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2627 North Third Street, Ste. 100, Phoenix, AZ 85004 | 14418 West Meeker Blvd., Bldg. B, Ste. 102, Sun City West, AZ 85375
April 2020
602-277-4327 | www.azhear.com
Hearing Aids Are Technology
And It’s Time We Started Treating Them Like It
hearing aids, but patients often see getting a hearing aid as a serious disruption to their life. In a sense, hearing aids are like assisted living facilities. Some folks in their 70s today still remember a time when being moved out of a family home meant going to a dismal and gloomy nursing home. As such, they are understandably resistant to such accommodations, seeing them as a personal affront at best and complete abandonment at worst. In the first season of “The Sopranos,” Tony Soprano himself struggles to convince his mother, Livia, to move into a lavish facility that more closely resembles a resort in the Cap d’Antibes than a stereotypical nursing home. “Green Grove is a retirement community,” Tony pleads with his mother, but the message never gets through. We can’t let this stigmatized view of hearing aids persist, especially in a world where wearing high-tech gadgets has become in vogue. Walk the streets in a major city today and you’ll see dozens of people with AirPods tucked into their ears. These headphones, which are way more conspicuous than modern hearing aids, are not seen as a sign of weakness or degradation. In fact, they are just the opposite. Wearing them comes with a sense of prestige and cultural cache. Hearing aids needn’t be any different, provided we escape what I like to call brick-phone mentality that persists for no apparent reason.
Have you ever considered how we treat hearing aids differently than glasses? Glasses may not have microprocessors or machine learning, but they do offer a technological solution to a biological problem all the same. Just like hearing aids, they help compensate for an extremely common sensorial deficiency, but the way we view and talk about the two couldn’t be more different. Glasses are considered a normal, even fashionable, object, while hearing aids are viewed as an admission of weakness or old age. This mentality doesn’t serve patients, and it’s increasingly ridiculous in our evermore tech-obsessed world. In 2013, The Atlantic published a fascinating interview with author and design theorist Sara Hendren titled “Why Are Glasses Perceived Differently Than Hearing Aids?” Glasses, Hendren postulates, are not seen as a tool for people who are “handicapped” or in need of “assistive technology.” For some reason, though, hearing aids have not escaped this stigma in the same way. She argues that all technology is assistive by nature. Stigmatizing technology only serves to keep people from feeling confident in seeking it out. “By returning ‘assistive technology’ to its rightful place as just ‘technology’ — no more, no less — we start to understand that all bodies are getting assistance, all the time,” Hendren says. That’s exactly what needs to happen with hearing aids. There should be no stigma associated with wearing
Newsflash: Hearing aid technology has advanced just as much as any other type of tech. Nobody purchases a gigantic, brick-shaped cellphone anymore, nor do they have the hearing aid equivalent. The sooner we begin to talk about hearing aids as a piece of technology like any other, rather than as a crutch for the old and infirm, the faster we can abolish the pernicious and ridiculous stigma surrounding their use. Would you want to get yourself some glasses or contacts as soon as your vision started to fail, or would you prefer to wait until you can no longer read a menu or drive a car to explore your treatment options? The answer is clear, even if your vision is not, and we have
a responsibility to make sure hearing loss is treated in the same fashion.
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Did you know that there are over 2.5 million acres of garlic in cultivation worldwide? It’s no wonder: Garlic boasts a fascinating history, has unparalleled health benefits, and is used in so many different types of cuisine around the world. Plus, garlic just makes recipes tasty! National Garlic Day is April 19, so here are some facts to help you brush up on your knowledge and celebrate it to the fullest. Humans have been using garlic for a variety of purposes for over 5,000 years. It originated in central Asia and rapidly spread to many civilizations and cultures around the world. Its nutritional and remedial benefits quickly made it popular in recipes, medicine, and even magic potions. Its pungent aroma was thought to ward off evil beings like witches and vampires, and ancient Greek warriors ate it to instill strength and courage. Egyptians worshiped the plant and even used it as local currency. It’s still loved by many today, though it is primarily used for cooking. Throughout history, garlic has been used to treat wounds, cure asthma, combat diseases, and even fight gangrene. Today, its recognized health benefits are a little more practical but no less astounding. Garlic contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can boost immunity, reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, promote healthy hair and skin, and fight fungus and bacteria. The best way to take advantage of these benefits is by eating it raw, but if you can’t deal with the lingering stinky breath, following proper cooking methods can still yield healthy results. And Everything We Love About It GOOD OL’ GARLIC History Health
DO YOU NEED SPACE TO START YOUR BUSINESS? Make Your Dream a Reality by Visiting Your Local Makerspace
As an entrepreneur, starting your own business and chasing your dreams is an exciting prospect. But as you begin your small-business journey, questions involving costs, sales, and distribution will fill your head, and their answers often require time-consuming research that might feel discouraging. It may seem like you have to build everything on your own, but luckily, there are communities all over the country for aspiring entrepreneurs to come together and help each other achieve success. They’re called makerspaces, and there is probably one located near you! Makerspaces are community workshops where creative minds and entrepreneurs can build products that may never see the light of day otherwise. They exist in a variety of environments, including stand-alone offices and shared spaces inside libraries and schools. They provide access to a wide range of resources, including power tools, sewing machines, 3D printers, and so much more. In addition to equipment, most makerspaces host classes, like the basics of welding or bookkeeping, for tradespeople and entrepreneurs alike. Makerspaces also act as hubs for collaboration. Do you need an engineer to guide the design of your product? How about a graphic designer to brainstorm with about your logo? You'll likely find them in makerspaces because these communities support passionate people from a variety of backgrounds. In addition to resources and know-how, members can use the space to build prototypes at a fraction of what their development would typically cost. In an interview with NPR, Mark Hatch, author of “The Maker Movement Manifesto: Rules for Innovation in the New World of Crafters, Hackers, and Tinkerers,” said, "When you move the cost of entrepreneurship from $100,000 to $2,000–$4,000, you completely change the operating terrain for entrepreneurs and inventors." While membership costs to makerspaces generally range from $40–$175 per month, the price is well worth the investment. And if you find one in your local public library, membership may even be included with your library membership. If you’re struggling to start your business, know that you’re not alone. With the support and collaboration you can find in a makerspace, you can make your dreams a reality. To find a space near you, visit Makerspaces.Make.co.
