Hearing Safety & Preservation

Presented to: SRP AssociatesPresented to: SRP Associates

A t 6 2009August 6, 2009

A little humor to wake us up. . .A little humor to wake us up. . .

A man was wondering if his wife had a hearing g gproblem.  So one night, he stood behind her while she was sitting in her lounge chair. He spoke softly to herHe spoke softly to her,                                        

"Honey, can you hear me?" There was no response. H d littl l d id iHe moved a little closer and said again,       

"Honey, can you hear me?" Still, there was no response. , pFinally he moved right behind her and said, 

"Honey, can you hear me?" She replied "For the third time Yes!"She replied,  For the third time, Yes!

Helen Keller has said. . .Helen Keller has said. . .

“Blindness separates us from thingsBlindness separates us from things,but deafness separates us from people."

Let’s be smart and do all we can to never let hearing loss separate usnever let hearing loss separate us from those that we love and spend time with.

How we hear . . .How we hear . . .

S d i f i• Sound waves ‐ information• Ear drum – transfers mechanical energy• Middle ear bones – transfers mechanical energy• Inner ear/hair cells – transfers hydraulic energy• Hearing nerve – transfers electrical energy • Brain – processes informationp

Hearing is not UnderstandingHearing is not Understanding.

Noise causes hearing loss.Noise causes hearing loss.

Very loud and/or continuous noise can damage theVery loud and/or continuous noise can damage the hearing mechanisms.

• Damage to ear drum (explosions, high‐pressure)Damage to ear drum (explosions, high pressure)• Damage to middle ear bones (loud, high‐impact)• Damage to inner ear hair cells (constant, high‐impact)g ( , g p )

Questions:Cut an SRP power line and what happens down the grid?Plug a turbine and what happens?

Noise at homeNoise at home

• TVs & StereosTVs & Stereos• MP3 players

l d i• Lawn tools and equipment• Vacuum cleaner• Baby’s cry

Noise at workNoise at work

• MachineryMachinery• Power toolsS iki l• Striking tools

• Radios• Telephones

Noise everywhere elseNoise everywhere else

• Hunting & target shootingHunting & target shooting• Driving sand buggies, other all‐terrain vehicles motorcyles and snowmobilesvehicles, motorcyles, and snowmobiles

• Concerts & Sporting events• Sirens• Fireworks• Etc.

How can we protect ourselves?How can we protect ourselves?

• One size fits allOne size fits allFoam ear plugs

• Ear muffs

• CustomCustom

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

What if?What if?• I’m exposed – what do I do?p• My family is exposed – what do I do?• My co‐workers are exposed – what do I do?

Simple Answer:  Reduce Exposure & Wear hearing protection!

• I’ve lost some hearing already?H ill h i l ff d i ?• How will hearing loss affect me, and my income?

• What can I do about it?

FREE Hearing Screenings TodayFREE Hearing Screenings Today

I will offer a simple hearing screening today forI will offer a simple hearing screening today for the next 30 minutes.

Results:   Pass (likely o.k., but protect yourself)Refer (suggest full hearing evaluation)

Where to go?  Any hearing healthcare office. PūrTone is an option for youPūrTone is an option for you.

Questions & AnswersQuestions & Answers

Doesn’t hearing loss only affect “old people”?Doesn t hearing loss only affect  old people ?No, only 35% of people with hearing loss are older than age 64 There are close to sixolder than age 64. There are close to six million people in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 44 with hearing loss and more than18 and 44 with hearing loss, and more than one million are school age. Hearing loss affects all age groupsaffects all age groups.

Q & A ContinuedQ & A Continued

If I had hearing loss my doctor would have toldIf I had hearing loss, my doctor would have told me, wouldn’t they?

No! Only 14% of physicians routinely screen forNo! Only 14% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss during a physical. Since most people with hearing impairments hear well inpeople with hearing impairments hear well in a quiet environment like a doctor's office, it can be virtually impossible for your physiciancan be virtually impossible for your physician to recognize the extent of your problem. 

Q & A ContinuedQ & A Continued

My hearing loss is normal for my age isn’t it?My hearing loss is normal for my age, isn t it?Isn't this a strange way to look at things? But, do you realize that well meaning doctors tell thisyou realize that well‐meaning doctors tell this to their patients every day? It happens to be "normal" for overweight people to have highnormal  for overweight people to have high blood pressure. That doesn't mean they should not receive treatment for the problemshould not receive treatment for the problem. 

Q & A ContinuedQ & A Continued

My type of hearing loss can’t be helped, can it?My type of hearing loss can t be helped, can it?In the past, many people with hearing loss in one ear with a high frequency hearing loss or withear, with a high frequency hearing loss, or with nerve damage have all been told they cannot be helped, often by their family practice physician.helped, often by their family practice physician. This might have been true many years ago, but with modern advances in technology, nearly 95% gy yof people with a “nerve deafness” hearing loss can be helped with modern hearing devices.

Helen Keller has said. . .Helen Keller has said. . .

“Blindness separates us from thingsBlindness separates us from things,but deafness separates us from people."

Th k Y f Att diThank You for AttendingOther Questions? Please call.Other Questions?  Please call.Edward Maznio, President

A i HArizonaHears.com602‐971‐3900 Ofc  602‐405‐1102 Cell