Hearing Expo at UMaine May 2
Contact: Amy Engler Booth, 581-2009; George Manlove, 581-3756
ORONO – The 9th Annual Hearing Expo at the University of Maine May 2 offers adults free hearing screenings, all the bells, whistles and advancements in “assisted listening devices” and other hearing aid technology, and an opportunity to have hearing aids checked and cleaned at no cost.
Among the demonstrations being featured are “assistive listening devices” and an examination of the potential dangers of iPods. Manufacturers also are loaning the latest assisted hearing devices, including vibrating alarm clocks to be placed under a pillow, and information on amplified telephones.
Sponsored by the UMaine Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and staffed by graduate students in the department, the annual Hearing Expo helps celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month in May. It is scheduled from 5-7:30 p.m. in Dunn Hall on the UMaine campus. The Expo is free to the public, but those interested must register by calling (207) 581-2009.
The event is an evening of education, prizes and fun, says Amy Engler Booth, the department clinical audiologist and lecturer.says. More than 150 guests are expected to attend.
The UMaine Hearing Expo is believed to be the only one of its kind and has been featured in national trade publications, according to Booth.
Research shows that nearly 100,000 Mainers have a hearing loss. Nationally, that number is 22 to 28 million Americans, 37 percent of whom are over age of 65. What is disturbing to physicians and audiologists is that only 20 percent of those with a hearing loss use a hearing aid. Students at the University of Maine in Orono hope the services and education offered through the annual Hearing Expo on campus will help change that national trend.
A unique aspect of this year’s Hearing Expo is the inclusion of a demonstration of the hazardous effects of too much noise from iPods, according to Booth. The Hearing Expo typically is tailored to older adults, but the iPod demonstration is expected to generate interest among parents and younger adults, she says.
The expo is not just for those with a hearing loss, but for people who have family members or friends with hearing loss. “It is for anyone who wishes to communicate better with others,” she says.
While students assisting with Hearing Expo activities are studying to become speech language pathologists — a field closely associated with audiology — “they do a wonderful job fulfilling the role of audiologic rehabilitation specialists,” Booth says.
Students begin planning weeks in advance for the expo, putting together poster presentations and researching topics such as tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and how much noise is too much. Some students have spent time learning the pros and cons of complicated audiological diagnostic computer programs, and they can help hearing aid users quickly determine whether their aids are helping them hear, and by how much.
Members of the public interested in attending are urged to register by calling (207) 581-2009. The news media is invited and previews may be made by appointment. There will be excellent live-shot and photo opportunities, according to Booth, who can be contacted for additional details at the number above.