Hearing Reimagined AARPHearingCare.com
VOL 2 / ISSUE 1
Hearing loss prevention in live entertainment
Primax Breakthrough 10 Tips
For People who hear well
& People with hearing loss
Exclusive for AARP members
HEARING LOSS PREVENTION in Live Entertainment by Jaqlyn Tinaro
T
he phrase ‘live entertainment’ can mean many things, ranging from a local band playing in a restaurant to a loud symphony concert. Regardless, both can be loud and both can cause damage to your ears. Here are some simple tips to protect your hearing and prevent any loss that can occur.
Turn down the music- Playing music in the car or in your home
Earplugs- A common misconception with earplugs is that you
little bit everyday your ears will adjust to the volume and you will be able to hear it just fine.
will not be able to hear the music, but what you do not realize is, the musicians are often wearing ear plugs just like you. 2
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is one thing, but if the music is loud enough to drown out other noise or if the person next to you can hear it through your headphones, it is safe to say you are probably playing it a little too loud.
Train your ears- If you start lowering your TV and radio a
Wear the right type of headphones- The best type of
head phones that protect your hearing are noise-cancelling head phones and ‘muff-type’ head phones. Even with the right pair of head phones you still want to give your ears a break. 60/60 Rule- Here is a simple rule to follow, the maximum percentage of volume you want to utilize is 60% and the maximum amount of direct ear time would be 60 minutes in a day. For those of you that love to go to concerts regularly or have children and family members that like to enjoy live music, here is a fun little way to remember ear/hearing protection.
M- Mp3 players can be too loud- turn it down. U- Use chill out zone in clubs, go outside and remember to
take breaks. S- Stand back from speakers! I- Invest in noise cancelling headphones. C- Carry ear plugs with you, they will not block the music out, just make it safer. There are many different types of ear plugs out there, some better for sleep, swimming etc. Sensorcom, Edz Kidz Ear Defenders and ACS ear plugs are excellent for ear drum protection.
Everyday Measures
Hearing loss prevention is not always about the precautions that we take to protect our ears; it also has to do with our internal
system and physical health. Studies have shown that you have a higher chance of hearing loss when you are deficient in vitamins, anti-oxidants and minerals. Researchers are starting to find that daily long-term supplementation in Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Magnesium and Omega 3 Fatty acids are helping to prevent permanent and long-term hearing loss. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps with neutralizing free radical damage, slowing down the aging process. A common thing you hear is how people lose their hearing with age, but this might be a great way to slow down that process! Vitamin E is another antioxidant that helps prevent cellular death, through this; it can prevent permanent noise induced hearing loss. Magnesium is an amazing mineral that has a long list of benefits including muscle function/soreness, calcium absorption, regulates bowel function and promotes restful sleep. On top of all of this; it helps increase blood flow to the inner ear and promotes healing. Omega 3 fatty acids help decrease inflammation in the body, inflammation is one of the main reasons our body cannot fully heal, when we remove the inflammation it assists our body in repairing and preventing damage. With all the tools at hand, taking these proper precautions can decrease the chances of hearing loss tremendously. For more information contact your local physician or hearing care professional.
Call HearUSA today 1-844-704-5457
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primax Breakthrough
Revolution for Hearing Aid by Ellyn Santiago
W
elcome the latest breakthrough in high-quality binaural hearing: the brand new primax™ hearing aid, developed by Signia, formerly known as Seimens.
“It’s revolutionary in the industry,” says Kerryn Lehman, HearUSA Director of Products and Services. With primax™, Lehman says, “People with hearing loss will hear better than people with normal hearing.” By combining the optimal balance of sound quality and audibility tailored to the wearer’s individual preferences, primax™ is clinically proven to make hearing effortless, thus redefining the ease of listening. With stunning technological advancements, primax™ hearing aids deliver unparalleled ease of listening, enhanced speech understanding, maximized music enjoyment, and reduced echoing in noisy, open environments. primax™ hearing aids also have advanced features for wearers with single-sided hearing loss and even the ability to hear a mobile phone conversation in both ears via a wireless transmitter.
