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NewsletterMay 2007 |
Hello, everyone! |
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Seems like spring is having a hard time getting established here these days—but, you know what they say: "April Showers—" and all that! We have a beautiful array of flowers—azaleas, rhodies, tulips, and fruit trees all abloomin'! Just beautiful. We really can't complain about the rain; this is Oregon, after all! It's so beautifully green here. But, everyone around these parts is sure hankering for some warm, sunny weather these days. Guess we have to be patient! |  | |
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Unitron Moxi products
Jim will be heading for Minnesota early this month for training on some new Unitron products. We're very excited about their Moxi products which are their new receiver-in-the-canal open-air styles. The Moxi products will have the Element and Indigo anti-shock circuits, and will come with 312A batteries instead of the 10A (meaning longer battery life), and have multi-memory and directional microphones. Wow. This provides excellent versatility!
As you know, we love the Unitron products because of their versatility and better pricing. Adding the Moxi to their product line is GREAT, in our opinion. While we also like the Vivatone, the Interton Shape, and similar products, the Unitron Moxi will give consumers an array of circuit choices and prices.
New Siemens CENTRA
Another new, completely automatic, open-air, receiver-in-the-canal product is the CENTRA Active by Siemens. As those with hearing loss get younger and younger, Siemens chose to produce a hearing aid that is compatible with a more active lifestyle. The CENTRA Active has a moisture-resistent coating, a product of nano-technology. This coating resists sweat, moisture, and humidity, repelling water and preventing moisture from entering into the device. It also has other features that protect the microphone and receiver from moisture and wax. In addition, this product can be used with a charger, giving the user the option of using rechargeable batteries instead of the conventional kind.
Open-air hearing aids
Just to refresh your memory, the open-air products are a wonderful answer to high frequency hearing loss. Years ago, folks who had normal hearing out to between 1K and 2K Hz with a drop in the higher frequencies had little help available. Hearing aids didn't have the flexibility to reach these higher frequencies without also increasing the lower ones. And, most folks with this type of hearing loss feel plugged up—the barrel effect—when wearing custom hearing aids.
Now, with the open-air style, we can fit the latest, feature-rich digital technology contained in a little over-the-ear device, with a fine slim-tube going into the ear. This tube is nearly invisible, and because the ear canal remains open, it allows for natural resonance as well as amplification, giving the wearer a more natural hearing experience.
Our patients love this style. It's light-weight, easy to wear, easy to maintain, and provides excellent hearing help. We're very happy to be able to offer a wide variety of brands and styles of the open-air devices.
Hearing loss: the #1 disability of our armed forces
As you know, those on the battlefield sustain damage to their hearing, and hearing loss has become the most prevalent disability sustained by our armed forces. Studies are being conducted to alleviate this problem.
Preventative solution
Researchers at the University of Michigan are making progress in finding a preventative solution to noise-induced hearing loss. They've found that taking high doses of a combination of vitamins A, C, and E with magnesium an hour before noise exposure and continuing this regimen once a day for five days was very effective in reducing hearing loss.
Josef M. Miller, Ph.D., the senior author of this study, said that they hope to have a pill or snack bar fortified with these nutrients available for our military in about two years.
Free radical activity: reason for noise-induced hearing loss
Research has concluded that noise-induced hearing loss is due to excessive free-radical activity which damages the inner ear. These nutrients prevent the free radical damage from occurring. Colleen G. Le Prell, Ph.D., the lead author and research investigator of the study done at U-M Kresge Hearing Research Institute states that, "Vitamins A, C and E and magnesium worked in synergy to prevent cell damage."
Post-noise treatment
Pre-treatment probably reduces the formation of free radicals, prevents noise-induced constriction of blood flow to the inner ear and damage to auditory neurons that occur due to over-stimulation. Post-noise treatment further "scavenges" free radicals that continue to form after the noise exposure ends.
Le Prell further explained that, "Free radical formation bursts initially, then peaks again during the days after exposure." Over the past 10 years, scientists have concluded that noise-induced hearing loss is, in part, a result of cell mitochondria in the ear producing damaging free radicals in response to loud sounds
A nutritional bar: hope for the military and the general public
The researchers hope to see that our military are provided with a nutritional bar to be eaten with their meals on a daily basis, giving them adequate protection from hearing loss. In addition, the general public would be able to fortify themselves before a NASCAR race or a rock concert—or even when using an iPod!
Excessive noise anywhere
It can be hard to wrap our brains around the fact that 30 million Americans are exposed to excessive noise levels on a daily basis—at work or at home! Remember: noise levels above 85 dB damage one's hearing.
About 28 million Americans have some form of hearing loss and about a third of that number have loss due, in part, to excessive noise.
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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
"Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time. You won't have a leg to stand on!"
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Reminders |
| If you last had your hearing instruments cleaned in November, 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. |
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How to contact us
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Address and Phone
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Springfield, OR 97477
Telephone: 541-746-7671
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