May, June, July, Aug. Issue 2016
www.hearingaidinstitute.com
The Hearing Herald
H E A R I N G
A I D
I N S T I T U T E
Pa t i e n t
S p o t l i g h t
I think I have
always had a hearing
disability just unconsciously compensated
for it. I have always
spoken loudly and
brash at times. Many
family members and
friends have asked if I
heard them and I just
shook it off and got
used to reading body
language, and facing
people when they
spoke to me.
72
YEARS
OF
HEARING AID
INSTITUTE!
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
The NOW
2
The Nitty-Gritty on HA
Batteries
2
Hearing Aid Coverage
3
Dumb Criminals
3
Nitty-Gritty Cont.
3
Did You Know
6
Foundation Earns
Award
6
Kathy Schmit of Helena , MT was born in Mission, Texas and raised in
North Dakota. She is our
spotlighted patient and this
is her hearing health story in
her own words.
“I am a 60 year old
adult who has never married
and had children of my own,
though I have taken care of
many.
I have worked as a
care-giver for individuals
with developmental disabilities as well as mental illness
for over 40 years. I enjoy it
because the days with these
individuals are never the
same.
I had my hearing checked a few years
ago but did not do anything about it. Then I saw
an advertisement for a
free hearing test at the
Hearing Aid Institute in
Helena, so I made an
appointment.
I received my
hearing aids October
sixth 2015 and they have
made a world of difference! When I called my
brother he didn’t recognize my voice. He told
me that you can’t believe
how nice it is to not have
to yell for you to hear
me.”
Thank you so
much for sharing your
story with us Kathy!
At Hearing Aid
Institute we strive to provide better hearing
health care to everyone,
everyday. We pride ourselves on exemplary service. At HAI we are always available to help
anyone with their hearing
health.
Hearing Aid Institute has five offices located in Great Falls,
Bozeman, Billings, Butte,
and Helena, as well as a
plethora of service centers throughout the state
and parts of Wyoming.
We are also affiliated
with multiple sister companies throughout the
United States, Canada
and Europe, so you can
take care of your hearing
aids and health care
needs as you travel.
We are grateful
to have such wonderful
patients. We enjoy hearing from them and helping them hear the beauty
of life.
If you have a
story to share we would
love to hear it!
P a g e
2
T h e
T h e
In March, NuEar introduced it’s newest hearing aid
technology line. The NOW has
an all new platform and multiple
new listening advancements.
Where former technology offered up to 16 frequency
adjustments, the NOW offers up
to 24 separate adjustments.
NOW also has a new
music enhancement feature.
Starkey Hearing Research Center in Berkeley California,
worked closely with musicians
and current wearers. They targeted the best way to run the
complex algorithms needed to
T h e
NOW hearing aids with
the new Synergy platform are
made so you won’t miss a single
sound. NOW features ear-to-ear
phone streaming, whistle free
feedback cancellation, speech
shift, new nanoshield for moisture
and debris, and tinnitus technology. The new lifescape analyzer
has seven automated sound
classes: music, speech, speech
in noise, industrial noise, wind,
noise and quiet. The analyzer
handles multiple environments
simultaneously.
Improve
your
quality of
life through
your
hearing!
Hearing aid
batteries are an integral part of using
hearing aids, powering the tiny computers
worn in or on your
ears. It’s a good idea
for hearing aid users
to understand the basics of how these batteries work and perform.
There are two
types of hearing aid
batteries: traditional
zinc air batteries and
rechargeable batteries. The majority of hearing aids use traditional batteries that are changed by the
user on a regular basis, which can be
anywhere from three days to three
weeks, depending on its size and their
usage. There are a few hearing aids designed to use a rechargeable battery,
which requires the batteries to be removed and recharged nightly.
This column will focus on the
traditional zinc air battery. The name
refers to how the zinc oxide in the batteries mixes with oxygen in the air to be-
H e r a l d
N OW
process today’s sounds efficiently.
N i t t y - G r i t t y
H e a r i n g
o n
H A
The NOW hearing aids
also come in a CROS and
BiCROS option. This new CROS
technology is wireless.
There are also new accessories with the NOW hearing aids.
There is an advanced mobile microphone for meetings or conventions. iPhone users can use new
mobile geo-tags as well as iPhone
compatible watches, tablets and
other accessories.
If you have any questions
or want to try out the NOW technology, get a hold of your local
Hearing Aid Institute Office.
B a t t e r i e s
come activated. To ensure
that the batteries are not activated before you need them,
they are packaged tightly
sealed or with stickers over
the individual batteries. It is
important to remember that
once the sticker is removed
the battery is activated.
An eighth-grade student in Minnesota who uses
hearing aids wanted to know
how to extend the life of his
batteries. The student discovered that it can be done by
letting the battery sit for five
minutes, positive side up, after removing the sticker and
before putting it in the hearing
aid.
