Health Talk

AUDIOLOGY Dr. Jane Kukula, AuD

Q: Why is it easy to lipread some people and not others?

A: Patricia Kricos, PhD with the University of Florida has researched lipreading success. She found that lipreading success depends on the speaking skills of the person talking. Here are two of her findings.

• Asking a person to speak more clearly can increase lipreading effectiveness by 20%.

• With practice of less than an hour, partners of people with a hearing loss can learn to improve their ability to be understood by 40% or more. There are three main aspects of speech that impact lipreading, the rate at which you speak, precise pronunciation of words, and slight pauses between phrases. Speaking a bit slower can be very helpful. Keep in mind you need to use a slow but natural rate of speech. Say words as clearly as possible without exaggerating your mouth movements. Think about each letter in the word as you pronounce them. This will help you to speak more clearly. Also, use short but meaningful pauses. The pauses need to be short so that they do not interrupt the flow of the conversation. Pausing, helps the listener figure out what is said before more information is added. For example, “My husband's sister is coming to visit us in Florida in April” VS “My husband's sister (pause) is coming to visit us (pause) in April”. Often family and friends are willing to re-consider how they speak. Things they can do to help you hear, benefits them as well. Just keep in mind as they get caught up in the conversation, they will likely forget to think about how they are speaking. Accept that this is natural too. Life Sounds Great!

The Hearing Center Advanced Audiology Concepts

8897 Mentor Avenue Mentor, 44060 440-205-8848

LASIK, CATARACTS & LENS IMPLANTS Michael E. Rom, M.D

Q: What is diabetic retinopathy?

A: Diabetic retinopathy is diabetes complication that affects the eyes. This condition is caused by high blood sugar levels which causes the blood vessels behind the retina to leak fluid behind the extremely sensitive nervous tissue, resulting blurred vision or vision loss. Patients with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy, and the more blood sugar is uncontrolled, the more likely the condition will develop. Also, the longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they are to develop the disease. It is estimated that nearly 80% of patients who have had diabetes for at least 10 years have some degree of diabetic retinopathy. Initially, diabetic retinopathy may not show many symptoms. However, as the condition progresses, the common symptoms include floaters and flashes, blurred vision, dark areas, and color vision impairment. The best way to prevent vision loss from diabetic retinopathy is careful and proactive management of diabetes. If you have diabetes, it is crucial to see your eye doctor every year for a dilated eye exam, even if you are not experience any vision problems. If you are a diabetic and have noticed any changes in your vision, please contact your eye doctor as soon as possible to prevent a potential serious vision problem. Michael E. Rom, M.D. Insight Eye Center

Chardon (440) 286-1188 Mentor (440 205-5840 www.insighteyecenter.com

SHOULDER ARTHROSCOPY Eric M. Parsons, M.D.

Q: I was told that I have a torn labrum in my shoulder and that I might require surgery. Can you explain what this means?

A: The glenoid labrum is a rubbery fibrocartilage ring that encircles the socket of the shoulder and provides increased depth and stability to the shoulder joint. Labrum disorders generally come in two forms, those related to the wear and tear effects of normal shoulder use and aging, and those that occur as a result of acute injury. The labrum can be injured anywhere throughout its course but chronic overuse injury most commonly occurs in the superior aspect where it is a termed a superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) tear. SLAP tears are quite common in those of middle age or older and in this setting may not need surgery. SLAP tears that exist as the result of an injury or that are clearly impairing shoulder function are more likely to require surgical repair. SLAP tears can be elusive to identify even with the use of imaging such as MRI scan and the ultimate diagnosis involves a combination of clinical history, physical examination and imaging tests. The labrum is also injured in cases of acute traumatic shoulder dislocation where the ball becomes separated from the socket. Remarkably, the labrum and the ligaments that attach to it heal adequately following some dislocations and a percentage of patients never require surgical treatment. In many cases, however, the healing of the labrum and shoulder ligaments is incomplete or improperly positioned and surgical repair of the labrum and ligaments is necessary to restore shoulder stability. Labrum repair is performed arthroscopically through small incisions with the aid of video technology. The technical aspects of instability repair involve placing small screws in the socket where the labrum normally attaches. The screws are called suture anchors and are made from a special form of biodegradable plastic that the body will naturally absorb over time. The suture anchors are armed with high strength sutures that are then placed through the torn capsule and labrum tissue, and through a variety of pulleytype techniques the tissue is returned back to the bone at the location of the anchor. To view a video of labrum repair visit ohioshouldercenter.com.

Eric M. Parsons, M.D. Ohio Shoulder Center for Arthroscopy Lake Orthopaedic Associates, Inc.

36060 Euclid Ave., Suite 104 Willoughby 440-942-1050 9500 Mentor Ave., Suite 210 Mentor 440-352-1711 www.ohioshouldercenter.com

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Alyson Phelan, MA

Q: Since the isolation required by the coronavirus, my anxiety has increased. I usually like being by myself. Why would it increase now?

A: Many are identifying increased anxiety given the situation and you ask a timely question. Research has shown that a lack of social connection increases health risks as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or having an alcohol use disorder. In fact, loneliness and social isolation are twice as harmful to physical and mental health as obesity. This leads to loneliness. Anxiety, isolation, and loneliness may lead to dissatisfaction with one's family, social, and community life. In these times it is important to utilize tools to help you experience the feeling of connectedness. Becoming a part of an online social group may be particularly effective in lowering the effects of anxiety. An important intervention may also include being outside as much as possible even if it is to sit and observe nature and the activity in your neighborhood. Engaging in physical exercise such as walking or running is especially helpful. Seeking professional help may be necessary and will also be beneficial. At PBHS, we currently offer TeleHealth options for individual therapy, Intensive Outpatient Groups, and Medication Management in order to support with feelings of anxiety, isolation, and loneliness. I work with a highly-trained group of professionals that utilize Dialectical Behavior Therapy, an evidence-based treatment approach, for disorders such as Anxiety. If you or someone you love is struggling with anxiety, please contact us and we will schedule an appointment within 24 hours of your call.

Alyson Phelan, MA

Premier Behavioral Health Service 8701 Mentor Avenue Mentor 44060 440-266-0770

Have your problems addressed by medical professionals in “Health Talk". Jot down your question and mail to: The News-Herald Health Talk 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094