Arizona Hearing Center September 2019

2627 North Third Street, Ste. 100, Phoenix, AZ 85004 | 14418 West Meeker Blvd., Bldg. B, Ste. 102, Sun City West, AZ 85375

SEPTEMBER 2019

602-277-4327 | www.azhear.com

The Social and Emotional Effects of Hearing Loss It’s Not Just About Your Ears

As I have stated in this newsletter before, only about 1 in 5 people who suffer from hearing loss have their issues treated adequately and in a timely manner. In fact, a 2007 study published in Health Technology Access found the average person who could benefit from a hearing aid waits about 10 years before getting fitted for one. That is way too long for a number of reasons, but chief among sensorial condition. Whether our hearing loss is conductive (in the outer or middle ear), sensorineural (in the inner ear), or both, we begin having trouble hearing particular sounds, usually beginning with the highest frequencies. Eventually, if left untreated, a wide range of hearing can be lost. While that is a broad overview of hearing loss itself, it doesn’t begin to describe all the ways a patient’s life can be affected by it. Hearing loss is not simply an auditory condition; it is a social and emotional them are the ways hearing loss impacts our lives for the worse. From a purely physiological perspective, hearing loss is a

one as well. Our ability to hear is inextricably linked to our ability to communicate. Without effective communication, life can become isolating and overwhelming. Due to the link between our hearing and the way we interact with the world, it’s no surprise untreated hearing loss has been linked to other issues. The National Council on Aging recently found that older adults with hearing loss were 50% more likely to suffer from depression. “This study debunks the myth that untreated hearing loss in older persons is a harmless condition," said James Firman, president and CEO of the Council. Maintaining social interaction is crucial for our mental health, but that interaction can fade as hearing loss progresses. Those who don’t treat their hearing loss can end up socially isolated, confused, and frustrated. Hearing loss also increases the risk of degenerative cognitive conditions, like dementia. While researchers are still determining just why that link exists, many suggest it has to do with the brain having to exert itself

tremendously in order to infer what other people are saying. Due to this expenditure of energy, it weakens in other areas. In other words, the parts of your brain that used to perform other functions now have to focus on helping you hear. Add to this equation the frustration a patient feels knowing they used to be able to hear something but no longer can, and you have a recipe for escalating displeasure. With today’s diagnostic and treatment options, nobody should have to experience these ancillary symptoms before they begin to get their hearing loss addressed. The sooner hearing loss is treated, the less it affects the social and psychological life of a patient. So why wait to get somebody you know tested and treated for hearing issues? Nobody’s quality of life needs to suffer because of age-related hearing loss, but all too often it does. Let’s work together to fix this.

"Hearing loss is not simply an auditory condition; it is a social and emotional one as well. Our ability to hear is inextricably linked to our ability to communicate."

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CHRONIC ANGER, YOUR HEART, AND

How to Effectively Protect Your Intellectual Property INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND YOUR BUSINESS

YOUR HEALTH How This Emotion Is Doing You Harm

Intellectual property is defined by Merriam-Webster as “property (such as an idea, invention, or process) that derives from the work of the mind or intellect.” As you can no doubt glean from this definition, intellectual property can be a lot of things, so it’s important to identify and protect you and your business’s intellectual property. Here are the main categories and protections for your company’s creations. TRADE SECRETS A trade secret is any useful piece of information that the public doesn’t know about and the owner has taken steps to protect. If you have taken the steps necessary to protect your own trade practices, you may have a case if you ever discover your trade secret has been leaked. Having your employees sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) is a great way to initially establish your unique business practices as trade secrets. TRADEMARKS The name of your business, product, or service — anything a customer uses to identify a product — generally requires a trademark. This may include your company’s name, product name, etc. Think of the distinctive Nike “Swoosh” and the familiar ending sound of Dell’s commercials. To properly protect your trademark, file a trademark application to have it registered. COPYRIGHTS Most people seek protection under copyright law for a variety of things related to their product or business, like images, specific words on packaging, labeling, the actual product, and the business webpage. The best thing about copyright registration is that it’s inexpensive. Plus, the law allows you to demand attorney fees from those who infringe on your copyright. PATENTS Patents are a fantastic way to protect your designs, and companies have utilized patents to maintain their competitive advantage. A great example of this strategy is when Sony Pictures patented their animation style for “Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse” which grossed over $375,502,565. There are two types of patents: one for utility (function) and one for design (aesthetic). To apply for a patent, register with the United States Patent Office. Regardless of the type of intellectual property you have, it’s important you identify what type it is and which type of protection is most appropriate. Even a small amount of intellectual property is worth protecting, so start the process now to safeguard it.