Ace primax. 4
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Wearers
primax™ builds on the binax platform by providing a “true binaural experience that redefines ease of listening.” Signia says primax™ hearing aids are the world’s first technology clinically proven by independent studies to reduce listening effort throughout the day while providing better than normal hearing in challenging listening environments like busy restaurants and cocktail settings. An independent clinical study employing a methodology using objective brain behavior measures with electroencephalographic (EEG) data, showed a significant reduction in listening effort for mild to moderate hearing impaired people using primax™. And primax™ provided a significant improvement in ease of listening in demanding listening environments. “We’ve always done subjective (testing) using client feedback,” Lehman says. “This technology is backed up with research and proven scientifically.” Indeed, Signia says, “Previously, hearing effort has been primarily measured using questionnaires, rating scales and individual mea-
Insio primax.
Effortless hearing across the range. surements recorded after the hearing test. They were often found to be inaccurate because these methods are subjective. Therefore, a new method was developed to obtain an objective measurement of listening effort based on measured brain activity.”
primax™ hearing aids feature:
SpeechMaster was designed to create an effortless hearing environment. It reduces background noise, focuses on the direction of the target speaker and elevates the target speaker over all other sounds in the environment by analyzing the acoustic environment and employing the first technology that is clinically-proven to isolate the target speaker from unwanted surrounding noise and other speech much like a conductor orchestrating digital noise reduction, directionality, and amplification to reduce listening effort. This is achieved by reducing noise and highlighting the dominant speaker’s voice in speech environments throughout the day. For hearing aid wearers, a day filled is at once demanding and draining. Lehman says with primax, “By the end of the day, wearers are not as tired.”
Motion SX and SA primax.
The HD Music feature, which maximizes enjoyment for music fans and musicians, was especially created to deliver outstanding music fidelity whether the wearer is listening to recorded music, attending a live concert, or even performing music. Lehman described it as a “big wow” for music lovers. EchoShield, which softens echoes for reduced listening effort, lessens the effects of reverberation in places like large shopping malls, atriums, busy hallways, lecture halls, and places of worship, for example. EasyTek™ connects to primax™ hearing aids, turning them into a headset and offering wireless, hands-free operation that transmits phone calls to both hearing aids for effortless hearing. And for those using mobiles not Bluetooth-enabled, the TwinPhone feature improves phone conversations by automatically activating by a magnetic signal so the wearer hears the caller in both ears. Primax™ is available for testing and demonstrations at HearUSA centers.
Pure primax. Call HearUSA today 1-844-704-5457
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10 Tips &
For People who hear well
People with hearing loss
Hearing is a two-way street. For those that hear well, communicating with loved ones with hearing loss can be a challenge. And for those with hearing loss, communicating with friends and family can be difficult. Here are tips on how to better hear each other. ❶ Face each other directly. ❷ Make sure there is no distracting or loud background noise. ❸ Speak clearly. ❹ Speak at a moderate speed. ❺ Do not over-emphasize words. ❻ Do not shout. ❼ Use hand gestures, when possible.
❶ Choose your stage: Where is the best place to talk to you? A well-lit area or a quiet location, for example. ❷ Face the person directly. ❸ Focus and concentrate on the person with whom you are speaking. ❹ Remain calm and relaxed. Do not assume the worst will happen; that you will not hear what they are saying to you. ❺ Be alert for visual clues like hand gestures.
❽ Be patient.
❻ Wait. Be patient. Do not interrupt; conversations have a natural flow and often the blank spaces are filled.
❾ Maintain a calm and relaxed posture.
❼ Be positive and confident.
❿ Display respect for the person with hearing loss; that positivity can help build confidence.
