
Community News
Getting Your First Hearing Aid
You’ve been diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss and are looking for your first hearing aid.
Technology has dramatically advanced in recent years, allowing hearing aids to be more effective than ever. With a wide variety of hearing aid brands and types of hearing aids, it can feel overwhelming to choose one that works best for you.
Fortunately, NexGen Hearing has passionate, dedicated and experienced audiologists and hearing professionals to support you on your journey to better hearing and help improve your quality of life through exceptional care.
Where to Go for Your First Hearing Aid
The first step to getting your first hearing aid is meeting with your audiologist or Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioner (RHIP). They will assess your hearing and help you choose the best hearing aid for your lifestyle. Once a hearing aid is chosen, it is ordered and you are scheduled in for a fitting.
During the fitting, your audiologist or RHIP will program the device to your prescription, review the care instructions and how to use the device, as well as ensure it is comfortable for you. You can expect several follow-up appointments to fine-tune your hearing aid, each about a week apart. It’s possible that your device may need adjustments to sound levels. Not only will your hearing professional help get you set up with your first hearing aid, but they will guide you through your hearing journey for years to come.
What to Look for in Your First Hearing Aid
There are several aspects of your lifestyle to consider before purchasing your first hearing aid, including your hobbies and job.
If you spend a lot of your time outside hiking, gardening, or biking, you might want a hearing aid that is better at blocking out wind or handling various environments. If your job requires attending social events, you may benefit from a higher level of technology that can block out background noise. Or maybe you simply want a hearing aid that connects to Bluetooth so you can pair it to your phone, computer or TV.
It’s important to ask about a trial period with whichever hearing aid you decide to go with, especially when it’s your first time getting a hearing aid. This trial period will allow you to decide if your chosen device is right for you after using it. We recommend meeting with your audiologist during this period to ensure the hearing aid fits well and is working as it should.
NexGen Hearing provides a free 21-day introductory hearing aid trial before a deposit is required. After 21 days, you can enjoy an additional 69-day trial or 100% of money refunded. NexGen Hearing also offers complimentary batteries during the warranty period, which is typically three to five years, depending on the model.
Tips & Tricks for Getting Your First Hearing Aid
It’s likely to take some time to get used to your hearing aid, but wearing them should never cause you pain. Try wearing your new hearing aid for about four hours a day to allow the skin around your device to adjust. It can take up to a week to get accustomed to the feeling, but taking breaks will ease the process.
It’s also important to get into a cleaning routine early. Taking proper care of your hearing aid by following the cleaning instructions will help increase the lifespan of your device. We recommend cleaning your hearing aids before putting them on for the day, as well as storing them in a dry place to avoid moisture build-up.
Building a support system is another key component to getting your first hearing aid. It takes an average of seven years for someone experiencing hearing loss to get treated, which often results in mental fatigue and cognitive decline. Having supportive loved ones around who are aware of your hearing loss journey can help improve your quality of life as you are getting used to your first hearing aid.
NexGen Hearing offers free hearing tests and hearing aid consultations, hearing aid fittings and sales. Book an appointment at one of our 45+ clinics in the BC Interior, Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island by clicking here or calling 1-877-606-6671.
Depression in Older Adults
Many older adults fail to recognize the symptoms of depression or don’t take the steps to get the help they need. There are many reasons why elderly depression is often overlooked. You may assume that is just part of aging or you may be isolated with few people around to notice your distress. You also may be reluctant to ask for help. Of course, when you’re depressed, putting steps into action can be hard, but taking a short walk, for example, can boost your mood for the next two hours. By taking small steps day by day, you’ll find yourself feeling more energetic and hopeful again. Reach out for help if you are struggling.
Quality Time All Year Long
Now that the holidays are over, many of us go back to our busy lives so there is less time to spend with family. We have a compassionate challenge for you to keep an element of the “Holiday Quality Time” going throughout January and the rest of the year. We encourage you to see someone close to you with a bit more frequency than you did in 2022. A previous director of the Harvard Grant Study, a 75-year comprehensive study of adult development and happiness said “The only thing that matters in life are your relationships to other people.” (George Vaillant)
Resolutions for 2023
With the start of the new year, we are hopeful that it will different than the last two years. 2022 is now officially over and as we embark on 2023, it is time to move forward. Let’s work on making resolutions that will help us through. Focus on that all-important Self-care (and Community-care)! Find the things in life that are enjoyable (and able to do within the constrictions of the pandemic), and resolve to commit to them regularly. Be specific yet flexible, and most importantly, make them enjoyable (not just healthy)!