Anger is a common emotion. It’s natural, and it’s a part of how you respond to certain circumstances in your environment. It’s how you express extreme displeasure. However, new research suggests chronic anger can be detrimental to your health. Essentially, it comes down to this: If you are stressed, tense, easily irritable, angry, and “snippy” all the time, you may be doing serious harm to your well-being. Studies have already shown a link between anger and the heart. People who showed signs of feeling anger on a regular basis experienced higher rates of heart disease. The first studies on the impact of anger came out in the 1950s and have since been confirmed: Chronic anger physically harms the heart. Why? When you get angry or upset, your brain triggers the release of specific hormones, including cortisol and norepinephrine. These hormones are responsible for triggering the “fight or flight” response. When these hormones enter the bloodstream, your heart rate increases and arteries constrict. This helps to more effectively pump blood to the arms and legs for a fight or a flight. The problem is that when a person is constantly angry or upset, these hormones course through the body more frequently, stressing the arteries and internal organs. As a person ages, this stress can become more damaging. One study that appeared in the Psychology and Aging Journal looked into this phenomenon. Researchers found that there is a link between frequently experiencing anger and increased inflammation and chronic illness for people ages 80 and older. This equated to more instances of heart disease and dementia. The study also looked at other emotions, including sadness, which has also been linked to heart and other inflammatory disease. Through a number of tests involving 200 participants ages 59–93, the researchers concluded anger was far more detrimental to a person’s health than sadness. you can do for your health. Every person’s situation is different, and it comes down to getting to the bottom of what makes you angry so you can work through it, whether you work through it alone or with a mental health professional. Take the steps to prioritize your mental and physical health, and your efforts will pay off tenfold in the long run. Ultimately, if you regularly experience rage and frustration, properly dealing with your anger is one of the best things

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Recognition, Flexibility, and Purpose

3 Tips for Attracting Millennial Employees

CREATE A SENSE OF PURPOSE More than anything, millennials are looking for some level of personal fulfillment — not just a paycheck. Create a brand story and work culture that expresses a greater purpose for prospective employees to get behind. Set high standards for the culture you want to create and maintain those standards. If you do this right, the talent you’re looking for will come to you. Just because millennials want more flexible work schedules and individual recognition doesn’t mean they aren’t willing to work hard. In fact, the opposite is true. By adapting your company culture to suit their lifestyle preferences, you can make sure your younger employees take an interest in your business and stick around.

HAVE A Laugh DITCH THE 9-TO-5 STANDARD Offering more flexible work hours is a start, but if you really want to attract millennials, then your entire work environment should embrace modernity. Have the latest tech and tools for day-to-day operations, offer frequent opportunities for promotions and raises, avoid micromanagement, and give your young employees room to learn and grow. You might have heard people call millennials lazy, entitled, and afraid of long-term commitments, but that trend is starting to shift. Today, businesses can’t afford to write off millennials because they actually make up a major percentage of the workforce. According to the Pew Research Center, there were 56 million millennials either working or looking for work in 2017, making up 35% of the labor force. When so much of the country’s available labor is part of one demographic, you must ask yourself this question: How do I get millennials to work for me? CATER TO THE INDIVIDUAL Millennials don’t want to be just another cog in the machine. They want to work somewhere that values their unique skills and lets them use those skills effectively. When seeking millennial talent for your company, highly specific job listings will attract exceptional employees. Once they’re on board, be sure to nurture their skill set. Give them a chance to grow with your company, and they’ll be sure to stick around.

PUZZLE

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

602-277-4327 | www.azhear.com 2627 N. Third Street, Ste. 100 Phoenix, AZ 85004

2627 N. Third, Ste 100 Phoenix, AZ, 85004

14418 W. Meeker Blvd., Bldg B, Ste 102 Sun City West, AZ 85375

Inside This Edition

1.

Hearing and Overall Health

2.

Types of Intellectual Property

Anger May Be Harming Your Heart

3.

How to Attract Millennials to Your Business

Have a Laugh

4.

Stay Toned by Lifting Weights at Home

Stay Toned by Lifting Weights at Home The Anti-Aging Benefits of Free Weights

In her best-selling lifestyle guide “French Women Don’t Get Fat,” Mireille Guiliano advises women in their 50s to invest in a set of free weights — nothing too heavy, perhaps 3–5 pounds — in order to maintain their toned, youthful appearance and range of motion. She notes that lifting weights isn’t entirely necessary during your 20s and 30s, but it’s essential to maintain muscle tone and bone density in your later years. Though Guiliano’s evidence is anecdotal, the science confirms that lifting weights can be an indispensable aid to healthy aging for both men and women. A study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information recommends strength training 2–3 times per week to lower your risk of health problems and preserve bone density, independence, and

You don’t have to join a gym to reap the benefits though; just pick up a set of free weights and a resistance band and research how to safely use them in your own home. Bodybuilding.com recommends designing a workout routine that includes one or two exercises for each of the major muscle groups: legs, back, shoulders, arms, chest, and abs. Try 8–10 repetitions per set, but don’t push yourself to use heavy weights. Even options that are 10 pounds or less should be enough to keep you chasing after your grandchildren for years to come.

One public figure who has taken the weightlifting creed to heart is Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The

documentary “RBG” shows the 86-year-old judge at the gym, pumping lightweight iron with her personal trainer, and she even walked spring chicken Stephen Colbert through her routine on “The Late Show.” Ginsburg has called her trainer “the most important person” in her life apart from her family, which is a ringing endorsement for lifting weights if ever there was one.

vitality. According to WebMD, “Muscle loss is one of the main reasons people feel less energetic as they get older. When you lift weights, work out on machines, use resistance bands, or do exercises with your own body weight (like pushups and situps), you build strength, muscle mass, and flexibility.”

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