Audiologist offers tips on hearing aids

Dear Heloise: I am the audiologist in Oshkosh, Wis., who wrote to you with advice for people with hearing loss on how to "take control" of answering machines. May I once again ask you to put some advice in your column on behalf of my patients (plus about 30 million other Americans) who have hearing loss?
These "low-tech" tips can further enhance the improvements that newer digital hearing aids provide:
Listening in noisy environments is difficult. Move closer, and turn off the TV or radio before talking. (Hearing in noisy environments is the No. 1 complaint of those with hearing loss/hearing aids.)
Get attention. Make sure your face is visible, and avoid talking from another room.
Practice clear speech. Speak in a natural way, pronouncing each syllable. This automatically slows your speech and gives the listener more time to process your information.
Avoid cross talk when in a group. In restaurants, request that background music is turned down or off.
Teach children to use their "big girl/boy" voices. Lower-pitched voices are easier to hear.
May is Better Speech and Hearing Month. Let's all be more considerate of those with hearing loss/hearing aids. Thank you for listening! Dr. Juliette Sterkens, Oshkosh, Wis.
Dr. Sterkens, thank you for taking the time to share these helpful hearing hints with us. My favorite is No. 4! There are some restaurants I just refuse to go to because the music is so loud. You cannot have a pleasant conversation. Heloise
Dear Heloise: A nifty hint is one that I saw at a festival. Whenever you need to serve sugar for a large crowd -- for example, with coffee -- just put the sugar in a plastic squeeze bottle (such as one for ketchup or syrup -- with a pull-out top). This way, no sugar is spilled, and people get the amount of sugar they want. Jan from Virginia
Dear Heloise: My husband has recently developed problems with his sight. While he can still see, he does have trouble reading some things. I use fluorescent stickers on the calendar to make him aware that there is something happening on a particular day. He can then ask me to read the sticker when I am in the room. Susan B., via e-mail
Dear Heloise: I hate it when I send a get-well card to a person in the hospital, only to have it returned to me. So, I now put the patient's home address as the return address on the envelope. This way, if he or she is released before getting the card, it will then be rerouted to the person's home. Brenda in Colorado
Dear Heloise: For an inexpensive, large watering bottle, take an empty 2-liter plastic bottle, drill a 1/16-inch hole in the cap, fill with water, screw on the cap, then pour or squeeze onto your plants. Bill from Maryland
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate