http://www.arizonahears.com A presentation from Purtone Hearing Centers to give you knowledge and fun.

1. Hearing Safety & Preservation
Presented to: SRP Associates
Presented to: SRP Associates
August 6, 2009
A t 6 2009

2. A little humor to wake us up. . .
A little humor to wake us up. . .
A man was wondering if his wife had a hearing
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problem. So one night, he stood behind her
while she was sitting in her lounge chair.
He spoke softly to her,
He spoke softly to her
"Honey, can you hear me?"
There was no response.
He moved a little closer and said again,
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"Honey, can you hear me?"
Still, there was no response.
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Finally 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!"

3. Helen Keller has said. . .
Helen Keller has said. . .
“Blindness separates us from things
Blindness 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 us
let hearing loss separate us
from those that we love and spend
time with.

4. How we hear . . .
How we hear . . .
• Sound waves ‐ i f
S d information
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• 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 information
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Hearing is not Understanding.
Hearing is not Understanding

5. Noise causes hearing loss.
Noise causes hearing loss.
Very loud and/or continuous noise can damage the
Very 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)
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Questions:
Cut an SRP power line and what happens down the grid?
Plug a turbine and what happens?

6. Noise at home
Noise at home
• TVs & Stereos
TVs & Stereos
• MP3 players
• Lawn tools and equipment
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• Vacuum cleaner
• Baby’s cry

7. Noise at work
Noise at work
• Machinery
• Power tools
• Striking tools
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• Radios
• Telephones

8. Noise everywhere else
Noise everywhere else
• Hunting & target shooting
Hunting & target shooting
• Driving sand buggies, other all‐terrain
vehicles, motorcyles, and snowmobiles
vehicles motorcyles and snowmobiles
• Concerts & Sporting events
• Sirens
• Fireworks
• Etc.

10. How can we protect ourselves?
How can we protect ourselves?
• One size fits all
One size fits all
Foam ear plugs
• Ear muffs
• Custom

15. Step 2
Step 3
Step 4

16. What if?
What if?
• I’m exposed – what do I do?
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• 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?
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How will hearing loss affect me, and my income?
ill h i l ff d i ?
• What can I do about it?

17. FREE Hearing Screenings Today
FREE Hearing Screenings Today
I will offer a simple hearing screening today for
I 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 you.
PūrTone is an option for you

18. Questions & Answers
Questions & 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 six
older 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 than
18 and 44 with hearing loss and more than
one million are school age. Hearing loss
affects all age groups.
affects all age groups

19. Q & A Continued
Q & A Continued
If I had hearing loss, my doctor would have told
If I had hearing loss my doctor would have told
me, wouldn’t they?
No! Only 14% of physicians routinely screen for
No! Only 14% of physicians routinely screen for
hearing loss during a physical. Since most
people with hearing impairments hear well in
people with hearing impairments hear well in
a quiet environment like a doctor's office, it
can be virtually impossible for your physician
can be virtually impossible for your physician
to recognize the extent of your problem.

20. Q & A Continued
Q & 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 this
you realize that well meaning doctors tell this
to their patients every day? It happens to be
"normal" for overweight people to have high
normal for overweight people to have high
blood pressure. That doesn't mean they
should not receive treatment for the problem.
should not receive treatment for the problem

21. Q & A Continued
Q & 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 with
ear 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%
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of people with a “nerve deafness” hearing loss
can be helped with modern hearing devices.

22. Helen Keller has said. . .
Helen Keller has said. . .
“Blindness separates us from things
Blindness separates us from things,
but deafness separates us from people."

23. Thank You for Attending
Th k Y f Att di
Other Questions? Please call.
Other Questions? Please call.
Edward Maznio, President
ArizonaHears.com
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602‐971‐3900 Ofc 602‐405‐1102 Cell