Download March 2015 - Hearing Loss Association of Sarasota

March 2015
Feel Better with Improved Hearing!
“Blindness cuts us off from things. Deafness cuts us off from people” – Helen Keller
wrote this in the early 1900s.
Today, with modern technology, there is no need for many of us folks, with hearing
problems, to be cut off from people. Hearing loss is frustrating in many ways. We feel
left out, ignored, frustrated, angry, depressed, frightened.
We need to acknowledge we have a hearing loss and strive to do something about it. We
have to be proactive. Hearing loss is invisible. How can anyone help us if they do not
know that we cannot hear? We need to explain to people how to talk to us and we need
to find out what is available to help us.
Many of us struggle for about seven years before we do something to try to improve our
hearing. If we hear better, we feel better and have a happier quality of life. We can go to
the bridge club, the book club, church services, eat lunch with friends, and play sports.
We can remain active and involved in the community.
There are two types of hearing loss.
Conductive Hearing Loss - may be cured by removal of built-up wax or a foreign
body such as a bug, or paper) in the in the ear.
 Sensorineural Hearing Loss (also known as nerve deafness) – is usually
permanent and cannot be cured, but can often be helped by the use of hearing
aids, cochlear implants and assistive listening devices.

Out of all the injuries, many veterans say that hearing loss is the most challenging to
manage. Hearing loss affects the individual, family, friends and colleagues.
Mark Brogan, a retired army captain, suffered a brain injury, a spinal injury and a nearly
severed right arm when a suicide bomber on foot detonated his weapon near Captain
Brogan in Iraq. What does Captain Brogan find the most traumatic of his injuries? He
says, “Hearing loss and constant ringing of the ears”.
Recently, Hearing Loss Association of America – Sarasota/Manatee Chapter, supported
by Sarasota Community Foundation, hosted a Veteran Hearing Loss Forum. Over 100
veterans attended - seeking information on hearing loss. The interactive forum featured
a panel of experts, who offered successful life-style focused solutions. Answers were
given to questions concerning hearing loss, tinnitus, VA filing and appeal issues.
Information on hearing technology, services and communication strategies was
provided. The Sarasota County Veterans Commission and the Manatee County Veterans
Council endorsed this event.
You may be surprised to know that 3.5 million Floridians have hearing loss – over 145,
000 people in Sarasota and Manatee counties alone. (This is based on a Johns Hopkins
medical research study that reported 20 percent of Americans or 48 million people have
some level of hearing loss in the US).
Sources:
www.heroeswithhearingloss.org
HLAA.org
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news.2012/11/13/14728839