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Common Signs You Might Need a Hearing Test and Hearing Aids
Recognise the early signs of hearing loss and take control of your hearing health.
Hearing loss doesn’t always happen suddenly. For many people, it occurs gradually over time—making it easy to miss. Because of this slow progression, many individuals delay getting the help they need, often waiting years before booking a hearing test. But just like with vision or dental care, early detection can make a big difference.
If you’ve been wondering whether it’s time to check your hearing, this article outlines the most common signs you might need a hearing test and hearing aids, and what you can do about it.
Why Recognising Early Signs Matters
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 1.5 billion people worldwide live with some degree of hearing loss, and nearly 80% of those who could benefit from hearing aids don’t use them.
Leaving hearing loss untreated doesn’t just affect your ability to hear—it can impact:
- Communication and relationships
- Mental health (linked to anxiety, isolation, and depression)
- Cognitive function and memory
- Job performance and safety
That’s why recognising the signs early and getting a hearing test can improve your quality of life and overall well-being.
Top Signs You Might Need a Hearing Test
1. You Often Say “Pardon?” or “Can You Repeat That?”
If you find yourself frequently asking others to repeat themselves, especially in noisy environments, this could be an early sign of hearing loss. You might still hear, but you’re missing clarity—particularly for consonants like “s,” “f,” and “t.”
2. You Struggle to Hear in Group Conversations or Crowded Places
Do you find group conversations exhausting? Difficulty distinguishing voices in places like restaurants or meetings may indicate problems with processing background noise, which is often one of the first challenges in age-related or noise-induced hearing loss.
3. You Think People Are Mumbling
You may blame others for mumbling or speaking too softly, but in many cases, your hearing could be the real issue—particularly in the high-frequency range, where speech sounds reside.
4. You Turn the TV or Radio Up Louder Than Others Prefer
If others complain that your volume settings are too high, it may be time to get your hearing checked. Constantly turning up the volume is a common compensation for hearing loss.
5. You Avoid Phone Calls or Struggle to Hear on the Phone
Phones can be especially tricky because they cut out visual cues like lip-reading and body language. If you’re missing information on calls, particularly in one ear, it may indicate asymmetric hearing loss.
6. You Feel Tired or Irritable After Conversations
Straining to hear can be mentally exhausting. If social interactions leave you feeling drained or stressed, your brain might be working overtime to compensate for missing sounds.
7. You Hear Ringing or Buzzing Sounds (Tinnitus)
Tinnitus—a persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in the ears—can be an early indicator of hearing loss. While not always linked to hearing problems, it often appears alongside sensorineural hearing loss.
8. You Miss Everyday Sounds
Have you stopped hearing birds chirping, your microwave beeping, or your indicators clicking while driving? These sounds often fall within the high-frequency range—the first to be affected in hearing loss.
9. Family and Friends Have Noticed a Change
Sometimes, others notice your hearing issues before you do. If your loved ones have pointed out concerns about your hearing, it’s a good idea to listen to their observations and book a hearing test.
10. You Avoid Social Situations
Social withdrawal is a common consequence of hearing difficulty. People with undiagnosed hearing loss often begin to avoid gatherings to prevent embarrassment or frustration.
When to Consider Hearing Aids
A hearing test will determine whether hearing aids are necessary. Audiologists assess the type, degree, and configuration of hearing loss. If the test shows:
- Mild to moderate sensorineural loss, hearing aids can enhance speech clarity and quality of life.
- High-frequency loss, discreet hearing aids with speech-enhancement features may be recommended.
- Asymmetric loss, directional microphones and tailored fitting may be advised.
Modern hearing aids are digital, comfortable, discreet, and packed with helpful features like Bluetooth, rechargeable batteries, and noise-cancellation. With professional fitting and regular support, they can transform your day-to-day interactions.
Benefits of Early Action
- Improved communication and relationships
- Greater confidence in social and professional settings
- Lower risk of cognitive decline and isolation
- Better job performance and safety awareness
Delaying treatment can cause the brain to lose its ability to process sound effectively, even after amplification. This is known as auditory deprivation, and it’s another reason to act early.
