A Magnificent Monday introducing the Waiting Week soon Turning to a Terrific Tuesday,

They used to put you in this big box with over-sized earphones and a clicker to push when you heard sounds. This was called a hearing test. Some corporations and military organization would give these regularly. Such gratuitous regularity has been greatly diminished by the rising costs of medical care and procedures. Today, we know of the availability of such tests by visiting the local discount center or receiving fliers in the mail. Hearing tests are still a very good idea, because it is good to hear when you are being spoken to and about.

“Oto” is an introductory or prefix phraseology that refers to the “ear.” Otology is that area of medicine that listens most closely to matters of hearing and the ear. The hearing test in that sound-proof booth is administered by an audiologist using an audiometer to measure the subject’s hearing perception. “Audio” is a word prefix for “sound.”

After that test in the box, if you need a super specialist to listen even more closely, you may be sent to a “otolaryngologist,” which is one of my favorite words. Otolaryngologists are physicians that treat the ear, nose and throat (referred to by the acronym “ENT”). These doctors are also called ENT physicians. I like “otolaryngologists.” The term is much more impressive, is definitely harder to spell and is one great sounding word.

By the way, otolaryngology is said by at least one source to be the oldest medical specialty in the United States. Family or general medicine is arguably the oldest medical specialty because it addresses all of the person and all of the family, but it seems to ring somewhat true that in the US we would be most concerned with what we say, how it is said and what did you hear?

If you didn’t hear that, so to speak, you may have “presbycusis,” another of my favorite words. Presbycusis is from the Greek “presbys” for elder and “akousis” for hearing. You figured it out. The term describes age-related hearing loss. We will all have presbycusis as we progress forward in our lives. It is a very normal part of our aging process as humans and it should not concern us that it occurs, but we may want to listen for it and manage it when it does.

To hear if you may have presbycusis, listen if you seem not to hear as well bilaterally (it sounds softer in both ears) and symmetrically (it sounds about the same softer in both ears). Presbycusis is bilateral and symmetrical. It is also most common in the higher frequency ranges (high-pitched tones), which may explain why I sometimes have trouble hearing Mary – women’s voices are higher pitched than men’s. This is a very important for men to hear, because those lady voices are probably the ones you want to hear the very best and listen to the closest.

So, if you find yourself rubbing that ear and wondering what she said, pop on over to your friendly audiologist’s office and have a hearing test — just to be sure. While you’re there, be sure to drop the terms “presbycusis” and “otolaryngologist.” Hearing folks love the sound of those words. They will laugh, you will relax, and both of you will have a great hearing test.

Enjoy the day listening to those around you and hearing what they say, especially the ladies in your life,

Grandpa Jim