This allows the battery
to fully activate to give the
longest possible lifespan per
battery, up to 85% longer,
which can translate to up to 3
days. This is significant when
considering that batteries
have to be changed every few
days or weeks.
The main factor af-
fecting battery lifespan overall is the size of the battery.
The smaller the battery, the
shorter the battery life. The
larger the battery, the larger
the hearing aid. If you want
a very small discreet hearing
aid you will also get a
smaller battery that needs to
be changed more often.
There are four sizes.
From smallest to largest,
they are: size 10 (yellow),
which will usually last three
to seven days; size 312
(brown), six to nine days;
size 13 (orange), ten to fourteen days; and size 675
(blue) fifteen to twenty days.
Not surprisingly ,
battery life is affected by
how many hours a day the
battery is active. If you wear
your hearing aid more than
12 hours a day, your battery
will last fewer days than a
battery used by someone
who does not wear their
hearing aid as long.
Continued on page 3...
M a y ,
J u n e ,
J u ly ,
A u g .
I ss u e
2 0 1 6
H e a r i n g
Hearing aids are advanced computers that need servicing to keep them running, as
well as adjustments as your hearing and needs change. So the
cost typically includes not only
the device itself, but lifetime servicing as well. This can be more
than some can afford, Thankfully,
insurance may be an option.
Some supplemental
plans do, however, cover hearing aids, either directly or via a
third-party broker. In all cases,
check your benefits manual for
possible full or partial coverage, but also call the supplemental insurance carrier to
confirm what it says.
Private insurance companies: Aetna, Blue Cross,
United Healthcare, and others
Supplemental Medicare insurance: There are generally two
Worlds Greatest Dad
In his stunted way
of thinking, Randy, 43,
was at least trying to be
responsible by not driving
drunk during a beer run.
Instead, he had his 10year-old son drive. The
boy proceeded to crash
the car at an estimated 90
miles per hour. The elder
Lewis had not only a
blood-alcohol content of
over three times the state
limit, but he also had co-
all have their own requirements
and benefits, and each company
offers different coverage for its various plans.
Just because your neighbor
with Aetna does not have hearing
aid coverage, this doesn’t mean
that you don’t have coverage on
your Aetna plan. In fact, each insurance carrier can have multiple
hearing aid benefit options. As with
Medicare supplemental plans, the
coverage may be direct or through
a third-party broker. These benefits
can change yearly, so check for the
current year even if you were denied last year.
C r i m i n a l s
caine in his system — not
to mention two other children in the vehicle. Lewis
was charged with drunk
driving, reckless endangerment and child abuse and
was booked wearing a tshirt reading “Buy this dad
a beer.”
N i t t y - G r i t t y
In addition, a person with a
more severe hearing loss will
use up more battery power than
someone with a milder hearing
loss.
Power-hungry features
and accessories such as Bluetooth/wireless streaming, FM
systems, and hearing loops will
also drain the battery more
quickly. According to Rayovac,
a battery manufacturer, wire-
3
C ov e r a g e
types of supplemental coverage plans for those on Medicare. Some plans will only
cover what Medicare covers,
and nothing else.
Medicare: Medicare does not
cover hearing aids, but it will pay
for a diagnostic hearing evaluation if your doctor recommends it.
D u m b
A i d
P a g e
Billion Dollar Dummy
Rule #1 of trying to
cash a bogus check: make it
out for a reasonable amount.
Charles, 21, broke that rule
and all conventions of common sense when he tried to
cash a check for 360 BILLION DOLLARS. To top it off,
the check wasn’t even made
out to him. He was arrested
on forgery charges.
Let your
batteries
sit 5
minutes to
activate
completely.
C o n t .
less capabilities and noise cancelation features can cut battery
life 20 to 300 percent.
Zinc air batteries have
pretty long shelf life, but they do
have expiration dates. From the
time they are packaged the shelf
life is approximately three years.
When buying batteries, especially in bulk, check the expiration dates, usually found on the
back of each package.
Excessive humidity or
dryness and extreme temperatures can also affect battery
life, so be sure to store your
batteries in a safe, dry location
at room temperature.
Don’t forget, you can
get your fresh batteries from
Hearing Aid Institute. Come
into one of our offices or service centers, or give us a call
and we can mail them to you.
Powder River Manor - 104 N. Trautman
Liberty Medical Center - 315 West Madison Ave.
Senior Center - 311 S. Virginia St.
Senior Citizens Center—715 E Main
Dillon Chiropractic Clinic - 221 S. Idaho St.
Madison Square Athletics Club - #5 Sunrise Loop
Court St. Bldg. - 334 W. Court St.
Gabert Clinic - 107 Dilworth (Up stairs)
Northern Mt. Hospital. - 30 13th St. - Rm. # 434
Complete Eye Center - 611 NE Main St.