Next Steps: Book a Hearing Test Near You
If you recognise any of the signs above, don’t wait. A simple, painless hearing test can give you clear answers and help you take the next steps to regain control of your hearing.
Many audiologists offer free or discounted initial screenings, and no referral is needed.
Final Thought
Your hearing connects you to the people and world around you. Paying attention to the early signs and getting a hearing test is a proactive way to stay connected, confident, and healthy—mentally, socially, and emotionally.
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How to Protect Your Hearing Aids in Cold Weather
As temperatures drop and South Africans pull out their winter coats and heaters, it’s not just your hands and chest that need extra care—your ears and hearing devices do too. Whether you’re enjoying crisp morning walks or braving the chilly commute, protecting your hearing aids from the effects of cold weather is essential for their performance and longevity.
From moisture control to battery care, this article shares practical winter maintenance tips that will help you preserve the functionality of your hearing devices and ensure your hearing stays clear and supported all season long.
Why Cold Weather Can Affect Hearing Aids
Winter conditions—particularly in colder regions of South Africa such as the Highveld or mountainous areas—can present a few challenges for hearing aid users:
- Condensation and moisture: Going from cold outdoor air to warm indoor environments creates condensation. This moisture can seep into hearing aids, causing damage to internal components.
- Battery performance: Cold weather can reduce battery voltage and lifespan, particularly for zinc-air batteries.
- Physical damage: Thick hats and scarves can unintentionally dislodge or press against hearing aids, leading to discomfort or damage.
- Earwax build-up: Changes in temperature can affect skin and wax production, potentially clogging sound ports.
Understanding these risks is the first step to protecting your hearing investment during winter.
Moisture Control Tips
Moisture is the biggest threat to hearing aids in winter. Here’s how to manage it:
1. Use a Hearing Aid Dehumidifier
After a long day out in the cold, store your hearing aids in a drying box or dehumidifier overnight. These inexpensive devices remove residual moisture and help extend the life of your aids.
2. Remove Hearing Aids During Intense Temperature Changes
If you’re going from the icy outdoors into a hot environment (like a steamy bathroom or heater-blasted room), take your hearing aids out briefly until your body adjusts to the temperature change. This reduces condensation risk.
3. Clean Daily
Use a soft, dry cloth or specialised hearing aid wipes to clean your devices every evening. Pay attention to microphone ports and domes, and avoid using water or cleaning alcohols.
Protecting Battery Life in the Cold
Cold temperatures can reduce battery efficiency. Here’s how to prevent sudden power loss:
1. Keep Spare Batteries Close to Your Body
Body heat helps maintain battery temperature. Store extra batteries in an inner jacket pocket rather than your handbag or car.
2. Let Hearing Aids Breathe Overnight
Open the battery compartment when not in use to let out moisture and preserve battery contacts.
3. Use Rechargeables? Keep the Charger Warm
If you’re using rechargeable hearing aids, avoid leaving the charger in cold cars or unheated rooms. Extreme cold can affect charging capacity and performance.
Routine Winter Maintenance
Taking a few extra steps during winter can help you maintain sound quality and comfort:
- Schedule regular checks with your audiologist—particularly after flu or sinus infections which can affect hearing.
- Inspect tubing and domes for cracks, which can occur more frequently in dry winter air.
- Avoid using hair dryers or heaters near your ears while wearing aids, as intense heat can damage the casing.
If you notice static, feedback, or lower volume, don’t delay. Book a hearing test to check whether it’s a device issue or an ear-related concern such as wax build-up or infection.
Winter Wardrobe and Hearing Aids
It’s not just the weather—it’s what you wear. Hats, scarves, and beanies are common winter culprits for interfering with hearing aids. Here are some solutions:
- Choose snug, not tight, headwear: Wool or fleece hats with ear flaps provide warmth without pressing too hard.
- Be cautious with scarves: Pulling them on or off can dislodge behind-the-ear (BTE) models.
- Consider winter hearing accessories: Special ear gear is available to protect aids from wind and moisture without muffling sound.
Need Help? Visit the Ear Institute
If you’re unsure about winter-proofing your hearing aids or you’re experiencing performance issues, the Ear Institute offers support through a national network of audiologists and hearing care professionals.
