Capital Hearing Wellness Center

04/07/2026

Today is World Health Day and while we often think about heart health, fitness, and nutrition… there’s another piece of the puzzle we don’t talk about enough: your brain deprived of your senses. Your brain on silence.

When your brain is deprived of sound, it doesn’t just “rest.” It adapts.

And not always in ways we want.

Untreated hearing loss or reduced sensory input can lead to maladaptive changes where the brain reorganizes itself, pulling resources away from auditory processing. Over time, this can impact memory, focus, balance, and even increase the risk of cognitive decline.

The good news? The brain is incredibly resilient and it thrives on stimulation.

Here’s how to protect it:
👂 Stay on top of your hearing health (yes, even if you think you’re “fine”)
🧠 Challenge your brain with sound, conversation, and new environments
🎧 Don’t ignore subtle changes your brain notices even when you don’t
💬 Stay socially engaged; connection is cognitive fuel

Sound is more than what we hear, it’s how our brain stays sharp, connected, and alive.

This World Health Day, protect your brain by protecting your access to sound.

Because healthy hearing isn’t just about ears, it’s brain care.

04/01/2026

03/31/2026

3/30/26 There is still space on the Oxford Trip, Call today to reserve your spot! 626-2350

03/18/2026

Have you been looking for an ASL community in the area? ASL Coffee Talk is an inclusive, low-pressure, and family friendly new group meeting at Gardiner Public Library. Join in on the fun!

03/16/2026

Wellderly Day, Celebrating Healthy Aging 💙

Today is Wellderly Day, a day dedicated to celebrating individuals who are not just living longer but living well. We're talking about quality of life.

Healthy aging is about staying connected, active, and engaged with the world around you. One often-overlooked part of that is hearing health. Hearing loss is incredibly common as we age, but it is not something you simply have to live with.

Untreated hearing loss has been linked to social isolation, depression, and even cognitive decline. The good news? Addressing hearing changes early can help people stay socially engaged, maintain independence, and keep the brain actively processing sound.

If you or a loved one has noticed:
• Asking people to repeat themselves
• Turning the TV up louder than others prefer
• Difficulty hearing in restaurants or groups

…it may be time for a hearing evaluation.

Growing older should mean more connection, more conversation, and more life experiences. Not less.

On this Wellderly Day, celebrate healthy aging by taking care of your hearing, your brain, and your connections with others.

03/11/2026

Tinnitus, any type of noise perceived in the ears, is a brain-based auditory perception, not just an ear problem. Brain-based= neurological. Neuroimaging studies show that tinnitus is associated with changes in activity across several brain regions involved in attention, memory, emotion, and sensory processing.

Call today for a comprehensive tinnitus assessment, it's more than just listening to the beeps during a hearing test.

We only follow The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) clinical practice guideline for treatment of tinnitus. Call today to discuss your treatment plan!
☎️(207) 803-3277

03/10/2026

Musicians… listen up!

Happy International Bagpipe Day! 🎶

While today celebrates the tradition of piping, it’s also a good reminder that many musical instruments people assume are “safe” can still reach sound levels that may affect hearing over time.

Instruments like the Violin, Flute, Trumpet, and Clarinet may not seem as loud as amplified music, but they can still produce 85–100+ decibels at the musician’s ear—especially during rehearsals or ensemble playing.

Because musicians often practice for hours at a time and close to their instrument, even moderate sound levels can add up and increase the risk for hearing loss or tinnitus over time.

A few simple habits can help musicians protect their hearing:

🎧 Use musician’s earplugs that reduce volume while preserving sound quality
⏱️ Take listening breaks during long rehearsals
📏 Be mindful of seating position in ensembles or orchestras
👂 Schedule regular hearing checkups

Musicians depend on their ears just as much as their hands. Protecting hearing today helps ensure a lifetime of making and enjoying music.

