Go Beyond Hearing and Listen Listen Listen

Go Beyond Hearing and Listen, Listen, Listen
By Bette Daoust, Ph.D.

If we listened twice as much as we talked, we would be a lot further down the road to success. People sometimes think I am very quiet when they first meet me. Those that know me are aware that I am quite the opposite. When I am in a setting where I do not know anyone, I spend my time listening to conversations. I pick up good information about most people at the event. Once I feel I have enough to go on, I will put my hat in the ring and speak up. If most people did the same thing, they would learn how to participate in a conversation. Not only do you have to listen to conversations, you actually have to hear what they are saying. It is only through hearing that you will gain an understanding. I am not saying you need to understand every conversation but you do need to understand enough to make an intelligent comment to get into the circle.

Another way to get into a conversation is to reiterate what you have just heard. I use, did I hear you say . . . . .? The response is usually yes and then they continue to explain why they said it. This is your opportunity to follow up with your comments. You must continue to listen and hear throughout any conversation and only make a comment when you know exactly what you are talking about. I made a fatal error once when someone was arguing a point and I agreed with them. They then asked me how I knew about the subject. I was dumb-founded and could not answer as I was not really hearing what they said, I was just listening in. I felt very foolish and now I make sure I hear the words and understand them before agreeing. There is nothing like an embarrassing moment to straighten up your habits.

When you attend events and spend your time adding to conversations, you are really taking in information that will be valuable for you at another time. You will get to know the participants in the conversation and perhaps even exchange business cards. You may also find that you have common interests.

Bette Daoust, Ph.D. is a speaker, author (over 170 books, articles, and publications), and consultant. She has provided marketing, sales, business development and training expertise for companies such as Peet's Coffee & Tea, Varian Medical Systems, Accenture, Avaya, Cisco Systems to name a few. Dr. Daoust has also done extensive work with small businesses in developing their marketing, training, and operational plans. You may contact Dr. Daoust at http://BizMechanix.com. You may also view her latest publications at http://BlueprintBooks.com. Dr. Daoust also writes for the National Networker http://theNationalNetworker.com.

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Designer Hearing Aids

Designer Hearing Aids
By Steve Joseph

It seems that the latest craze to grace the catwalks is hearing devices! Yes, I said hearing devices. The interest has been astounding as high revenues created by an aging baby boomer generation have caused some hearing aid designers to abandon previous efforts to conceal hearing aids in favor of making them the latest must have fashion accessory. An incredible revolution has already taken place in the world of eyewear, and it appears that hearing aids are starting to catch up.

For years hearing aid manufacturers have all fought to gain supremacy in the hearing aid market with smaller hearing devices aimed at a level of subtlety that bordered invisibility. People with hearing loss were able to discard their comparatively bulky behind the ear (BTE) hearing aids in favor of aids that fit inconspicuously into the ear canal, although the small aids did come at a cost. Obviously smaller hearing aids drew on expensive technology which was reflected in the cost, but the other sacrifice was in the quality of sound that the aid delivered. Due to the small size, speaker volume and the ability to counter ambient sounds was somewhat sacrificed. Such compromises for micro technology had been popular in the past, but reports say that the market appears to be shifting dramatically. As a new breed of hearing impaired people begins to opt for fashionable and functional hearing aids, a whole new world of opportunity has been opened to development teams.

The revolution in fashionable hearing aids is allowing designers to incorporate a much wider array of feature that simply werent possible with the mini aids. Since designers have more room to work with, options like Goldfish, (which allows the user to replay the last 10 seconds of audio just incase something like a name was missed) can now be offered. These advances are set to redefine the negative stigma that has traditionally been attached to hearing aids.

In fact the designers of these new stylish aids claim that hearing aids may even attract customers without hearing loss. That would appear somewhat optimistic to believe for now, but these more attractive and useful hearing aids look certain to deliver a clearer level of sound deaf people that so far has proven elusive.

The author is a regular contributor to http://www.discountaids.com and permission to reproduce this article is given only on the basis that all links remain active and intact.