From professional cleaning and maintenance to expert device adjustments, the Ear Institute is a trusted choice for keeping your hearing health in check—whether you’re in the heart of Cape Town or the wintery Free State.
Stay Connected This Winter
Your hearing aids are more than just devices—they’re your link to conversations, music, family, and everyday sounds. Winter may be quieter, but it doesn’t have to isolate you. By following these care tips, you can keep your aids functioning at their best and stay engaged all season long.
And if it’s been a while since your last hearing test, now is the perfect time to book one—especially if you’re experiencing seasonal ear blockages or suspect your hearing has changed.
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How to Make Your House Less Attractive to Maryland Pests
For homeowners, pests are a big source of headaches. Getting bed bug bites or seeing rats wandering in your kitchen can give you stressful days and sleepless nights. These unwelcome visitors can cause different issues like spreading diseases, causing property damage, and triggering allergies. To keep pests out of your house, Maryland Pest Control is key. The following are tips to avoid a pest infestation:
Know Where to Place Your Plants and What Plants to Have
Pests such as cockroaches, mic, and ants usually gain access to your house through your yard plants and mulch. Although adding some greenery to the yard has cosmetic value, it can invite pests when not maintained properly.
You can fight this by keeping your mulch away from your home’s foundation and not over-watering your plants as this can create damp environments that pests find inviting. Also, use plants such as marigolds as they repel bugs naturally. Rosemary and mint produce pest-deterring odors.
Seal Openings
Pests can make their way into your house through small holes or cracks around the doors, windows, and foundation. Sealing the smallest areas can help prevent pests from entering your house. Use weather stripping around the windows and doors to block access points for insects. For larger cracks or gaps, use expandable foam sprays to fill in the openings.
Eliminate Litter and Trash
Bugs and rodents are drawn to trash and clutter, so you must keep your house clean and organized. Get rid of any piles of magazines or paper that pests can hide in. Ensure all trash is placed in sealed containers and disposed of regularly. Also, recyclables must be rinsed out before placed in the bin to ensure no food residue is left that can attract pests.
Clean the Drains
When debris is collecting in the drain or roaches are hiding in the pipes, a funky smell can come from the drains. You can prevent this by pouring a mixture of vinegar and hot water down the drains. This cleans the gunk and gets rid of any odor. Also, this can deter pests from living there.
Revamp Food Storage
Pests like mice, roaches, and pantry beetles will feast on food crumbs and spills. To ensure you don’t attract pests into your pantry or kitchen, store food in airtight containers and tightly seal pet food bags. Ideally, pet food should be transferred to an airtight bin that has a locking lid.
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Historical Fiction Brings the Past to Life
Birth of the Historical Novel
One of the earliest examples of historical fiction is China’s 800,000-word Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Written in the 14th century and packed with a thousand characters in 120 chapters, the novel is seventy percent historical fact, with accurate descriptions of social conditions, and thirty percent fiction, encompassing legend, folklore and myth.
The first historical novel in the West was Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley (1814), the first of some 30 books-including Rob Roy (1817) and Ivanhoe (1819)-that romanticized and popularized Scottish and English history. He is considered the first historical novelist, the first to view history as a distinct cultural setting with characters locked in social conflict.
Following the French Revolution and Napoleon, when ordinary people entered history and became a vast literate public whose lives provided the subject matter for literature, historical novels reached a peak of popularity throughout Europe in the 19th century.
Honore de Balzac’s La Comédie Humaine (1837), Charles Dickens’s Tale of Two Cities (1859), Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1831) and Les Misérables (1862), Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace (1865), and Alexandre Dumas’s The Count of Monte Cristo (1844) and The Three Musketeers (1884) are all classics of high literary quality.
Cooper’s Leatherstocking Tales
Inspired by Scott, James Fenimore Cooper was the father of historical fiction in America. His Leatherstocking Tales comprised five historical novels-The Pioneers (1823), Last of the Mohicans (1826), The Prairie (1827), The Pathfinder (1840) and The Deerslayer (1841)-that dramatized the conflict between the frontier and advancing civilization.
