May is Better Hearing and Speech Month

May is "Better Hearing and Speech Month". This annual event provides opportunities for people to become better aware of their difficulties in hearing so they can seek help to improve their quality of life. Have you had your hearing tested recently? Do you know of someone who may need their hearing tested? Stop in today, and pick up some information!!

April Health Screening

You are cordially invited to the first annual health fair for seniors in Harrisonville, Missouri on April 14th. It will be held at the Harrisonville Community Center. The hours will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and there is no charge for any of the screenings! I will be conducting video otoscopic screenings, and can schedule you for a full hearing examination in my office for no additional charge!! I will honor the 7 day no obligation trials, if you qualify!! Please stop by the Hometown Hearing and Audiology booth for more details! See you there!!!

Hearing Loss and Depression

The Better Hearing Institute had an interesting article October7, 2010, about the link between hearing loss and depression. According to Sergei Kochkin, Phd., executive director of the Better Hearing Institute,"When left untreated, hearing loss often leads to isolation, depression, and other emotional conditions that can effect mental health and quality of life. Yet, hearing loss remains one of the most commonly unaddressed health conditions in America today." The article discussed a study done by the National Council on Aging, and its findings that people age 50 or older with untreated hearing loss were " more likely to report depression, anxiety, anger and frustration, emotional instability and paranoia, and were less likely to participate in organized social activities than those who wore hearing aids. " The study went on to say that people who did seek help with their hearing showed a reduction in their depression, improved interpersonal relationships, and experienced a" greater belief that they were in control of their lives." I have heard a myriad of stories from people telling me just how much hearing aids improved their quality of life. Many times, if they were not given the opportunity to try hearing aids, they would not have realized just how much they helped them.

"Check Up Time"

Have you been to your dispenser for a check up on your hearing aids lately?
It is always a good idea to have your hearing aids checked on, especially during this time of year.
Here is a quick list of items to look for to see if you need to stop in for a check up.
If you are a behind -the- ear hearing aid user with custom earmolds, please be sure that the tubing on your hearing aids are replaced periodically. Do not wait until the tubing is yellowed or brittle, and always check with your dispenser when they want you to come in for regular check-ups. Many times these tubing changes are covered under warranty, and can provide optimum hearing benefit for you. This time of year we see many people that are very active outdoors, and it is always a good idea to own a dri-aid kit for your hearing aids to make sure that they do not build up any moisture in them. Always check with your provider on what style of dri-aid kit will work best for you. If you do not own a kit, then make sure that you open the battery door in the hearing aids each night. Always have a special container with you in case you need to take your hearing aids out. And finally, if you are not hearing as well as you use to with the hearing aids, schedule an appointment with your dispenser to see why the hearing aids are not performing as well. The hearing aids may need to be cleaned, repaired, or adjusted. Check to see when you have had your last hearing test, it may be time to retest your hearing. Our hope is that you check with your dispenser to make sure your hearing aids are working their best!!

Today I would like to discuss the importance of having your hearing tested if you are consistently in environmently noisy situations. Many people do not realize that many of the environments we may go to can have damaging effects on our hearing if we do not protect ourselves from prolonged exposure to them. For example, loud rock concerts can produce sound levels of 115 decibels. According to Mid-States Laboratories," the maximum exposure without ear protection would be only 15 minutes. After that damage may occur, and consistent exposure at high levels over an extended period of time, sensorineural hearing loss(nerve loss) can result."
Many people will ask," How do I know if it is that loud?". Here are some signs to look for. Are you experiencing ringing in the ears? Do you notice a temporary loss of hearing after noise exposure? Do you find that you have to shout over any noise that is being heard at the event? These may indicate a potentially harmful noise level. Some examples of activities that often produce high noise levels are: manufacturing, sporting events, concerts. The good news is that there are products available to help you protect your hearing in these types of situations. Having your hearing tested if you are consistently in these types of noisy situations is a good recommendation.

According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated one-third of Americans between the ages of 65 and 75 and close to one-half of those older than 75 have some degree of hearing loss. According to the Mayo Clinic Staff, doctors believe that there are two main factors that contribute to hearing loss over time. They are heredity and chronic noise exposure to loud noises. If you feel that you are not hearing as well as you should, start the new year out right by having your hearing tested.

"Hearing Loss and the Quality of Life"

Hearing loss touches all of our lives. Whether it is your spouse that cannot correctly understand what you told him in the kitchen, or the clerk that could not understand what you were looking for in the store. According to Hear-it, a web-cite on hearing (http://www.hear-it.org/page.dsp?page=560), "A Finnish study investigated the emotional problems associated with hearing loss and how to alleviate them."

" The study found that 56 percent of hearing impaired people suffer adverse effects in their daily life because of hearing loss. Many isolate themselves and feel that their quality of life is diminished. Also, 58 percent feel embarrassed and 64 percent feel handicapped. Hearing aids and advice can improve the quality of life. Using hearing aids on a daily basis, more than 30 percent experience improvements in six months."

I know when my husband's grandmother lived with us she was very active for 99 years old. She was able to communicate effectively even with very powerful hearing aids on. She wanted to be able to hear her great-granchildren. She wanted to carry on conversations with the family and hearing aids helped her do that. She enjoyed listening at church, and being able to participate intelligently in conversations because she was able to manage how to correctly use her devices so she could hear better. I am very glad that grandma chose to use her hearing aids and did not say, " I am too old." Because she did, she was able to lead a much fuller life for the over twenty-four years she used hearing aids.

We do not know when the time will come that we ourselves may need a hearing aid. Old age, repetitive noise exposure, or even some medications for illness may diminish our ability to hear; but I am thankful technology is improving everyday so that we do not have to suffer with the hearing loss without help. It is not enough to know that help is out there if we need it. Hometown Hearing and Audiology offers a family a rare chance to try hearing devices before purchasing, works with your insurance, and is conveniently located all over the metro with a team of professionals that care about your hearing. I am glad to become a part of a company that is helping people improve their quality of life. Don't put it off, see how hearing devices can help you, and your family, today!!