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June 2018
Long Island Sound
My Dad, The Garbologist
Thinking of My Late Dad This Father’s Day
I t was the bottom of the ninth inning, and our little league team, the Bombers, had two outs. Trailing our opponents — the all-stars from the entire rest of the league — by one run, with a single runner on first base, we needed a clutch play to have any hope of winning the game. My dad was the head coach, but he did not seem as nervous as the rest of us. One of our best hitters was up next to bat, but my dad noticed that a kid on our team sitting on the bench had not yet gotten a chance to play. He was one of our worst hitters, but my dad was adamant about letting each of us get a swing at the ball. So, to the kid’s and everybody else’s surprise, my dad handed him a bat, gave him a pat on the back, and told him to “go get ’em.” The kid ended up striking out, but he made sure to thank my dad for giving him a shot. My dad was an outgoing guy, quick to crack a joke and put others at ease. His uncommon empathy and emotional intelligence made him generous with his time and attention, helping wherever he could. Whatever he set his mind to, he did with complete and total enthusiasm. His eagerness to do his best in every situation was evident in his job working for the New York City Sanitation Department on a garbage truck. He told me he was a “garbologist.” Though it was a dirty,
thankless job, my dad took pride in his work. He performed
his duties with dedication and
cheerfulness, taking every opportunity to chat with the locals along his route to make sure they felt he and his crew were doing a good job for them. Over time, he gained quite a reputation, and eventually, he even got a few awards from the Sanitation Department in recognition of his efforts. Once, a garbage truck actually ran over his foot, but he did not let even that get him down. He recovered and returned to the job with even greater dedication. Despite his physically demanding work, he was always there for me and the rest of my family. I remember walking with him to the park for batting practice and him putting his arm over my shoulder as we walked. Of course, at that age I thought I was way too cool for my dad to do that with me and I brushed him off. Now I realize it was just another indicator of how kind and invested in his kids he was. Growing up in the Bronx, my dad did not have an easy life. His own father left the home when my dad was a young child, but he never let the curve balls life threw at him make him
Dr. Larry’s Father
Young Dr. Larry and his Little League team
give up being a generous person and doing his best for others. As a young man, he dreamed of someday owning his own home where he could raise a happy, loving family. He worked hard and achieved that dream. With Father’s Day coming up, I have been thinking about some of the lessons he taught me. Perhaps the most vital of them is the importance of taking pride in my work and doing the best job I can, with or without recognition from others, no matter what that job is and no matter what personal challenges I may have. Of course, doing everything with kindness and good humor is nearly always the best approach. Also, it is important to give everyone a chance — even if they are the worst hitter on the team.
–Lawrence Cardano, Au.D.
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The Weird History of Hearing Aids
Why Ancient Egyptians Dumped Goat Urine in Their Ears
discovered in Shanidar Cave in Iraq, predating us by around 45,000 years, indicate that many of them suffered from hearing problems just like those we struggle with today. Though it was some time before humans made any effort to actually treat hearing loss in any way. According to the Siemens website, the first prescription for reversing the effects of poor hearing comes to us from 1550 B.C. in ancient Egypt. In the Ebers Papyrus, a huge medical compendium from the era, hearing loss sufferers are instructed to treat “Ear-That-Hears-Badly” by dumping “a concoction of olive oil, red lead, ant eggs, bat wings, and goat urine into the affected ear.” Needless to say, Dr. Larry does not recommend this strategy today! Primitive hearing aids did not show up until more than 3,000 years later, in the
form of “ear trumpets.” These funnels had a wide opening, which caught soundwaves and basically blasted them right into the eardrum, making it much easier to hear in certain scenarios. Later developments in the technology shrank the trumpets down, allowing them to fit directly inside the ear. The 20th century saw the explosion of electrical technology and brought with it the closest early relative to the modern hearing aid. These “carbon microphones” and later, the “Vactuphones,” were essentially expensive microphones worn around the neck, amplifying ambient sound and directing it to the user’s ear. Over the years, these devices were replaced by the transistor hearing aid, until they turned into the ultra-advanced digital hearing aids of today.
C ontemporary hearing aids are a marvel of modern technology. With options ranging from virtually invisible devices that cancel out excess ambient noise to ones that can sync up directly with your TV or smartphone, most of us take hearing technology for granted. Some people assume that hearing loss is a product of the loud, busy modern world. But humans have been losing their hearing for as long as we have been on the Earth. The remains of homo sapiens
What Our Patients Are Saying
“My hearing problems began when family and friends got tired of me asking them to repeat themselves. My hearing difficulty was frustrating for me, but it was probably even more frustrating for them. “In October of 2004, I worked for Century 21 located right up the block from Hearing Center of Long Island. I went to your office and met Dr. Cardano and Dr. Lazzaro. They were very informative and made improving my hearing very simple to do. “Choosing Hearing Center of Long Island to provide my hearing care turned out to be the best decision I ever made. My hearing improved
immediately and continues to be a great asset to me today. “The office staff was very helpful from the beginning and continues to be that way today. The office was and continues to be a very positive place to go. I have good times every time I have an appointment. After all the years I have been associated with Hearing Center of Long Island, the same great attitude continues by
Mr. Shaw and Dr. Jennifer Lazzaro
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doctors and support staff. “Thank you for all you do.”
