T.R. Pierce, chairman of the Teton County Republican Party, wrote with a reminder that serving lunch at the Senior Center of Jackson Hole is always great fun. The Teton County GOP does it the first Friday of each month. In February Barbara Allen, John Held, Babs Munz, Jackie Montgomery, Carole Baker, Shirley Cheramy, Michael Pruett and his daughter Karsen Jewkes helped out. You can join the fun this Friday by contacting T.R. at 733-8111 or tpierce@bojh.com. On the menu are a mixed relish tray, porcupine meatballs, baked sweet potato fries, green beans, roll and apple cobbler.

The following is reprinted from the senior center’s February newsletter and is intended for information only. It should not be considered medical advice about your personal health, which should be obtained directly from your doctor.

At least 28 million Americans have impaired hearing. Approximately 35 percent of people age 65 to 74 and 50 percent age 75 and older have some hearing impairment. It often occurs over decades without pain or visible symptoms. It is anticipated that as baby boomers reach retirement age the number of people with hearing loss will swell. This is the first generation to grow up with rock concerts, high-tech music amplifiers, jet noise, power lawnmowers and other high-impact noises that can injure the body’s delicate hearing mechanism.

Here are a few tips for better hearing:

Act now. Hearing loss can be a tough problem to admit to. It’s often several years between the time people identify hearing loss and the time they get a hearing aid or other help. Aging often brings some hearing loss, particularly the ability to hear high-frequency sounds. But don’t assume getting older means living in a world of muffled sounds and garbled speech. The choices you make today determine how well you’ll hear in the future.

Recognize signs of hearing loss. Do you have problem hearing over the phone? Do you have trouble following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time? Do you turn the TV volume up high? Do you have to strain to understand conversations? Do you have trouble hearing in a noisy background? Do you often ask people to repeat themselves? Do people you talk with seem to mumble or not speak clearly? Do you misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately? Do you have trouble understanding the speech of women and children? Do people get annoyed because you misunderstand what they say?  If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, considering having your hearing tested.

Put a lid on noise. Control your exposure to noise. If you have to shout to be heard by someone an arm’s length away, you are being exposed to too much noise. Consider wearing earplugs or earmuffs.

Get professional help. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association recommends adults have their hearing checked every 10 years through age 50 and every three years after that.

Get the most from hearing aids. Learn about the choices available, sort out your options, list your priorities, keep your expectations realistic and learn how to use and maintain your hearing aids.

Learn about other options. When hearing aids don’t provide successful treatment for hearing loss, you may have other options such as a cochlear implant or a middle ear implant. Discuss these options with your doctor.

Use simple strategies for better hearing. Talk face to face with people, control background noise, ask others to help by telling them you have trouble hearing, ask others to speak clearly without shouting.

Taking action to protect your hearing can have an immediate and positive impact on your quality of life physically, socially and emotionally.

In other senior center news, Ingrid Weber is going to be teaching a beading class 10 a.m. to noon each Wednesday in March. You need to reserve your seat by calling 307-733-7200.

The senior center thanks the following for their memorial donations: Judith and Robert Adams, Barb and Bob Shervin, Joan and John Shipman, Gisela Siwek, Fachon and Roger Wilson, Jeanie and Fred Staehr, and Betty and Chuck Terrill in honor of Elfriede Jourdan; Barb and Bob Shervin for Renee Stinson and Hannah Snow; Karen Gabriel in memory of Donna Hall; Betty and Chuck Terrill, Doris Budge, Renee and Steve Harrington and Bonnie Budge dedicated to Beulah Riggan; Renee and Steve Harrington for Annette Kay; Judy and Jack Swann honoring Gail Moore; Bonnie Budge and Barb and Bob Shervin in memory of Betty Parks; and Jeanie and Fred Staehr to commemorate the life of Joe Tomich.

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Ceci Clover writes weekly on the doings and doers in and around Jackson Hole. Submissions may be sent to circlingthesquare@hotmail.com or call 307-733-8348.