Page 84 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021- Online Magazine
P. 84
Hugh McCreery Semper Paratus
(Always Ready)
by Gayle Willson
grandfather wearing hearing
aids. Noise-induced hearing
loss occurs when the nerve cells
in the cochlea are permanently
damaged by being overexposed
to sounds louder than 85
decibels over time. Some one
billion people worldwide are
from Alaska to at risk for hearing loss due to
Seattle, to New exposure to loud sounds. A
York to Alabama normal conversation is about 60
and San Francisco, dB. This is not damaging, but
where he retired in a motorcycle can reach 100 dB
1976. They moved and a power saw 110dB. An iPod
to Plano, and later with ear buds can expose the
to Abernathy. At hearing nerve to 100 decibels or
his retirement, more. Other types of hearing loss
he was presented are in our genes, heredity playing
a lens from the a big part. Some are more prone
lighthouse at YBI. to the effects of loud sounds
Since he shares than others. Another factor is
the same love the length of time a person is
of the base as exposed to louder sounds. Many
Admiral Nimitz, in the military were exposed to
his lens has been
ommander Hugh all the detrimental factors: loud
McCreery is one of our donated to the Nimitz Museum sudden noises and constant
Cclients, who served our in Fredericksburg, Texas. Hugh sounds over 85 dB – people like
country well in the Coast Guard. married his sweetheart, Dorothy mechanics, pilots, infantrymen,
Mr. McCreery was born in 1933 in 1960, and they have two and anyone exposed to chemicals
and volunteered for the Coast daughters, Nancy Pennington and frequent sirens.
Guard in 1954. He patrolled the and Mary McCreery. Mary and
mid-ocean Pacific waters, was husband Keith Markham live and There are other factors that
stationed in the Inner Harbor farm in Abernathy. Keith is an many don’t realize can cause
Light House in San Francisco – Army veteran who served eight damaging effects on hearing.
Yerba Buena Island (YBI), and, years in Germany and Honduras Some medications can be ototoxic
for most of his 22 years, worked in the active reserve. (hearing nerve damage) and can
in the Inspections Office. He did Commander McCreery suffers be avoided or substituted. More
not see combat but, during his from a severe hearing loss – than 200 medications can be the
time on patrol, carefully guarded from noise exposure, genetics cause. Research has found that
the Aleutian Islands and and presbycusis. The loud dB many over-the-counter pain
commercial Trans-Pacific flights. sounds from the military, as relievers can cause hearing loss in
well as his own genetics, have women. Chemotherapy can have
Mr. McCreery’s career in the the same result in both genders.
Coast Guard kept him living in caused him to wear two hearing When a course of medication is
all parts of the United Stated, aids; he also remembers his necessary for improved health,
84 Lubbock Senior Link