🎵👂

03/07/2026

📞 Alexander Graham Bell Day; The Origin of the Decibel

Today we celebrate Alexander Graham Bell, best known as the inventor of the telephone. But his influence goes even deeper into the science of sound and hearing including the measurement we use every day in audiology: the decibel (dB).

The word decibel actually comes from the unit “bel,” which was named in honor of Bell. Engineers working with the telephone system at Bell Telephone Company and Bell Labs needed a way to measure changes in signal strength across telephone lines. The “bel” was created to describe those changes, and because it was a large unit, scientists began using one-tenth of a bel, which became the decibel (dB). The decibel the standard unit we use today to measure sound intensity.

In audiology, the decibel scale helps us understand everything from whisper-level sounds (~30 dB) to normal conversation (~60 dB) to dangerous noise levels above 85 dB that can damage hearing over time.

So every time we talk about hearing thresholds, noise exposure, or hearing aid programming, we are using a measurement system rooted in the work and legacy of Alexander Graham Bell.

His curiosity about sound and communication didn’t just lead to the telephone it helped create the very language we use today to measure hearing and protect it.

👂 Protect your hearing. Every decibel matters.

03/05/2026

Hearing loss is a chronic neurological condition.

It is not simply an “ear problem.”

It involves:
--Damage to sensory hair cells in the cochlea
--Reduced neural input to the auditory nerve
--Changes in brain structure and function over time
--Increased listening effort and cognitive load

Ask about a complimentary cognitive screening today!

03/04/2026

Nearly 75% of adults over 70 experience measurable hearing loss but common does not mean normal. And it certainly doesn’t mean you have to live with it.

“It’s just age.”
No! It’s hearing loss, a medical condition.

Age-related hearing loss is still hearing loss.
There are no “age norms” that make it less important, less treatable, or less impactful.

If speech sounds muffled…
If you’re asking people to repeat themselves…
If restaurants feel exhausting…
If family says the TV is too loud…

That’s not “just getting older.”
That’s your hearing asking for help.

Untreated hearing loss is linked to:
• Social withdrawal
• Fatigue and frustration
• Increased risk of cognitive decline

The good news?
Modern hearing technology is discreet, comfortable, and more effective than ever.

You deserve to hear clearly.
You deserve to stay connected.
You deserve better than “it’s just age.”

Schedule a hearing evaluation today.
Because hearing loss at any age is still hearing loss and it’s treatable.

03/03/2026

Today is World Hearing Day. Your hearing connects you to conversations, music, and the people you love. Many types of hearing loss are preventable and early detection makes a big difference. Take a moment today to check in on your hearing health. If you have not had a hearing test recently, now is a great time to start. Your ears deserve care too.

01/27/2026

👂 Could It Be Hearing Loss? Early Signs to Watch For

Here are some of the most common early signs of hearing loss the subtle ones people often brush off at first

🪧Early warning signs 🛑
✔️Trouble understanding speech especially in noise like restaurants or group conversations
✔️“I can hear you, I just can’t understand you” feeling
✔️Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
✔️Thinking others are mumbling
✔️Turning the TV or phone volume up higher than others prefer
✔️Difficulty hearing children’s or women’s voices
✔️Missing soft sounds like doorbells birds or turn signals
✔️Feeling mentally exhausted after conversations

🔍 Subtle clues people don’t expect
-Avoiding social situations because they feel frustrating or tiring
-Ringing or buzzing in the ears tinnitus
-Trouble hearing on the phone
-Feeling disconnected in conversations
-Increased irritability or withdrawal

🎧 Why early detection matters 👂🏼
Untreated hearing loss is linked to social isolation loneliness increased cognitive load and brain fatigue higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia and balance issues and falls.

👩‍⚕️ When to get checked ✅
If any of these sound familiar especially if they’ve been creeping in over months or years it’s time for a baseline hearing evaluation. Earlier care leads to easier adaptation and better long term outcomes.