Save Your
Hearing Now: The Revolutionary Program That Can
Prevent and May Even Reverse Hearing Loss
by Michael D. Seidman,
MD, FACS and Marie Moneysmith
Raise awareness, encourage prevention and
early detection of hearing loss
More than 30
million Baby Boomers suffer from some degree of hearing loss – up 238% since
1990. Nine million Americans over 65 have hearing loss, and 2 million kids aged
5 to 19. Yet most people don’t realize just how prevalent hearing loss has
become. The month of May is designated Better Speech and Hearing Month by the
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. To raise
awareness and encourage prevention and early detection of hearing loss.
Dr. Seidman can talk about how to detect, prevent,
and slow down or reverse hearing loss, and how to deal with the undeserved
social stigma attached to hearing loss.
ARE YOU GOING DEAF?
How to detect signs of hearing loss, and
what to do about it
Most of us have
had little misunderstandings when words weren’t heard correctly. But if these
have become a regular part of your day, hearing loss could be to blame. Dr. Seidman will alert you to signs that you may be losing your
hearing (not your mind!), and tell you how to choose a hearing professional and
what to ask once you’ve found one.
SAVE YOUR HEARING NOW — BEFORE IT’S TOO
LATE
What can you do now to prevent hearing loss?
Dr. Seidman discusses the four primary components of his
revolutionary lifestyle program to prevent, and even reverse, hearing loss: Nutrients,
Diet, Exercise, and Ear Protection.
“SWIMMER’S EAR”
What is it, and what can you do about it?
Whether it’s spring break or summer, the swimming season is upon us.
And with it comes the possibility of that dreaded condition, “swimmer’s ear,”
which not only hurts but cuts back on pool time, too. Dr. Seidman
will explain what causes “swimmer’s ear” and how to prevent and treat it — and
get back into the water asap.
From hairdryers to
lawnmowers, the noises of our world add up — but at what cost to our hearing?
Our world’s
noise level is higher than ever before, and as a result, so is the rate of
hearing loss. In 2004, Dr. Seidman appeared before
Congress with a presentation on noise pollution, named each year in surveys as
a major neighborhood problem. Although we can’t easily escape the sounds of
lawnmowers, jackhammers, and aircraft traffic, we can be aware of the risk
factors of hearing loss and avoid or reduce them whenever possible. Dr. Seidman will offer tips on how to protect your ears from
the din of everyday life.
SAVING GENERATION IPOD
In recent
months, much concern has been raised about the effects of iPods
and other mobile digital music players on their users’ hearing. Is the concern
justified? Dr. Seidman will define a decibel, the
measure commonly used for sound; explain what levels of sound are safe, and for
what duration; and offer tips on knowing when to turn down the volume and how
to further protect your hearing.
IF NOT A COTTON SWAB, THEN WHAT?
How, and how often, should you clean ears
safely — your own or your child’s?
Although the
eardrum consists of three layers of skin, it is in fact quite delicate and can
be punctured easily. About once a month, Dr. Seidman
has to repair eardrums ruptured by cotton swabs, keys, hair pins, and other
objects. So how can ears be safely cleaned? Dr. Seidman will tell you — and show you — just how.
HOW HEARING HAPPENS
Using visual
aids, Dr. Seidman will explain in simple terms the
remarkable process of how our ears translate sound waves into information that
makes sense.
It is a
little-known scientific fact that many commonly prescribed drugs are “ototoxic,” or damaging to hearing. These include popular
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, like aspirin, as well as some
antidepressants and anti-anxiety pharmaceuticals. Dr. Seidman
will share the research behind these claims, and recommend ways of bridging the
“medication information gap.”
IN THE MARKET FOR A HEARING AID?
Make a decision that works best for you
True, hearing
aids are unlikely to become as fashionable, even chic, as eyeglasses. A
fascinating series of studies conducted in 2000 found that although millions of
Americans live with hearing loss, only one in five hearing-impaired individuals
has a hearing aid, and only 1 in 10 of those between the ages of 35 and 54. Dr.
Seidman will discuss ways to overcome the undeserved
social stigma attached to hearing aids, and present the several different types
of hearing aids now available to correct hearing loss.
Protecting your
ears from noise is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of hearing loss. Dr.
Seidman will take a look at the wide variety of protective
ear plugs and ear muffs available, as well as noise-canceling headphones and
white noises devices, which do not technically protect the ears, but are useful
for counteracting loud or annoying sounds.
These days, even
the youngest among us are regularly exposed to painfully loud sounds. A large
number of toys on today’s market — including musical “instruments” and
“talking” electronic gadgets designed for very young children — make sounds
that register 90 decibels or higher. And let’s not forget that young children
themselves, especially in groups, are quite capable of making a lot of noise!
In spite of a considerable body of evidence linking noise exposure with problems
in childhood, few adults are aware of the effects noise can have on children.
Dr. Seidman will discuss how to reduce children’s
risk of hearing-related problems.
Defining and treating tinnitus
Tinnitus is a widespread disorder characterized
by sometimes maddening levels of buzzing, hissing or ringing sounds. Once
attributed to damage within the ear, it is now believed to begin in the brain,
often in response to exposure to loud sounds or ototoxic
medications (those which cause hearing loss). An expert on tinnitus, Dr. Seidman will explain what it is and how to stop the nagging
noise within.
CAN THE ROAR OF THE CROWD REALLY BE DEAFENING?
Athletes and
fans alike tune into the sound, whether intentionally or not – tens of
thousands of excited fans, screaming all together in the same congested
stadium, rink, or ballpark. So your ears are ringing hours later – what can you
do about it, really? Dr. Seidman, a hearing adviser
for several teams in the NHL, NFL, and