Hearing loss – All you need to know
Hearing loss – All you need to know

Hearing loss gradually occurs as the body ages, making it common among seniors, but it can affect people of all ages due to a birth defect or damage to the ear due to an injury. Almost one-third of America’s population between the ages of 65 and 75 years suffer from some level of hearing loss. Depending on the part of the ear that’s affected, hearing loss can be divided into three types:

  • Conductive: Hearing loss involving the outer or the middle part of the ear
  • Sensorineural: This type of hearing loss involves the inner part of the ear
  • Mixed: This is a combination of the other two types of hearing loss

Stages
Various levels of hearing loss have been identified by audiologists:

  • Mild hearing loss
    People with mild hearing loss can hear sounds ranging between 25 and 40 decibels, so sounds like the ticking of a clock or a faucet dripping will be inaudible. Keeping up with a conversation that they have with one person might not be much of a challenge for people with mild hearing loss.
  • Moderate hearing loss
    At this stage, people with hearing loss might not be able to hear sounds below 41 to 55 decibels. Moderate hearing loss patients can face difficulty keeping up with conversations, and the ringing of a phone or a doorbell might not be audible to people with hearing loss at this stage.
  • Severe hearing loss
    People with severe hearing loss might not be able to hear any conversation without the help of a hearing aid. Also, hearing aids can be helpful to some extent in such cases, but they might not be foolproof.
  • Profound hearing loss
    This is the most severe stage of hearing loss that makes it difficult for a person to hear sounds below 90 decibels. In fact, using a hearing aid might also not prove very effective at this stage.

Diagnosis
Several tests are undertaken to diagnose the issues one might be facing with their hearing abilities:

  • Physical examination: A doctor will examine a person’s ear for any earwax deposits or swelling caused due to an infection.
  • Screening tests: The general whisper test is conducted to diagnose hearing loss.
  • App-based hearing tests: There are apps on mobiles or tablets that anyone can use to screen for a moderate level of hearing loss.
  • Audiometric tests: These are the more thorough tests conducted by an audiologist wherein the patient is asked to wear headphones and then words and sounds are sent to each ear to diagnose the extent of hearing loss.

Prevention
Over-exposure to loud noise and aging are the leading causes of hearing loss, but earwax buildup can also affect one’s hearing abilities temporarily.

In most cases, hearing loss might not be treatable or reversible, but its effects can be minimized with help from an audiologist. There are several ways to prevent hearing loss caused due to aging and exposure to loud noise:

  • Staying away from areas with loud noise
  • Using hearing protection like earplugs
  • Limiting exposure to loud sounds
  • Using appliances or gadgets that have low noise levels
  • A guide to RV rentals

    RV rentals refer to renting a recreational vehicle like a camper for travel. This fully equipped vehicle makes long-distance travel comfortable. If you are planning a holiday that includes a long road trip, renting a camper is a good option. This article tells you all you need to know about booking an RV.

    Understand the benefits
    Before you even consider RV rentals, you need to understand the benefits of booking an RV. A recreational vehicle allows you to travel to any destination of your choice, in comfort. It does not confine you to a hotel, and you can stay in your camper and park it in any place of your choice.

    An RV is a good option when traveling long distances. RV rentals save on travel and hotel costs. You can even cook your own meals, thus saving on eating out. For an adventure trip that involves fishing or hiking, renting an RV is a great travel option.

    Which RV to book?
    The RV rentals you choose depends on the number of people traveling and your budget. The different types of campers are:

    • Class A: These are full-fledged motorhomes for luxury travel. The increased size makes driving a bit difficult, and it is the most expensive.
    • Class B: It is a small camper and suitable for solo travel or for a couple.
    • Class C: This RV is a van with a home attached. A bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen is also available.
    • Fifth-wheel camper: This is a huge and spacious RV with a fifth wheel. They are ideal for a small group.
    • Towable trailers: It is a truck with a trailer that can be towed. These trailers are spacious and suitable for a large group of travelers.

    Costs involved
    It goes without saying that the type of RV you book would decide the costs. Depending on the number of people traveling, and your budget, you can decide which RV to book. General costs of renting an RV are:

    • Class A – $175 to $275 per night
    • Class B – $100 to $200 per night
    • Class C – $150 to $200 per night
    • Fifth wheel – $100 to $200 per night
    • Towable trailer – $50 to $150 per night

    Apart from the rental expenses, there are other costs. You would need to pay a deposit to the rental company to cover any damages. You also need to take insurance for your trip. Apart from basic facilities, you can book extras for the RV for which you need to pay more.

