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28 million people in the U.S. suffer from hearing loss. One of them is a famous golf player who says his quality of life changed when he got hearing aids.
But even with advanced technology, some would rather suffer in silence. He's known for his years on the PGA tour, but Arnold Palmer is also a golf-course designer and an avid aviator. He has helped start medical centers to aid women and children. And now he's speaking out about another part of his life. "Frankly if I lose my hearing aid, I'm desperate. I have to get it and get it fixed right away and get it in my ear. It's just very, very important," said Palmer. Dr. Jerald James, Jr., an audiologist at LSU Health Sciences Center, says what Arnold Palmer did is very common. He put off doing anything about his hearing loss. "From the time that someone discovers that they have a hearing loss, there's a period that they wait between that point and when they actually decide to do something about it and we find that on average it's about seven years," said James. Seniors say they don't want to spend the money or they are embarrassed to wear a hearing aid. Palmer said that people still have that stigma. "Unfortunately we do, and once they try it and once they get that hearing aid and understand that it isn't something that's obvious. I've worn hearing aids all my life," adds Palmer. James says like glasses, hearing aids are now fashionable. There are colors, even animal prints. They are custom made, programmed for your exact frequency loss. Tiny and so technologically advanced, they will no longer squeak or make it too noisy to hear in a crowd. "If there's a dominant speaker, there are circuits that can zoom in on the speaker while lowering the background noise," James said. James also says people with hearing loss feel self-conscious, withdrawn and depressed. He said he felt he was altering his life around not being able to hear. "Well there 's no question about that. There are moments and times in your life when you avoid situations because of not being able to hear properly and that should not happen," adds Palmer. Family members are also affected, having to talk loudly and constantly repeat themselves. Part of the problem is that people with hearing loss can hear the conversation, but the words are not clear and it can be dangerous to not hear sirens and alarms. Arnold Palmer says now life is good. "Now that I have the proper hearing I'm able to enjoy my life much, much more than I ever did before," Palmer said. Well there's nothing sweeter than hearing that ball go down and into the cup. It even improved Palmer’s golf game. "Yes, isn't that the truth and it did, it did improve my golf game," Palmer said while laughing. Hearing aids can now also be linked automatically to your iPod, cell phone and TV by wireless remote. They cost anywhere from $1,800 to $5,000 for a pair and usually are not covered by insurance. To make an appointment for the LSU Audiology Clinic: 568-6520. (by wwltv.com)
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