February 22, 2021

How Long Should Hearing Aid Batteries Last Between Changes?

Hearing aid batteries usually last anywhere from three days to several weeks, depending mainly on usage and battery type. If yours seem to give out sooner than expected, a few simple checks and habits can often make a noticeable difference. At Illini Hearing, Andy Bierbaum, BC-HIS, our owner and board-certified hearing instrument specialist, and hearing

How Can I Clean My Hearing Aids Without Damaging Them?

Hearing aids spend all day in a warm ear canal, so they pick up earwax, skin oils, and moisture that can quietly weaken their sound. A consistent cleaning routine helps keep your devices working well and prevents the frustration of wax and moisture interfering with sound. Board-certified hearing instrument specialist Andy Bierbaum, BC-HIS, and hearing

Does One Hearing Aid Sound Off? Why It Happens and How to Fix It

You put both hearing aids in, but one side sounds quieter, sharper, or simply not quite right. Hearing aids are designed to amplify sound in a way that feels natural, so an imbalance between them is worth a closer look. At Illini Hearing, owner and board-certified hearing instrument specialist Andy Bierbaum, BC-HIS, and hearing instrument

Stopped-Up Ear With No Earwax? Getting to the Bottom of a Clogged Ear

When an ear feels stopped up and voices start to sound far away, it’s natural to blame earwax, but wax isn’t always the reason. At Illini Hearing, owner and board-certified hearing instrument specialist Andy Bierbaum, BC-HIS, and hearing instrument specialist Ashley Macdonald, HIS, help patients in Champaign, Mahomet, and the surrounding Champaign County communities understand

Sudden Hearing Loss in One Ear: Clinical Risks and Emergency Care

Noticing an immediate hearing loss on one side can be unsettling, leaving affected individuals wondering how to proceed. Our audiology clinic offers prompt diagnostic hearing testing and coordinates emergency medical evaluations whenever sudden hearing changes develop. Sudden hearing loss always requires immediate attention from a hearing specialist to explore treatment or hearing rehabilitation when needed.

Why Do My Hearing Aids Whistle, and How Do I Stop It?

An abrupt high-pitched squeal from a hearing aid can be jarring and disruptive to daily life if the underlying source goes unaddressed. Our audiology clinic can determine if the acoustic feedback stems from poor physical fit, cerumen impaction, programming parameters, degraded components, or internal electronic failure. Discover the biological and mechanical drivers of feedback, along

Navigating Hearing in Noisy Restaurants: Clinical Insight and Tips

Following dinner conversations becomes challenging when high ambient noise interferes with your focus and hearing. Our practice can evaluate hearing in both quiet and noisy conditions to identify what makes these environments difficult. As soon as we identify the physiological cause of your difficult hearing, we deliver personalized rehabilitation options. How Can Hearing Seem Normal

Is Using Q-Tips Unsafe for Your Ears? Clinical Methods for Earwax Removal

While cotton buds look like simple cleaning instruments, inserting them directly into your ear canal complicates hygiene and can injure sensitive structures. We perform thorough examinations to verify if earwax removal is necessary and select appropriate procedures for your ear condition. Healthy ears rarely require aggressive manual intervention; nevertheless, when blockage develops, we assist patients

Why Do I Feel Dizzy When I Lie Down? Understanding BPPV

Noticing that your surroundings seem to spin when you recline, roll sideways, or sit up in bed can feel disorienting and frightening. Our specialists conduct thorough dizziness and equilibrium evaluations to diagnose benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and related inner ear disorders. Through targeted clinical care, we guide individuals through the mechanics of BPPV and

What Causes Hearing Aids to Trigger Headaches?

Specialized hearing aids are designed to help address your specific auditory deficit. Irrespective of whether you are new to prescription hearing aids or are a veteran wearer, if your hearing aids produce headaches or lingering aches, a clear fix is available. An accurately calibrated hearing aid should rest comfortably inside your ear canal while delivering

My Newborn Did Not Pass the Hearing Screen: What Comes Next?

For parents of a newborn, understanding that their baby exhibits auditory deficits tends to spark heavy emotional dread. Fortunately, through prompt detection and medical intervention, young children with hearing deficits can genuinely flourish remarkably. Remarkably, such young children can gain verbal communication, social capabilities, and meaningful connections across their environment, attaining a truly rich existence!

Analyzing the Psychological Burden: Can Hearing Impairment Cause Mental Health Struggles?

Far beyond a simple medical condition, auditory decline is a profound personal trial that gradually alters an individual’s worldview. Though popular understanding links compromised hearing mainly to distorted acoustic signals, the mental and personal toll often stays beneath the surface, yet equally devastating. Spanning from deep emotional fatigue to chronic disconnection, unmanaged hearing impairment can