-Jack Shaw, Massapequa Park, NY
2 • We’re listening to you.
Hearing Aids: What Guidance Do You Need?
The Fourth Step to Excellent Hearing Satisfaction Across the last few issues of the Long Island Sound, we have been covering each of the six steps we use at Hearing Center of Long Island to ensure that our patients receive long-term hearing satisfaction, as described in Dr. Larry’s book, “Better Hearing With or Without Hearing Aids.” This month we will cover step four: Orientation and Counseling. This is the step during which we ensure that patients are able to use and care for their hearing aids properly. What guidance should you get? such as basic hearing aid care and use, strategies to help you acclimate to newly improved hearing, and ways to get the best results from certain hearing aid features. For example, with some types of hearing aids, there can be a significant difference in how well a person can follow a conversation in a noisy restaraunt based on their position in relation to the wall. We can help you suss out the quirks and capabilities of your hearing aids to optimize their effectiveness.
At the Hearing Center of Long Island, we give you all the help you need to succeed in treating your hearing loss and reconnecting with your friends and loved ones. If you are curious about what the latest hearing aid technology and techniques can do to transform your life, call us at (516) 874-3675 for a free consultation and demonstration — and take the next step toward better communication. Here’s a recipe from Hearing Center of Long Island audiologist Dr. Lorraine Rein. It is a favorite of hers because, after a busy day of helping people improve their quality of life with better hearing, she likes having a quick, easy one-pan meal — that also happens to be delicious!
During this stage, we encourage other members of your family to participate, if possible. After all, family members are often the people you are most concerned about communicating with. It may be very helpful for family members to have realistic expectations and understand how they can help you communicate best. Some practices might “sell” you on a particular hearing aid and send you on your way to figure it out on your own.
Hearing aids are a tool to help you hear and communicate better. And like any tool, they are not of much use unless you know how to use them properly. To get the most out of your devices, you should seek out education from an experienced professional to avoid frustration and maximize results. At Hearing Center of Long Island, we provide counseling tailored to the needs of each individual, going over issues
Greek Skillet
Ingredients
Instructions • 1 pound ground beef • 1/2 cup chopped onions • 2 teaspoons oregano • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder • 1 can (14.5 oz) reduced sodium beef broth • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained 1. Cook ground beef and onion in a large skillet on medium-high heat until beef is no longer pink, stirring occasionally. Drain fat. Add oregano and garlic powder. Mix well. 2. Stir in broth, tomatoes, and tomato paste. Bring to a boil. Stir in pasta. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
On Listening
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked penne pasta • 1 1/2 cups frozen cut green beans, thawed • 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese, divided
Any problem, big or small, within a family, always seems to start with bad communication. Someone isn’t listening. - Emma Thompson
cook 10 minutes or until pasta is nearly tender. Stir in green beans and 1/2 cup of the feta cheese. Cover. Cook 5 minutes longer, or until pasta is tender. 3. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup of feta cheese.
The Sound of Laughter
Q: What did the baby corn ask the mama corn? A: Where’s popcorn?
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INSIDE This Issue
Page 1 Dr. Larry’s Father, the ‘Garbologist’ Page 2 The Weird History of Hearing Aids Hear From Our Patients Page 3 Set Yourself Up for Hearing Success
Greek Skillet On Listening The Sound of Laughter Page 4 Cut Down on Flight Costs
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Save Big on Airfare With This Simple Rule The Best Time to Book a Flight
4 • We’re listening to you. growing base of ultrafrugal travelers. Still, a $600 summer flight to Honolulu isn’t exactly pocket change. What’s worse, flight prices are slippery; In case you haven’t noticed, traveling is expensive. It can feel like you’re signing away your soul when you sit down to plan a vacation. But when it comes to flights, there’s good news: They’re getting cheaper! According to a 2017 report published by online travel company ODIGEO, long-distance trips across Europe fell 7 percent last year. Luckily, the same trend is reflected in North American airlines as they engage in a price war to woo a
CheapAir.com’s 2017 Annual Airfare Study determined that the fares for any given trip go up or down an average of 71 times, about $33 each shift. When you purchase your flight is nearly as important as where you’re going. But how do you choose a booking window that will maximize your savings? According to the CheapAir.com study, in which they evaluated 921 million airfares, the best time to book is 21–105 days in advance of your flight, on average. If you want to get even more specific, try to book 55–75 days out, and book on a Sunday. Many travelers swear by Tuesday and Wednesday bookings, but as Condé Nast Traveler reports, Expedia
and the Airlines Reporting Corporation say that Sunday is the way to go, based on data from billions of flights. Tuesday and Wednesday are usually the cheapest days to actually fly, though. The CheapAir.com study also pinpoints the absolute best windows for specific seasons: 54 days for winter trips, 75 days for spring, 76 days for summer, and 45 days for fall. Of course, these are averages, but if you stick to these rules and check fares regularly on sites like Kayak.com, SkyScanner.com, Momondo.com, and on the handy app Hopper, you can rest easy knowing you’re getting close to the best price possible.
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