Hearing Loss Increasing for Baby Boomers

Hearing loss is a growing problem that, while often associated with senior citizens, is increasingly affecting Baby Boomers, according to an article by Dr. Kent Greer and Laura Fahrer of Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster, Ohio, published at LancasterEagleGazette.com.

Exposure to noise pollution seems to have overtaken age as the leading cause of hearing loss and an estimated 40 percent of hearing-impaired Americans are younger than 65, which makes hearing loss our nation's third-most prevalent chronic health condition, behind only arthritis and high blood pressure.

The authors cited a study by the National Council on Aging noting that untreated hearing loss was associated with quality of life issues such as depression, anxiety, insecurity and irritability. The NCOA study also looked at the benefits of treating hearing loss with amplification. People who treated their hearing loss with hearing aids reported improvements in their relationships, feelings about themselves, self-confidence, independence and overall quality of life.

Read the full article, including information about the Audiology Department at Fairfield Medical Center, hearing tests and hearing aids.

Learn more about the variety of amplified products available at HearMore, including personal listening devices, amplification devices and amplified telephones.

Ear Gear Protects Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants from Loss, Damage

As summer approaches, people across the country are getting out and about to take advantage of the milder weather. For many this means camping, hiking, fishing and boating, or playing water sports, baseball, softball, tennis, golf and a myriad of other outdoor sports.

But for hearing aid and cochlear implant wearers, this time spent outside comes with a potential risk. Even something as simple as a pick-up baseball game at the local field can cause problems, as dirt and dust may clog the hearing instrument. And in the case of more active or extreme sports and activities, hearing aids and cochlear implants can be dislodged from ears and end up damaged or even lost. But www.HearMore.com offers a solution.

Ear Gear products were designed to protect the delicate electronics of behind-the-ear hearing instruments from sweat, moisture, dust, dirt and shock. The unique nylon/Spandex blend is comfortable to wear and is acoustically transparent, so it won’t interfere with hearing aid performance. Corded models clip to clothing, providing added protection from loss. They’re perfect for children and anyone with an active lifestyle.

Ear Gear comes in assorted colors and styles, including models for hearing aids, hearing aids with FM attachments and cochlear implants. For more information, go to Ear Gear for Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants.

Deaf Woman Serves on Minnesota Jury

A deaf Rochester, MN woman broke new ground for the local courts when she recently served as a juror on a criminal case. Karen Smith is believed to be the first deaf person to sit on a jury in Olmsted County, MN and among a handful to serve on a panel anywhere in the state, according to a story in the Post-Bulletin of Rochester.

When summoned for jury duty in the past, not aware that sign language interpreters were available, Smith always asked to be excused because of her deafness, . When she received a jury notice in March, however, she didn't ask to be excused, but instead simply advised the court she is deaf.

All necessary arrangements were made, and when she arrived for jury selection two interpreters were waiting for her. By all indications the process, although requiring a little extra effort, went very well. The court systems strive to give all citizens the opportunity to serve, and Mrs. Smith was happy to take advantage of that opportunity. Read the full story by Janice Gregorson here.

Hear-More Products for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing carries a wide range of Books, Videos and DVDs on ASL as well as other products for the deaf, including Alarm Clocks, Alerting Devices and Vibrating Watches at www.HearMore.com.

Sleeptracker Pro: The Watch That May Turn You into a ‘Morning Person’

Are you tired of being jarred awake by the sound of your alarm clock? Do you sometimes wake up feeling like you haven’t slept well, even though you had a full night’s sleep? If you answered “Yes” to either (or both) of these questions, Sleeptracker Pro Vibrating Audible Alarm Watches may be just the thing for you.

Worn like a regular watch, the Sleeptracker Pro tracks your body movements while you are sleeping and continuously looks for your best possible wake times, waking you from a light sleep stage so that you feel refreshed. You set a window of time during which you’d like to wake up, and the alarm wakes you at just the right moment. Imagine waking up feeling more refreshed and ready to start the day!

Available at www.HearMore.com for $179.00, the Sleeptracker Pro Watches come in three styles: the Unisex Sleeptracker Pro, Sleeptracker Pro Elite: Ladies, and Sleeptracker Pro Elite: Men’s.

And since all models are vibrating alarm watches, they’re great for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Historic North Carolina School for the Deaf in Danger of Closing

A North Carolina House Appropriations Subcommittee will this week be weighing closing the North Carolina School for the Deaf as one of the options to achieve cost savings relating to the state's two schools for the deaf and a school for the blind, according to a story in the News Herald of Morganton, NC.

The consolidation of the North Carolina School for the Deaf in Morganton and another in Wilson, and the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in Raleigh is among the potential outcomes.