The Pioneers, the first bestseller in the United States, introduced Nathaniel “Natty” Bumppo, a frontiersman known as Leatherstocking, the Pathfinder, the Trapper, Deerslayer, or La Longue Carabine. In The Last of the Mohicans, Natty becomes Hawkeye, who is befriended by Chingachgook and Uncas, idealized, noble Indians.
“Chingachgook, Uncas and Leatherstocking are Cooper’s supreme achievement, one of the glories of American literature,” wrote historian Allan Nevins. “Leatherstocking is… one of the great prize men of world fiction… The cumulative effect of the Leatherstocking Tales is tremendous,… the nearest approach yet to an American epic.”
Cooper, who restrained his fertile imagination with history as a body of facts and yet was no slave to facts, was hailed by Herman Melville, the author of Moby-Dick (1851), a renowned historical novel based on two real events, as “our national novelist,” and Balzac stated that the character of Leatherstocking will live “as long as literature lasts.”
Balzac’s La Comédie Humaine
Honore de Balzac, the “French Dickens,” was the inheritor of Scott’s style of the historical novel in France. His magnum opus, La Comédie Humaine (1829-48), was an interlinked chain of 100 novels and stories unveiling a panorama of life from 1815-1848, after the fall of Napoleon, who once famously said: “History is a set of lies agreed upon.”
Balzac’s vision of society-in which class, money and ambition are the major factors-was embraced by Hugo, Tolstoy and Dumas, and liberals and conservatives alike. Friedrich Engels, a founder of Marxist theory, wrote that he learned more from Balzac “than all the professional historians, economists and statisticians put together.”
However, Henry James, the father of the realistic psychological novel, complained: “The artist of the Comédie Humaine is half-smothered by the historian.” In fact, this American considered historical novels “fatally cheap.” But he also admitted that the “novel, far from being make-believe, competes with life since it records the stuff of history.”
The Triumph of Historical Fiction
Notable modern historical novels include Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage (1895), E.M. Forster’s A Passage to India (1924), Pearl Buck’s The Good Earth (1931), James Clavell’s Asian Saga (1962-93), Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five (1969) and E.L. Doctorow’s Ragtime (1975). Ken Follett’s Eye of the Needle (1978) and other books exceed 100 million in worldwide sales.
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Top Book Publishing Companies
When considering various book publishing companies there is quite a bit to take into account. Whether you are just learning, or looking to have your own piece of work published, there are quite a few options. Like music record labels, there are the big and famous, and then there are also many, many lesser known companies. This article will give a brief detail of the top book publishers in North America, or as they can be known, the “Big Six”. This guide illustrates where to get a piece of work published, if a person were looking to do that. Therefore, these are the top six book publishing companies in North America:
Hachette Book Group:
The first on the list of top book publishing companies is Hachette Book Group. This company is the smallest on the list. Previously owned by Time Warner, it is currently owned by the European company Hachette Livre. The most well known imprints include “Little, Brown & Company”, “Orbit”, “FaithWords”, and “Grand Central”.
HarperCollins:
Next up is HarperCollins. John and James Harper founded this New York based publisher in 1817. Currently with different branches in various cities, its early authors included Mark Twain and Dickens just to name a few. This organization also has a large role as a children book publishing company. HaperCollins’ imprints include “Collins”, “William Morrow”, “Amistad”, “Avon”, and “HarperEntertainment”
Macmillan:
Third on the list of top book publishing companies is Macmillan. This company is based in New York City, and is owned by Holtzbrinck. The most notable trade houses of Macmillan include: “St. Martin’s Press”, “Tor”, “Henry Holt”, “Farrar, Straus & Giroux”.
Penguin Group:
Moving right along, next we have Penguin Group. This is the second biggest trade publisher in the world, coming in second right behind Random House. This book publishing company is also known for its Classics series. The Classics series started with their first publication of “The Odyssey”. Since then, they have made printed many more notible book in their Classics series. The most well known imprints include: “Riverhead Books”, “Dutton”, “G.P. Putnam’s Sons”, “Viking”, and “Portfolio”
Random House:
Now we move on to the big boy of book publishing companies. Random House is the biggest trade publisher in the word, and is currently a division of Bertelsmann. This company first made news when it was taken to court in regards to their United States publication of “Ulysses”. Since then, they have branched out and are currently sending out a wide variety of books, including children’s books. Some of their notable imprints include: “Doubleday Broadway”, “Alfred A. Knopf”, “Bantam Dell”, and “Crown Publishing Group”.
