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Gratitude is the best attitude!
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In our November 2020 Newsletter:
Alzheimer's Awareness Month - HHCC Staff Spotlight
Donate to Patients Affected by Colorado Fires

Hi ,

It feels like November begs for us to focus on gratitude since we celebrate Thanksgiving and all we are thankful for. But do you know that gratitude can be good for our health? More importantly, do you know that the lack of gratitude can be BAD for us?

Someone I respect says, “no one spends a lot of time in self-introspection and comes out encouraged”. That’s called belly-button gazing because you’re spending time looking down and focusing on yourself.
These days it’s easy to get discouraged. We’ve all grieved the loss of some of our past ways of life - getting together with groups of friends, going to movies, working out at the gym or eating at our favorite restaurants. Maybe we’re feeling a little heavier, less in shape and lonelier. Then we watch the news and feel even worse about the state of the world!

It’s in times like this that it is so important to do two things:
make a gratitude list and find ways to serve others.

Making a gratitude list starts with the big stuff you are thankful for: family members, friends, health. Focus on the body parts that work well, not any that cause you problems! Then as you get going you’ll gain momentum: a warm place to live, enjoying your favorite book, picking up or ordering a special treat from the grocery store. According to an article from Positive Psychology in January 2020*, gratitude can help reduce blood pressure, improve quality of sleep, and increase our overall sense of well-being! Those are some big gains just for looking at the sunny side of life!

Secondly, it’s always a good time to serve others. Our needs truly become less when we focus on those who have greater needs. It may look like making a donation to charity so that someone can have shelter or a warm Thanksgiving meal. You don’t have to have a lot of money to write an encouraging card to a lonely senior or a firefighter.

So why is a local audiologist telling you about gratitude and serving others? Because, like treating hearing loss, they both contribute to brain health. Check out the article below about hearing loss and dementia that our own Dr. Chelsea Bega wrote to highlight Alzheimer's awareness month.

At Hearing HealthCare Centers, we care about you. We care about your ears
and your brain, your hearing and your cognition, your physical health and your mental and emotional health. We believe we are all better together.

Along with my family, my sweet pups and my amazing team at HHCC, I’m grateful for you!

Ch’ears'!
Whitney Swander, Au.D.
Owner, Doctor of Audiology

P.S. As most of you know, Colorado has been devastated by recent fires. We have patients who have lost homes, and with them their hearing aids or supplies. Right now, in our e-store, we are accepting donations for things such as wax guards, batteries, hearing aid chargers and even the deductibles to replace lost hearing aids. If you feel moved to help someone, please make a donation to our on-line store! Click to DONATE NOW.

* positivepsychology.com/benefits-gratitude-research-questions
 




Dr. Whitney Swander is an audiologist and owner of Hearing HealthCare Centers. She has been in practice for over 20 years.
Click here to learn more about her and the HHCC team.
Alzheimer's Awareness Month
What Can You Do to Reduce Your Dementia Risk?
Written by Dr. Chelsea Bega
Hey everyone! If you haven’t heard, November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month! Back in 1983, President Ronald Reagan designated this month to educate the public about this disease and to raise awareness about its characteristics. So, what is Alzheimer’s, and why is an Audiologist writing about it?

While a lot about the disease is still unknown, there are a few things we know for sure: the risks of dementia and cognitive decline can be impacted by a variety of health concern, and one such concern is untreated hearing loss.
First, what is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease can be defined as a progressive brain disorder that slowly impacts thought, memory and language. It is the most common type of dementia and it affects as many as 5 million Americans each year (1). Symptoms can begin with mild memory loss & spatial awareness issues, and ultimately affect an individual’s ability to carry out common daily activities.

Among other indications, Alzheimer’s disease can be characterized by two things: the presence of abnormal plaque buildup in brain tissue, and the progressive loss of connection between neurons and the brain (2).
How is hearing loss linked to risks of Alzheimer’s and dementia?

When a person has hearing loss, there is less acoustic input being sent to his or her brain for processing. Over time, the lack of auditory input to the brain can result in neural atrophy. Neural atrophy is the degeneration of receptors responsible for processing information like sound & speech.  When neural atrophy occurs, the brain tries to compensate for this loss by using resources from other parts of the brain.

When more resources in the brain are being used to hear, there are less resources in the brain available to process other functions such as memory storage and learning. Multiple studies have shown that there is a link between hearing loss and increased cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer’s. One such study conducted by Dr. Frank Lin, MD, PhD, found that people with a mild hearing loss had a 200% increased risk in developing dementia, while people with a severe hearing loss had a 500% increased risk in developing dementia, over their normal hearing peers (3). See the graph below for more details on the risk of dementia and hearing loss.
What can we do to treat hearing loss and reduce dementia related risks?