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Hearing Voices and Talking to Voices: Invite Them In

Hearing Voices and Talking to Voices: Invite Them In
By Louis Tinnin

Hearing voices does not mean you are crazy. This is so even when a voice tells you to commit suicide or to kill someone else. People do sometimes obey those commands and this fact makes it urgent to do something about command hallucinations. Many common attempts to do something are simply futile. One cannot close ones ears to the voices. Medications dull consciousness long before affecting the voice. Auditory hallucinations often persist even after electroshock treatment. Such treatment efforts are protracted and demoralizing to the person and the end point is usually an uncertain claim that the voices are gone.

An entirely different approach to dealing with voices is recommended by some clinicians that work with trauma, which is the most common origin of voices. They say, talk to the voices. They explain the voices as vocal parts of yourself that have their own ideas and opinions. If you are willing to negotiate with them you may be able to help them become less extreme in their efforts to participate in your life. First, it will help to learn more about their nature and their role as parts of you.

The Nature of Voices

Usually the individual voices have been constant companions and are recognizable to the person as male or female and young or old. Sometimes there is a single voice, but more commonly there are groups of voices; some with prominent roles and some just bit players. There may be the crying of infants or young children and there may be cries of other traumatized selves. When there are young, helpless children there may be older protectors. There is no limit to that internal world. Voices keep arising as consequences of traumatic experiences.

A person may hear only one or two voices. This layer often contains a commanding voice urging total subjugation and humiliation. It may impel the person to drink or to starve or self-cut, or it may demand suicide. The person typically reacts with automatic, trance-like obedience and may be saved only by appeals from another voice saying No, or the intervention of another actual person. One may come to realize that these voices represent past selves that are still locked in the trauma that froze their action. Other voices are protectors of young traumatized selves and some are keepers of the secret as commanded by a perpetrator.

The Externalized Dialogue With Voices

Talking with a voice requires externalizing the voice, which is best done by writing a message to the voice, addressing it as you. This will be the first of a series of taking turns, each addressing the other as you or by name. Now it is the turn for Voice to speak. You may have to write for the voice at first but before long Voice will speak for itself, your hand moving by its will.

The rules for the externalized dialogue are three: 1. Take turns. 2. Dont interrupt. 3. Write complete sentences. The dialogue with commanding voices can begin with an exploration of their roles and their feelings. Usually their roles began as attempts to help the person. Unfortunately, even suicide might be regarded as a helpful solution for the need to escape. A successful negotiation with the suicidal part can substitute less extreme solutions.

Voices Have Quirks

There are certain quirks that characterize the majority of voices. Knowing about these quirks helps to understand the power of the externalized dialogue.

Voices are gullible: Voices arise outside of consciousness in the brain tissue that normally relies on the conscious language processing of the brain to provide syntax and leadership. The dissociated states of self with their voices may be desperate for leadership and for the missing elements of syntax. The practical consequence for voices that represent self-states frozen in past traumas is that their identity and roles are ripe for reframing by the individuals present verbal mind. The externalized dialogue is a practical vehicle for communicating with those voices, influencing them, and reframing their identity and roles.

Voices hear voices: When someone negotiates with a voice that urges suicide and finally gains agreement to pursue a different option, this may not be the end of the matter. There may be another suicidal voice ready to fill the role vacated by the first suicidal voice. Separate negotiations with different voices may be necessary.

The best defense is a strong offence: The fiercer the voices sound at the beginning, the meeker they are in the long run. People may be terrified of their voices and also fearful for the safety of others if that fierce voice gets out. However, once engaged in the dialogue the voice becomes simply another aspect of the person and, more often than not, a younger aspect.

Voices can be wise. Some voices become helpers by providing a clear-headed response to the negative voices. Some voices exemplify a wise archetype or a role of inner-self-helper described in the psychiatric literature. That helpful voice can be called on during the course of therapy using the externalized dialogue process.

A Safe Self-Help Technique?

Many people have used this as self-help after going through a one or two-week intensive trauma therapy program and they reported no difficulties or complications.

Louis W. Tinnin, MD

http://traumatherapy.us

http://traumarecoveryinstitute.org

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Hearing Loss In The Elderly

Hearing Loss In The Elderly
By Alice Endy

Last Sunday my mother was visiting. We were playing cardswhen I began to realize how long we have accommodated herhearing loss.

My mother lost the hearing in her right ear as a teenager.As children we learned to always talk to her left ear,have the radio off when she was driving, wait forthe TV commercial and lower the volume before speaking.

