Ripping Your Ears with Rock. Advanced Hearing & Balance

Kimball B. Forbes, MCD

Ripping Your Ears with Rock
 
Repeated and prolonged use of personal electronic devices are putting young people at risk of losing their hearing permanently.

“I love listening to music all the time and kind of loud sometimes to drown everything,” said a Utah teen.  It’s a way of life for the average teen.

“(I listen to music) almost every day for a few hours, like when I go to the gym,” said another local teenager.
Earlier this year, the World Health Organization warned that 1.1 billion young people are at risk of hearing loss due to recreational noise such as unsafe use of personal audio devices, smartphones, and exposure to damaging levels of sound at entertainment venues like nightclubs, bars and sporting events.

Sreekant Cherukuri, a specialist in treating ear, nose and throat, told NBC News that using iPods and (smartphones) was probably the largest cause of hearing loss in millennials.

The Indiana doctor estimated hearing loss among today's teens is about 30 percent higher than in the 1980s and 1990s. "You (once) had a Walkman with two AA batteries and headphone thongs that went over your ears," Cherukuri told NBC News. "At high volume, the sound was so distorted and the battery life was poor. Nowadays, we have smartphones that are extremely complex computers with high-level fidelity.”

Hearing loss occurs because the inner ear repeatedly gets pounded with sounds over 85 decibels.

“You’d be surprised at how soft 85 decibels is, said Kimball B Forbes, Clinical Audiologist in Southern Utah.  People at a rock concert are exposed to at least 100 decibels, and sometimes even up to 120 decibels.”

Data from studies in middle- and high-income countries analyzed by WHO indicate that among teenagers and young adults ages 12 to 35, nearly 50 percent are exposed to unsafe levels of sound from the use of personal audio devices, and around 40 percent are exposed to potentially damaging levels of sound at entertainment venues.

This type of hearing loss is 100 percent preventable. There are things people can do to continue to enjoy themselves without putting their hearing at risk. Another recommendation is using the 60-60 rule — keeping the volume under 60 percent at a maximum of 60 minutes a day.

Call 435-688-8866 for a hearing evaluation with an audiologist if you suspect possible noise damage from guns or music.

Kimball B. Forbes, MCD, has been in the St. George area for the past 27 years and is a co-owner of Advanced Hearing & Balance Specialists. His wife’s name is Jonna and they are the proud parents of 8 children and 4 grandchildren. Kimball is passionate and enjoys helping to build better relationships through better hearing. He is the longest tenured Audiologist in southern Utah. In his early years in practice in southern Utah and Nevada, he established 11 hearing clinics which are thriving today under his direction and leadership. Kimball graduated with his Master’s of Communication Disorders in Audiology from Brigham Young University in 1982. He specializes in:

Hearing Aid Sales, Service and Counseling Specialist
Earmold and Hearing Protection Specialist
Diagnostic Medical Hearing Assessments for Adults and Children

St. George Exchange Club to Dedicate Freedom Shrine

St. George, UT, May 6, 2015 — The St. George Exchange Club will dedicate a new Freedom Shrine at George Washington Academy on Friday, May 8 at 10:30AM. The Freedom Shrine is an impressive display of a collection of historic document replicas that serves to remind all of us of the great efforts that have been taken to ensure our freedom. The Freedom Shrine originated with the Freedom Train that toured the nation in 1947 carrying an exhibit of historic documents. It serves as an educational tool in schools and as a motivational display in public arenas.

The National Exchange Club is a service organization with 700 clubs and more than 21,000 members throughout the United States and Puerto Rico and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2011. In St. George, the Exchange Club is active in a number of fundraising events and is focused on helping youth through giving scholarships, awards and opportunities to share their talents. The national charter is foxed on child abuse prevention and the St. George Exchange Club is active with the area Children’s Justice Center. Some of the events sponsored by the St. George Exchange Club include Southern Utah Performing Arts Festival, The Ironman Kids Fun Run, St. George Marathon Mayor’s Walk, giveakidaflagtowave, and the local high school Student of the Month scholarship program. The St. George Exchange Club recently pledged a $100,000 donation to the City of St. George’s new All Abilities Park.

