Protect Your Hearing Investment. Advanced Hearing & Balance Specialists

Dr. Lance F. Greer, Au.D., FAAA

In the 1987 movie classic, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles", big business executive Neal Page (played by Steve Martin) is trying to return to his family in Chicago for Thanksgiving after being on a business trip to New York City. His journey is doomed from the onset, inhibited by several encounters with Del Griffith (played by John Candy), a traveling salesman, who appears at numerous crossroads of Neal’s attempt to get home via several modes of transportation. These encounters severely delay Neal in what should have been an easy 1 hour and 45 minute flight from New York to Chicago and turns into a 3-day ordeal, in which everything that could go wrong, does go wrong.

That movie is re-written periodically in the lives of those who wear hearing aids.  If I were to come up with a name to this recurring movie, it would be called, "Dogs, Microwaves and Swimming Pools - The demise of Hearing Aids", unfortunately it wouldn't be as comical as a Steve Martin and John Candy movie.

Over the years I have had many of my patients who have come back in to see me who have lost or damaged their hearing aids through a variety of reasons.  One of the classic reasons has been, "My dog chewed it up." I even have evidence of this one.  Another classic was, "I got it a little wet, so I thought I would put it in the microwave for just a few seconds to dry it out!"  Yep, I even have evidence of this faux pas.  Another common reason in southern Utah is, "I forgot that I had them on when I jumped into the swimming pool (or shower)." There are far too many different reasons for lost or damaged hearing aids to be mentioned in this article.

Suffice it to say; in most cases there is help.  At the time hearing aids are delivered, quite a bit of information is given to you, the patient.  It is likely that in all of the information that was given, it was explained that your set of hearing aids have a manufacturer repair and loss/damage warranty that is between 1-3 years in duration.  This information can be forgotten if it isn't written down or provided on your purchase agreement.

Fortunately, if your set of hearing aids is no more than 3 years old, there is a good chance that some coverage is available from the manufacturer that produced your hearing devices.  We can verify that for you regardless if you purchased them through Advanced Hearing and Balance Specialists. Irrespective of the reason that you lost or damaged your hearing aids, your manufacturer warranty will replace them, one time, for the cost of a nominal deductible.

At Advanced Hearing and Balance Specialists we feel warranties for repair and loss/damage are investments that help you avoid having a "Neal Page" experience with your hearing aids.  We offer extended repair and loss and damage coverage for your devices up to 5 years old whether or not you purchased your devices through our office. 

Advanced Hearing & Balance Specialists has provided the area’s most trusted hearing and balance services for more than 40 years. With offices in 10 communities throughout southern Utah and Nevada, we make it convenient for you to receive the highest levels of care. We support research and development of the newest hearing technologies and the cure for hearing loss.  We always put our patient’s concerns first, matching each individual’s needs with the treatments and tools, which fit their lifestyle. For an appointment with a Doctor of Audiology at any one of our 10 locations, call 435-688-8866 or 800-548-0356.

Dr. Lance F. Greer, Au.D., FAAA, grew up in Heber, Arizona and has been in the St. George area for the past 14 years and is a co-owner of Advanced Hearing & Balance Specialists. His wife’s name is Shannon and they are the parents of 5 children. They enjoy traveling and spending time with their team of swimming children. He has been a member of the Dixie Sunrise Rotary Club and enjoys serving others in the community. in 1998, Dr. Greer developed the newborn hearing screening program at DRMC and currently serves as the Director of this program. He graduated with his Masters of Science in Audiology in 1997 from Brigham Young University and was conferred his Doctor of Audiology degree from the PCO School of Audiology in December 2003. Dr. Greer specializes in:

• Hearing Aid Sales, Service and Counseling Specialist
• Ear Mold and Hearing Protection Specialist
• Diagnostic Medical Hearing Assessments for Adults and Children
• Diagnostic Balance and Dizziness Assessment of Adults
• Vestibular Rehabilitation Specialist
• Industrial Hearing Conservation Specialist

St. George Exchange Club Honors December 2014 Students of the Month

December 2014 Students of the Month Honored by St. George Exchange Club

St. George, UT, December 16, 2014 — The December Students of the Month recipients were recently honored by the St. George Exchange Club.  The St. George Exchange Club sponsors the Student of the Month Program, which honors one student from the area high schools each month. This program recognizes the students’ accomplishments in academics, service and leadership in their respective schools. Dixie State University recently partnered with the St. George Exchange Club and will provide each of the Student of the Month recipients a one-year, full-tuition scholarship. 

