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A new survey finds that Baby Boomers think their hearing is just fine, thank you.The children of those same folks, however, think mom and dad should be checked out for a hearing aid.

I’m currently reading a fascinating book, “Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us” by Joe Palca and Flora Lichtman. The two science journalists take a look at the literature in various disciplines (psychology, evolutionary biology, anthropology and others) to try to discover why certain things drive us crazy.

Rothwell and Boyd (2008) evaluated hearing thresholds and amalgam dental fillings across 39 non-smoking women, ages 40 to 45 years. When non-amalgam fillings were used, there was no correlation between fillings and hearing thresholds. However, in those with amalgam fillings, each additional amalgam filling was associated with a 2.4 dB decline in hearing threshold.

December is the biggest toy-buying month of the year. Unfortunately, many well-intentioned parents may be purchasing potentially harmful toys for their children. Any sound above 85 decibels (dB) can cause hearing loss over time.

With the holidays upon us, you may find yourself in groups where hearing may be difficult. Here are some tips to help make things a bit easier. And above all, relax and enjoy your friends and family!

The take-home message is to enjoy your music but try to limit your exposure by reducing the volume and/or limiting the time. Custom or noise-cancelling earphones may help to reduce background sounds so that you won’t need to turn up the volume as high. Be aware of your hearing health and just remember that if you lose it, it won’t come back.

The sound produced by the blast of a firework or firecracker at close range can cause permanent hearing damage. However, a few simple precautions can allow people to enjoy the festivities of the 4th of July holiday while still protecting their hearing.

Living a healthy life, which includes nutritious eating and exercising, is the best way to promote ear health. Of course, following a well-balanced diet is the best way to promote healthy living. Including certain nutrients to a diet, like manganese, could contribute to hearing loss protection.

The holidays are a time for social gatherings and family parties. For the individual with hearing loss, noisy social environments can often exasperate communication difficulties. We are offering the following helpful holiday hearing tips to aid those experiencing hearing loss in fully enjoying the holiday festivities this year.