    If you park the RV at a campground, there would be fees for using the campground. Dumping and cleaning fees are also payable at a campsite.

    Plan your budget in advance
    It is important to understand the different types of RVs, the average costs, and your travel and budget. If you want to enjoy an on-the-road experience, then RVs are your best bet. Decide the destination, and work out the total travel distance and time.

    Figure out all costs such as rental costs, campground costs, and all other expenses. The budget helps you decide which RV type to book.

    Booking the RV
    Getting an RV on a rental is easy. There are many options available. You would need to research different options while budgeting for your trip. There are different places to book an RV:

    1. RV dealers: While dealers offer RVs on sales, some would also offer them on rent.
    2. Rental companies: These established companies rent out RVs to travelers. But they generally tend to be expensive.
    3. Peer-to-peer rentals: It is one of the best places to rent an RV. A peer-to-peer rental is where an RV owner rents out his vehicle to others. The process is facilitated by peer-to-peer rental websites like RVshare, Outdoorsy, Campanda, and ShareTraveler. These websites have search options to help you find the RV of your choice. All you need to do is compare prices across websites and book online.

    Some tips to keep in mind

    • When you travel during the holidays, there is a great demand for RVs and campgrounds, so you need to book in advance. This can be easily done online.
    • The key is to customize your itinerary. Design it in the best possible way, giving you sufficient time for travel. It will help you complete your trip as per the plan. You must note that driving an RV is not as easy as driving a car. You can take a trial run at a dealer before actually booking one online.
    • Pack all that you need for a comfortable trip including groceries, ready-to-eat food, water, medicine, and clothes.

    An RV is a great travel option for long road trips with family and friends. It allows for comfort on the road that is not offered by a car. You can stay in the camper, cook your own meals, and enjoy a great trip.

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  • What qualities are required for a criminal justice degree

    Whether you wish to be a criminal counselor or a detective, one of the criminal justice degrees will comprehensively refine both your intellectual and physical abilities. This is because professionals working in the field of criminal justice deal with unpredictable situations all the time. While applying for criminal justice degrees, you must develop and hone certain practical skills and traits, so that you could make the most out of your college education.

    The following list mentions certain qualities that you must be mindful about, as these can prove to a great asset for your overall academic profile for a criminal justice program.

    Communication: Every human interaction is unique, and with a criminal justice degree, you will be primarily working on this very reality. Your lessons will be mainly about gauging different types of emotions. Therefore, you must have excellent interactive skills, so that you make the most out of your experiences as a criminal justice student. Apart from this, you will also be taught to read different body languages and instructed about amplifying your intuitive qualities as well. Strong communication skills will offer you an upper hand when you are dealing with distinctive convicts as well as complex cases.

    Integrity:  Working as a criminal justice professional can be a twisted experience, as challenging situations can alter within a millisecond. And that is why you must ensure high standards of ethics. As a young individual to get enlighten more about ethics you can take up classes. If your high school doesn’t offer this subject, then you can find a community college or an online class to learn more.

    Critical thinking skills: One thing that criminal justice students don’t do is take something at face value. You must have a curiosity to look, listen, observe and analyze so that you could form coherent arguments and develop an objective attitude. You can polish such logical skills by participating in debates, reading books, and even by having simple day-to-day conversations.

    Physical fitness: Especially for majors like law enforcement, physical fitness is of utmost importance because you will constantly be on your toes. Although, all kinds of criminal justice professionals should develop a fitness regime not just to discipline the body but also the mind.

    Awareness: As a criminal justice deals with the various nuances of our society, a major part of your college curriculum will revolve around national and global issues. And that is why you must be well-acquainted with recent happening. Refining your general awareness will not only keep you informed but will also aid you in strategizing better as a criminal justice professional.

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  • A guide to the various stages and types of sleep disorders

    Getting a good amount of sleep is fundamental to our health. Not getting sufficient sleep can have a grave effect on our physical and mental health. While most of us may not sleep simply because we are watching a show, there are some people who suffer from sleep disorders and cannot help it.

    Stages of human sleep
    Any kind of disturbance in the period or quality of sleep is known as a sleep disorder. Human sleep can be explained in the following stages:

    • Stage 1
      This stage is called non-rapid eye movement sleep.
    • Stage 2
      This stage is the second stage of non-rapid eye movement sleep. It constitutes half of your sleep.
    • Stages 3 and 4
      These stages see the person most deep in sleep and they account for approximately 10 to 20 percent of the sleeping period. They occur during the first half of the duration of sleep.
    • Stage 5
      This stage is called the rapid eye movement stage (REM). It is in the stage that we see dreams.

