You At Your Best

Hearing allows us to look in all directions A fast approaching ambulance, a tornado siren, a loved one in distress. What do all these things have in common? They may be heard before the danger is seen. While our vision alerts us to any potential hazard in front of us, hearing allows us to look in all directions. Hearing keeps us safe by keeping us in tune with our environment. It is our very own warning system, alerting us to dangers we may not see. While we close our eyes to sleep, hearing never stops. It actively surveys our environment to alert and wake us if necessary. Like our eyesight we tend to take our hearing for granted, assuming it will always be there for us, even though hearing loss affects 1 out of 3 adults aged 65 or older. Hearing impairment develops so gradually that many aren't even aware of a problem until it has advanced beyond an easily treatable stage. This could be avoided if we treated our ears with the same care and attention paid to our eyes; much like routine vision exams, regular hearing exams are an excellent first line of defense. Early detection increases the odds of successful treatment. Hearing exams are quick, painless and even fun. When the time is right for you, consider scheduling your annual hearing evaluation at Wolfpack Hearing! In addition to hearing evaluations, they also offer hearing aids, hearing aid adjustments, repairs, cleanings and maintenance, cerumen (ear wax) removal, tinnitus evaluation and treatment, occupational testing, and auditory rehabilitation. Owner and Audiologist Dustin Richards, Au.D., Managing Director Marla Richards, MS, LD, RD, and Director of Operations Sarah Jones, MS, LD, RD, are joined together in a common goal — to help meet the needs of those with hearing problems. Visit Wolfpack Hearing Clinic at 2630 E. Citizens Drive, #7 in Fayetteville; located at the intersection of Crossover and Mission in Kantz Center. They can also be contacted by phone at 479-957-9300 or by visiting www.wolfpackhearing.com. SpOnSOr COntent bY KAren rICe YOu At YOur beSt We learn so much about our world through the sense of touch. A lot of that touching activity has been taken away in the wake of the global COVID-19 outbreak. Suddenly, we aren't shaking hands or high-fiving. We're not touching the softness of fabrics in a retail store or testing the ripeness of fruit at the grocery store. And when we do come in contact with the outside world, we rush to wash our hands or use hand sanitizer. Clean hands can prevent the spread of disease. But what's the best way to do that? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that preventing the spread of sickness through handwashing is most effective when people know which method to use when cleaning their hands. When to use soap and water The following are common situations when the CDC advises using soap and water to clean hands. • Before, during and after preparing food • Before eating food • Before and after caring for someone who is sick • Before and after treating a cut or wound • After using the bathroom, changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the bathroom • After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing • After touching an animal, animal food or treats, animal cages, or animal waste • After touching garbage • If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy When washing with soap and water, the CDC advises people to wet their hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and applying soap. Lather the hands by rubbing them together with the soap, making sure to scrub all surfaces of the hands, including palms, backs, fingers, between fingers, and under the nails. Scrub for 20 seconds before rinsing hands clean under running water and drying your hands, be it with a clean towel or air drying. When to use alcohol-based hand sanitizer Hand sanitizer should not be applied to hands that are dirty or greasy. Hands that become dirty or greasy after activities such as gardening or fishing should be cleaned with soap and water. The CDC advises using alcohol-based hand sanitizer: • Before and after visiting a friend or a loved one in a hospital or nursing home, unless the person is sick with Clostridium difficile (if so, use soap and water to wash hands). • If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol, and wash with soap and water as soon as you can. Children should always be supervised when applying alcohol-based hand sanitizer. When using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, the CDC recommends covering all surfaces of the hands with the product before rubbing hands together until they feel dry, which should happen after roughly 20 seconds. What about gloves? The CDC says that gloves should fit the users' hands comfortably. Gloves can only prevent the spread of pathogens if hand hygiene is performed before and after wear. To remove gloves properly, pinch the outside of one glove at the wrist without touching bare skin. Peel the glove away from the body, pulling it inside out. Hold the glove just removed in the other gloved hand and dispose of it. For the remaining glove, slide your fingers inside the glove at the top of the wrist, being careful not to touch the outside of the glove. Again, turn the second glove inside out while pulling it away from the body. Dispose of the glove properly. Don't touch that! Hand hygiene in the time of COVID-19 8 | YOu At YOur beSt | nWADg.COm/YOuAtYOurbeSt September - COme tO YOur SenSeS | SunDAY, AuguSt 30, 2020 Ad Number: 083020e4801 Located in East Fayetteville 2630 E Citizens Dr. #7 479-957-9300 www.wolfpackhearing.com Our patients succeed. You will, too! Best of Northwest Arkansas the

• Cover