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NewsletterSeptember 2010 |
Hello, everyone! |
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We hope you all have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day. Hard to believe that fall is at the door. We had a late start to summer here in Oregon, so it seems that summer came and is going away too fast. We are enjoying what we have left of it while we can! |
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Rising Hearing Loss Among Teens!
According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, hearing loss among teens has risen 30% in the past 15 years! That should get the attention of every parent and grandparent!
The study could not pinpoint a specific cause for this rise in hearing loss, even after eliminating ear infections, gunshots and exposure to loud noises as possible causes. However, a recent Australian study found that the use of headphones in portable music is associated with a 70 percent increase in hearing loss. Many experts suspect that personal stereos, which have been the most important change in our culture during the past 15-20 years, to be the culprit.
Nearly every teen—even many adults—have their own personal music device. And you know it’s very loud in their ears when you can hear the music emanating from it as well!
The concern is very real. One in every 5 teenagers has a slight hearing loss. Can you imagine? Even more of a concern is that one in every 20 teenagers has a more severe hearing loss. Even a slight loss can affect learning, speech perception, social skills development, and emotional well-being. Depression, withdrawal from activities, even paranoia can result from hearing loss.
Modern technology has done much to improve what hearing aids can do for hearing loss. However, they do not restore 100% of lost hearing. Unlike prescription lenses which restore 20/20 vision, hearing instruments only provide better hearing than one would experience without hearing aids. And they are expensive. The normal lifetime of a hearing aid is typically 5-7 years. Imagine spending $3000-6000 per pair of hearing aids every 5-7 years over a lifetime!
Parents, grandparents, teachers and others: Please inform your young people regarding hearing loss and how it will affect their lives! Educate yourselves and pass this information along to your teen.
More Cell Phone Warnings—Tinnitus
In our last newsletter, we discussed hearing loss as a possible result of hours of cell phone usage. Another study from the Medical University of Vienna, Austria has found that prolonged cell phone use may also be linked to tinnitus.
This study showed that regularly using a mobile phone for at least a four year period appears to double the risk of developing chronic tinnitus. Even though chronic tinnitus is increasing in developed countries (currently around 10-15%), and with few treatment options, there are few known risk factors or clear indicators as to the reason for this trend.
High microwave energy produced by cell phones during usage may be a culprit, and cell phone output tends to be stronger in rural areas, but there is no hard evidence to prove why tinnitus may result.
The above study found that those who used their cell phones for an average of 10 minutes daily were 71% more likely to have tinnitus. Those who had used cell phones for four or more years were twice as likely to have the condition.
The only possible explanation, so far, seems to be the fact that the cochlea and auditory pathway directly absorb a considerable amount of energy that is emitted by a cell phone, thus triggering the tinnitus phenomenon.
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Quote of the Month
"Tread often the path to thy friend’s house lest weeds grow to obscure the way."
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Reminders |
| If you last had your hearing instruments cleaned in March, it is time to get them cleaned this month! |
Referrals |
If you know someone who has been thinking about getting some new hearing aids and benefiting from newer technology, please send them our way. If they purchase a set of digital hearing instruments, we will gladly supply you with 1 free box of batteries.
We appreciate your referrals! As you know, we do not use telemarketing to acquire new customers. We rely upon word-of-mouth and media advertising. Not only will they receive the best care, but we can save them money, too! |
Questions? Comments? |
| Do you have a question, comment, or concern? Do you have a testimonial that you would like us to include in a future newsletter? Please don't hesitate to contact Jim or contact me. |
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How to contact us
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Office Hours
Monday thru Friday 9-5
Saturday by appointment only
Address and Phone
816 Beltline Rd
Springfield, OR 97477
Telephone: 541-746-7671
Toll Free: 800-230-1953
Before or after hours, you are welcome to
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