    The amount of time each person spends in each stage will differ as per their age.

    Types of sleep disorders
    Now let us take a look at some of the main types of sleep disorders:

    • Insomnia
      In insomnia, a person is unable to fall asleep. It is mainly caused due to stress. Insomnia may be chronic or transient.
    • Parasomnias
      Parasomnias refer to unusual movements that may occur during sleep. Common examples are sleepwalking, sleeptalking, and bedwetting.
    • Apnea
      This is a very serious disorder wherein the person suffering from it suddenly stops breathing while sleeping. This leads to disturbed sleep, as each time the person keeps getting breathless, they wake up from their sleep.
    • Narcolepsy
      A person suffering from narcolepsy will suddenly fall asleep. This could be during any normal activity. For instance, a person suffering from narcolepsy can fall asleep while working or reading a book. Narcolepsy can also lead to sleep paralysis. Sleep paralysis is a condition where a person will find themselves paralyzed when they wake up.

    Diagnosis of sleep disorders
    If you have sleeping disorders, your doctor will ask you questions related to your health and inquire whether you have any symptoms for sleep disorders. Post this, your doctor will conduct the following tests:

    • Sleep study
      This test examines movements in the body, oxygen levels, and brain waves when the person is asleep.
    • Electroencephalogram
      This test evaluates the brain’s electrical movements.
    • Blood tests
      Certain sleeping disorders may be diagnosed with the help of blood tests.

    Prevention of sleep disorders
    It is always best to get medical help to treat sleeping disorders. But you can take certain steps to prevent this condition, such as

    • Do not drink caffeine in the evening
    • Exercise daily
    • Maintain regular sleep timings
    • Do not sleep in the afternoon
    • Do not eat a heavy dinner
    • Take a bath before dinner and sleeping will help you feel clean and relaxed

    Now that you have a fair idea about sleep disorders, it is recommended that you follow the aforementioned preventive measures to ensure that you do not suffer from this problem in the future.

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  • 5 useful ways to reduce the risk of lung cancer

    Lung cancer is a deadly disease that claims the lives of millions of people around the world every year. It is a leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States as well. There are some precautions a person can take to reduce the risk of lung cancer. However, these are not medically-proved ways of preventing lung cancer, but they do mitigate the risk factor.

    • Say no to smoking: If you are already a smoker, this is the best time to quit smoking, rather than thinking of lung cancer treatment later. If you have not developed a smoking habit, never attempt to do so. Smoking is one of the leading causes of lung cancer and even options like xalkori lung cancer treatments or metastatic lung cancer treatments or metastatic NSCLC treatments may not help to save your lungs later. Exposure to passing smoking also has similar effects.
    • Say no to tobacco: Not only smoking but also the usage of tobacco products increases the risk of lung cancer. If you have been using tobacco products for a long time, start looking for effective ways to stop the habit. Don’t worry if you have been smoking for years; it’s better late than never to quit smoking and avoid lung cancer treatment later in life. The right time is now to look out for effective strategies to get rid of tobacco usage.
    • Say no to unhealthy foods: Choosing a healthy diet helps us stay hale and hearty. Avoid junk foods and switch to a diet that supplies your body with essential nutrients and vitamins. Include more fruits and vegetables, while restricting yourself from processed meats, high-calorie food items, etc.
    • Be physically active: Exercise plays an essential part of healthy living. Make sure you take out at least 30 minutes from your busy schedule for your workout session. Also, remember maintaining optimum weight levels helps to avoid diseases.
    • Avoid exposure to toxic substances: A survey of people undergoing lung cancer treatment has shown that a significant percentage of them have been exposed to toxic substances at workplace or home. Recognize the toxicity of chemicals and avoid getting exposed to them.
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  • John Deere’s riding lawn mowers

    Deere & Company (brand name John Deere) is an American corporation that manufactures agricultural, construction, and forestry machinery, diesel engines, drivetrains used in heavy equipment and lawn care equipment. In 2016, it was listed as 97th in the Fortune 500America’s ranking and was ranked 364th in the global ranking in 2016.

