Italian Day 2015

Why Italian Day?

The idea for this wonderful Centers for Hearing Care event came from several of our patients of Italian Heritage. In 2005, Sheryl and Fortunato Figliano were married in Tropea, VV Italy (Calabria) and since then, have enjoyed their annual return to vacation with relatives. Upon returning home each year, they are filled with excitement in sharing their experiences and their love of Italy. This stirred an interest from many Centers for Hearing Care patients and the idea came about to hold an “Italian Day” event for our Italian speaking patients.

The initial gathering was a small group of fourteen who shared their intimate stories of immigration as well as the struggles and triumphs that came with adapting to a new life in the United States many years ago. In addition to the abundance of food, a short documentary about Italian-Americans was projected onto the wall in the lobby of our Boardman office. Next, everyone formed a circle as each attendee introduced themselves and shared the part of Italy each had originated. Afterward, each person had the opportunity to tell their personal immigration story. It was during this time that the room came to life as we all stepped back in time. Once everyone had a chance to talk about their lives and their journey to the States, there was not a dry eye in the room. This is what truly fueled the spirit of “Italian Day” and the reason we continue to share it with our friends.

In our first festa, a story was told by a man who spoke of his experience as a teenager, travelling alone from Italy to New York City in anticipation of finding work and reuniting with his father, who had immigrated years earlier. When he arrived on New York’s Ellis Island, he did not know the value of the American Dollar. In an attempt to purchase food before continuing his journey to Youngstown, he realized too late that he had been cheated out of a sizable amount of money and that he no longer had enough money to travel. He found himself in a huge metropolis that he never imagined could ever exist in only knowing the small town from which he came. He was broke, afraid, and embarrassed. He was able to seek aid from fellow Italian-Americans who were able to contact his father. It was at this point in this man’s story that he became emotional in telling the group what happened next. His father had traveled by train from Ohio to New York City to meet him and take him to their new home. Now, as an elderly man sharing his story, he was still very much humbled by the love his father showed him that day. He went on to say that he worked as hard as he could all of his life so as to not let down his father. He was proud that he never experienced another day without money because of his diligence in working hard and being smart to save.

There are many stories told each year since first hosting “Italian Day” that it would take a countless number of blogs to share them all! It is a wonderful experience for all who attend. This year, the event was held at Caffe Capri Restaurant and we had approximately thirty guests. Like in past years, we shared good food and touching stories all tied to a common past. We also managed to collect funds for the Hearing Missions Foundation after this group heard of our efforts to support local and international missions.

 

The love for Italy and the Italian culture still brings this group together and we found that beyond this love, we also share a love and passion for the USA. There is a deep gratitude to the United States of America for the opportunities we have to work and build a great quality of life for our families. This year, one of our Italian American attendees addressed the group with how important it is to buy products made in America, stating that “…this is who we are and we should take care of our own first.” God Bless America!!!

 

Grazie a tutti voi che avete partecipato nella nostra festa italiana. Veramente un onore conoscervi e speriamo di rivedervi presto. Per i nostri amici italiani che non potevano venire, ci vediamo alla prossima! per informazione manda un messaggio via email [email protected] Ciao, i vostri amici di Centers for Hearing Care.

Posted in Events Tagged with: Audiologist, Austintown, Boardman, caffe capri italian restaurant, Calabria, Centers for Hearing Care, Cleveland, Columbiana, Columbiana County, Doctor of Audiology, Figliano, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aid Center, Hearing Aids, hearing loss, Hearing Missions Foundation, Howland, Italian, Italian American, Italian heritage, italian immigration stories, Italian Language, Italy, Liberty, Mahoning County, Northeast Ohio, Ohio, Pepper Pike, Salem, Tropea, Trumbull County, Youngstown

Running for Individuals with Hearing Loss in Financial Crisis

For information on how to donate to Dr. Jessica’s Run

Call 330-779-8090 or Email us at [email protected]

All proceeds go to the Hearing Missions Foundation

7th Annual Camp Chingachgook Challenge 

Half Marathon (13.1 miles)

Saturday, August 15, 2015 Lake George, NY

Hearing Missions Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization reaches out to men, women and children with hearing loss that live in extreme poverty conditions.  Our mission is to identify these hearing impaired persons in deep financial crisis worldwide and to help them one person at a time, with love, compassion and commitment.

