BBR
Reporter • mysuburbanlife.com • Wednesday, May 22, 2013 • WSD
| NEWS
6
Q & A with the Hearing Doctor Q: My mother sufers from severe rheumatoid arthritis, there is no way she can change batteries in the hearing aids, let alone get them in her ear. Is there anything that will help her? Dr. Terri Lightbody (630) 580-5777
A: Handling small hearing devices and changing batteries are diicult tasks for those with limited hand dexterity, resulting from arthritis, neuropathy, paralysis or injury. Virtually all hearing aids are classiied as daily wear, meaning that the wearer removes the hearing aid devices from their ears when they go to sleep, bathe or swim. here is one hearing aid that is classiied as extended wear. his device is called the Lyric. It is designed to be inserted deep into the ear canal and can be worn up to four months at a time. he Lyric does come with a built-in battery, which lasts up to three to four months. It doesn’t have to be removed when the wearer takes a shower, exercises or sleeps.
he Lyric hearing aid is inserted and removed by the Audiologist in the oice. he wearer has control over the volume and on/of switch which is done by using a hand held programmer. here is virtually no feedback when one speaks on the phone due to the deep positioning of the device in the ear canal. We have also had success itting these devices on patients with moderate dementia. Because the hearing aid is not removed daily, it never gets misplaced or lost. Not everyone is a candidate to wear the extended wear device. If the potential wearer frequently scuba dives, swims, sky dives, has a draining ear, has substantially collapsing or very small ear canals, he or she may not be a candidate. My recommendation is to have your mother schedule a comprehensive hearing evaluation where we can “size” the ear canals for suitability for the Lyric. Once we determine that she meets the criteria for candidacy to wear the Lyric, we insert the device and your mother can regain the life she had before her hearing loss.
About the author: Dr. Terri Lightbody is a nationally known Audiologist and has her private practice at Town Square Wheaton. She works in the community as well as with the Lions Club of Wheaton, a non-proit organization dedicated to helping those with hearing loss and low vision. She is a nominee for the Gamon Award which recognizes outstanding contribution of service to those in need. She is the forerunner in today’s most advanced hearing devices.
Your Resource for Better Hearing
For updates, specials, quick tips and more information, “like” us on Facebook.
55 E. Loop Rd. Suite 204, Wheaton, IL 60189 • www.thehearingspecialists.com (630) 580-5777
Grey Core Memorial Day Carnival returns to Bolingbrook SUBURBAN LIFE MEDIA BOLINGBROOK – The 22nd annual Bolingbrook Grey Core Memorial Day Weekend Carnival will run Thursday through Monday at Village Hall. Featuring games, rides, food and other carnival attractions, the annual carnival is hosted by nonprofit community organization Bolingbrook Grey Core, which recently announced that proceeds will finance the construction of a new James Meyer Park picnic shelter. Grey Core constructed two picnic shelters at Meyer Park with money raised during pre-
vious Bolingbrook carnivals. Construction of the third picnic shelter is expected to be completed by spring 2014. Carnival admittance is free, and ride tickets can be purchased for $1 each, with discounts available when purchasing a sheet of 44 tickets. The carnival will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 1 to 10 p.m. Monday. Bolingbrook Village Hall is at 375 W. Briarcliff Road. For information about the upcoming carnival or the James Meyer Park hours and availability, visit www .bolingbrook.com.