Page 80 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2018- Online Magazine

Richard Howard If We Only Knew Then
What We Know Today!
by Gayle Willson
To Our Vets: Thank you for your service so that we
can experience the freedoms we have today in this
country! Our offices salute you!
Kentucky. In January,
he was sent to
Germany, and Suzi
joined him in May.
This was not exactly
what she had planned
as a young girl for
beginning married life,
but nonetheless, it was
an adventure for them.
The young couple did
have a little time off to
see some of Europe,
but Lt. Howard was a
Tank Platoon Leader,
and that was priority.
Lt. Howard suffered
significant hearing
loss, much of it due to
circumstances he faced
would venture to say that, in while in the military.
every country of the world, The tanks used were M60-
I young girls imagine and 105mm tanks, which produced
dream, look through magazines loud noises. Other machinery
and tear out pictures, so that and training with weapons all
when the day finally arrives and took a toll on his hearing. He
“Mr. Right” pops the question, was issued ear plugs, but these
she is ready to plan a wedding young soldiers many times took
and a life. Cora Sue was one them as a suggestion rather than
of these girls, and “Mr. Right” a recommendation. In coming
was Richard Howard, a 2nd home to civilian life, the well
Lieutenant in the Army, having motors on the farm added to his
4 years of damaged hearing. Mr.
Texas Tech Howard began wearing
ROTC to his hearing aids about 10
credit. Their years ago, after realizing
wedding day that he was missing out
came one on a lot of conversation
week after his and communication
graduation, with family and friends.
and then With the commitment
they left for to his hearing aids, he
his military is now a part of the
training in family interactions and
Ft. Knox, involved again in his
80 Lubbock Senior Link
community activities with clear
understanding.
Noise induced hearing loss
occurs when the nerve cells in
our cochlea are permanently
damaged by being over-exposed
to sounds louder than 85 decibels
over a period of time. “Some 1
billion people worldwide are
at risk for hearing loss due to
exposure to loud sounds.” A
normal conversation is about
60dB. This is not damaging, but
a motorcycle can reach 100dB
and a power saw ll0dB. Teens
listening to an iPod with ear buds
expose their hearing nerve to 100
decibels or more. Other types
of hearing loss are in our genes,
and heredity plays a big part,
depending on the generations
before us and how their DNA is
manifested. Some are more prone
to the loud sounds affecting them
than others.
Another factor is the length
of time a person is exposed to
louder sounds. Many in the
military were exposed to both
negative factors: loud sudden
noises and constant sounds
over 85dB. Mechanics, pilots,
infantrymen, those exposed to
chemicals, those around sirens -
these all experience some degree