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.

Advanced Hearing & Balance Specialist. Similarities of Phones and Hearing Instruments

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

Similarities of Phones and Hearing Instruments

This past spring break, I took my family to San Antonio to visit all of the interesting sites to see, including the Alamo, the Riverwalk and the historic little German village of Gruene.  I was very fascinated with the whole trip and the history of that area as were my wife and children.  One of the stores that we all enjoyed to spend some time in was an antique store in Gruene.  We rummaged through interesting items that were much older than the era of my childhood, which was only the late 70’s to early 80’s.

I ran across an item that, due to it being in the store, was considered an antique but that was a common household item when I was a boy.  In fact we had one in the home I grew up in.  It was a wall mounted telephone with the rotary dial with the long extension cord.  I am not even talking of the really old, first generation rotary dial, wall mounted phone.   I don’t consider myself old by any means, but I was interested because in that moment it dawned on me that by phone standards today, this phone was truly a relic.

In the short span of 35 years since my childhood, phone technology has come a long, long way.  Now we have phones that have a mirade of features such as; call waiting, call forwarding, caller ID and voicemail to only name a few.  Additionally we have smart phones that contain not only these features but capabilities that allow you to surf the internet, trade stocks and turn on the AC to your home before you arrive home from a vacation.  It is truly amazing what has happened with telephone technology in the past 30-40 years.

Very often, I have people that come into my office who are skeptical about getting help with their hearing loss because all that they can think of is what Uncle Bob used to wear over 30 years ago.  They are afraid of a big, clunky hearing aid that the whole world can see.  I would be afraid too if this was all the working knowledge of hearing ads were.  I think I would be afraid to build a home today thinking that all I would get by way of communicating with my friends and family was an big boxy rotary dial telephone that required me to wander no further than about 10 feet of where it was mounted on the wall like was the case when I was a child.

Today, hearing care solutions are so different than what they were 30 years ago, even 5-10 years ago. We now have solutions that are 100% invisible and can be worn for 3 months straight without having to take them out of the ear or change the battery.  We have solutions that if lost can be found using GPS technology or that can link your hearing devices with your smart or cell phone wirelessly via blue tooth technology for premium voice reception directed right into your ears.  Just keep in mind that hearing care solutions today are nothing like what Uncle Bob use to wear 30 years ago.  For the latest on advanced hearing care solutions contact Dr. Lance Greer at Advanced Hearing & Balance located at the Coral Desert Health Center, 1490 E. Foremaster Dr. #360, St. George, UT or by calling 435-215-1402. For more information go to http://www.hearingaiddoctor.com.

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
• Earmold 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 Chapter of the BYU Management Society to Hold Luncheon on April 30.

St. George Chapter of the BYU Management Society is holding a Luncheon at noon on April 30, at the Courtyard by Marriott, located at 185 South 1470 East, St. George. The Luncheon will feature Robert Spendlove, Senior Vice President and the Economic and Public Policy Officer for Zions Bank. The cost of the luncheon is $15.00. Please bring a business card to enter the door prize drawings. To RSVP send an email to Drew Gubler at drewgubler@gmail.com.

Robert Spendlove, Senior Vice President and the Economic and Public Policy Officer for Zions Bank

Robert is a Senior Vice President and the Economic and Public Policy Officer for Zions Bank. In this capacity he monitors and reports on economic indicators and public policy developments for the bank.  Founded in 1873, Zions Bank is Utah's oldest financial institution and it operates locations in communities throughout Utah and the Intermountain West.

Robert's research interests are primarily in the areas of macroeconomics, demographics, financial markets and public policy.  He frequently gives economic presentations to a variety of civic, educational and business groups.

Robert also serves in the Utah House of Representatives, where he was elected in January 2014. He proudly represents District 49 in the Legislature, covering parts of Sandy and Cottonwood Heights cities. He is the Vice Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee. He also sits on the Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee, and the Social Services Appropriations Committee. 

