Last week, Art and I went to the annual PrimeTime breakfast hosted by the First Hawaiian Bank at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It was like a mini seminar for seniors. The topics were on financial matters and "The Importance of Hearing and Your Mental Health."
Sorry about the photo quality, but I took it with my iPhone 4S, not the 6. Sigh...
Breakfast was fruit (which was good) and rice, sausages and scrambled eggs (not that healthy).
There were about 700 people present. We were a bit late so it was a good thing Art's friend, Ed had saved us a couple of seats.
Yes, there was entertainment. The crowd was mostly people over 70 years of age I would guess.
My favorite part was the BINGO game. I won a mini cutting board. I took this photo after the second game had started.
Ed was a big prize winner. He won this Dirt Devil vacuum cleaner!
And everybody got one of these. I just love Post-It notes!
However, what I found most interesting was the talk on hearing given by Randy Wohlers from the Family Hearing Aid Center.
He introduced his topic saying research showed that what gave people most happiness was not fame or fortune, but friendships.
He then presented some very interesting research data:
Bottom line: Protect your ears and get your hearing checked.
I just told Art and he said, "What?"
Breakfast was fruit (which was good) and rice, sausages and scrambled eggs (not that healthy).
There were about 700 people present. We were a bit late so it was a good thing Art's friend, Ed had saved us a couple of seats.
Yes, there was entertainment. The crowd was mostly people over 70 years of age I would guess.
My favorite part was the BINGO game. I won a mini cutting board. I took this photo after the second game had started.
Ed was a big prize winner. He won this Dirt Devil vacuum cleaner!
And everybody got one of these. I just love Post-It notes!
However, what I found most interesting was the talk on hearing given by Randy Wohlers from the Family Hearing Aid Center.
He introduced his topic saying research showed that what gave people most happiness was not fame or fortune, but friendships.
He then presented some very interesting research data:
36-38 million Americans have a hearing loss.Dr. Frank Lin (otologist, epidemiologist) of Johns Hopkins in 2011 stated:
50% of those 75 and older have hearing loss.
26 million Americans age 20-69 have high frequency hearing loss due to noise exposure.
Ear buds are often detrimental to hearing.
"Our results show that hearing loss should not be considered an inconsequential part of aging, because it may come with some serious long-term consequences to healthy brain functioning."The problem according to Randy Wohlers is that with hearing loss, people become isolated and friendships are harder to maintain and without friendships it's hard to be happy.
"Memory and concentration of those with hearing loss declined 30-40% faster than those with normal hearing."
"People at risk of dementia due to hearing loss:
Mild loss: 2 times greater.Medium loss: 3 times greaterHigh loss: 5 times greater."
Bottom line: Protect your ears and get your hearing checked.
I just told Art and he said, "What?"
Funny guy, "What?" It looks like a big crowd, and fun that you won at bingo?
ReplyDeleteA good sized crowd. Yes, the fruit does look good. Yes, the sausage probably wasn't that healthy, but I bet it was good.
ReplyDeleteAh hearing. I used to fly in choppers without ear protection. Did I ever mention that I lived with a rock and roll band.
A rock and roll band? And without ear plugs, I take it.
DeleteI get ads about hearing aids in the mail all the time. How they got my name and address I don't know. My hearing is fine.
ReplyDeleteVery informative, thanks for sharing Kay. I remember staying at that hotel last year, loved it.
ReplyDeleteArt is very quick! An interesting subject. I had my hearing tested about a year ago and have a slight loss....I foresee hearing aids in my future. I think they are a lot better than they used to be, but so expensive and insurance does not pay for them.
ReplyDeleteWell, I have hearing aids, so we can scratch my risk of dementia. Can't we?
ReplyDeleteI sure hope so, Joanne.
DeleteI use generic hearing aids, about $300.00 apiece, and they are just fine. Don't get rooked into spending a bunch of money on them. Nothing can replace normal hearing. Music, which was so important to me, now sounds like screeching and scraping. The aids help, but it is not the same. My memories of music are better than what I can hear today.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see the pictures from the 4S and compare them. Aren't we lucky to have such great cameras in our new phones? And I am glad for all my friends and family. I have hearing loss but it's minimal. :-)
ReplyDeleteSigh... I'm stuck with the iPhone 4s for a while. Art is insisting on waiting until the iPhone 7 comes out.
DeleteOh, that Art. He was just making humbug, right?
ReplyDeleteActually he does have hearing loss that he thinks is not enough to worry about. However I'm going to insist on the next appointment that he gets checked again.
Deletemy husband is a lot older than i am and last year i made him get hearing aides and omg what a difference!
ReplyDeleteI do have a hearing loss that I am monitoring. i certainly come by it naturally, with both parents having significant loss.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen these statictics about the connection between memory and hearing loss before. Can this information be trusted coming from someone who sells hearing aids?
I know hearing aids are in my future, but once you start down that road it is very expensive, technology changes rapidly, and many people are dissatisfied with the results.
You're very right, but I do think Art needs to get his hearing checked because I've noticed him missing too much of what is said. And no it's not just when I'm talking either.
DeleteI'm such an introvert that I avoid these sessions. I also have a fair bit of hearing loss...probably more than I would admit to.
ReplyDeleteDaisy drags me to bingo at the local library. I don't really like bingo since there's no skill to it other than paying attention. We've played several times but I haven't won once.
ReplyDeleteAny good financial advice, Kay?
ReplyDelete( '>
/))
//""
ALOHA from Honolulu,
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
Diversify. :- )
DeleteThen again, each individual needs are different so it's really hard to say. I guess the best thing is to go to a good financial adviser (who doesn't have a commission in mind) so they can look at everything for you.
OMG what a big crowd but luckily nice meal
ReplyDeleteI like those post it notes-cool....
ReplyDeleteWell the last attempt vanished into thin air. Feel free to delete the excess comments should all 20 of them pop up. Dianne
ReplyDeleteGosh! I only got one comment, Dianne. Thank you so much for persevering.
DeleteMy mother's husband (passed away 3 years ago) had a hearing problem so everyone had to speak loudly and he would make loud rude comments as people walked by, causing his family much embarrassment. However, I also think he had "selective" hearing and enjoyed making some people have to increase their volume to yelling and giving up, and being able to hear others just fine.
ReplyDeleteHe was sharp and didn't forget a single slight or regret, so unfortunately his memory was not affected by his hearing loss.
That looks like a fun event Kay and very interesting about the hearing loss discussion. I really ought to get my hearing checked out. Gregg tells me when he comes home and if I have the TV on, that it is on way too loud.
ReplyDeletesounds like a great event,
ReplyDeletethat Art is a funny guy!
Looks like a great gathering ---and some terrific information...
ReplyDeleteThere is hearing loss in my family ---so I need to be aware and be careful... Thanks for the tips and info.
Hugs,
Betsy
Looks like an interesting event and good topic. I think as we age, we do have some extent of hearing problem.
ReplyDeleteThat Art is a devil, never mind the dust devil!
ReplyDeleteMy hubby has a 30% hearing loss, but it is getting worse. It's not ameliorated by hearing aids, at this point. We try to laugh...
Sounds like you had a great time and was educational event. My friend got very expensive hearing aid and lost one right away...lucky she has insurance but still cost some to replaced it.
ReplyDelete