❽ Do not fake it: If you do not understand something, say it. ❾ Let the person know how well s/he is doing in communicating with you.
~With information from National Institutes of Health and HearingLoss.org
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❿ Communicate as best you can with humor and joy. If you are having repeated difficulty understanding, rather than let frustration get the better of you, consider taking a break.
Inflammation
by Clair Cameron
Your Ringing Ears
D
o you ever hear a ringing, buzzing, or humming sound in your ear, even though the room is silent? This could be an indication that you have tinnitus, a condition where the ears will frequently ring for seemingly no reason. It is estimated that over 15 million Americans experience these unwanted sounds on a regular basis, and the underlying cause can be hard to pinpoint. However, modern research has shown that many cases of tinnitus are a result of chronic inflammation in the body which could eventually damage your hearing. Luckily, there are steps you can take to improve your lifestyle, reduce inflammation and hopefully reverse tinnitus for good. In addition to inflammation, tinnitus can be caused by a number of conditions, including a build-up of ear wax, noise exposure, diseases of the ear, allergies, poor thyroid function and even tumors. Tinnitus is also a side effect of some common medications, including antibiotics and aspirin. But many cases are caused by chronic inflammation and related poor blood circulation to ear. Inflammation puts extra pressure on the delicate parts of your inner ear that can lead to scarring and permanent tissue damage. Chronic inflammation is caused by an overactive immune system, and is typically the product of disease or the modern human diet. The American diet consists of lots of sugars, grains, and vegetable oils, all of which cause an unwanted inflammatory response in the body. An antiinflammation diet can reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, and improve tinnitus and hearing loss symptoms. Additionally, it can leave your joints feeling younger and improve your energy levels, since the diet could help to stabilize your blood sugar.
The basic anti-inflammation diet includes foods you eat every day: Quality Meats, Eggs, and Fish Whole Milk, Yogurt, and Cheeses Nuts and Seeds Fruits and Vegetables The aim of the diet is to reduce your carbohydrate intake to around 100 grams a day maximum, while increasing your intake of good fats and proteins. Good fats are those that can be found in avocados, nuts, and coconut oil, amongst other foods. The foods you will want to avoid include margarines, vegetable and seed oils, wheat, corn, rice, and fruit juices. Along with an improved diet, supplements have been shown to be beneficial for reducing inflammation and improving blood flow, particularly to the inner ear. Vitamin B12, the mineral Zinc, and Omega – 3 fatty acids from fish oil all encourage the production of healthy tissue and reduce the body’s inflammatory response. It may be difficult to permanently reverse tinnitus or the associated hearing loss, but taking steps to improve your diet and reduce bodily inflammation is crucial to helping your ears heal properly. Do not neglect treatment for your condition. Ask your doctor what steps you can take, in addition to diet and supplements, that may help silence the ringing in your ears. Call HearUSA today 1-844-704-5457
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The TV listening enhancer you can use with your own headphones.
FLEX 5000 PROMOTION
Buy Flex 5000 and receive HD 4.20s over ear headphones FREE of charge $79.95 value! *Valid until December 31, 2017 or end of stock. AARP member exclusive offer.
Optimize your TV’s sound clarity and speech intelligibility with the Sennheiser Flex 5000. Discover supreme comfort and wireless freedom. Because once you’ve seen a bit of life, you don’t settle for less than the best TV audio experience.
For more information: https://aarphearingcare.com/product/ sennheiser-flex-5000/
HearUSA pays a royalty fee to AARP for the use of the AARP intellectual property. Amounts paid are used for general purposes of AARP and its members. Neither AARP nor its affiliate is the provider. AARP does not recommend health-related products, services, insurance or programs. Your are strongly encouraged to evaluate your needs. Products or services that are reimbursable by federal programs including Medicare and Medicaid are not encouraged to evaluate your needs. Products or services that are reimbursable by federal programs including Medicare and Medicaid are not available on a discounted or complimentary basis.