While gift giving traditions and customs may vary across religious holidays and other celebrations, December provides us with a chance to reflect and become aware of what is truly important in life, to discover that true happiness arises from the selfless act of giving, and to give heartfelt gifts in keeping with family and cultural traditions. For this holiday season, we offer a gift list to improve or protect the hearing of your business associates, friends and loved ones.
Hearing Protection from the Heart
Excessive noise exposure is the most common cause of hearing loss! According to the World Health Organization, noise-induced hearing loss is the most common, irreversible, occupational hazard world-wide – and it is totally preventable. One in 10 Americans has a hearing loss that interferes with their ability to understand speech at levels of normal conversation.
Exposure to noise over our lifetime results in a cumulative negative effect on our ability to hear. The more toxic noise we’re exposed to, the greater our hearing loss can be later in life – or alarmingly, even in our youth! It’s never too soon or too late to start protecting your hearing. Shop these merchants for “one-size fits most” hearing protection or contact a local audiologist and purchase a gift certificate for custom ear protection that is molded to fit the ear.
The Earplug Superstore offers earplugs and earmuffs as well as special purpose ear protection for motorcycle drivers, NASCAR drivers, hunters, water buffs, music lovers (concerts) and airline travelers, among others. Call 918.478.5500 or visit http://ear plugstore.com.
E.A.R., Inc./Insta-Mold West offers a number of specialty ear protection devices including electronic and non-electronic earmolds, earplugs, filtered earplugs, foam earplugs, ear muffs and custom earmolds for music monitors, among other specialty earmolds and devices. Options include custom and over-the-counter products for hunting, motor sports, law enforcement, military and industrial applications. Visit www.earinc.com or call 800.525.6890.
Sonomax specializes in custom hearing protection and offers the SonoCustom®, the only hearing
protection on the market that provides the means to quantify the amount of hearing protection (via their SonoPass® proprietary Windows-based software). This software provides a method of validating the exact percentage of protection that an individual is receiving, which has useful workplace applications. Visit www.sonomax.com or call 877.Sonomax.
Gifts for Family Fun
Laughs for the Hard of Hearing by the Hard of Hearing by Maxwell Schneider is an amusing collection of stories, jokes, cartoons and anecdotes that lets you laugh at situations encountered by those who are hard of hearing. The author’s goal is to have fun while educating about the resources available for assistance. A lighthearted book with a valuable message: “It’s never too late to help yourself hear.” Available from Harris Communications (www.harriscomm.com) and Soundbytes (www.soundbytes.com).
“I See What You Say” DVD, produced by speech pathologist Mary Kleeman, presents an innovative approach for acquiring speech-reading skills. The clearly presented format provides interesting, enjoyable practice activities for increasing speech-reading skills from single words to stories. The exercises are spoken by 16 speakers, offering exposure to many different speech patterns. This excellent tool addresses problems of noise and distortion, and also includes guidelines for enabling families to enhance their communication skills. The DVD format makes it amenable for the family to learn together. Available from Harris Communications, Learn Lip Reading (www.lipreading.com) and Potomac Technology (www. potomactech.com).
I’m the Boss of My Hearing Loss by Amy Kroll uses colored drawings and a positive approach to teach kids how to manage challenging listening situations as well as important concepts about hearing loss. Available from CoolGal (www.coolgal.biz), Harris Communications and Soundbytes.
I’ve Lost my WHAT??? by Shawn Lovley with foreword by Bill Graham, co-founder of the Association of Late-Deafened Adults, is for those who are perplexed by their inability to hear, or know someone who is. This practical guide to life after deafness may be just the book for you. It discusses assistive devices, the psychology of adult-onset deafness, communication, relationships, cochlear implants, hearing aids, the Americans with Disabilities Act, telephone use and daily life for people who’ve gone deaf post-lingually. Available from Harris Communications or as an e-book for free at http://books.google. com/books.
If You Could Hear What I See by Kathy Buckley, “America’s first hearing impaired comedienne.” Buckley is a motivational speaker with an entertaining story. The five-time American Comedy Award Nominee as Best Stand-Up Female Comedienne will have you laughing in one moment and crying the next. During her late teens, Buckley’s life was interrupted when she was run over by a Jeep while sunbathing on a beach. As a result, she experienced intermittent paralysis in her legs with a recovery spanning almost five years. Just six years later, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She has turned roadblocks into springboards, using her personal experience as a launching pad for humor and to educate others. Purchase the book or audiobook from her Web site (www.kathybuckley.com) or various online book sellers.
We wish you the very best for the holidays and would appreciate any feedback you may have about the Trends Gift Guide for consideration in future years!
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