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The Hearing Herald
Published by:
HEARING AID INSTITUTE, INC.
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Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr Issue 2009 |
www.hearingaidinstitute.com |
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This newsletter features Donna Reid of Havre and she wrote
such a wonderful letter that I am going to print it just the way she wrote it. Here
we go, in Donna's words!
"Hello everyone,
It was discovered that I, Donna Reid, had a hearing problem
when I was in the second grade. My mother took me to a hearing specialist, and way back
in 1956 it was determined that nothing could be done about my 75% loss in my left ear.
It was called a retarded ear canal. In today's time my ear would be called a
disfunctional ear canal.
Going through my school years it was quite frustrating for me to
not hear what my teachers were saying to me, it seemed like they were always talking through
a tunnel. I would always have to turn my head to the left to hear what they were saying.
Through my adult years I learned
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to adjust to my hearing problem; anyway I thought I did. But,
to my family, friends, and the people I worked with, my hearing problem was frustrating
to them also. I was always saying "what did you say" or I wouldn't hear them call my
name. Also, people would say things to me and my hearing would only pick up half of
what they said and I would fill in the blank spots. I got tired of saying "what did you
say". I know people around me sure got tired of repeating themselves.
I am a Dietary Manager at the Senior Center in Havre, MT. I
have always been interested in hearing aids and wondered if something new could be done for
me in this new world of electronics. I have talked to the seniors about their hearing aids.
Most of theirs are big and bulky and I seem them always adjusting the sound or something
on them, and I knew that wasn't for me.
One evening while watching t.v. a commercial came on advertising
the Hearing Aid Institute in Great Falls and I starting seeing ads in the Havre Daily News.
I kept saying to myself that I should give it a try and go get my hearing checked, for those
hearing aids seemed completely different from the nes I was used to seeing. A week or two
went by and then I got a call from a nice lady wanting to know if I would be interested in
a hearing test with the Hearing Aid Institute. The time of the testing didn't work out with
my working
cont. page 2
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cont. from page 1
schedule. Then the nice lady told me that they could test
me at home at a time that would be comfortable for me, so we set up a date and time.
This was when Terry McIntosh, Hearing Aid Specialist, walked into my life. He showed
me the advances of the new hearing aids and everything there is to know about them.
When Terry did the testing I felt at peace for he understood how I felt about not
being able to hear well. I also felt very comfortable for he also wears hearing aids
and he knew what my frustrations were. During the testing my son, who was there, said
he could see my eyes light up as I could hear better.
When I received my new hearing aids, Terry adjusted them to
my hearing needs, and he makes stops to my house or calls when he is in town to check
on how my aids are working. I have had to call him a couple times for batteries, and,
luck for me, he was in town and came right over to my house. While there he always
upgrades my hearing sounds.
The aids are so comfortable that twice I forgot to take them
off when I showered, bathed or went to bed. One time I forgot to take them out when
showering and laid them on the bathroom counter. When I got out one hearing aid was
missing. My nosy cat must have taken one for she loves to follow me around the house.
I was in a panic but soon found it by stepping on it! So, I called Terry and thankfully
he was in town. I was so embarrassed to tell him what had happened, but he was so
understanding and put me at ease telling me a few stories about other peoples' mishaps,
even his own. Anyway,
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Terry send the hearing aid in and a week later it was sent
back with no charge. Then when Terry came into Havre he came right over to my house to
adjust it.
I am amazed how much healthier my body feels since I've had
my hearing aids. The aids have relieved a lot of stress from my body and no more
headaches from trying to hear people talk all day. My hearing aids are the finest
piece of jewelery I have and I show them off to everyone at the Senior Center. Everyone
is quite surprised because they can't tell that I am wearing them.
Thank you so very much Terry McIntosh. You are a wonderful,
carring person who really understands his patients' needs and works with each and everyone
of us to make our lives of hearing a wonderful place to be.
Thanks again,
Donna Reid"
Thank you so much, Donna, for sharing your story and now
being able to Hear the Beauty of Life!
Some things to ponder!
Since bread is square, then why is sandwich meat round?
Why do we have to "put our two cents in" --but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"'?
Where's that extra penny going to?
If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?
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ATTENTION DIABETES SUFFERERS
People with Diabetes Urged to Have Their Hearing Checked
Regularly; New Study Finds Higher Incidence of Hearing Loss Among Diabetics
Patients with diabetes are more than twice as likely as those
without the disease to have hearing loss, according to a recent National Institutes of
Health (NIH) study. Overall, more than 40 percent of people with diabetes in the study
have some degree of hearing loss.
"People with diabetes should ask their doctors to check their
hearing. This should be routine," said Sergei Kochkin, Ph.D., executive director of the
Better Hearing Institute (BHI). "A hearing check can be invaluable in identifying
diabetic patients with potential hearing loss, and giving them an opportunity to
receive the treatment they need."
The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, was
conducted by researchers who analyzed data from hearing tests, administered from 1999 to
2004, to 5,140 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Its findings prompted investigators from the NIH to recommend that physicians encourage
their patients with diabetes to have their hearing checked.
"For years, physicians who treat people with diabetes have
regularly ensured that their patients receive regular vision check-ups," said Dr. William
Luxford, BHI Board member and an Otolaryngologist at the House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles.
"This important study underscores the need for physicians now to encourage each of their
patients to get their hearing checked as well." Both vision loss and hearing loss are
associated with diabetes.
Studies conducted by BHI show that people with untreated hearing
loss have a lower quality of life and even earn less income than people with normal hearing
or people that have treated their hearing loss by using hearing aids. Modern hearing aids
that use digital technology can help most people with hearing loss.
Patients are five times more likely to have their hearing
professionally tested if encouraged to do so by their own physicians, according to a MarkeTrak
study conducted by Kochkin.
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NEW PRODUCT
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MURINE EARIGATETM EAR CLEANING SYSTEM
EarigateTM is an innovative in-home solution for
earwax build-up. The patented nozzle system, developed by a Canadian ENT, projects a
reverse flow of 100% natural source desalinated sea water into the ear canal without
pressure against the tympanic membrane.
EarigateTM is an ear cleaning system that is:
- Safe, unique nozzle nozzle gently rinses out the ear canal without any pressure
on the tympanic membrane.
- Hypoallergenic, 100% natural source desalinated sea water, can be used as often
as necessary.
- Effective, ear wash solution keeps ears cleaner longer
- Preventative, regular use reduces risk of cerumen build-up and helps keep hearing
aids from clogging.
Now available from Hearing Aid Institute for $21.95. For more
information, or to order, call 1-800-331-6009.
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SERVICE CENTER NOTES: Lewistown and Plentywood have changed
locations.
Do you know what the word, japery,
means? Here is a vocabulary lesson for you!!
Japery - To jest, joke, mock. A trick or practical joke.
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