Opponents of the closing cite among its arguments the school’s long and rich history, as it was the only state school for the deaf from 1894, when it opened, until 1965. The school has also received around $20 million in upgrades over the last eight years. But the most important reasons for opposition are the potential loss of jobs (the school employs 221 people) and the impact it would have on the deaf community.

A decision on consolidation is expected within about two weeks.

Read the full story from the News Herald here.

Visit www.HearMore.com to see a full range of products for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Dress Up Your Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants for Summer Vacation

With Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, only a few days away thoughts are turning to school breaks, summer camp and family vacations. As temperatures warm up, wardrobes change drastically, with long sleeves and jackets giving way to shorts, tank tops and flip-flops.

Tube Riders offer hearing aid and cochlear implant wearers the perfect fashion accessory for the less formal summer season. Use them to add a playful, whimsical touch to your hearing instruments and to express your own unique personality and individuality.

Tube Riders easily slide into place onto behind-the-ear hearing aids and cochlear implants and are made of soft durable rubber. They come in twenty different designs (including flowers, footballs, guitars, ladybugs, soccer balls and butterflies, to name a few) so there are numerous choices to fit virtually any hobby, passion or pastime you may enjoy.

Available at www.HearMore.com, Tube Riders are reasonably priced at only $6.95. You may even want to buy more than one style to suit your different moods and reflect your varied interests!

Marlee Matlin Promotes ‘Deafhood’, Focusing on Abilities Rather Than Perceived Disabilities of Deafness

When Marlee Matlin was a young girl, her parents were concerned about the barrier her deafness might prove to be as she went through life. At the same time, however, they encouraged Marlee to become an active part of society, rather than shying away from it.

Since that time the Oscar-winning actress, who came into the public eye with her performance in Children of a Lesser God, has continued to meet life’s challenges head on. Matlin is the author of Nobody's Perfect and Deaf Child Crossing (available at www.HearMore.com) and has remained an inspiration for many people in the deaf community and beyond.

In a piece for www.About.com, Matlin spoke about growing up deaf and her view of deaf culture today, including the concept of Deafhood, which promotes the positive value of deafness rather than treating it as a handicap. Read the full text of her comments.

Wisconsin Set to Require Insurance Companies to Cover Children’s Cochlear Implants

Wisconsin is on the verge of becoming the first state to require private insurance companies to cover the cost of cochlear implants for children with severe hearing problems, according to a recent Associated Press report.

The bill, which passed in the state Legislature in late April, applies to cochlear implants, hearing aids and related treatment for those under the age of 18. Governor Jim Doyle has promised to sign it into law.

Supporters say the bill is important to the families with deaf children who cannot afford to pay for implants that cost $50,000 or more without insurance. They say getting the devices early is critical to help children develop their language skills.

Opponents said the bill would drive up costs for small businesses and employees who are already struggling to afford health care costs.

Several states already require insurance companies to cover some hearing aid costs, but Wisconsin would be the first to extend the mandate to cochlear implants.

Read the full AP story.

Margie and Luke Finish Third in The Amazing Race and Discuss Their Impact the Deaf Community

In the finale of The Amazing Race that aired this past Sunday night, the hearing mother and deaf son team of Margie and Luke finished last among the three remaining teams. The sister/brother team of Tammy and Victor finished first, winning the one million dollar prize, while friends and former cheerleaders Cara and Jaime came in second.

Margie and Luke seemed to be in a good position to win, having reached the final roadblock ahead of the other teams. However, Luke had difficulty completing the task, which involved identifying 11 events from the earlier weeks of the competition represented by images on surfboards and placing them in the correct chronological order. While he struggled, the other teams completed the task and headed for the finish.

Throughout the show, Margie and Luke showed an amazing ability to communicate and presented a formidable opponent to the rest of the teams. As they rode in a taxi towards the finish, Margie told him how proud she was of him, as he expressed his love to her and his appreciation that his mother learned sign language to communicate with him.

In an interview with TV Guide appearing on http://www.tvguide.com/ Luke and his mother discussed their participation in the race, the reaction of the deaf community and their plans for the future.

One thing that seems certain is that they will come away from this experience with overwhelmingly positive memories. By participating in The Amazing Race, Luke also left his mark on the collective memory of the public and demonstrated what the deaf can accomplish.

For those wishing to learn to sign, there are numerous American Sign Language Books, Videos and DVD’s, as well as complete ASL courses available at http://www.hearmore.com/.

Hear-More Brings Timely News and Product Updates to Deaf and Hard of Hearing

We at Hear-More Aids and Appliances for Assistive Living www.Hearmore.com pride ourselves on being the one stop source for all of the special needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. From Alerting Devices to Amplified Telephones to Personal Listening Systems to Vibrating Watches - and everything in between, we have you covered!

In this blog, it will be our goal and our pleasure to bring you the latest product updates, relevant information and timely news items regarding the hearing impaired community. Enjoy!