by: Henry Smith

When you find that you need a hearing aid, you may be aware that you currently have two categories from which to choose: standard hearing aids (in-the-ear or behind-the-ear hearing aids) or open fit hearing aids (also known as open ear hearing aids). Each of these types of hearing aids has both pros and cons, but, more importantly, each type is most beneficial for a particular type of hearing loss. It is important to research both in order to determine which will work for you.
In-the-Ear and Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids: An Overview
Standard hearing aids have come a long way from the days of body or eyeglass hearing aids. Those old-style products were large and bulky and usually inconvenient to wear. Thanks to the miniaturization of electronics, today's in-the-ear and behind-the-ear hearing aids are available in extremely small sizes. In-the-ear hearing aids can be so small that they fit completely within the ear canal and are nearly invisible, while even behind-the-ear hearing aids have become so small as to be difficult to see. However, the greater the gain required for the user, the larger the hearing aid must be in order to accommodate it. Yet even the largest behind-the-ear hearing aids still are much more discreet than their predecessors.
Open Fit Hearing Aids: An Overview
Open fit hearing aids are also extremely small and nearly invisible to an observer. They work via a clear tube that comes from behind the ear and rests in the ear canal. However, unlike with standard hearing aids, there is no earmold to occlude the ear canal when open fit hearing aids are worn - the clear tube is extremely thin and leaves the canal open. Open fit hearing aids are also lightweight - many users find that after a few minutes of wearing them, they cannot feel them at all.
Standard Hearing Aids: Pros and Cons
Standard hearing aids have many benefits for the wearer. Both in-the-ear and behind-the-ear hearing aids are ideal for anyone who does not have normal low frequency hearing. In addition, because of their size, even as small as they have become in recent years, in-the-ear and behind-the-ear hearing aids have room on them to fit many options: telecoils, volume controls, and memory push buttons.
However, no matter how small in-the-ear or behind-the-ear hearing aids have become, both types will always occlude the ear canal to some extent. This means they are not well suited for someone who has good low frequency hearing, because the occlusion causes what some call the "barrel effect" - sounds are muted and the user may feel like he or she is listening to the outside world from inside a barrel. However, for someone with poor low and high frequency hearing, behind-the-ear or in-the-ear hearing aids are often the best choice.
Open Fit Hearing Aids: Pros and Cons
The biggest benefit to open fit hearing aids is that they have no occlusion. For those who have normal low frequency hearing but who are experiencing problems with high frequencies - which usually occurs with early hearing loss - open fit hearing aids are ideal. They are extremely lightweight and nearly invisible as well. And although they utilize the latest technology, they should not cost much more than in-the-ear or behind-the-ear hearing aids, and may even cost the same. If you find that you are a candidate for open fit hearing aids, make sure that you shop around to find the best product at the price, as you would for any large purchase. Open fit hearing aids are also easier to fit because they are not custom made, unlike many in-the-ear hearing aids; they work directly out of the box.
Because of their size, open fit hearing aids cannot offer some of the options that behind-the-ear or in-the-ear hearing aids have available, such as telecoils. In addition, they are fully automatic and so do not offer volume control, which may be seen as a benefit for some users but a negative for those who want more control over their hearing aids.
Similarities
Both standard and open fit hearing aids are made with the same type of technology. Both types of hearing aids are available from some manufacturers with directional microphones, which can be a benefit for users who may encounter noisy situations, such as being in a restaurant or sitting with more than one person at a time, and who want to be able to hear individual speakers better. Behind-the-ear hearing aids, in-the-ear hearing aids, and open fit hearing aids may all also offer multiple memory options.
In addition, open fit, in-the-ear, and behind-the-ear hearing aids are all easily adjustable. Some manufacturers may even offer the option of adjusting the hearing aids over the Internet, as well as in person, at a store or an audiologist's office. Open fit hearing aids can be as easily adjusted as behind-the-ear hearing aids.
Conclusion
While open fit, in-the-ear, and behind-the-ear hearing aids each offer pros and cons, the bottom line is that it is important to find the product that is best suited for your type of hearing loss. Make sure that any type of hearing aid you purchase leaves you with room for adjustment if your hearing changes over the next few years. And as always, make sure that you work with an audiologist that you trust when purchasing your hearing aids - do not ever feel bullied into buying one or the other type of hearing aid unless you are sure that it will offer you the appropriate benefits. If you do your research, you are sure to find the right hearing aid that will improve your quality of life for years to come.

by: Amy Otis, RN

What is Self-Esteem?

Healthy self-esteem means thinking as highly of yourself as you think of your friends and peers. We are so used to negative feedback that we are more aware of our weaknesses than our strengths. We are often taught we will "fail", so it is often hard to enjoy success, no matter how small each "success" might be.

According to Nathaniel Branden, Ph.D., noted author and expert on the subject, "Self-esteem is the experience of being competent to cope with the basic challenges of life and of being worthy of happiness."

Why is High Self-Esteem Necessary?

As Branden notes, "Positive self-esteem is the immune system of the spirit, helping an individual face life problems and bounce back from adversity." So, high self-esteem is crucial during the turbulence of your teenage years.

How Can A Teen Build Self-Esteem?

The process is simple, but putting it to work is difficult. Self-esteem is built upon the experience of success. Think of it as a circular process. When people experience success, they grow in self-confidence. As self-confidence grows, they feel empowered to face new challenges. As they succeed in confronting each challenge, they develop the capacity to cope with whatever life throws their way. That feeling leads to further growth of self-confidence, self-reliance and self-esteem.

