Hearing Center of Long Island's online newsletter for June 2017
(516) 872-8485 www.HearingCenterofLI.com
Long Island Sound
June 2017
Gardening Is Its Own Reward
The Understated Joys of Yard Work
Most people around Long Island look at their grass as just another chore, complaining about keeping their yard in presentable condition. It makes sense, as landscaping can sometimes seem like an unending task. For me, though, cultivating a beautiful outdoor space in the fresh air is a source of great contentment.
at the top of the plant. If you neglect the bushes for too long, nature takes over. Perseverance and dedication are the keys. Really, working in the yard is a form of therapy for me. My neighbors laugh as they see me hand-trimming the hedges, but to me, the whole enterprise is completely relaxing. Being out in nature and getting your hands in the dirt relieves tension. It allows you to focus on the task at hand, free of any distraction except maybe the feeling of the sunshine on your back, the intermixing smells of various flowers, and the crunch and crackle of your work. In a lot of ways, it is similar to nurturing anything or anyone important to you — or running and audiology practice. If you are going to do something, you might as well do it right. Taking care of the people who sustain you requires holistic effort. If you invest the time, the care, your heart, and soul, you are likely to end up pleasantly surprised — like I am whenever I see those red and yellow day lilies popping out of their buds on a sunny afternoon.
When it comes to managing the whims of nature, there are always struggles that come along, but I find that the work I put in reaps endless rewards as the months go by. As with most endeavors, the more effort you put in, the more benefits you will receive. When I check each item off the long list of summer chores, I make sure to take a long look at the work I have done. It is almost like a burden off my shoulders. Not that an unkempt lawn is necessarily a source of anxiety, but rather the feeling of a job well-done — and being able to see the very tangible results — grants a sense of clarity. Gardening is a temporal art, as well. I have a bunch of day lilies planted in the front yard, a really attractive flower, but a fickle one. Each flower lasts only a single day, and then the next day, a new set of blooms appear. When you are coming home each day to that sight, it forces you to stop and appreciate those vibrant bursts that are here today, gone tomorrow. To me it is a reminder to appreciate the present rather than focusing too much on the past or the future. A garden requires consistency. You have to regularly mow the lawn just right: trimmed down, but not so short that it hinders the photosynthetic leaves
Dr. Larry in the garden planting hyacinth. (In the background to the left are day lilies yet to bloom.)
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Dare to Dream
There’s No Time Like the Present You’ve spent the last 20 to 30 years looking ahead, saving up for retirement, and making smart investments. Now your kids have left the nest, leaving you with more time and disposable income than you’ve had in years. You’re entering a new phase of life, which makes now the perfect time to pick up the long-forgotten dreams you’ve laid aside for so many years. It’s time to make a bucket list. Where to Start This is not about kicking the bucket. You’re nowhere near that phase in your life. Your bucket list is for reassessing and revamping your goals. It’s about exploring and embracing your once impractical and now achievable dreams. So where do you start? Throw a bucket list party. Gather your friends and family around. Make sure the group is made
up of loved ones who believe in you and in each other. Don’t forget to invite that one friend — the one who believes a crazy scheme is just another word for adventure. Supportive friends and family are a major asset when it comes to bucket listing. List Away Pick something to write in or on. Anything works. From a designated notebook to a party napkin, choose whatever suits your fancy. Then list away. This exercise is about freedom from inhibitions, which is why it’s called a bucket list instead of a to-do list. Write down anything and everything you desperately want to see or do during your final years. Need ideas? Travel and Leisure’s article, “The Ultimate Travel and Leisure Bucket List,” is filled with ideas inspired by their employees’ bucket lists. From taking In elementary school it was a struggle to learn to read and spell. To this day, if someone tells me to “sound it out,” I shudder. I endured four surgeries and speech therapy to improve my pronunciation in an effort to move up the corporate ladder. On January 12, I received my 10th or 11th set of hearing aids. These aids are the latest and the greatest in hearing aid technology. After Dr. Larry calibrated the aids to my hearing loss, I preceded to drive home. I heard, for the first time, my directional signal and windshield wipers. I was, and still am, thrilled. I went to dinner with some friends. Background noise was not an issue any longer. It has always been difficult for me to understand foreign accents. I went to see the movie “Lion.” The first part of the movie was in subtitles. The
a food tour in Sicily, Italy, to visiting a traveler-run post office in the Galapagos, you’ll find dozens of unique ideas. Or visit bucketlist.org, which provides more than 4 million bucket list suggestions. It also features bucket list tracking software and the opportunity to connect with like- minded adventurers.
What Our Patients Are Saying
second part of the film was set in Australia. I understood every word. I’m saving the best for last. No more putting the speaker on your landline phone to understand language. Dr. Larry sets up your hearing aid to receive the audio into your hearing aids with no feedback noises. Bluetooth technology allows you to receive audio directly into your hearing aids from your cellphone. I have the Bluetooth setup for my cellphone and iPad. I can watch Netflix without disturbing anyone in my family. Have your Bluetooth hearing aids paired with your TV. Now your family can watch TV with the volume at any level they are comfortable with while you hear clearly and comfortably through your hearing aids. As I stated above, my life has really changed for the better. Thank you, Dr. Larry!
