PitaPata Dog tickers

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Words of Wisdom

If enough of us choose to change even one small thing, together we have the power to change anything.

— Rick Hansen
"Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see the beauty, believe in them and try to follow where they lead."
- Lousia May Alcott

Monday, June 30, 2008

Life as a HOH/HI: Part I

What on earth is HOH and HI you ask? I just learned these terms this past weekend:

HOH - Hard of Hearing
HI is Hearing Impaired.

I am sure many of you are wondering what brought this topic up since I rarely discuss my hearing loss and its effects in my life. As a matter of fact 95% of you forgot I am hard of hearing! Not that I want anyone to dwell on it. I certainly do not, especially since my disability is part of who I am. So why dwell? What brought this topic to the front of my thoughts is the fact that my hearing aids are over 15 years old and have started to fall apart (literally). Due to this sad event of aging, I started researching "free hearing aids". Honestly, I simply can not afford new aids, not now nor in the past. I have run across a few resources that are provided by the state and federal governments. I am uncertain as to whether I qualify for anything, however I thought that I would try. Before I get to that, I thought I would share with you my test results from my hearing test from July 2007 (I have my annual test in August, but this will give you the basic idea).

This chart will help to understand where the decibel (the intensity or loudness of the sound) lands in relation to hearing loss:

0 dB - 20 dB ....... normal hearing
20 dB - 40 dB ..... mild hearing loss
40 dB - 55 dB ..... moderate hearing loss
55 dB - 70 dB ..... moderately severe hearing loss
70 dB - 90 dB ..... severe hearing loss
over 90 dB....profound hearing loss

My average decibel (dB) was recorded as 39dB. So for my right ear I have a mild to moderate hearing loss. However, the frequency (how low or high a sound or pitch is) which is measured in Hertz, are different. 250 is low and 6000 is high - this really has to do with understanding human speech.

250 Hz: 20 dB (border line normal to mild hearing loss)
500 Hz: 25 dB (mild loss)
1000 Hz: 35 dB (mild loss)
2000 Hz: 40 dB (moderate loss)
3000 Hz: 55 dB (border line moderate to moderately severe)
4000 Hz: 65 dB (moderately severe)
6000 Hz: 80 dB (severe loss)

What this means is the higher the pitch; the less I hear.

Now for my left ear: My average dB is 79 which is a severe hearing loss. (That is why I always try to be on your left side, so I can hear you out of my right ear!). The frequency is:

250 Hz: 30 dB (mild hearing loss)
500 Hz: 40 dB (moderate loss)
1000 Hz: 55 dB (border line moderate to moderately severe)
2000 Hz: 110 dB (profound loss)
3000 Hz: 110 dB (profound loss)
4000 Hz: 110 dB (profound loss)
6000 Hz: 95 dB (profound loss)

I can only hear low sounds such as a rumbling sound. If someone tries to speak in my left ear, I get enough vibration to know that there is a sound, however, I can not understand or make out what that sound is. For more information on Audiograms you can check out Audiology Awareness at http://www.audiologyawareness.com/hearinfo_audiogramread.asp.

The good news is that my hearing has not changed since my first test at the House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles in 1980 - http://www.houseearclinic.com. I have been blessed with the best doctor in the world (no joke here - he is the top of his field in the world), Derald E. Brackmann, M.D. has been my doctor for 28 years. Wow! He knew me throughout my timid childhood, my gawky teenage years (now that is frightening) and my borderline early adult life (I do not think I have entirely grown up yet...now I digress).

I think I will end this discussion here for the evening. I will continue my thoughts later, however, for now if you have any questions, etc. please ask them!

Peace!
C-

Thursday, June 26, 2008

The Year of St. Paul June 28, 2008 - June 29, 2009

I LOVE St. Paul!!!

I admit I am behind (okay, WAY behind) on my Pauline stuff. However, this...


The Year of St. Paul: June 28, 2008 - June 29, 2009

I wouldn't miss this for the world!


So below I have a list of online resources for anything St. Paul:

Daughters of St. Paul -
http://www.pauline.org/

Pauline Cooperators -
http://paulinelaity.blogspot.com/

Pauline Music -
http://www.daughtersofstpaul.com/sisterssong/index.html

Pauline Resources -
http://paulinespirit.wordpress.com/

St. Paul's Tube -
http://www.stpaulstube.com/

All of these great sites will have other site information available...I hope you have time!

As I get more information I will post it. I am very excited about this year. I hope you can get excited as well!

Hum....I need more books on St. Paul...I should reread the one I have.....ONE! Wow, I am a poor excuse of a Pauline want-a-be.....

Peace!
C-

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Clinton vs Obama

Okay, I said it and no one believed me!

When Clinton announced her candidacy for President. I said she would not win the Democratic nomination, but she would do very well.

Guess what? I was right.

Sorry had to say I told you so.

Peace!
C-

Monday, June 2, 2008

IBC - Inflammatory Breast Cancer



National Breast Cancer Foundation
(You will need to scroll half way down)
http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer
-symptoms

Susan G. Komen
(Type in IBC for more information - the information is spread out through out the site)
http://cms.komen.org/komen/index.htm
http://cms.komen.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/komen_document
/005403.pdf

Peace!
C-