–New book explores how hearing loss affects the quality of life and how to help your loved ones face a new – silent – reality
|
|
(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Sarayi was born without ears, but now she hears the birds and her mother’s voice. Donna is a nurse who chooses to hear every heartbeat clearly. Margaret was reunited with the love of her life when her husband decided to seek help. Joseph, a former boxer, hears the bell ring at his beloved matches once again.
These are just a sampling of the real-life stories of people profiled in Hear Your Life: Inspiring Stories and Honest Advice for Overcoming Hearing Loss, by Melissa Rodriguez, Board Certified in Hearing Instrument Sciences. Rodriguez, hearing aid expert and hearing loss advocate, regularly witnesses how hearing loss negatively affects people of all ages. As a result, she has made it her life’s work to bring awareness to hearing loss, advocating for those who may be too scared to admit they need help.
“People’s preconceived ideas about hearing loss are primarily negative,” Rodriguez says. “No one wants to admit to hearing loss. They think it means they’re ‘old’ or ‘stupid.’ My mission is to show people that hearing loss can happen to anyone and that getting help doesn’t make them weak.”
Hear Your Life is designed to reveal the serious effects of hearing loss by reading the accounts of real sufferers. Rodriguez profiles more than a dozen patients she’s worked with to design and fit their hearing aids, ranging from young children to centenarians! The resource guide included in the back provides useful information to all readers; like measuring the decibels of common noises, interesting facts about the ear, and a hearing self-exam. Lastly, the list of FAQs provides answers for hearing loss sufferers and their loved ones; like how to help a parent or loved one seek help; how expensive hearing aids are; and how frequently one should test one’s hearing.
In an informative and inspiring read, Hear Your Life explores:
Why hearing loss is the least talked about, most severely under diagnosed, and most often untreated medical problem
The societal stigma of hearing loss and how to encourage loved ones to get the medical attention they need
Why hearing loss can cause isolation, financial hardships, negativism, missed opportunities and broken relationships
Tips for supporting family members and loved ones who suffer from hearing loss
Real-life stories of success over hearing loss with the help of hearing aids and support from loved ones
Melissa Kay Rodriguez grew up around the hearing aid business. Shortly after high school she obtained her license to fit hearing aids and obtained her National Board Certification in 1995. She is currently the owner of Hear On Earth Hearing Care Center in El Paso, TX and an active volunteer with the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Rodriguez sat on the board of the Texas Hearing Aid Association and served a six-year term on the Texas Governing Board, regulating the fitting and dispensing of hearing aids. She has made multiple humanitarian trips to fit hearing aids in Juarez and Mexico City, Mexico; Peru; as well as many other locations. She is currently a member of the International Hearing Society, the Texas Hearing Aid Association, and eWomenNetwork.
Rodriguez is an avid ballroom dancer who directs stage productions semiannually at her husband’s dance studio. She currently lives in El Paso, TX with her husband Mando their two rescue dogs, who frequent her hearing center to mingle with the patients.
Hear Your Life: Inspiring Stories and Honest Advice for Overcoming Hearing Loss is Amazon.com, bookstores across the country, and www.HearWithMelissa.com.
###
For advertising and promotion on HealthNewsDigest.com please contact Mike McCurdy: [email protected] or 877-634-9180
HealthNewsDigest.com is syndicated worldwide, to thousands of journalists and health-related websites. www.HealthNewsDigest.com