Susan and Dr. Larry
On January 12 of this year, my life changed for the better. Let me explain.
When I was a child, I contracted measles compounded with strep throat. My parents and family doctor were concerned for my vision, not thinking the high fevers would affect my hearing, which was in fact damaged.
- Susan Carlucci, Lynbrook NY
2 • We’re listening to you.
Take a Break
Sensational Summer Salad
Ingredients:
• 1 pound strawberries, thinly sliced • 3 medium peaches, thinly sliced • 1 cup blueberries • 1 heaping tablespoon fresh basil or mint, chopped • 2 tablespoons lemon juice • 1 tablespoon maple syrup • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar 1. In a medium serving bowl, combine the strawberries, peaches, blueberries, and basil. 2. Drizzle lemon juice, maple syrup, and balsamic vinegar on top. 3. Gently toss to combine. 4. Serve immediately, or chill for later. Instructions:
Effective Hearing Is Instrumental for a Healthy Mind
Good hearing and listening are drastically more important than many people realize. You may think adequate hearing might be a luxury, that if your hearing began to fail it would be a simple nuisance. When you work in audiology long enough, though, it becomes crystal clear just how vital effective hearing is to an individual’s quality of life. I have had patients tell me that by helping them improve their hearing and listening abilities, I have helped them revive their dwindling social life, keep their job, and even save their marriage. One patient’s experience in particular typifies the lack of understanding of the importance of hearing shared by many people, including health care professionals. Joan, after years of frustration with her hearing difficulty, went to her physician for a checkup. He asked her how she was feeling lately, but, of course, she could not hear him clearly. He repeated the question, but still, she failed to understand. Instead of investigating her obvious hearing difficulty, he just continued on with the exam. It took years to rectify that mistake, years in which her marriage and social life suffered needlessly. Numerous studies have linked hearing loss to depression, isolation, emotional problems, strained personal relationships, reduced earning capacity, and even
dementia. One way to understand this is by considering your “communication diet.” Similar to the way in which a nutritionist evaluating your diet will consider how much and how often a person eats, as well as nutritional value, we can examine your “communication diet” and its relation to your overall mental and emotional health. If hearing difficulty is restricting your intake of regular, meaningful conversation, your well-being is sure to suffer. There is no need to “starve” yourself of communication. If you find your life lacking in adequate conversation and connection, consider the factors that are obstructing your happiness. Do not let hearing difficulty restrict your enjoyment of life.
Recipe inspired by CookieAndKate.com.
The Sound of Laughter
Gardening requires a lot of water — most of it in the form of perspiration.
On Listening
The art of conversation lies in listening.” - Malcom Forbes
This article is based on Dr. Larry’s new book “Better Hearing With or Without Hearing Aids: Your Guide to Solving Your Hearing Problems”
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INSIDE This Issue
Gardening Is Its Own Reward Page 1
Dare to Dream
What Our Patients Are Saying Page 2
Effective Hearing Is Instrumental for a Healthy Mind
Take a Break Page 3
Yellowstone: Where the Wild Things Are Page 4
Where the Wild Things Are
The Unspoiled Natural Majesty of Yellowstone National Park
This summer, skip the expensive hustle and bustle of an overcrowded theme park. After a vacation like that, you’ll feel like you need another. As getaway destinations go, Yellowstone National Park, sprawling across Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, is a little more expansive. More than 3 million visitors flock to its astonishing peaks, multicolored pools, and dramatic geothermal geysers each year, but as you travel across Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres, it’s unlikely you’ll see much of them. And, the sheer variety of unparalleled activities to explore means fun for the whole family. Make sure to check out Old Faithful, the most famous geothermal geyser in the world, with eruptions averaging
a whopping 130 vertical feet. Or, if it’s majesty and exploration you’re itching for, hike one of the many trails along the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. The views, with clay cliff faces and tree- covered mountains in every direction, are unlike any other. Also, be sure to investigate the Grand Prismatic Spring, which, besides its otherworldly rainbow waters, is known for being the largest hot spring in the U.S. For many, though, the biggest draw of the park is the wildlife. Yellowstone is home to the largest bison population on public land, more mammals than anywhere else in the lower 48 states, 150 species of birds, and huge populations of native fish, to name a few. Just driving around the park, you’re apt to see moose, deer, elk, mountain
goats, and if you’re lucky, grizzly bears, mountain lions, or wolves. Go boating, catch a fish, scale a mountain, ride a horse — the things to do vary as much as the breathtaking landscape. If you’re looking for an affordable, relaxed, and wide-open family vacation this summer, Yellowstone is a no-brainer.
4 • We’re listening to you.
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