Walk to help people with hearing problems
A walk in Wheaton on Saturday, Aug. 29, aims to protect the hearing and brain function of those suffering hearing loss while easing the frustration for their families and friends.
The Fisher Foundation for Hearing Health Care will host the second annual Hike 4 Better Hearing 5K Walk/Run at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at Danada Forest Preserve, 3580 Naperville Road, Wheaton.
One of the event's main purposes is to provide new free hearing aids to those who can't afford them. Last year's walk/run raised enough money to change the lives of eight families by providing hearing aids. The funds also were used to provide free hearing checkups at assisted living facilities and community centers across the Chicago area.
"This event is no less significant than hikes for AIDS, Alzheimer's or heart disease," said audiologist Ronna Fisher, who founded the Fisher Foundation. "Every other person over age 50 has a significant hearing problem. It's interfering with their work, and affecting their relationships with their friends and family.
"What they don't realize is that they're also increasing their risk of dementia because their brain's speech processing center is actually shrinking and deteriorating," she added.
The audiologist is founder of Hearing Health Center, with offices in Naperville, Chicago, Oak Brook and Highland Park. She launched the Fisher Foundation for Hearing Health Care in 2008 to offer free hearing aids and raise awareness about the importance of annual hearing checkups.
"Everyone should have a baseline hearing exam," she said. "But it's particularly important for anyone over 50. That's when age and the effects of increased medications affect hearing ability and cause tinnitus. It's vital to catch these symptoms early."
This year, those who can't afford hearing aids also have a less expensive option. New, relatively inexpensive "hearing enhancement" devices can improve clarity and stimulate the speech processing area of the brain.
"These new devices are unsophisticated compared to hearing aids, but they're great starting devices," Fisher said. "They provide a boost for those people that have trouble understanding in certain situations."
Attending this year's walk will be Chicago native and former NFL and USFL tackle Reggie Smith. Smith makes it point to attend the event.
"I've seen in my own family what hearing loss can do," he said.
The event also will feature a silent auction, raffle, T-shirts, goody bags and free refreshments to all participants.
The hike isn't just for those with hearing difficulties. It's for all the spouses, relatives, co-workers and friends who are frustrated repeating everything three times, putting up with blaring television sets, or continually having their conversations interrupted with, "What did they say?"
"This is enabling behavior, not love," Fisher said. "And the frustrations, annoyance and anger will get worse as the hearing ability continues to decline."
The hike is an opportunity for a family to find out more about hearing and learn to address this issue.
"We will also have a hearing kiosk set up so anyone can assess their hearing ability and see if they're within the range of normal," Fisher said.
"Hearing is not a luxury, and hearing aids are not a lifestyle choice. If people realized their brain function is at stake, they'd all be running on Aug. 29 … and they'd all get a hearing test."
The registration fee is $35, with all proceeds going toward the work of the Fisher Foundation. Register at fisherfoundationforhearing.org/hike-4-better-hearing/.
If you go
What: Hike 4 Better Hearing 5K Walk/Run
What: 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29
Where: Danada Forest Preserve, 3580 Naperville Road, Wheaton
Cost: $35
Info: <a href="http://fisherfoundationforhearing.org/hike-4-better-hearing/">fisherfoundationforhearing.org/hike-4-better-hearing</a>