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NewsletterNovember 2007 |
Hello, everyone! |
 This is the month when we traditionally consider what we are thankful for. We should really maintain a thankful heart all the time, but it's good that we have special days to remind us to be thankful. Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving are two such days.
Thank you to all you veterans who have served our country so unselfishly. We salute you this Veteran's Day and remember you year round with our prayers and consideration. |  |
We have a policy in our office that all veterans, regardless of where they purchased their hearing aids, receive free in-office service which includes adjustments and programming of their digital hearing aids.
We have so much to be thankful for, and Thanksgiving is a very special day, indeed, for our family. We hope and pray that it is for you and your family as well.
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Cerumen Management
"What", you say, "is cerumen management?!" Cerumen is the medical term for earwax. For those who wear hearing instruments, wax can be an important, albeit an annoying, concern. It's the bane of hearing aids. It plugs up the receiver (otherwise known as the speaker) tube and often gets into the speaker itself. Not only are there different kinds of earwax—moist and gooey or dry and flaky—but wax also has vapors. These vapors, along with the moist earwax, get into the receiver and kill it eventually.
Proper cerumen management will keep the ear canal healthy and the hearing aids working as they should. We recommend that hearing aid wearers should make sure that their hearing aids are professionally cleaned every three to four months. We have a regular reminder concerning that at the end of our monthly Newsletter.
Is it a good idea to use Q-Tips?
There are precautions regarding cerumen management of the ear canal that should be heeded. While many like using Q-Tips, one can risk puncturing the eardrum as well as irritating the canal wall, even causing hematomas.
Products to help manage cerumen
MiraCell
Many people opt to use softening agents that they can purchase at the pharmacy. These softening agents soften the hard earwax so that the ear canal can then be flushed with warm water, expelling the wax. We favor MiraCell which is made of natural ingredients. Not only does MiraCell work as an excellent softening agent, but it also promotes healthy tissue in the ear canal.
Earigate
Another product, which is new on the market, is Earigate by Murine. This product is listed as 100% natural and was created by an ENT to enable people to easily clear wax from their ear canals. It is a spray with a special nozzle that safely rinses the ear canal without putting pressure on the tympanic membrane.
Check with your hearing healthcare professional first
If one uses some softening agents regularly, such as MiraCell, they may help prevent excessive amounts of wax from building up in the canal, as well as keeping the wax more liquid so that it moves out from the canal naturally. However, one should consult their hearing healthcare professional before using anything in their ears.
What if my eardrum is perforated?
It's important to see a hearing healthcare professional in order to verify that one's tympanic membrane (eardrum) is intact and healthy before using anything in one's ear. If there are any perforations, one should not use water in that ear in order to prevent the risk of infection entering the middle ear. And, too, if one flushes the canal too vigorously, one can seriously damage the tympanic membrane.
What if I am a diabetic?
In addition, diabetics need to be especially careful about the health of their ear canals. Otitis externa is an ear infection of the auditory ear canal that is common in persons with diabetes. Otitis externa is caused by a certain bacteria. When water is flushed into an ear canal containing this bacteria, it can exacerbate otitis externa. This is dangerous because this infection can spread to the temple bones and cause infection throughout the whole body.
Conclusions about managing earwax
Most folks have a healthy amount of earwax. It becomes a concern for those who wear hearing aids because of the battle to keep the aids clean and clear of debris so that they function as they should. It's a good idea to consult your hearing healthcare professional to determine the best cerumen management method for you. And, again, we recommend that hearing aid wearers should make sure that their hearing aids are professionally cleaned every three to four months.
Drug prescriptions and possible sudden hearing loss
IMPORTANT! The FDA has recently issued a warning concerning the possibility of sudden hearing loss for patients who take Cialis, Levitra or Viagra. The makers of these products will be revising their labeling, alerting patients to the possibility of hearing loss with the use of these drugs.
Which brings me to make this suggestion. Whenever you are prescribed a medication, it would be wise to ask your doctor or pharmacist if the drug in question may cause hearing loss or tinnitus. |
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
"God doesn't call the qualified,
He qualifies the called."
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Reminders |
| If you last had your hearing instruments cleaned in May, 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 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. |
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 |
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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
call and leave a
message on our machine. | |
How to find us |
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