We had many a laugh when after calling my mother she wouldwalk to another room or the other end of the housethinking the voice came from that direction. Mom laughedwith us MOST of the time.

When my nursing career led me to the field ofGeriatrics I automatically knew how to communicatewith people with hearing loss.

Twenty eight million people suffer from hearing loss.

Ages 65-74-- 23% have hearing loss.
Ages 75 84-- -33% have hearing loss.
ages 85+ ---- 48% have hearing loss.

Most older people with hearing loss never see an audiologistnor do they get fitted for hearing aids. It amazes me that so feware willing to get help.Hearing loss has a very gradual onset, frequently not noticed bythe person himself. Usually it is the spouse that raises thepossibility of hearing loss.

Most doctors do not test for hearing loss as part of aroutine physical and for some unknown reason, most olderpeople will not complain of their hearing loss.Denial is very strong when the topic is hearing loss.

As people age the hearing sense does decline in many folks.

This presents many problems:

Unable to hear emergency sirens, fire alarms, honking horns

Often develop depression over time due to an inability tohear conversations.

Often withdraw from social gatherings and isolate themselves.

Often develop paranoia, thinking people are talkingabout them since they are only able to pick up occasional words.

Often become irritable as they isolate.

These symptoms are very common among the frail elderly, especiallywhen in group activities such as sitting at a table playing cards, or eating.

Communicating With Elders with Hearing Loss

Face the person- within three feet.

Sit at eye level.

Get eye contact.

Be sure you have their attention.

Turn off any background noises-TV, Radio.

Announce the topic of the conversation.

Enunciate clearly.

Do not eat or chew when communicating.

If not understood, rephrase your statement using different words.

Use hand gestures as needed.

Talk to the good ear if appropriate.

Make sure your elder sees a doctor for hearingdifficulty. Ask for a referral to an audiologist.

Dedicated to Eldercare,

Nurse Alice

About the Author: Alice Endy is a Registered Nurse with national certification in the field of Geriatrics.Ms Endy is a sought after speaker and consultant in the field of Eldercare. Ms Endy is also a caregiver for her mother who is in her twelfth year of Alzheimer's Disease. Ms Endy knows well the problems of long term caregiving and the joys and sorrows of end of life issues.

http://www.AskNurseAlice.com/blog

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Read This Article if You Are Tired of Hearing About the War in Iraq

Read This Article if You Are Tired of Hearing About the War in Iraq
By Lance Winslow

Are you tired of all the news about Iraq? Are you tired of all the news stations implying that somehow we are losing the War in Iraq? Are you tired of the obvious attacks of the media on the Bush Administration? Do you support our troops and support a total victory in Iraq?

Do you feel that Iraq is just too far away being over half way around the world for it to affect your personal life or the lives of your family? Are you really more concerned with what is happening in your community, neighborhood, with your family and their health than what happens in Iraq?

Are you more concerned with credit card debt, real estate prices, your job and your health care insurance than the tit for tat attacks on the President of the United States and weapons of mass destruction? Do you really care if Ali Zambonee, or Al Mohammed Zahoo is captured, killed or on the news on Yahoo?

Does it bother you that many of the critics of the Bush Administration are eating their words; do you think the enemy combatants, insurgents and fanatical nut cases are all turds? Are you tired over the debate and non-issue of the WMD, Zarkowee Ali or OBL all on Al Jazeera TV? After all the proof is already out and the Iraqis are Free and in record numbers voted and came out; Purple fingers, isnt that the key

Is all this Iraq stuff you are hearing about really of concern? Dont you just want to know it is being taken care of, as you have more serious things to think about?

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance in the Online Think Tank and solve the problems of the World; www.WorldThinkTank.net/

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So what's the Big Secret I Keep Hearing from Internet Marketers

So what's the Big Secret I Keep Hearing from Internet Marketers
By Larry Clark

Maybe you can relate to me when it comes to internet marketers. Not all mind you, but the core group who get you to opt-in to their auto-responders and tell you that they have the secret to making instant money on the internet. Well if it a secret and they are making money because they have kept it secret, why let me know about it so I can now know the secret and make the money?

Well heres howthey make money selling you the secret and dont have to worry about the income from the secret anymore. Go figure. Everyday we are inundated with the hey Larry, I was thinking of you when I found this great program and everyday we get sucked into reading how this great program was better than the last one they said was the greatest program. They werent thinking of me, just my wallet.