Robert formerly worked as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Federal Relations to the Utah Governor's Office, where he advised Governors on a variety of policy issues and assisted in the development and implementation of the public policy agenda. Robert also served as the Washington, DC representative for the Governor’s Office, acting as a liaison between the State of Utah and a variety of multi-state and federal organizations, as well as Congress, federal agencies, and the White House.

His previous experience includes time as the Governor's Chief Economist and the State Demographer, where he served as the Chair of the Governor's Council of Economic Advisers, Chair of the Utah Population Estimates Committee, and President of the Wasatch Front Economic Forum.

Robert received a Master’s of Public Administration with an emphasis in economic public policy at the University of Utah, where he is currently an adjunct instructor of public policy.

Robert is married and the father of four children.

For more information or to RSVP contact Drew Gubler at drewgubler@gmail.com or go to drewgubler@gmail.com to register.

March 2015 Students of the Month Honored by St. George Exchange Club

St. George, UT, April 9, 2015 — The March 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.  http://sgexchange.blogspot.com/

We congratulate the St George Exchange Club 2015 March Students of the Month.

March 2015 Students of the Month

Back Row: A.J. Draper (THS), Michael Egbert (DHHS), Bailey Guest (DHS), River Ross (MHS), Shonie Christensen (Exchange Club President).
Front Row: Hannah Veltkamp (SCHS), Victoria Rose (SCHS), Breann Mendenhall (PVHS)

Dizziness and Balance – It’s a Three Legged Stool

Dr. Jacob Burrows, Au.D., FAAA
Doctor of Audiology

Balance is achieved and maintained by a complex set of sensorimotor control systems that include sensory input from vision (sight), proprioception (touch), and the vestibular system (Inner ear- motion, equilibrium). These three systems are the legs to our personal “balance stool”.

Balance is the ability to maintain the body’s center of mass over its base of support.  A properly functioning balance system allows humans to see clearly while moving, identify orientation with respect to gravity, determine direction and speed of movement, and make automatic postural adjustments to maintain posture and stability in various conditions and activities. Injury, disease, or the aging process can affect one or more of these components.

 When we are young it is easy to blame sudden falls on environmental factors, such as loose carpets, slippery floors, uneven surfaces, or just plain recklessness! But as we grow older, a sudden fall can raise the question that something might be wrong. Loss of balance and mobility are not inevitable as we grow older, but sudden falls in older individuals are a concern because the incidence of balance problems is known to increase significantly with age. The risk for serious injury increases as well. The good news is that many individuals at risk for falls can be identified and helped.

Advanced Hearing & Balance Specialists has provided the area’s most trusted hearing and balance services for many 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 treatment for hearing loss and balance disorders.  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. For more information see http://www.hearingaiddoctor.com/.

When should your estate planning documents be reviewed by an attorney?

Attorneys Phillip G. Gubler and Thomas J. Bayles

Although a comprehensive estate plan should not require frequent extensive review, we recommend that a periodic review of your estate plan is made to ensure that your plan is still in compliance with the law, and that your personal or financial situation has not changed. The rule of thumb in the industry is that you review your estate plan every year and that an estate planning attorney reviews your estate plan every 3 years.  

There are several events that may trigger the necessity to make changes to your estate plan:  Marriage or divorce; Birth or adoption of a child; Death of a child; Change in marital status of a child; Death of a spouse; Change in health or mental capacity of you, your spouse or a beneficiary; Increase or decrease in personal wealth; Change in employment or state of residence; or Receipt of substantial inheritance or gift.

Is there a need to change your fiduciaries?  The death of an individual nominated in your estate plan to serve as a personal representative, guardian or trustee may trigger a need to change your documents.  Has your relationship with one of your fiduciaries changed so you are no longer comfortable naming them in your documents?

Handwritten changes on estate planning documents can create problems and raise issues, such as whether the handwritten changes were in the deceased’s handwriting, was the decedent competent, and was the decedent under undue influence? The cost to prove these issues in court will far exceed the cost of a properly drafted codicil to your will or amendment to your trust. 

A review of your estate planning documents by an estate planning attorney will provide piece of mind and should result in your assets passing to the beneficiaries you identify, in the manner and at the time you would like the beneficiaries to receive your assets.

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.