    The company’s slogan is “Nothing Runs Like a Deere”, and its logo is a leaping deer, with the words ‘JOHN DEERE’ under it. The logo of the leaping deer has been used by this company for over 155 years. It has been a trusted company for several decades and is undoubtedly very reliable. It is one of the oldest companies which produce good quality agricultural equipment and has thereby risen to being a household name across the country in the matters of agriculture. With changing times the company also adapted their equipment and upgraded their machinery to suit the needs of the urban house owner.

    John Deere continues to impress its buyers with innovative machinery and customer friendly service. The riding lawn mower to required to trim your lawn does not need the power to mow acres of land needed for agriculture. Similarly, the size of the contemporary lawn mowers has been reduced to introduce it to homes. They have redesigned their riding lawn mowers keeping tight spaces in mind that might need a trim and improving their reverse-mowing setups.

    A good lawn mower is the key to a great looking property and John Deere is the right place for tough, intelligently-designed riding lawn mowers. There is a good range of mowers as well as covers offered by the company. The yard is at the heart of your home. To help you care for it all, John Deere offers a full line of riding lawn tractors for properties of all sizes. If you are confused about which riding lawn mower to pick for your home, the company makes everything easier by offering a solution for this dilemma as well. Their website gives clear and helpful instructions for choosing the right mower for your property based on your requirements.

    Admittedly, mowing your lawn is not the best way to spend your weekend. With features like 4-wheel steering for the ultimate trim, 4-wheel drive to negotiate tough terrains, and some of the best mower decks in the industry, you’ll mow better, much easily, quickly, and get back to what’s really important – enjoying your weekend.

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  • A list of the best cell phones of 2018

    In the vast market of cellular devices, choosing a phone to buy is a tedious task where every company comes up with a phone that’s equally as good as the competitors. In fact, there is a lot of competition among the devices of the same company.  The cell phones that have marked their place in the list of the best cell phones for 2018 are:

    The Samsung Galaxy S9+ has emerged as the best phone to be purchased, where all credits go to the amazing battery life, bigger screen, and good quality camera. The screen is a super AMOLED 6.2-inches display. The Samsung Galaxy S9+ counts itself among the best-rated phones because of its amazing features. The device comes with a 3500mAh battery that proves to last an entire day and more.

    Apple’s flagship phone, the iPhone X with its 5.8-inches OLED display and more than 12 hours battery capacity follows the Samsung Galaxy S9+ as the best phone to buy in the cellular device market.

    Samsung Galaxy S9 makes its place among the best cell phones in the target cellular market. It has survived well giving a good competition to its rival devices. The phone comes with a 5.8-inches high definition AMOLED display and a good battery capacity. The camera enables clicking good quality images even in low lights.

    Google Pixel XL 2 has made a place for itself on the charts of the top cell phones for the year 2018. It has a 6-inch large screen, 3520mAh battery, a 8MP secondary camera and a 12MP primary camera.

    Seems like Samsung has found a place for all its high-end devices in the list of the best phones to buy. Here, we speak about the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 that comes with a 6.3-inches screen, dual 12MP rear camera, 8MP secondary camera and a 3300 mAh battery capacity to give an on-par competition to its sibling rivals as well as Apple’s flagship device.

    The LG V30 has a 6.0-inch screen good enough to watch, work and surf the Internet on the device. It is also packed with a 3300 mAh battery that lasts for almost a day. This phone has been among the best phones LG has ever manufactured. Although the company may not have had much of an impact on the cellular device market, being one of the top cell phones along with major players of the market is quite a remarkable achievement for the LG V30.

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  • The 5 Different types of mattress

    If you’re looking to purchase a new mattress through a sale mattress, you’re probably going to come across various names and types of mattresses. This can be quiet confusing if you’re not well-versed with the latest sleep technology and products.

    Here are the five varieties of mattresses that you should be aware of:

    Memory Foam Mattresses

    Memory foam (Visco Elastic foam) and is one of the most commonly used mattress material. Memory foam can adjust to your body weight and temperature. It evenly distributes your body weight throughout the mattress, making it a good choice for people suffering from arthritis, achy joints and body pains. It also helps restless sleepers get a sound sleep.

    Memory foam is susceptible to temperatures which is why it conforms to the person sleeping on it as it softens with the sleeper’s body weight and temperature. These mattresses are highly resistant to bed bugs, dust mites, mold/fungus, bacteria and other such allergens.

    There are different of innovations in memory foams such as gel-infused, ‘open-cell’ memory foams and other such innovations. These help in circulating the air when a person sleeps on these mattresses.