For more information, visit us online at www.hearingmissionsfoundation.org

Posted in Events, Hearing Missions Foundation, Hearing Missions Foundation Fundraising Tagged with: 7th Annual Camp Chingachgook Challenge, Audiologist, Austintown, Boardman, Centers for Hearing Care, Cleveland, Columbiana, Columbiana County, Doctor of Audiology, ESPN, Half Marathon, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aid Center, Hearing Aids, hearing loss, Hearing Missions Foundation, Howland, Lake George, Liberty, Mahoning County, Northeast Ohio, NY, Pepper Pike, Salem, Trumbull County, Youngstown

Congratulations Dr. Ashley and Joe!

Dr. Ashley Vandlik is now Dr. Ashley Zifer!!

We wish you all the best in your marriage!

Dr. Ashely Zifer is at both our Pepper Pike (Cleveland) and Boardman offices.

      Click below to make an appointment with Dr. Zifer.

 http://www.centersforhearingcare.com/dr.-ashley-zifer.html

*Photos courtesy of Genevieve Nisly Photography

Posted in Announcements Tagged with: Audiologist, Austintown, Boardman, Centers for Hearing Care, Cleveland, Columbiana, Columbiana County, Doctor of Audiology, Genevieve Nisly Photography, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aid Center, Hearing Aids, hearing loss, Howland, Liberty, Mahoning County, Nikki's Perfect Petal Designs, Northeast Ohio, Occasions Party Centre, Ohio, Pepper Pike, Salem, The Cake Shop, The Dress (Medina), Trumbull County, What to expect with hearing loss, Youngstown

Should I Wear Ear Plugs this Weekend???

by Stefanie Adams, Community Relations Coordinator

Honestly, I have to admit this Independence Day will be the first time I have considered if my family and I should wear ear plugs.  (Brief pause for Audiologists gasping. haha)  I am a new team member at Centers for Hearing Care and I am learning an incredible amount from our fantastic staff, including that much of what I thought I knew about hearing in general is wrong! Yes, I admit it, WRONG!  There are many causes of hearing loss to which I had no idea about, as well as the effects untreated hearing loss can have on someone. Actually, I could go on and on about all the things that have amazed me since I started here, but I will save it for another blog post.

Seriously, I know fireworks are loud, but earplugs and earmuffs? Really?????

I can now tell you the research shows a resounding YES!!!!!

I used to see parents who had their children wearing earmuffs to watch fireworks and would think, “Good for them for being overly cautious! It isn’t that big of a deal though, and I’m not “THAT kind of Mom” who sweats the small stuff (especially with three kids and the youngest of these being two crazy boys)!”  Now I realize, the only nonsensical thing is that the parents weren’t protecting their ears as well!

We DON’T reach an age where our hearing is no longer affected by loud sounds and we certainly NEVER reach an age where our hearing isn’t important and greatly affecting the quality of our lives! Therefore, ear plugs and ear muffs may not be fashionable, however, if you ask me, I would definitely rather spend 20 min wearing them and being “THAT Mom” that makes her family wear them too, then the rest of my life wishing I had!

Please celebrate safely with your loved ones this holiday weekend and every day!  🙂

Below is some of the information I had no idea about….

HAVE YOU HEARD????

Sounds louder than 85db can cause PERMANENT hearing loss.

For a point of reference, here are some common summer sounds and their decibel (dB) levels:

• Rustling leaves: 10 dB
• A whisper: 30 dB
• Humming of a fridge: 40 dB
• A conversation: 60 dB
• Busy street traffic: 70 dB
• Vacuum cleaner: 80 dB
• Lawn mower: 90 dB

And now … how fireworks and other loud noises measure up:

• Fireworks for spectators at 800 feet away: 88 to 126 dB
• Fireworks at 3 feet away: 150 dB
• Chainsaw: 100 dB
• Front row of a rock concert, Maximum output of some MP3 players: 110 dB
• Jet plane take off: 120 dB
• Jackhammer: 130 dB
• Motorcycles, firearms, small firearms: 120 to 150 dB

Posted in Educational Tagged with: adults ear plugs, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Austintown, Boardman, Centers for Hearing Care, Columbiana, Columbiana County, Ear Muffs, Ear Plugs, fireworks, fireworks damage hearing, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aid Center, Hearing Aids, hearing loss, Hearing Missions Foundation, Howland, kids wearing ear muffs, Liberty, Mahoning County, Northeast Ohio, Pepper Pike, Permanent hearing loss, sound decibals, times to wear ear plugs, Trumbull County, Youngstown

WHAT TO EXPECT

by Dr. Ashley (Vandlik) Zifer

Do I have a hearing loss or does everyone just mumble?