How-Tos
When buying garlic, avoid shriveled or soft bulbs. Its shelf life is roughly eight weeks if the skin is unbroken, and around two weeks for individual cloves. Garlic works well in recipes that call for its relatives, like onions, shallots, and leeks. When cooking with garlic, the finer you mince and
mash, the more flavor you’ll get. You should also let your garlic rest between chopping and cooking, and add it to the pan near the end of the recipe to better
preserve its nutrients and flavor. Garlic breath can often be combated with a little bit of lemon juice, but if you’d rather let it
linger and savor the flavor, your secret is safe with us!
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Business Trips Don’t Have to Be Terrible 4 Travel Mistakes You Might Be Making
calories than if you were cooking at home. Don’t be afraid to order half- portions or stick to the appetizer menu. You can also ask about ordering meals à la carte — no one needs all those fries with their burger, anyway. These strategies will help you save money and stick to a healthy calorie count.
Most people love to travel, but few people enjoy business trips. There are major differences in traveling for business versus traveling for pleasure. While some of that can be chalked up to the extra rest and relaxation you might have on a nonwork-related trip, unhealthy habits can make business trips even more draining, and if they leave you feeling like you need a vacation, you might be making the following mistakes. breakfast and just grab some coffee. But if you usually eat breakfast at home, skipping your morning meal can cause you to be a lot hungrier later, which can lead to excess snacking or overeating at lunch. You should always try and stick to your regular eating habits, even when you’re traveling. Eating Restaurant Serving Sizes If you’re eating three restaurant-sized meals a day, you’re going to get more Skipping Breakfast On hectic mornings with early meetings, it’s tempting to skip
Not Packing Workout Gear Research from the travel risk management company On Call
International found that 54% of people say they’re less likely to exercise while on a work trip, but you shouldn’t let fitness take a back seat. Packing workout clothes can serve as a reminder to get some exercise, and you can get in a good workout by taking advantage of the hotel gym, walking to nearby destinations, or doing some yoga in the hotel room before bed. Not Taking Sleep Seriously Early morning meetings, late-night networking events, and unfamiliar hotel rooms are a recipe for lost sleep. Lack of sleep puts your body on
the fast-track to poor health, so you need to make good sleep a priority. Do your best to maintain your sleep schedule and bedtime routine while traveling. Better yet, check the guest reviews before booking your hotel. Heed complaints about thin walls or uncomfortable beds and find accommodations that support a good sleep environment. You shouldn’t have to dread business trips. By building better travel habits, you can enjoy every kind of trip you take this year. PUZZLE
HAVE A Laugh
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602-277-4327 | www.azhear.com 2627 N. Third Street, Ste. 100 Phoenix, AZ 85004
2627 N. Third St., Ste 100 Phoenix, AZ 85004
14418 W. Meeker Blvd., Bldg B, Ste 102 Sun City West, AZ 85375
Inside This Edition
1.
Hearing Aids as Tech
2.
Celebrate National Garlic Day
Why Makerspaces Are Great for Entrepreneurs
3.
Are Business Trips Bad for Your Health?
Have a Laugh
4.
Laughter Yoga’s Rise as a Global Health Movement
Laugh With Me! A Lighthearted Approach to Decreasing Stress
positive effects, he took his material to a local park. Parkgoers, who were initially skeptical, joined in on the practice, and the first laughter yoga club was born. The laughter meetup had everyone in high spirits — until the group ran out of jokes. Unsure of what to do next, Kataria found another medical book suggesting the group didn’t need jokes to laugh. Fake laughter is just as beneficial as the real thing because the body can’t tell the difference between the two. Collaborating with this wife, Madhuri, Kataria combined common yoga warmups and breathing techniques with facilitated laughter to create the form of laughter yoga that is practiced worldwide today. If you’re interested in trying laughter yoga for yourself, then you’re in luck. Laughter yoga clubs exist across
We’ve all heard that laughter is the best medicine, and it turns out that human physiology supports this claim. When we laugh, our body releases a flood of feel-good chemicals and neurotransmitters. Our blood flow increases, and our production of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, decreases. Oh, and laughing also burns calories! The feel-good, endorphin-inducing benefits of laughter are exactly what prompted Dr. Madan Kataria to develop laughter yoga in 1995. Laughter yoga incorporates breathing, stretching, clapping, and of course, laughing. Kataria developed the initial idea after coming across research into the benefits of laughter on overall health and well-being. He began to put the research into practice by telling jokes to his patients, and after seeing the
the United States and the world. Videos on YouTube can teach the basics, but laughter yoga tends to be most beneficial in a group setting. Just think about the last time you found yourself in a fit of giggles with a group of friends or during a comedy show. Didn’t it feel great? Rather than wait for a silly situation to trigger laughter, use laughter yoga to promote laughter and alleviate stress on any day at any time.
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