To Maintain Healthy Self-Esteem...

Celebrate your strengths and achievements.

Forgive yourself for your mistakes.

Don't dwell on your weaknesses, every human has them.

Change the way you talk to yourself -- stop putting yourself down!

Be sure that you are not judging yourself against unreasonable standards.

Beating yourself for your weaknesses is self defeating. Use that energy for positive thoughts about you.

People With High Self-Esteem Are:

Able to accept and learn from their own mistakes.

Confident without being obnoxious or conceited.

Not devastated by criticism.

Not overly defensive when questioned.

Not easily defeated by setbacks and obstacles.

Unlikely to feel a need to put others down.

Open and assertive in communicating their needs.

Not overly worried about failing or looking foolish.

Not harshly or destructively critical of themselves.

Not aggressively driven to prove themselves.

Able to laugh at themselves, not taking themselves too seriously.

Why Do You Think You Have So Few Strengths Worth Celebrating?

Because everyone has always pointed out your shortcomings?

Because you rarely get any positive feedback for a job well done?

Because the things you do well are so familiar to you that you take them for granted?

Because you have learned to focus only on your mistakes?

 

When You Make A Mistake, Do You Say:

What an idiot! How can you be so stupid!

Can't you get anything right! What a loser!

There you go again! You're not really up to it, are you?!!

Who else has talked to you this way in the past?

Why Are You Still Listening To Them?

You can't change your past, but you can change the way you talk to yourself today.

Start by making a LONG list of all the good things you have ever done.

Catch yourself saying nasty things to yourself, then STOP.

Recite your list of achievements to yourself.

Convince yourself to be proud of what you have done and of what you are working on doing, on anything you have done for another person, on any improvement in your school work, or on how well you manage your time, your money, your friends, your schedule, etc.

Affirmations for Self-Esteem

There are many things I do successfully. (Write them down if you have to.)

I can improve my self-esteem by meeting my own expectations.

I don't have to strive for perfection to approve of myself.

My worth as a human being does not depend upon achieving a perfect weight, or by being the smartest, or the most popular, or the fastest, or having the highest grades, or being the funniest, or having the coolest friends, or getting into the best college, or... (you fill in the rest !)

I alone am responsible for the decisions I make.

I am a unique individual.

Persistence will help me succeed.

Every mistake I make can be an opportunity to learn. I can't be afraid to make mistakes, this is how I learn to improve.

I deserve support and will ask for help when I need it.

I have the power to forgive myself for past mistakes.

I will treat myself as someone special.

I determine what success means to me.

Now you make up some of your own!

What is Success?
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
And endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty,
To find the best in others,
To leave the world a bit better; whether by a healthy child,
A garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To know that one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

by: Anonymous
Question : I'M working as a systems analyst and my job requires me to sit in front of the computer the whole day. My eyes become dry and tired. What can I do to remedy this?

Answer : SINCE your job requires you to work with computers for a long period of time, you should take a five or 10-minute break every hour. Focus on distant objects as often as possible. Try re-positioning your monitor to reduce glare from all light sources.

Consume foods that are rich in anti-free radical nutrients such as beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, zinc and selenium to protect against free radical damage.

Taking eyebright in capsule or tea form can be helpful. It helps maintain good vision and eye health by supporting the liver and other organs in such a way as to cleanse the blood supply to the eyes. It also works well to calm over-sensitivity to light.

Bilberry is another approved herb for fatigued eyes. Anthocyanidin in bilberry supports the formation of connective tissues and assist in strengthening the capillaries in the eye. Bilberry also speeds the replenishing of rhodopsin, the purple pigment that specialised nerve cells in the retina use for night vision. Lycium and spinach are usually included for a synergistic effect.

It is important to get sufficient sleep as fatigue can exacerbate eyestrain.

Exercise your eyes by rotating them in a circular motion without moving your head. Lie down, close your eyes and place a cold compress over your eyes. Relax for ten minutes; you may replace the compress when necessary. This often helps to alleviate the discomfort. Alternatively, you may try using a wet tea bag or cold cucumber slices.

Image by Kaptain Kobold via Flickr

by: Seth Miller

People begin to learn about dental health from a very young age, when teeth first begin to show up. But in spite of such early awareness, many people fail to maintain good dental health through their adult life. Good dental health comprises brushing and flossing your teeth every day, and regular visits to a dentist or dental hygienist as well. Besides, people supplement their dental care with the use of products like mouthwash or advanced mouth care systems. You should keep it in mind that the lack of adequate dental care practices will result in cavities and gum disease.

It is generally advised that you use a toothbrush with softer bristles so as to protect your gums. Some people, however, prefer power brush systems that help break up plaque and bacteria in your mouth. But it takes more than brushing to keep your teeth in good health. Some other steps need to be taken to ensure that people do not lose their teeth as they become old.

To begin with, you should understand your own oral health needs, as your oral health depends on your diet, the type and amount of saliva in your mouth, your overall health and your oral hygiene routine. Try to follow a daily routine in consultation with your dentist.

As fluoride strengthens developing teeth in kids and prevents decay in adults, toothpastes and mouthwashes containing fluoride should be used. You should brush at least twice a day, if possible three times or after every meal. You should also floss at least twice a day. Brushing and flossing will remove plaque, a complex mass of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth.

Limit the consumption of snacks and follow a balanced diet plan. Tobacco in any form will enhance the risk of oral cancer and cause stains on your teeth. Visit your dentist regularly and get your mouth examined.