Simon & Schuster:
Last on the list is Simon & Schuster. This company, owned by CBS, releases just under 2,000 books a year. Their notable imprints include: “Scribner”, “Simon & Schuster”, “Free Press”, and “Pocket”.
Well there you have it, a list of the top book publishing companies on this side of the globe (if you are reading in North America, that is). Hope you found what you were looking for in this article.
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Finding Library Book Sales
Fiction and non-fiction novel sales are usually formed by local libraries and churches in your community. Members in the town drop off hundreds of novels every month that are then turned into massive book sales. The beneficial thing is that by purchasing books at these library sales you get to service your local libraries and churches to earn money for their organization. The most beneficial thing though, is that the novels are priced very cheap. The majority of donated books in these sales will be a few dollars or less. Some newer novels might be slightly higher, but not many of them.
Most book sales will proceed for more than a day or two. Sometimes the opening day of the sale is saved for paying members only. To be a member, you pay a small fee and get to be among the first shoppers to scope out all the books at their sales. Some sales may even allow other benefits beyond just getting the opportunity to shop before everyone else.
Often library and church sales will finish their sale with a bag sale day. These sale days are extremely important to not miss out on attending. During these sales, you get to fill a bag and the entire bag of books will be bulk priced rather than the books themselves inside. These book sales are often priced around six or seven dollars per bag. It’s pretty easy to fit quite a large number of books in your shopping book bag so your overhead price for each novel is really great.
Each sale gets to decide their own price for the bags, so I can’t promise certain prices but the book sales I have shopped at have priced inside that range.
How can I find sales in my area?
Most sales will be advertised online or in the local newspaper. Some can be tricky to find since the organizations are not always funded well enough to advertise efficiently. Usually by doing a keyword search to look for library book sales or community book sales, finding them should be fairly easy.Donation Opportunity
Book sales are a great donation opportunity. For people who read quite often and have a mass of books lying around their home, it is often beneficial to donate portions of your book collection to these sales in an effort to give back. If you plan to donate a large amount of books, you can ask the library about possible tax deduction slips for credit of your donation. -
How to Write Adventure Stories for Children
With many budding writers emerging each day, people find it difficult to select which writer’s work to read. Every one of them has their own unique style, theme and imaginative characters that are likely to attract readers. While many people become writers with a mission to create stories for adults, they neglect a very significant demographic segment – children. In fact, if only writers start to write adventure stories for kids, they can become famous just like J. K Rowling – the author of the widely popular Harry Potter series.
However, writing for kids is not as easy as it is for adults. You have to keep in mind your target readers and their mentality at every stage. Nothing should be overstated or understated. It should be interesting and have a good message for children that can convince them to take challenges.
To help you write good adventure stories, we have rounded up some instructions that you should keep in mind while writing stories for kids.
Keep It Simple
A good idea to write an adventure story is to start out with a conflict. However, make sure you use an example that kids can understand easily. Different age groups want to hear different kinds of stories. For instance, children a elementary school are inspired by books such as those written by Lemony Snicket and young adults enjoy reading adventures like that of the Twilight series. So it is necessary that you understand the audience you are writing for in the first place.
Keep It Interesting
The only way to keep children reading your book is to keep it interesting. This can be done by making quick transitions from one scene to another. Want to make it more enthralling? Add a cliffhanger at the end of each chapter.
Ask Others Opinions
Let someone else criticize what you have written before your readers do. A number of these critiques can be found online or they can be any of your friends who know about writing adventure stories. Reckon their suggestions and try to make your work better by working on them.
Create Characters That Children Can Relate To
You cannot convince a kid to read a story unless you assure them that the character you are talking about is just like them. It has feelings, fear, and hope. Your character also makes mistakes just as children do. This way kids will find it difficult to put your book down.
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