The 48 students recognized each school year by the St. George Exchange Club equates to a commitment of over $175,000 from Dixie State University. The Exchange Club is honored to work with Dixie State University in recognizing and supporting the outstanding high school students of our community.

In addition, one student from the eight students honored as Student of the Month from each high school will have the opportunity to become Student of the Year for their school and receive a college scholarship to the college of their choice from the St. George Exchange Club. Last year, the Student of the Year, EmRee Moody from St. George, was selected as the National Student of the Month and received a $10,000 scholarship from the National Exchange Club.

The St. George Exchange Club meets Thursday mornings at 7:30AM at George's in Ancestor Square. For more information about the St. George Exchange Club, contact Shonie Christensen at 435-767-9000.  We congratulate the St George Exchange Club 2014 December Students of the Month.

Back Row:   Jacob Frei (Snow Canyon High);  Bryce Johnson (Millcreek High); Jed Newby (Pine View High for November)
Front Row: Billy Duffey (Tuacahn High); Barry Snow (Dixie High); Morgan White (Desert Hills High); Nathaniel Bennion (Pine View High); St George Exchange Club President Shonie Christensen

JensenBayles - Sheep Ranching and Estate Planning

Phillip Gubler and Tom Bayles

My great-grandfather earned a living raising sheep in Parowan, Utah in the late 1800s.  My father was always referred to as the sheepherder-at-law.  Dad retired and the sheep business continues with me.  Sometimes I wonder why I bought off on this idea of keeping a herd of sheep, especially if I have an unpleasant task at the farm in the middle of the night.  I suppose it is an effort to stay in tune with my ancestors.  

The wool from a herd of sheep is sold once a year at a wool market in Salt Lake City.  The wool quality is graded by a random sampling and sold in bulk based on that sampling.  It is not a problem for the wool buyer if some wool is of worse quality and some of better quality as long as it averages out.

In one respect, wool buying is like estate planning; there are some estate plans that are of good quality and some that are of poor quality.  A good quality estate plan will be written well and allow you to arrange for the management and preservation of your assets during your lifetime, provide how your assets will be transferred or disposed of upon your death, allow you to designate the beneficiaries of your wealth, and minimize taxes and other costs.  An average quality estate plan may work, but it may also result in significant delay and increased expense.  With a poor quality estate plan, you may have been better off to have no estate plan at all.  Estate planning is different from wool buying in that an average plan or a poorly written plan can be devastating to your estate and the law of averages will not accomplish your goals or console your beneficiaries.

The best way to obtain a good quality estate plan is do your homework and carefully select an estate planning attorney to assist you.  The legal system is extremely complex.  It is imperative when searching for an attorney to carefully select an attorney that primarily practices in the area of law in which you need assistance.  Thus, if you need assistance with estate planning, you should seek recommendations from trusted friends or advisors for an attorney that practices primarily in the area of estate planning.  Price is not always a guide since estate planning services are not a fungible good, cheaper is not always better, likewise, a more expensive plan does not necessarily equate to a better plan. You should be comfortable with the attorney you select and the attorney should take the time to meet with you personally, discuss various estate planning alternatives for your situation, and learn from you what you wish to accomplish with your estate plan.

I invite you to consider investing some time in your estate planning.  Estate planning is an invaluable tool that provides increased financial security and peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones.  A basic estate plan should include the following documents:  (1) Revocable Trust (a trust is not for everyone); (2) Last Will & Testament; (3) Durable Financial Power of Attorney; (4) Advanced Health Care Directive; and (5) various ancillary documents in a trust plan, such as a deed transferring real property, certificate of trust and a personal property memorandum.  If you are unsure if your estate plan accomplishes your goals, then you should retain an estate planning attorney to review and explain your documents to you.  With proper estate planning documents you won’t need to count sheep at night because you will have peace of mind and be able to sleep well. 

JensenBayles, LLP provides a broad spectrum of legal services.  Thomas J. Bayles has been actively providing advice in the areas of trusts, wills, probate and tax planning in the St. George market for over 15 years. Please visit our web site www.jensenbayles.com or call 435-674-9718 and ask for Thomas J. Bayles or Phillip G. Gubler. The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as legal advice.