In This Issue:

800.282.9905 | Tarpon Springs | Tampa | Spring Hill | St. Petersburg

2 Word Search

3 Ask a Hearing Doc

2 Spring Cleaning (continued)

4 What’s NEW?

HearingSummer

Better Hearing, Better Health, Better LivingMatters

Time to Spring clean… your hearing aidsAs the weather warms up, you might feel inspired to attack the clutter and dirt that have accumulated over the winter months. You’ll soon clean out your car, garage, basement, and even wallets and purses. But while you’re at it, don’t forget about those handy devices you wear every day - your hearing aids. Here’s what to do to take

your normal cleaning routine to the next level.

Dry them out - Sweat and water intrusion can damage the delicate inner workings of your hearing aids. If your typical routine to dry them out consists of laying them on a towel overnight with the battery compartment

open, then it’s time to level up. Using a dehumidifier specifically made to treat hearing aids can extend the life of your devices significantly, and is much more effective than air drying alone. Dehumidifiers are available in the following options:

• Electrical units that use heat and/or ultraviolet rays

• Boxes or jars with moisture-absorbing desiccant

• Chargers that also recharge hearing aids while they dry and clean

Remove all wax and dirt buildup - For daily care, you can get away with wiping your hearing aids with a soft cloth. However, dust, dirt, wax, and other contaminants will accumulate over time beyond the ability of a quick rubdown to clear. Now is the time to take out that cleaning kit supplied by your hearing care professional when you purchased your hearing aids. The tools usually include:

• Wax pick or loop

• Brush

•Waxfilters

•Cleaningwire(foropen-fittubes)

•Ventcleaningwand(forcustomproducts)

Use these tools to help you clean out every tiny opening in your devices, such as the microphone and vents. If you have earmolds, your hearing care professional will likely recommend removing and washing them in mild, soapy water occasionally

4 Recipe

St. Luke’s Hearing Services Newsletter • Call today! 800.282.9905

2(wiping them with your soft cloth is fine for day-to-day cleaning). If you find ear wax buildup is a frequent problem, find out if wax guards would work with your style of hearing aids or if you need a professional ear cleaning to control the problem.

Time for a service call - Spring is a good time to schedule a visit with your hearing care professional. They can look over your hearing aids and identify any maintenance needs beyond your ability to find or fix on your own. These might include replacing microphone screens, plastic tubing, and assessing whether all the components are in good working order.

Hearing aids that are regularly cleaned and maintained work better and last longer. However, even the best cared for devices have a life expectancy. If your hearing care professional concludes that yours are near the end of their functional lives or that your hearing has changed so much that they cannot be adjusted to compensate properly anymore, it may be time to buy a new pair. We recommend having your hearing aids cleaned every six months.

HEARING WORD SEARCH

St. Luke’s Hearing Services Newsletter • Call today! 800.282.9905 800.282.9905 | Tarpon Springs | Tampa | Spring Hill | St. Petersburg

3

Dr. Kristen Decelles – Audiologist, St. Luke’s

Question: Dr. Decelles, how do I even begin to approach someone who needs hearing aids about this sensitive subject? I have a friend who can’t hear like she used to and I know she’d benefit from hearing aids, but I’m worried the conversation won’t go well.

Answer: Hearing loss can be a sensitive subject but it sounds like you care for your friend and want her to have a great quality of life. Discussing issues that involve health and aging are never easy, but they are necessary. Here are 7 tips for how to start the conversation about hearing loss and the potential need for hearing aids:

1. Start with empathy. You may find yourself in this situation one day so think about how you’d like to be approached. Prepare to focus on positives and offer yourself as a caring resource and advocate.

2. Pick your moment carefully. Avoid starting this dialogue during stressful times or when other issues have their attention. When the time is right, create an optimal setting by turning off the TV and silencing cell phones.

3. Just the facts. Share what you observe and cite examples. Avoid any statements that could be seen as judgmental. Instead, state how the situation could be improved and reassure the person that you are bringing this to their attention because you want the best for them.

4. Focus on the positives (and prepare for objections). Technology has changed and hearing aids are better than ever. Units with rechargeable batteries are available as are invisible, in-ear devices. Standard hearing aids have also evolved to help even more with diminished or lost hearing.

5. They’re not alone. Discuss how this happens to people of different ages, backgrounds, etc. If you know someone who wears hearing aids, cite them as an example of a life changed for the better.

6. Note that an annual hearing test is advised for everyone. Some concerns can be caught early and treated, so it’s a best practice to have an annual exam. Offer to have your hearing tested with them.

7. Call your local audiologist or hearing professional for help. If you have questions or just need an idea of possible solutions, we can help. Our exams are at no-cost, we sell most major brands of hearing aids, and we have decades of experience. Call St. Luke’s Hearing Services Department today at 888-652-0555.

ASK A HEARING DOCTOR

The smallest bones are the ossicles in the middle ear: the incus, the malleus, and the stapes (also called the anvil, hammer, and stirrup). The inner ear is the circumference of a pencil eraser. Your sense of hearing depends on tiny hairs deep inside your ear. If you lose these hairs, you lose your hearing.

Hearing fun fact

St. Luke’s Hearing Services Newsletter • Call today! 800.282.9905

Spring Strawberry Salad with ChickenPrep: 25 m. Cook 10 m. Ready In 45 m

INGREDIENTS• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed • 2 tablespoons olive oil• 1/4 red onion sliced thin • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing • 1 bunch fresh spinach, rinsed and dried • 1 pint strawberries, sliced • 4 ounces crumbled goat cheese • 1 (5 ounce) package candied pecans

(such as Emerald(R) Pecan Pie Glazed Pecans) • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing

DIRECTIONS1. Place the chicken breast meat into a skillet with 2

tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinaigrette over medium heat; cook and stir until the chicken is browned, no longer pink in the center, and the juice has nearly evaporated, about 10 minutes. Remove the chicken to a bowl and let cool.

2. Place the spinach into a salad bowl; scatter the strawberries, goat cheese, red onion, and candied pecans over the spinach. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinaigrette over the salad and top with the chicken. Serve slightly warm or chilled.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2018 Allrecipes.com Printed From Allrecipes.com 4/2/2018

Recipe By: MISSKITTYBOO

RE

CIP

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Here’s what’s new!Made for all phones - Moxi All hearing instruments connect directly to all phones* - not just iPhones®. Hands-free. There’s no need to touch the phone. The patient clearly hears what the caller is saying, while microphones transmit their voice to their mobile phone.Rechargeable freedom - An easy overnight charge provides the freedom to stay in the conversation all day.

Easily connects to streamer-free TV Enjoy television programs through Moxi All hearing instruments, with the simple-to-useTV Connector accessory.

Wirelessly connect Moxi All hearing instruments to the TV without wearing a streamerRelax and enjoy high-quality stereo sound. Easily stream from the television, computer, tablet or stereo. Enjoy TV again at a volume that’s comfortable for everyone watching

HEARINGSERVICES