Happy Holidays for Everyone
Holidays are an exciting time for many people. For others, the added activities could cause increased agitation and confusion, unpredictable behaviour or mood swings. This is often the case for older adults with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Here are a few tips for including everyone in holiday festivities. *Create a stress-free, holiday season by scaling things back and modifying activities so that everyone feels calm and safe. *Focus on a few of the most meaningful traditions. *Ask which activities people value most. This could be trimming a Christmas tree, lighting a menorah, singing songs or baking special holiday treats.
What Causes Hearing Loss?
We know that 60% of Canadians aged 19-79 experience hearing health issues including hearing loss and/or tinnitus, but what causes it?
For some, they were born with congenital conditions resulting in hearing impairment, while others experience a delayed onset of hearing loss caused by aging, health factors and their environment.
The Different Types of Hearing Loss
There are three types of hearing loss including conductive, sensorineural, and mixed.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss is when there is something blocking sound from passing through the outer ear or middle ear. It could be caused by an ear infection, earwax or fluid in the ear. If loud noises sound muffled and soft sounds are hard to hear, this may be what you are experiencing.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss means there is a loss of hearing in the inner ear or auditory nerve. It can be caused by loud noises, diseases or aging. Children are prone to this type of hearing loss due to congenital conditions, trauma during childbirth, head injuries or infections, and it is often permanent, but hearing aids can help.
Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss is when a person has both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, which may be caused by injury, infection or inherited condition. It is likely that specific treatment may be needed for both types.
Knowing the type of hearing loss a person is experiencing can help determine the cause and best treatment method.
Factors That Can Influence Hearing Loss
Loud Noises
If a sound is too loud or lasts too long, it can lead to noise-induced hearing loss. Hair cells in the ear are sensory receptor cells, and they are responsible for converting mechanical stimuli evoked by sound into electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain. In basic terms, loud noises can overwork these cells and cause them to die, and because there is a finite number of hair cells, damage to them is irreversible.
Because noise-induced hearing loss is a leading work-related condition, it’s important to protect your ears as much as possible if you’re often in a loud environment. Sound levels that are 85 decibels (dbA) and higher are considered dangerous if an individual is exposed for over 15 minutes.
If you’re listening to music through headphones at maximum volume, it is likely to be in the dangerous range. In addition, concerts, sirens and fireworks are often above this threshold. We recommend using ear plugs if you know you’ll be in a loud environment for extra protection.
Age
A natural byproduct of aging is hearing loss, which is known as presbycusis. This can begin as early as 30 years old, and often occurs in both ears. Because it is a gradual process, most people don’t notice it at first. Age-related hearing loss may present as having difficulty hearing clearly, especially when there is background noise.
Presbycusis is caused by changes that occur in our ears as we age. While it is most common for the inner ear to change, the middle ear may also change. Degeneration within the ear impacts the nerve pathways to the brain, which results in hearing loss. Furthermore, the medical issues that arise with age may increase one’s chances of presbycusis.
Health Factors
There are a variety of health factors that can impact one’s hearing, such as infections, diseases and trauma. Otosclerosis, for example, is a disease that causes the middle ear bone to be unable to move.
If the middle ear bone cannot vibrate, the ear cannot properly signal the brain. Another disease that causes hearing loss is Ménière disease, which is when there is build-up of fluid in the chambers of the inner ear. Furthermore, developing an acoustic neuroma, a type of brain tumor, also causes hearing loss.
In addition to health factors that arise within the body, a physical head injury could impact an individual’s hearing. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often a cause for hearing loss due to damage to the eardrum or middle ear. Alternatively, a TBI may cause damage to the part of the brain that processes sound.