Senior Citizens Center - 206 S. Main
Malta Senior Center - 110 1st Street W.
Miles City Clinic - 2000 Clark Street Ste #2
Broadus
Chester
Conrad
Cut Bank
Dillon
Ennis
Glasgow
Glendive
Havre
Lewistown
Livingston
Malta
Miles City
University Sq. Shopping Ctr.
200 S 23rd #E 1
Bozeman, MT 59715
585-4669
MAY 20
MAY 20
MAY 16
MAY 26
MAY 17
MAY 18
MAY 18
MAY 26
MAY 18
MAY 2
MAY 12
MAY 5
JULY 7
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9:00-11:00
11:00-1:00
9:00-11:00
9:00-11:00
10:00-12:00
TIME
9:00-11.00
2716 Billings Ave
Helena, MT 59601
443-2275
AUG 19
AUG 19
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AUG 25
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Sound Advice Hearing Center
2339 Cobban St.
Butte, MT 59701
782-7000
JUNE 24 JULY 22
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MAY 17
JUNE
JULY
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T h e
725 1st Ave N
Great Falls, MT 59401
727-7269
Pioneer Medical Center - 301 W. 7th Ave
Big Timber
MAY
MAY 19
4
1211 Grand Ave #2
Billings, MT 59102
248-1006
LOCATION & ADDRESS
Fallon Med. Complex Comm. Ctr - 202 S. 4th St. W
TOWN
Baker
Year 2016 Service Centers
Hearing Aid Institute 1-800-331-6009
P a g e
H e a r i n g
MAY 19 JUNE 23 JULY 21 AUG 18
MAY 11 JUNE 8 JULY 13
Senior Center - 917 E. Cedar
Senior Center - 10 S. Geyser
Three Forks
W. Yellowstone
MAY 5
MAY 24 JUNE 28 JULY 26 AUG 23
MAY 2
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MAY 26 JUNE 30 JULY 28 AUG 25
Senior Center—627 Pine Street
Holiday Inn - 900 E. Sunset
Holiday Inn - 1809 Sugarland Dr.
Crook County Library - 414 Main
Washakie Medical Center -1106 Big Horn Ave
Newcastle
Riverton
Sheridan
Sundance
Worland
248-1006
JUNE 9
JUNE 6
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JUNE 8
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JULY 8
JULY 7
JULY 6
AUG 4
AUG 1
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9:00-11:00
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9:00-11.00
9:00-11.00
9:00-10:00
10:30-11:30
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2 0 1 6
1211 Grand Ave #2
Billings, MT 59102
MAY 4
Hampton Inn - 211 Decker Court
Gillette
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MAY 25
Warm Valley Lodge - 5643 US HWY 26
Dubois
JULY 27
MAY 23 JUNE 27 JULY 29 AUG 22
Holiday Inn - 1701 Sheridan Ave.
Cody
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MAY 3
Hampton Inn - 85 US HWY 16 East
Buffalo
AUG 2
AUG 3
AUG 4
I ss u e
JULY 5
JULY 7
A u g .
JUNE 7
JUNE 9
9:00-11:00
9:00-11:00
TIME
J u ly ,
WYOMING
MAY 5
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Yellowstone Chiropractic - 222 2nd Ave SW
JULY 6
Sidney
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MAY 4
AUG 2
AUG
Daniel Memorial Clinic - 105 5th Ave E.
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JULY
Scobey
JUNE 7
JUNE
MAY 3
MAY
Pioneer Manor - 605 N. Sheridan
LOCATION & ADDRESS
J u n e ,
Plentywood
TOWN
Year 2016 Service Centers
Hearing Aid Institute 1-800-331-6009
M a y ,
P a g e
5
M a y ,
J u n e ,
J u ly ,
A u g .
I ss u e
2 0 1 6
D i d
Untreated hearing loss is a
major health and quality of life issue. NOW hearing aids are made to
help.
Did You Know
- Older adults with impaired hearing may have a shorter life span
than their peers without hearing
problems.
- There is a significant association
between high blood pressure and
untreated hearing loss.
- Adults with a hearing loss experience a 30-40% faster decline in
cognitive abilities compared to
peers without hearing loss.
- Over 360 million of the world’s
population have disabling hearing
loss.
- Adults with untreated hearing
loss were more likely to report depression, anxiety and paranoia than
peers who wore hearing aids.
- 18-69 year olds with untreated
hearing loss had significantly higher
instances of moderate-to-severe
depression.
- Adults with untreated hearing
loss are more likely to develop de-
Fo u n d a t i o n s
Yo u
P a g e
K n ow
mentia.
focus.
- People with mild hearing loss
are 3 times more likely to have a
history of falling.
- 48 million Americans—or nearly
one in five, age 12 and older—
experience hearing loss severe
enough to hinder communication.