    Innerspring Mattresses

    These mattresses are one of the oldest and most popular types of modern mattresses. These durable mattresses are made using different varieties of support systems made of steel coils. These can be a single unit connected to various springs or individual coils wrapped around. Once these innersprings are made, they cover them with different varieties of upholstery materials and padding materials. All of this produces a strong, durable and extremely comfortable mattress which makes innerspring mattress a best seller in sale mattress worldwide.

    Hybrid Mattresses

    Hybrid mattresses are made by combining two or more variations of support systems such as memory foam with innerspring systems. The memory foam delivers comfort by relieving pressure on the sleeper’s sensitive areas and controls body temperature by diffusing the heat away. Along with this, the innerspring coils reduce motion transfer which occurs while tossing and turning and adds that ‘bounciness’ which a lot of people find comfortable.

    Hybrid mattresses are cheaper than memory foam mattresses making them budget-friendly for shoppers on a budget.

    Latex Mattresses

    Latex is one of the most durable and resilient mattress materials which makes latex mattresses very versatile. The latex material provides support to the sleeper without excess pressure on hips, joints, shoulders and other joints. Latex also helps in suppressing motion. This means that if the partner moves in the bed, it won’t have much impact on the sleeper. Latex mattresses don’t sag over time and continue to provide the same comfort night after night. Even if you’ve picked up a five to10-year-old sale mattress of latex material, it will provide the same comfort as a brand new one would.

    However, a lot of high cost of production goes into the manufacturing of these latex mattresses which makes them a little on the higher end.

    Foam Mattresses

    Foam mattresses are a more cost-effective alternative to the above mattresses. These are some of the best mattresses that you should consider buying through sale mattress. They are created with different weights and densities of latex rubber foams or petrochemical-based flexible polyurethane foams. These mattresses are designed to give complete support and comfort even at the edges and corners of the mattress. This is a big advantage for restless and light sleepers who toss and turn all over the bed at night.

    Foam mattresses provide an array of options for the choice of material such as memory foam, solid foam, latex or gel foam.

    As you can see, there are various types of mattresses within these five varieties. It is important to make the best decision of mattress material when buying a brand new mattress or even second-hand sale mattress.

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  • Is the Samsung S9 better than iPhone X

    Mobile giants Samsung and iPhone both have managed to combine technology and design to introduce the Samsung Galaxy S9 and iPhone X smartphones. The S9 is a cheaper alternative if you are working with a tight budget. However, when it comes to comparison, here are a few reasons why you can prefer the Samsung Galaxy S9 over the iPhone X.

    • Display
      No doubt iPhone offers a stunning display and superior build quality in comparison to its competitors. Notch and screen to body ratio are the two factors that mainly influence your smartphone’s display. This makes Samsung Galaxy S9 a better choice over iPhone X. Notch is the cutout feature of iPhone X which tends to disrupt user experience while Samsung has no notch. Also, Samsung Galaxy S9 has a better screen to body ratio in comparison to the iPhone X.
    • Camera quality
      iPhone has always featured superior front and back camera’s in all its variants every time. Lowlight performance is one of the standout features of an iPhone, especially in the latest variant X launched last year. However, test results for the Samsung Galaxy S9 which will be launched this year indicate better camera performance in comparison to iPhone X which is a pricier variant.
    • Phone size and aspect ratio
      Screen size makes a lot of difference when it comes to the user utilizing maximum surface area available to them on the smartphones. iPhone X may boast a larger display on paper but due to a reduced screen to body ratios, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S9 has a bigger screen and a richer aspect ratio for its display. While the iPhone X has a narrower aspect ratio of 19.5:9, Samsung has 18.5:9 wider aspect ratios. At 5.8 inches, Apple iPhone X has a smaller screen size in comparison to Samsung Galaxy S9 plus which has a screen size of 6.2 inches.
    • Headphone jack
      With the iPhone X, it is difficult to listen to music and connect your phone to a nice sound system as there is no separate headphone jack. Apple discontinued the standard 3.5mm headphone jack after the launch of iPhone 7 and provided an audio adapter which can be connected to the charging port. Samsung Galaxy S9 and the S9 plus both still have and maintain the 3.5mm universal headphone jacks thus making it a preferred choice over recent iPhone variants.
    • Price
      No doubt one of the most important deciding factors is the price. While even the base model of iPhone X costs around $999, Samsung Galaxy S9 is expected to be priced at $719 and the S9 plus variant will cost you $839 approximately.
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