 | |  |
| |
NewsletterAugust 2007 |
Hello, everyone! |
 |
We hope you all have been enjoying your summer. Why does it always seem to go so fast?
If you're like us, there is always so much to do during these warmer months, and they seem to just fly by!.
| |
| |
Hearing Aid Tax Credit Bill Introduced
On May 15th, Representatives Vern Ehlers (R-Mich) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) introduced the Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act, HR 2329 in the House of Representatives. Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minn) introduced the companion bill (S 1410) in the Senate. The Act would provide a $500-per-hearing aid tax credit for seniors age 55 and older and for dependent children once every five years.
To learn more about this bill and how you can support it, please visit this site for more details.
HLAA Announces Agreement with Wireless Industry
The Hearing Loss Association of America (formerly SHHH—Self Help for Hard of Hearing People) has arranged an agreement with the wireless industry to increase the accessibility of wireless telephones over the next few years.
HLAA's concerns are that the following be addressed:
- Increase the number of telecoil compatible phones for those with the greatest hearing loss.
- Insure that consumers will benefit from new technology from the outset.
- Research be conducted on how to improve audio output and volume control on phone.
- Consumers to have a choice from accessible phones with different prices, features, styles.
- Increased availability of M-rated phones for all people with hearing loss.
- Portfolio of communication-accessible phones be kept updated from year to year.
The proposal was submitted to the FCC on April 23rd. The FCC has taken this proposal under advisement.
A Cautionary Word
Summertime is the season for thunderstorms. Nothing like a thundershower to cool things off and freshen the air! But, a word to the wise, even when an electrical storm is many miles away: "When thunder roars, go indoors." We tend to forget that lightning can hit us indirectly, causing major injuries, even death. Recently, an AP article appeared in our local newspaper citing incidences of severe injuries to people who were using wireless devices, pagers, and cell phones while out in a thunderstorm.
Two years ago, a Canadian man was listening to his iPod while jogging. lightning hit a tree a couple of feet from him and jumped to his body. The strike threw him about eight feet and caused second degree burns on his chest and one of his legs. That's bad enough if that's all it did, but his list of injuries grows from there: broken jaw in four places, rupture of both eardrums and dislocation of the tiny bones in his ear that transmit sound waves to the auditory cortex. Even though these injuries happened two years ago, this man still has less than fifty percent normal hearing in each ear, can't hear high pitched sounds, and must wear hearing aids.
Just last summer, a Colorado teenager suffered similar injuries when lightning struck nearby while he was listening to his iPod as he mowed the lawn. The teen is left with mild hearing loss in both ears in spite of the fact that he underwent two reconstructive surgeries to repair his ruptured eardrums. In addition, he sustained burns from the iPod wires on both sides of his face and on the side of his body, even though that wire was on the outside of his shirt!
Believe it or not, but eardrum ruptures are known to be the most common ear injury in lightning-strike victims ... whether or not an electronic device is involved!
So, yet another way to protect one's hearing: avoid being out in an electrical storm, but especially when using a cell phone, pager, iPod, or any other electrical device. It's best to enjoy that refreshing thundershower from the safety of indoors!
|
We welcome comments and suggestions
If you would like to comment or offer suggestions for topics to be covered in our Newsletter, please feel free to contact me. I'd love to hear from you! Also, if our Newsletter has been helpful to you, please forward your friends and loved ones to our web site address: www.advancedhearingplus.com .
Beth Bell |
Quote of the Month
"Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case."
| |
Reminders |
| If you last had your hearing instruments cleaned in February, it is time to get them cleaned this month! |
Assisted Listening Devices |
| For Assisted Listening Devices, please visit our online store. We offer many products, including TV Ears, at competitive prices and shipped directly to your door. Satisfaction guaranteed. |
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 premium digital instruments, we will gladly supply you with 2 free boxes of batteries. If they purchase a set of basic or advanced digital hearing instruments, we will 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. |
How to receive our newsletter |
| If you have friends or loved ones who would like to receive our newsletter via email, we will be happy to add them to our email list. All you need to do is have them contact me to provide me with their name and email address. We also have copies of the newsletter in our office if you would like to pick them up here. |
How to unsubscribe |
| If you no longer want to receive this newsletter via email, click here to unsubscribe. |
How to contact us
| | |
| |
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
call and leave a
message on our machine. | |
How to find us |
[ larger view ] |
 | |  | |
![[ larger view ]](../images/map_fullsize.gif){kind=link}