The most common type of hearing loss greatly effects clarity of speech. You can hear that someone is talking but making out exactly what was said is difficult with this type of hearing loss. Individuals with undiagnosed hearing loss have the perception that “everyone mumbles” when in fact they are experiencing symptoms of a hearing impairment. Other symptoms of hearing loss include turning up the television, asking others to repeat, difficulty hearing speech in background noise, social withdrawal, or tinnitus. If you or your loved one experience any of these symptoms, it’s essential to have your hearing evaluated. You don’t know what you’ve been missing…..

At Centers for Hearing Care, we pride ourselves in quality patient care. You are always greeted with a smile and treated as if you are a member of our family. Our locations are easily accessible and our schedules are set up to allow for extra time with patients.

During your visit, the audiologist will start by looking in your ears to determine if your hearing problem is potentially caused by conditions in the ear canal (such as wax buildup, ear infection, or foreign object).

The next step is a hearing evaluation. This evaluation, performed by the audiologist, is a painless procedure taken place in a soundproof booth for accurate test results. Throughout the test, you are instructed to listen for very soft beeps at low and high pitches. In addition, the audiologist will test your ability to understand words.

After the evaluation is complete we will explain the science of how hearing works, review the results of your test, and discuss treatment options.

It’s time to reconnect with the world. Being diagnosed with a hearing loss can be shocking for some, especially when the treatment option is to wear hearing aids. This diagnosis is commonly perceived as “getting old” or the thought of wearing a hearing aid can be embarrassing. Isn’t it more embarrassing to always ask others to repeat or inappropriately answer questions because you didn’t hear what was said? Hearing aids have come a long way in style, size, price and technology over the years. If you are a hearing aid candidate, the audiologist will take into consideration your cosmetic, financial, and technology needs to find a product that is perfect for you.

The benefits of wearing a hearing aid are endless. A research study of over 2,000 people found that individuals who wear hearing aids noted significant improvements in many areas in their life including more independence, better relationships at home, and increased attendance to social events. The best part of it all—most hearing aids are so tiny that no one even has to know you are wearing one!

It’s time to take the step towards improving your quality of life! You deserve to take the step towards better hearing. Centers for Hearing Care is here to help you.

Posted in Educational Tagged with: Audiologist, Austintown, Boardman, Centers for Hearing Care, Doctor of Audiology, ear infection, ear wax, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aids, hearing evaluation, hearing loss, hearing problem, Liberty, Northeast Ohio, Ohio, Pepper Pike, Salem, tinnitus, wax buildup, What to expect with hearing loss, Youngstown

Watch us Grow!

Centers for Hearing Care has been part of Northeast Ohio for over 26 years and counting…

Our staff is dedicated and passionate to serve you!

We have grown to 21 team members and 7 locations!

Austintown – Boardman – Columbiana – Howland – Liberty – Pepper Pike – Salem

Posted in Meet Our Staff Tagged with: All American, Audiologist, Austintown, Boardman, Centers for Hearing Care, Columbiana, Columbiana County, Doctor of Audiology, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aid Center, Hearing Aids, Hearing Missions Foundation, Howland, Liberty, Mahoning County, Northeast Ohio, Ohio, Patient Appreciation, Pepper Pike, Picnic, Salem, Trumbull County, White, Youngstown

Patient Appreciation Picnic 2015

Patient Appreciation Picnic! 

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

11:30am-2:00pm

Boardman Park

RSVP by June 5, 2015

Posted in Events Tagged with: All American, Audiologist, Austintown, Boardman, Boardman Park, Centers for Hearing Care, Columbiana, Columbiana County, Doctor of Audiology, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aid Center, Hearing Aids, Hearing Missions Foundation, Howland, Liberty, Mahoning County, Northeast Ohio, Ohio, Patient Appreciation, Pepper Pike, Picnic, Red White Blue, Salem, Trumbull County, Youngstown

Welcome to our Blog!!

We are delighted to begin sharing our thoughts, hearts, and expertise with you to maintain a healthy hearing lifestyle!  Whether you experience hearing loss or someone you love, hearing loss affects all of us.  We have an excellent team of Audiologists and Patient Care Coordinators that will be blogging to help you achieve the best quality of life you can!

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged with: Audiologist, Austintown, Boardman, Centers for Hearing Care, Columbiana, Columbiana County, Doctor of Audiology, Hearing Aid, Hearing Aid Center, Hearing Aids, Hearing Missions Foundation, Howland, Liberty, Mahoning County, Northeast Ohio, Ohio, Pepper Pike, Salem, Trumbull County, Youngstown