Ototoxic Medications
There are some medicines that can cause hearing loss. Some examples of these ototoxic medications include some chemotherapy drugs, some aminoglycoside antibiotics, loop diuretics, and high levels of aspirin.
Ototoxic hearing loss can occur in individuals with normal hearing or individuals who already have hearing loss. The first sign of ototoxic hearing loss is tinnitus, but it can develop into loss of balance and complete hearing loss. When ototoxic medications are removed, hearing loss may be reversed, however, damage may be permanent, especially if the dose was high or long-term. It’s possible that you may be experiencing a hearing loss emergency, so it is important to contact your physician if you are concerned.
Congenital Condition
Hearing loss is the most common congenital condition in Canada. Three out of every 1,000 babies are born severely deaf, and another three out of 1,000 have serious hearing loss, according to Caring for Kids.
Some babies have a genetic syndrome that causes hearing loss, such as Waardenburg syndrome, Alport syndrome, Treacher Collins syndrome, Usher syndrome, Down syndrome or Crouzon syndrome. While all of these are caused by different things, they all have the symptom of hearing loss.
Babies with a low birth rate are likely to have sensorineural hearing loss caused by their ears not being fully developed, and babies in utero exposed to alcohol and drugs may experience hearing impairment. In addition, premature babies may also be at risk of hearing loss later in life.
The most common factor for hearing loss in babies is anoxia, which occurs when there is a deficiency of oxygen in the body or brain.
Suspect Hearing Loss?
If you think you may be experiencing hearing loss, it’s important to find a good audiologist to run some tests. Living with untreated hearing loss can lead to mental fatigue, poor emotional wellbeing and dangerous falls.
With 60% of adult Canadians experiencing a hearing health problem, according to Statistics Canada, you are not on this journey alone.
The hearing professionals at NexGen Hearing are here to support you on your journey to better hearing and improved quality of life. They are passionate, dedicated and experienced.
At NexGen Hearing, appointments, hearing aid supplies and minor repairs are free of charge because every patient is valued and welcomed for as long as they need.
There are over 45 clinics in the BC Interior, Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Book an appointment at the one closest to you online or by phone at 1-877-606-6671 today.
Profile: Literacy Now Cowichan
Since 2007, Literacy Now Cowichan has worked on many fronts to increase the visibility of literacy issues within the Cowichan Region. Pathways to Learning, the community adult literacy program, has helped almost 1,000 residents of the Cowichan Valley achieve their learning goals. A core group of 25 highly trained and dedicated volunteers provide hundreds of hours of tutoring each month. This community adult literacy program is funded completely with grants and donations and is provided free of charge to valley residents. If you or someone you know is struggling with reading or numeracy, contact us. No referral is required.
New Holiday Traditions
This month may be the first time for get-togethers after a long time and there may be loved ones who are no longer with us. The first holiday season after losing a loved one can be a very difficult time. Acknowledge that things are going to be different and the holidays will never be the same as they once were. Hold your memories of loved ones close and connect with other people during these cold winter days. There will be opportunities to make the holidays meaningful; be open to the change and accept it for what it is – a new opportunity to create stronger family bonds and traditions.
Sharing Time and Holiday Memories
The holiday season often brings about the feeling of “home” and family traditions. Many activities can be enjoyed by everyone in the family. The holidays provide an opportunity to reminisce about special ornaments acquired over the years and decorations that have been part of many special occasions. It is a perfect time to bring out old photo albums so that you can re-live past gatherings through pictures. Sing along with traditional and modern holiday favourites is always a crowd pleaser. The gift of time is the most thoughtful present you can give! Spending time with family and friends is priceless.
Mobile Sports Betting
Mobile sports betting is becoming normalized in our society. Advertisements abound, as do apps and opportunities to play. Unlike traditional parlay betting on 2-3 games and waiting for the outcome of a game, modern sports betting is usually done on a phone app that includes single games, in-game, and prop betting options. These micro-bet opportunities and early cash-out features mimic day trading behaviours and language. If your play is based on emotions and reactions with little time to reflect before you place that bet, it might lead to problematic gambling. Take a break. Tap out. Avoid bet regret.
