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No matter how old your child, receiving the news that he or she failed a hearing test is enough to shock you. You’re likely to question it, to wonder if that could possibly be true, or maybe, particularly if your child is no longer a baby, it’s something you’ve suspected yourself. Children are screened for hearing impairments when they’re newborns and then again usually before they enter kindergarten. If a hearing loss is suspected, for example your child “failed” the test, he or she typically is referred to an audiologist for a complete hearing evaluation. When failure isn’t really failure…

No matter how positive you are, negative thoughts happen from time to time. You know how that feels ““ when your “half full” glass suddenly becomes “half empty.” Next time negativity starts creeping in, use these tips to refill your glass. Start small When you start feeling down, focus on what you can accomplish today. Make a list of small tasks you can complete and pretty soon those tasks will add up. Take care of yourself Get up and exercise. It might not be at the top of your list of things to do, but regular exercise can improve…

We’ve all been there, it’s the end of a long day and your child has made a small ““ or big ““ mistake. The first reaction might be to lash out and correct that mistake, but there is a better way. Next time you need to stop and take a breath, remember eight tips to make disciplining your child a better experience for both of you. Use positive discipline Show your child the positive ways to handle a situation. Don’t just say no and use negative language. When your child acts up, refrain from saying “No! Don’t do that.” Instead,…

If you live with someone who suffers from mood swings, you know it can be difficult to be in the same room. But, you can take steps to make those times a little easier to handle. Ask what is wrong Do this before you try anything else. If your loved one says nothing, don’t get mad. Leave him alone. Give him some time to work out the feelings. And if he tells you what is on his mind, maybe he is willing to accept help. Step away and think about what happened Remember it’s not the person, but the…

When you or someone you love is hospitalized, you face the challenge of not only having to quickly understand what illness you’re dealing with and how it will be treated, but also, how to arrange for the assistance and supplies that will be needed after you leave the hospital. Add to this the fact that you may be partially incapacitated in some way and it’s easy to see why many patients and their families become overwhelmed during a hospitalization. Huge new demands are suddenly placed on your abilities to both understand complex medical information and arrange and pay for unexpected…

In 13 years of monitoring influenza, the CDC announced that, as of January 6, every part of the continental U.S. showed “widespread” flu activity. “This is the first year we had the entire continental U.S. be the same color on the graph, meaning there’s widespread activity in all of the continental U.S. at this point,” CDC Influenza Division Director Dr. Dan Jernigan said. “It is in a lot of places and causing a lot of flu.” And, the flu is an especially dangerous illness for pregnant women. Today, more than half of pregnant women in the United States ““ an…

The golfer at the driving range was a regular. George likes to keep his drive going straight by hitting a bucket of balls a day. But he is not your normal golfer. He is on the range while in hospice care. Debunking a stereotype, George, from Edgewood, Kentucky, proves living with hospice means anything but spending the rest of your life in bed. George’s experience is not unique. The mission of hospice is to provide specialized care for end-of-life patients and their families. More simply, hospice care supports living one’s life to the fullest with dignity regardless of how much…

Unfortunately, a  trip to the  emergency room becomes inevitable when an injury or other life-threatening condition requires medical attention. For other injuries or illnesses  that need immediate attention but are not considered a medical emergency, such as Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) or toothaches, urgent care centers have shorter wait times and lower costs than their Emergency Department counterparts. But how do you know which center will provide you or your loved one with the right medical care for whatever you may be experiencing? In an emergency, there is no time to waste. It’s important to know the difference between Urgent…

Nagging shoulder pain and stiffness, a creaking or clicking sound with movement, night pain””these symptoms of shoulder arthritis should not be ignored. Why not just tough it out? Because patients who promptly care for inflammation of this joint have better outcomes, even if a future shoulder replacement is necessary. Arthritic Conditions Osteoarthritis is the most common type of shoulder arthritis, resulting from every day wear and tear Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which also causes shoulder arthritis. Post-traumatic arthritis or avascular necrosis is initiated by injury to the shoulder Inflammatory arthritis, such as gout Septic arthritis caused be infection…

“It’s just a pinkie finger,” is a common response to an injury of the littlest hand digit. But, if that pinkie finger is broken and heals improperly, it can be misshapen forever. In fact, hand or finger injuries, often regarded as inconsequential nuisances by patients, may be more serious. Sprains and fractures are frequent injuries to the hand and wrist. A sprain is a tear in a joint capsule, ligament or tendon, while a fracture is a break in the bone. Although the initial symptoms of sprains and fractures may appear similar, knowing which injury you’re dealing with is critical.…