May is Better Speech and Hearing Month

May is better speech and Hearing Month. Two most common reasons people ignore this hearing impairment. Free or lowcost screenings available nation wide. Ways to help finance hearing aids.

Twenty one million Americans including Bob Hope, Arnold Palmer, Ronald Reagan, Phyllis Diller and Al Unser suffer from a hearing impairment; yet many with hearing loss wait an average of seven years before seeking help, according to SHHH (Self Help fro Hard of Hearing People), the largest organization for people who are hard of hearing.

The month of May, National Speech and Hearing Month is a great time to eradicate the stigma of wearing a hearing aid. There are two most common reasons people do not acquire a hearing aid. The first reason is individuals do not recognize the problem. If the loss of hearing has been gradual and progressive, the adjustment of the loss may be just as gradually and is not recognized as being abnormal. If there is family history of hearing loss, or person has been exposed to high noise levels (i.e. tractors, machinery in factories, firearms, power tools) without adequate ear protection; or they may be inclined to believe that "everybody mumbles", it is right to suspect hearing loss.

The second biggest concern is cost. Jackie Bell had a right to be concerned about cost when she learned her husband needed a special kind of hearing aid priced at
$4,300.00. Fortunately, Jackie and her husband were members of the Discount Home Shopping Club, an internet based buyers organization, and found the very same hearing aid for $1,600 as part of her member's benefits. That's nearly 68% savings.

There are organizations that give free hearing exams and some will help with cost of hearing aids. Check with your local library or local newspaper for free or low cost screenings in the month of May, Better Speech and Hearing Month; and visit the Discount Home Shopping Club on the web at: www.clubshop.com to see if you would benefit from being a VIP member. Seven years is too long time to wait to hear.