Now for my confessionI make money by marketing on the internet. No, not that way, we actually market our new home export housing online are quite successful. I do rely on some internet marketing professionals and do willingly buy e-books and courses that I feel will help me understand the best and most efficient way of marketing online. I have found some absolute exceptional programs and courses that I feel were invaluable to the growth of our Companies and in helping us get some new marketing divisions started successfully. I will include some links below to my favorite list below.

I totally grasp that people need to make an income and I wouldnt deny anyone making money or being successful, but where is the legitimacy in selling products or information that is usually recycled fluff with tons of links to other programs that they writer makes money off as well. The jury could be out on whether this is smart marketing, but I cant help thinking there are a group of these guys who get together and laugh when they relate how much money they made off people being pulled in by the hype.

So now I will step down from my soapbox and anticipate this article will make the rounds and hopefully enlighten the uninitiated internet marketing student to think twice before jumping on the next internet secret . Just remember that the secret to making money on the internet is sound advice, patience, hard work and allot of persistence. Now the secret is really out.

Larry J Clark is President of Allpro Building Systems which is in Canada.Their new resource website is http://www.buildandsave.com Larry can be reached personally at ljclark@abshomes.com or 604-504-1555.

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Hearing and Your Pet

Hearing and Your Pet
By Audrey Frederick

Ever catch your cat staring at a blank wall and wonder why?

More than likely she was listening to sounds coming from inside the wall. Did you know that a whole tone (like in music) that we can hear, a cat hears it as 10 separate tones.

A cat can hear ultrasonic sounds (high pitched) that we cannot even imagine.

Dogs on the other hand are equipped with ears that hear the lower spectrum of sounds. They cannot hear as well as cats, but have a range of about 250 yards away, while a human is lucky if it can hear something that is 15 to 20 yards away.

A dogs hearing is dependent its size. A small dog has small ears and can hear high pitched sounds almost as good as a cat can, while a large dog is better equipped to hear low sounds.

Research has shown that with the passage of time humans have lost some of the sharpness of their hearing and cats and dogs have sharpened theirs.

Nature has given humans a less complex set of ears, while our pets are blessed with superior pieces of machinery.

The outside of you pets ear is like a satellite dish that picks up the sound waves and moves them down the ear canal to an organ called the Corti, which has more than 7,500 working parts.

Your voice becomes a sound wave that then travels through miles of nerves, until it gets to the brain and your pet hears what you are saying.

Did you know that puppies and kittens are deaf for the first 2 weeks of life. During that time their hearing is really the picking up of body vibrations, so they are actually feeling your words instead of hearing them.

The ear canals open up little by little, and by the time they are 4 weeks old their hearing is almost up to Moms standards.

Cats really like high pitched voices better than lower level voices. Cats are more apt to pay attention to words that are spoken with a higher pitch.

Since we usually talk to our pets in our normal voices, most of the time they rather ignore us. If you want to get their attention, change the tone of your voice, speak some words softly, others a little more loudly and whisper to them. It is guaranteed to get their interest.

We humans use our ears for hearing and sometimes for adornment, our pets however, use their ears to convey their feelings.

Ears, along with other body parts, are all a part of a dog or cats language.

In many cases the shape of a dogs ear depended on its job.

In a dogs world ears have evolved from the pointy straight-up ears, wolves have, to the many looks of today, all dependent on what the dog was bred for.

The straight-up ears or the semi straight-up ears that you find on German Shepherds, Collies and most Terriers are great for hearing. These dogs have been bred as working dogs and/or for hunting, where good hearing is an important factor.

Dogs with floppy ears such as Labs, golden retrievers and hounds, have ears that are down to help muffle sounds and to help develop their sense of smell and sight for specialized hunting. They are called sighthounds.

Cropped ears (which is being frowned on more and more) was done to make Dobermans and Rotties and others look more fierce as the breeds were used mostly as guard dogs.

What do certain positions mean in regard to a dogs mood?

Slightly raised ears mean I am a happy dog and all it right with my world. Ears that are raised high means I am interested in whats going on. Flat back means I am afraid of something and ears that seem to be moving back and forth mean I am not sure how I feel. Straight back and fur ruffled means I am agitated or mad, watch out.