- People with untreated hearing
loss can expect to suffer losses
in compensation due to underemployment.
- Adults with untreated hearing
loss have higher unemployment
rates than their normal-hearing
peers.
- People with low-frequency
hearing loss are considered at
risk for cardiovascular events.
- Wearing hearing aids reduces
the risk of cognitive decline associated with hearing loss.
- 1 in 6 Americans suffer from
tinnitus,
- 16 million of those have severe enough tinnitus to seek
medical attention.
- At least 50% of individuals
with tinnitus also have a hearing
loss.
- Treated hearing loss helps
reduce mental fatigue and improves memory, attention and
E a r n s
6
- 1 in 6 baby boomers struggles with
hearing loss.
- People tend to wait 5 to 7 years
between first experiencing symptoms
and seeking help.
- Hearing loss is the third most
prevalent chronic health condition facing seniors.
- An estimated 12.5% of U.S. children ages 6 to 19 show evidence of
noise-induced hearing loss.
- Roughly 10 million people in the
United States have permanent, irreversible hearing loss due to noise or
trauma.
- The prevalence of hearing loss is
typically lower in women than in men.
- Occupational hearing loss is the
most common work-related illness in
the U.S. Approximately 30 million U.S.
workers are exposed to hazardous
noise levels and another 9 million are
exposed to chemicals that harm hearing.
Awa r d
The University of Santo Tomas, the Catholic University of the Philippines,
presented William F. Austin, founder of the Starkey Hearing Foundation,
with the UST Golden Cross Award.
Mr. Austin was awarded for his effort to use hearing as a vehicle to
change lives. He and the Foundation traveled to the Philippines to provide free hearing aids and hearing health care to more than 9,000 Filipinos over the coarse of three weeks. The Foundation has provided almost
2 million hearing aids to more than 100 countries.
The UST Golden Cross Award, the highest award granted by the university, is given to individuals who excel in the promotion of the arts, humanities, and sciences, or have distinguished themselves by their commitment to serve society.
Don’t put
off your
hearing
health!!
P a g e
7
T h e
H e a r i n g
H e r a l d
North American Freshwater Fish
C C I
Z D F K O M M K E
L L A Z Z Y
I
I V O H C N A S
Y L Q A H I
F N Y F A T E
M O I R Y E L L Q H E P D N E U P O J A
R E A N P E L N S P B O R R C S
S A Q C G B I
I M F H
I U A F N P N L N K S D O
M U J Y H F F F S S L M V Y M R E S E R
I
J N D B E
I G W P A M N O E G R U T S
N G H F L O S S Z L H U O D Z T Q S A E
N V U D I
T H E H K E G N N U Q N E U N
O B D X L S Q D B P C U N P I
W A Z E Z A H I
Z H O A O I
I M P L
F D I
I
F S C
P V M U R D M S B L S E B W L P P C E A
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F P U P R F Q C I O E E Y U H I R
R I V U L
I N E C I U B F F L L A E B A
P A B L C S C V L X K M I E P K X R O H
L G E N E E D L E F
E T R O U T
I
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S H I V H C R G C
I H E H K N C B A B I A J
E E F P A D Q S R E T R A D R A C N T G
S U C K E R X P H E G V X R S E F G Y S
B C K D B C A T F
I
S H M S
I N P S F G
WORD LIST
ANCHOVIE
BASS
BOWFINS
CARP
CATFISH
CAVEFISH
CHARACIN
CLINGFISH
DARTER
DRUM
EEL
FLOUNDER
GAR
GOBIE
GRAYLING
HALFBEAK
HERRING
KILLIFISH
LAMPREY
LOACH
MINNOW
MULLET
NEEDLEFISH
PADDLEFISH
PERCH
PIKE
PIPEFISH
POECILLID
PUPFISH
RIVULINE
SALMONID
SCULPIN
SEAHORSE
SILVERSIDE
SMELT
STICKLEBACK
STURGEON
SUCKER
SUNFISH
TROUT
Test your skills and solve this word search. If you find all 40, we have a special gift for you. Mail the
finished puzzle to: Hearing Aid Institute, PO Box 1702, Great Falls, MT 59403, and we’ll mail you a
free gift!
NEWSLETTER & SCHEDULE INSIDE
ORDER FORM
THE hEAR SHOPPE
P.O. Box 1702
Great Falls, MT 59403-1702
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Batt. Size
Cost Each
Ear wax removal kit w/ syringe
8.00
Waxman 2000 Hearing aid vacuum
29.00
Serene renew dryer
75.00
Battery Mart Membership
5.00
Postage is $.50 for 2 pkgs. & $1.00 for 3 or
more pkgs.
Total Cost
2.50 Per pkg
HEARING AID INSTITUTE, INC.
725 1ST AVE NORTH
GREAT FALLS, MT 59401
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PERMIT NO. .213