Early identification and the appropriate treatment of hearing is the #1 way to protect against cognitive changes caused by hearing loss! When hearing technology is programmed appropriately by a hearing professional, it can improve acoustic sensitivity and enhance the capacity of the brain to function normally despite the increased cognitive demands (4). Appropriate hearing amplification can also improve a person’s quality of life by reducing isolation, increasing socialization, and bridging the gap of communication between loved ones.

If you or a loved one is concerned about hearing loss or memory issues,
contact an Audiologist today! At Hearing HealthCare Centers, we also perform cognitive screenings to treat patients holistically.

References:
1.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?. (2020, June 2). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm

2. Bagad, M., Chowdhury, D.& Khan, Z.. (2013). Towards understanding Alzheimer's Disease: An overview. Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences. 4. 286-298.

3. Lin, F. R., Metter, E. J., O’Brien, R. J., Resnick, S. M., Zonderman, A. B., & Ferrucci, L. (2011). Hearing loss and incident dementia. Archives of Neurology, 68(2), 214-220. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2010.362

4. Mills, B. (2015, April 25). Can hearing aids help prevent dementia? Cognitive Vitality. https://www.alzdiscovery.org/cognitive-vitality/blog/can-hearing-aids-help-prevent-dementia
Dr. Chelsea Bega joined the Hearing HealthCare Centers staff in spring of 2018. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders at the University of Oregon, then went on to receive her Doctorate of Audiology degree at Arizona State University’s Speech & Hearing program.


Click
here to learn more about her and our entire team.
Staff Spotlight
Chelsea Bega, Au.D. in Englewood
Did you know Dr. Bega is a dancer?
I have enjoyed dancing since I was seven years old. Growing up I took classes in jazz, contemporary, tap and ballet. When I’m dancing I’m in my happy place. I dance two times a month at the Denver Dance Studio in a free movement and expression class. It’s such a great stress reliever.

I grew up in Hawaii on the island of Oahu. I love everything about island life; snorkeling, spear fishing, surfing and paddle boarding were part of daily life. Family is very important to the Hawaiian community, so it was bittersweet when I decided to move to the mainland to pursue my college education. My family was especially proud because I am the first generation on my father’s side to graduate college. I knew I wanted to become an audiologist since the age of 14 when my younger brother was diagnosed with a hearing loss.
Here are a couple of fun questions to get to know Dr. Bega better.

What is your all-time favorite television show?

The Twilight Zone by Rod Serling! I grew up watching that show with my grandparents and I still love it to this very day. I love how thought provoking it is. It also gives you a great perspective into pressing issues of the 1950s-60s! My favorite episode was "5 Characters in Search of an Exit."

What is your favorite app on your phone?

My favorite app to use on my phone is the Pinterest app! The Pinterest app allows you to search and save recipes, workout videos, travel ideas, craft how-tos, books to read, and more! It's a great inspiration starter for anything you are interested in!

If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be?

If I could instantly master any skill, it would be to play the piano! Piano is my favorite instrument because it's elegant, its music can evoke a variety of emotions, and piano compositions are almost always breathtaking.
Raney Leamon
Patient Care Coordinator in Loveland
Did you know Raney is passionate about cake?!
Raney’s passion is cake decorating using sugar free ingredients. “If I could do anything to change the world it would be to eradicate sugar from the human diet." Raney has been on a sugar free, keto diet since December 2018 and lost 100 pounds!! The cake she designed that gives her the most pride is a “Back to the Future” cake she created for a friend.
Here are a couple of fun questions to get to know Raney better.

What do you do to improve your mood when you are having a bad day?

My all time favorite movie is Labyrinth staring David Bowie. I just love everything about the movie: the storyline, fantasy, David Bowie in tight pants. I have three fur baby cats, Hoggle, Ludo and Missy. Hoggle and Ludo are named after characters in the movie Labyrinth.

What is your favorite app on your phone? Instagram!!


If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be?

I would be able to fly... without a plane!

Donate to HHCC patients who have been affected by the Colorado fires.
Our hearts go out to those patients of ours that have been affected by the Colorado fires. If you would like to help,  please reply to this email or visit our online shop to order supplies for donation.

$    5 - wax guards
$  26 - box of batteries (48 count)
$  48 - two boxes of batteries (96 count)
$200 - hearing device charger
$300 - deductible for lost hearing aid
Give us a call at one of our seven convenient front range locations:

Boulder (303) 499-3900
Broomfield (303) 464-8440
Colorado Springs (719) 591-2463
Fort Collins (970) 221-5011
Longmont (303) 776-8748
Loveland (970) 593-1509
Englewood (303) 777-9720
You can email us at info@hearinghealthcarecenters.com (either a new email or by replying to this email), or visit our website www.hearinghealthcarecenters.com

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Hearing HealthCare Centers - Boulder, 4800 Baseline Road #E-108, Boulder, CO 80303, United States
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