Cats on the other hand have ears that stand straight up, with the exception of the Scottish Fold. Straight up, perky ears means all is well in my world. Straight up and back means MEOW I am mad. Flat against its head and down means I am scared and very afraid, while swiveling around like an antenna means I am listening to something interesting.

Well, thats it for the ears of our cat and dog world, I hope you learned something you did not know and that you will appreciate the great gift that hearing is, not just for our pets, but for us, too.

If you have enjoyed this article and wish to learn more about cats and dogs, please come and visit my web site http://www.cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com

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Hearing Loss is the Number One Disability in the World

Hearing Loss is the Number One Disability in the World
By Jay Stockman

Hearing loss is prevalent in modern societies as a result of the combined effects of noise, aging, disease, and heredity. Hearing loss is the number one disability in the world; approximately 28 million Americans suffer some type of hearing loss. In addition, 15 of every 1000 people under the age of 18 have a hearing loss, and nearly 90% of people over age 80 have a hearing impairment. The incidence of hearing loss is greater in men, than women. The sad part is, that hearing loss is the most preventable disability in the world.

Hearing is a complicated process involving both the sensitivity of the ear, as well as the ability to understand, and interpret the speech. When we hear sounds, we really are interpreting patterns of air molecules in the form of waves. . The ear is able to pick up these waves, and convert them into electrical signals that are sent to the brain. In the brain, these signals are deciphered into meaningful information, such as language or music with qualities like volume and pitch. We can characterize sounds in terms of their frequency (or pitch) and intensity (or loudness).

An individual with hearing in the normal range can hear sounds that have frequencies between 20 and 20,000 Hertz. Speech includes a combination of low and high frequency sounds; vowels have lower frequencies and are easier to hear. Consonants, on the other hand have higher frequencies, and are harder to hear. Since consonants express most of the meaning of what we say, someone who cannot hear high frequency sounds will have a hard time understanding speech.

Intensity, or loudness, is measured in decibels. A normal hearing range usually ranges from 0 to 140 dB. A whisper is around 30 dB, and normal conversations are usually 45 to 50 dB. Sounds that are louder than 90 dB can be uncomfortable to hear. A loud concert might be as loud as 110 dB. Extreme sounds that are 120 dB or louder can be quite painful and can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss.

Hearing loss can happen in either frequency or intensity or both. The severity of hearing loss is assessed on how well a person can hear the frequencies or intensities most often associated with speech. Severity of loss can best be described as mild, moderate, severe, or profound. Deafness is used to describe an individual who has approximately 90 dB or greater hearing loss. The term hard of hearing describes a condition that is less severe than deafness.

There are many potential causes of hearing loss. These can be divided into two basic types, called conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss is the result of the interference of sound transmission from the outer ear to the inner ear. Common causes include, inner ear infections, accumulation of fluid in the middle ear, excessive wax, damage to the eardrum by infection or an injury, or otosclerosis. This type of hearing loss is temporary, and results in a less severe form.

Sensorineural hearing loss is due to damage to the pathway from the hair cells of the inner ear to the auditory nerve and the brain. Common causes include, age-related hearing loss, injury to the inner ear hair cells as a result of trauma or noise, abnormal pressure in the inner ear, stroke, benign lesions, and brain tumors. This type of hearing loss is more devastating, and is usually more permanent.

The successful treatment of hearing loss depends on the cause. A bacterial infection of the middle ear can be treated with antibiotics; blockages of the outer and middle ears can be cleared; damaged eardrums can be repaired surgically; and ossicles affected by otosclerosis can be replaced with artificial bones. Some causes of sensorineural hearing loss can also be improved. For example, an acoustic neuroma can be removed surgically.If no cure is successful, a hearing aid for one, or both ears usually helps, whether the loss is a result of conductive or sensorineural problems. Many different types of hearing aid are available and an audiologist will advise as to which type best suits the needs of the individual.

When a hearing aid does not give adequate amplification, as with profound deafness, a cochlear implant can help. This device transmits sound directly into the auditory nerve via electrodes surgically implanted into the cochlea. Although the sounds heard tend to be of a buzzing or electronic nature, it can be very useful when used in combination with lip reading.

Jay B Stockman is a contributing editor for Digital Hearing Aids Online Visit http://hearing-aidsonline.com/ for more information.

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