Give Dad the Smallest Power Tool in the World: Amp-Up His Hearing This Father's Day

Washington, DC, June 17, 2008 – Men love their power tools. Drills for carpentry. Chain saws for clearing brush. Snow blowers for tough winters.

But when it comes to hearing, men often shy away from the one power tool that could boost their hearing, conquer noisy environments, and overcome competing sounds: The new, nearly invisible but powerful, hearing device.

That's why this Father's Day, the Better Hearing Institute is calling on those whose fathers may have a hearing loss to give their dads the smallest but most critical power tool in the world.

"Untreated hearing loss puts dads at a real disadvantage," says Sergei Kochkin, executive director of the Better Hearing Institute. "Hearing loss makes it tougher for dads to connect with their children and grandchildren. It heightens frustration and irritation in the home. Untreated, it undermines family relationships."

According to the Better Hearing Institute, hearing loss affects more men than women. Six out of 10 people with hearing loss are men. And 31 million people in the United States have a hearing loss. That translates into 15 percent of baby boomers and one in three seniors. Fortunately, 95% of hearing loss can be treated with hearing devices.

The newest aids are sleek, sophisticated devices that are scientifically engineered to provide unparalleled sound quality in various hearing environments. Many fit comfortably in the ear and are virtually invisible. "Today's hearing aid isn't the bulky, old-fashioned hearing aid your father may remember," said Kochkin. "It's the new powerful aid that may well be the perfect aid for him today."

Tips for Determining If Your Dad Might Need Hearing Aids

Ask yourself these questions:

Does he seem to have trouble hearing on the telephone?
Is it more difficult for him to follow conversations?
Does he keep turning up the TV or radio?
Does he sometimes miss a telephone ring or doorbell?
Does he seem more irritated or tired at big family gatherings?
Does he ask for things to be repeated or for people to stop mumbling?

If the answer to some or all of these questions is yes, a hearing check is an important next step. You may want to sit down with your dad and take him to the www.hearingcheck.org website so that he can take a quick, interactive test to see for himself if he should have his hearing checked.

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Founded in 1973, the Better Hearing Institute is a not-for-profit educational organization whose mission is to educate the public about hearing loss, its treatment and prevention. To receive a free copy of BHI's 28 page booklet "Your Guide to Better Hearing," visit its website at www.betterhearing.org or call the Better Hearing Institute hotline at 1-800-EAR-WELL. And to check your dad's hearing at home, go to www.hearingcheck.org for a simple, interactive screening test.