HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, MONTGOMERY COUNTY CHAPTER NEWSLETTER

SEPTEMBER 2010

Montco Chapter Officers:

President:DonnaPenman,phone:610-279-0905;Emailaddress:pen447@verizon.netorpenguin2@tmail.comVice-President:PattyCortez;email:pattypeep@gmail.com

Treasurer:KathyHarral Secretary:LauraSkwirutAssistiveTechnology:DonGroff

Newslettercommittee:DianaBender,email:bender@hla-pa.org,andDonGroff

MeetingSchedule:1^stMondayofeachMonth,exceptJanuary,February,JulyandAugust:GerberRoom,2ndfloorMercySuburbanHospital,2701DeKalbPike(Route202),EastNorriton,PA,6:30 – 8:30p.m.

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Hearing Aids Do More than Just Help you Hear!

Let’sstartwithscientificevidence:Initsstudyof2,000peoplewithhearinglossandtheirfamiliescarriedoutthreeyearsago,theNationalCouncilontheAgingdemonstratedalinkbetweentheuseofhearingaidsandsignificantimprovementsinthesocial,emotional,psychologicalandphysicalwell-beingofthewearer.Butthat’snotall.

The same conclusion was borne out in a “A Systematic Review of Health-Related Quality of Life and Hearing Aids: Final Report of the American Academy of Audiology Task Force on the Health-Related Quality of Life Benefits of Amplification in Adults.”

Thereport’stitlemayberathercomplex,butitsmessageisnot:Peoplewhowearhearingaidsexperienceabetterqualityoflifethanthosewhodonot.

Thosefindingsareuniformaroundtheworld,asindicatedina2006Britishreportentitled“EvaluationoftheSocialandEconomicCostsofHearingImpairment,”featuringascientificreviewofnumerousinternationalsurveysabouttheimpactofhearingaidsonqualityoflife.DatafromtheUnitedStates, EuropeandAustraliawascompiledtoclearlybearoutthefollowingfacts:

• Hearing aids users enjoy not only a better quality of life than non-users, but also better overall health.

• Hearing aid wearers are less introverted and more likely to engage in social activities than those who don’t wear them.

• Those who wear hearing aids not only communicate better with people around them, but they also enjoy better personal relationships.

The “take home” message here is clear: use of hearing aids has a beneficial effect not only on hearing per se, but also on mental and emotional well-being.

How does that work? It’s simple: when you can hear and understand other people, you are more likely to participate in various activities and family events, and generally remain more active. You will not feel isolated, “out of touch,” and ignored by family and friends.

TakenfromtheAugustissueofHealthyHearing;completearticlecanbefoundathttp://www.healthyhearing.com/articles/47508-hearing-aids-improve-life?utm_source=Healthy+Hearing+Newsletter&utm_campaign=1a30c7a313-HH_Update_08042010&utm_medium=email

October 29, 2010: HLA-PA Employment Conference

JustareminderthattheHLA-PAemploymentconferencewillbeheldlaterthismonthattheRadissonValleyForgeHotelinKingofPrussia.Thisisnotajobfair,butatrainingconferencedesignedtogivehardofhearingemployeesandtheiremployerstheinformationneededtoprovideon-the-jobaccessibility.Anexhibithallwillfeaturevendorsprovidingimportantinformationonassistiveequipment,resources,andjobplacement.Realtimecaptioning(CART),assistivelisteningdevices,andASLinterpreterswillbeavailableofcourse.

Thecostis$40.00perpersonor$70.00forastudentaccompaniedbyaparent.Welcomecoffeeandbuffetlunchareincludedinthiscost.Informationandregistrationformsareavailableatwww.hla-pa.orgorfromHLA-PAat1371CushmoreRoad,Southampton,PA18966.

Quoteofthemonth:

“What matters deafness of the ears when the mind hears? The one true deafness, the incurable deafness, is that of the mind.”

Victor Hugo, French poet

2010 PA Walk4Hearing September 25, 2010

Last Saturday the Montco Marchers were one of 41 teams and more than 400 walkers gathered at Ridley Creek State Park for the annual PA Walk4Hearing. Under bright sunny skies we walked 5 km to raise awareness about hearing loss and to raise the funds for programs that provide information and advocacy for those who cannot hear well. Among the teams were those from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Salus and Bloomsburg Universities, and the Delaware, Berks and Montgomery County Intermediate Units, as well as HLAA chapters. A videographer was on hand to videotape our walk as part of the official HLAA walk video that will be shown throughout the country. Patty Cortez led our team, which raised more than $1000 at the event.

Next Meeting: Ask the Audiologist!

Our speaker next month will be Rachel Clark, an audiologist who graduated from Kent State University in Ohio before attending the PA College of Optometry (now Salus University), where she obtained her doctorate in audiology. She has worked both together with ENT specialists, as well as in private practice and opened her own practice just this past June. Dr. Clark has a daughter, Destiny, who is almost 10, a very supportive boyfriend, Matt, and a very cute dog named Caesar.

Dr. Clark will discuss the new Alera hearing aids with blue tooth connectivity, assistive devices from loops to phones and alarms. She’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Please plan to join us on

 MONDAY

October4,2010

beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Mercy Suburban Hospital.

Hope to see you all there!