Have You Heard?
HearPO Hearing Health Newsletter
November 2013
In this issue...
RESEARCH REVEALS:
■ Better hearing = better
Better hearing = better relationships
Everyone knows that hearing aids can improve hearing. But did you know
that the use of hearing aids can also improve relationships with family and
friends, as well as the enjoyment of social activities? It’s true!
A survey involving more than 4,300 people in the U.S., Germany, Great
Britain, France and Switzerland revealed that:
■ 73% of hearing-impaired people reported improved relationships
with their families after they started wearing hearing aids.
relationships
■ Noisy toys this holiday season
■ Tips to make listening easier for
your companion
■ Don’t forget your Flex spend
dollars!
■ Introducing audiologist-selected
headphone & hearing protection
products
■ 78% said their use of hearing aids positively affected relationships
with friends and made social gatherings more enjoyable again.
■ 41% of those who had a moderate to severe hearing loss and wore hearing aids reported having a large circle of
friends, versus 27% of respondents with the same degree of hearing loss who did not wear hearing aids.
If you suspect a hearing loss, remember this: The effects of a hearing loss extend to the people who are important to
you. To take advantage of your HearPO benefit and to schedule a hearing test appointment, call 1.877.772.0652.
Listen up!
Check out these hearing facts...
✓ Hearing loss is the most common birth
defect.
✓ Roughly 3 out of 1000 school-aged children are hard
✓ Hearing loss is the third most common physical
✓ 1 in 4 workers exposed to high levels of noise will
✓ Americans with profound hearing loss earn an
of hearing or deaf.
develop a hearing loss.
✓ Tinnitus generally accompanies hearing loss.
Roughly 50 million people in the U.S. suffer from
tinnitus.
health problem after arthritis and heart disease.
average of $23,000 less than people with normal
hearing.
✓ 95% of hearing loss can be successfully treated with
hearing aids.
Sources: www.chchearing.org; www.hearingloss.org; www.audiology.org; www.betterhearing.org; Hearing Loss Association of
America and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Beware of noisy toys this season...
That wrapped gift looks innocent enough under the tree. But inside may be a
toy so loud, it could harm a child’s hearing. For example, a battery-powered
toy gun can produce 110 to 135 decibels — similar to the sound generated by
a heavy truck, a rock concert or an airliner at takeoff, according to the Better
Hearing Institute.
Children’s ears are much more sensitive to loud noise than the ears of adults,
and any noise-induced hearing loss that occurs is permanent. So it’s crucial
to find out how much noise a toy produces before buying it. Each year, the
nonprofit Sight & Hearing Association (www.sightandhearing.org) publishes a
list of the noisiest toys, including the decibel levels generated by each.
A good rule of thumb: If it’s too loud for you, it’s too loud for a child. If there’s
no way to avoid buying a loud toy, consider steps to prevent hearing damage,
such as putting masking tape over the speakers or only allowing children to
play with it outside, where the decibels can be dispersed.
Eight tips to make listening
easier for your companion
1. Move closer to the listener, ideally three to
six feet away.
2. Make sure the area is well lit, enabling the
listener to pick up on visual cues.
3. Get the person’s attention and make eye
contact before speaking.
4. Keep your hands away from your mouth
when speaking.
Use...or possibly lose...your
flex dollars!
Do you have a health flex spending account
(FSA)? If you suspect a hearing loss, now would be
a great time to put those funds to use! Most FSA
plans include hearing tests and hearing aids among
their eligible expenses. Keep in mind also that, in
many cases, you must use your funds by the end of
the plan year. Combining your HearPO benefit with
FSA dollars is a smart idea, so call 1.877.772.0652
today to schedule a hearing test with a credentialed
HearPO provider.
5. Limit distractions from competing noises.
6. Speak slowly at a normal volume...don’t
shout.
7. Stay in one place when conversing.
8. Write down important details you want the
person to remember.
Call 1.877.772.0652 and schedule your hearing
test today or visit www.hearpo.com/ripea
You can do something about hearing loss.
Like not lose it in the first place.
Introducing Preventative Hearing Health Products
HearPO is synonymous with the delivery of high-quality hearing healthcare and hearing aids at very
competitive prices. But HearPO is just as committed to hearing loss prevention, which is why, in addition to
hearing aid products, HearPO is launching a line of audiologist-selected headphones and preventative hearing
care products at a valuable 20% discount. The new program, Audio by HearPO, has a broad range of preventive
and safe listening products available. Items include:
Volume-safe headphones from leading manufacturers, in over-the-ear, on-ear and in-the-ear
● Kid-friendly earphones, as well as headphones in several vibrant colors
● Ear muffs, earplugs and electronic hearing protection
● Amplified telephones, speakerphones, telephone amplifiers and telephone ringers
●
These products can be found at www.audiobyhearpo.com. You, your family members and friends can
purchase a broad range of preventive and safe listening products at a 20% discount by using promo code
RIPEA20 at checkout. The website also contains useful information on hearing loss and hearing aids.
Headphones
HearPO offers an array of headphones with your safety as our goal. Noise cancelling
products reduce the ambient sounds around you, so you won’t be tempted to turn
the volume up so high. Hands-free options make it simpler to navigate in busy
environments and sports earbuds provide natural sound reduction so you can hear
your music, yet be aware of your surroundings.
Kid-Safe
Lightweight and comfortable, these volume-safe headphones limit the sound to safe
listening levels, regardless of how high the volume is turned up. With plenty of
on-the-go music and video technology available, the time to begin preventing
hearing loss is early in life.
Assisted Living
Living with some hearing loss or looking for that extra boost to make sure you’re not
missing out? Whether it be assistance to make telephone conversations easier or a
solution to hear the television better, HearPO has the product for you.
Hearing Protection
Exposure to excessive noise is one of the leading causes of hearing loss, according to
the Better Hearing Institute. That’s why HearPO takes hearing protection so
seriously. When worn properly, earplugs block out dangerous levels of sound, while
allowing you to hear conversations and music.
See our full range of hearing health products - and SAVE 20% - at
www.audiobyhearpo.com. Use promo code RIPEA20 at checkout.
5000 Cheshire Parkway North
Plymouth, MN 55446
1.877.772.0652
www.hearpo.com/ripea
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