25 Acts of Kindness...
One Thoughtful Gesture Can Make Someone Else's Day Much Brighter

1. Take a minute to direct someone who is lost even though you are rushing.
2. Write a letter to a child who could use some extra attention. Kids love getting mail.
3. Offer to pick up groceries for an elderly neighbor.
4. Give a homeless person your doggie bag.
5. Say "I love you" to someone you love.
6. Put a coin in an expired meter.
7. Help a mother carry her baby stroller up the stairs, or hold a door open for her.
8. Each time you get a new item of clothing, give away something old.
9. Take someone's shift as the carpool parent.
10. Bring your assistant coffee.
11. Out of the blue, send flowers to a friend
12. Say "please" and "thank you" and really mean it
13. When you are on a crowded train, offer your seat to an elderly, disabled, or pregnant person.
14. Don't interrupt when someone is explaining herself.
15. Offer to babysit for a single mom
16. Let a fellow driver merge into your lane
17. Put your shopping cart back into it's place
18. Call or write a teacher who changed your life
19. Bring a bowl of fruit to share at the office
20. Forgive someone a debt and never bring it up again
21. Listen with all your senses
22. Encourage someone by building them up with strong and noble thoughts
23. Volunteer to take care of a friend's dog while he or she is vacationing
24. Help a friend pack for a move
25. Pass along a great book you've just finished reading

SOME INTERESTING FACTS FROM THE BETTER HEARING INSTITUTE

Lack of hearing loss treatment second most common health care mistake:

Hearing loss is the third most common affliction among elderly people in the United States and many other countries, surpassed in frequency only by high blood pressure and arthritis.

But while the elderly commonly go to their doctors for treatment of high blood presure and arthritis, fewer than one in five, who could benefit from hearing aids, seek treatment for their hearing loss.

The Institute for Healthcare Advancement, IHA, based in California, has identified the refusal to wear hearing aids or other aids, such as eyeglasses or dentures, as the second most common mistake seniors make in caring for their health. This behavior may prevent the senior from obtaining helpful assistance with some of the problems with aging.

This kind of resistance to the aging process and its appearance is detrimental to the individuals themselves and to their surrounding relatives, friends or colleagues.

The number one error is operating a car when it is no longer safe. other errors include:

• reluctance to discuss intimate health problems with the doctor or health care provider
• not understanding what the doctor told them about their health problem or medical plan
• disregarding the serious potential for a fall
• not having a single doctor or health care provider who looks at the overall medical plan for treatment
• not seeking medical attention when early possible warning signs occur
• failure to participate in prevention programs
• not asking loved ones for help.

Here's a good one to share with all the young people in your family!
Digital music players cause hearing damage.

The cool and compact MP3 and CD players may easily cause tinnitus or noise induced hearing loss. Yet, few are aware that these popular entertainment devices can be extremely hazardous to their hearing.

Digital music players are capable of delivering high sound levels for hours on a single battery charge. The user risks exposing his or ears to highly excessive dB levels hour after hour.

The devices are commonly used when people are on the go to and from school or work. In noisy traffic the volume is often turned up to drown out the outside noises. When the traffic noise levels are 85 dB the personal stereo volumes are easily up to levels damaging to the ears. As a general rule, you should never expose your ears to noise levels of 91 dB

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for more than two hours in one day.

Personal stereo noise levels at 91 - 139 dB
Boston University researchers tested six different commercially available portable CD players. The researchers found that the players delivered sound levels between 91 and 121 dB out-of-the-box. When earphones other than those provided with the players were used, the sound levels reached as high as 139 dB - about the noise level of a jet airplane on takeoff.

Needless to say, everyone should be careful of how often, and what decibel level, they use their headphones to help alleviate hearing loss.

Hearing loss taking toll on couples

Personal relationships are adversely affected by hearing loss. Hearing impaired couples are hardest hit, but relations with friends, family and colleagues suffer, as well.

Among the 27 million adult Americans with hearing loss relations with their spouse or partner are most strongly affected by the hearing problems. This comes from a study conducted online in the United States among 2,576 adults aged 18 years and older.

"It is very important for people in relationships to connect with each other, verbally and emotionally. Those who don't feel heard, figuratively or literally, can feel isolated or depressed," said Dr. John Gray, the best-selling author of 'Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus'. "The good news is that hearing loss can be helped and relationships don't have to be put at risk."

Frustration with hearing impaired people

According to the study, 54 percent admitted that they find it frustrating to communicate with individuals who appear not to be paying attention due to their hearing loss. 32 percent acknowledge feeling irritation in such situations while 18 percent stated they feel ignored.

Almost half of the respondents with hearing loss had not sought treatment. Just 20 percent were aware of the many options currently available for treatment of hearing loss. "It's a tragedy that people don't take action for their hearing health when so many treatment options are available", said Dr. Pat Chute, audiologist, professor and chair, Division of Health Professions, Mercy College.

If any of this sounds familiar to you please contact the Hearing Aid Institute at 1-800-331-6009 and take the time to talk to a hearing professional to see what can be done to help your hearing.