For those that are hard of hearing it must be a frustrating thought to visit the theatre and worry whether or not they will be able to hear the words spoken by the actors. However, many theatres have facilities in place to help those with hearing difficulties to hear the whole show. This is thanks to audio induction loop systems, which allow a person with a hearing aid to enjoy the show clearly, whether it is someone talking or if it is the music performed by a band or orchestra.
The system works via a loop of cable circling around a specific area and this creates a magnetic field, which is then picked up via the user’s hearing aid. They are often found in auditoriums around the country, though they can also be used in other areas in which someone might need assistance in hearing important information or entertainment. So as well as in the auditoriums of theatres one might also find audio induction loops in tickets kiosks or in taxis or other locations, making them widespread systems across the country.
Likewise some theatres may have an infra red system in use, with headsets that can be picked up at the box office. In this case the audio source will pass through a transmitter (the infra red device) and will then be received by a listening device.
Whichever system a theatre opts for those that are hard of hearing will be able to enjoy the show like anyone else, so those with difficulties in this area should not be put off purchasing theatre tickets.
Everyone wants to change something about their look; whether it’s a despised nose, an ugly smile, or wrinkled skin. But the biggest thing that people want to change is their weight. Dieting seems to be the obvious weight loss method, but in general a whopping 95% of diets fail in the long run – many even turn to procedures like weight loss surgery. Why is this?
Diets are Short Term
The positive energy we have at the start of a diet will sustain us for a few days, usually a couple of weeks at most, but eventually banning ourselves completely from eating our favourite foods will wear us down and usually ends with a binge upon on the tasty, sugary restricted foods.
The best way of avoiding this is simply not to diet! Big changes are harder to maintain and diet changes are often drastic. Making small changes, one at a time and gradually building up to a new lifestyle is less sudden and will lead to more attainable goals. Think of the process most smokers go through when quitting. Most people reduce what they smoke before quitting completely, as going “cold turkey” is a guaranteed way to fail in both your smoking and diet aspirations. Healthy eating coupled with exercise are the best ways to lose weight and always remembered to reward yourself with something sweet every now and again, so no food becomes a tempting taboo.
Diets Don’t Work Over Night
We live in a world where anything you want is at your fingertips and can be obtained in a matter of days. As such it is quite common to go into dieting with this same mindset, especially when weight loss shows on TV show people losing large amounts of weight in a week.
In actually the maximum amount of weight you should aim to lose is roughly one to two pounds a week, so your weight loss is healthy, rather than drastic. This rate can alter from person to person however, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t lose much in a week and remember that losing weight is a long-term change of lifestyle, not a quick fix.
Slow Metabolism
Blaming a slow metabolism is an excuse many of us use (me included!) when a diet is not going to plan, or we put on weight after a diet. Your metabolism can slow down if you regularly try to diet but then give up within a few days or weeks. Your body becomes used to these short “famines” when your calorie intake shortens for a small amount of time and has learnt to use as few calories as possible while resting and store as many as possible after eating, to stock up when “famine” diets come along again. This erratic change in diet therefore adds to your body’s ability to retain weight and is a bad idea for anyone looking to lose weight permanently.
The best way to encourage healthy weight loss is to exercise while dieting. Fat will be burned rather than muscle mass, aiding your weight loss goals.
As with hearing loss, snoring is a problem of great magnitude for many people and a constant lack of sleep can try the patience of even the most laid back of people, but how can you stop snoring? Well there are a number of medical treatments that you can seek, but if this doesn’t sound like a good option then you will be happy to know that there are a number of natural and simple ways for you combat your snoring problems.
Natural remedies
First of all there are a number of natural remedies you can try, these include; avoiding caffeine and heavy meals two hours before you go to bed, sleeping on your side instead of your back, clearing your nasal passage can help too and you can try simple solutions such as nasal strips to make it easier to breathe during the night.
Make sure the air in your bedroom is always moist as the dry air can aggravate membranes located in the throat and nose. Finally try repositioning yourself at night, as raising your head as little as four inches can have a massive impact, as it moves the tongue and jaw forward to prevent you from snoring. There are also special pillows available on the market to help you combat snoring, which lift your head for you.
Lifestyle changes
Aside from this there are also natural lifestyle changes you can make instead of seeking stop snoring treatment, such as exercising, which can tone muscles in your throat, resulting in less snoring and the weight you lose can also help, as it can reduce the fatty tissue around the throat and decrease your risk of snoring. Quitting smoking can help too, as smoking can cause the airways to block and irritate throat and nose membranes. Avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills can also help, as these both relax muscles, including the throat muscles, which can result in snoring.
If these don’t help then remember there is medical help you can get, as there is for hearing probables and hearing loss, like that offered by organisations such as The Private Clinic, but beforehand you can try out these simpler solutions as there are quite a few to choose from.
Most people associate snoring with adult males, but it is also fairly common among children. There are many different reasons why children snore and usually there is nothing to worry about. However, if your child snores on a regular basis it is worth seeing your GP who will be able to advise you on how to stop snoring in your child.
Why do children snore?
One of the most common causes of child snoring is illness. Children are susceptible to colds and coughs because their immune systems are not fully developed and infections tend to fly around schools and nurseries. If a child has a cough or a cold they may have inflamed sinuses, which will make them feel bunged up and cause difficulties with breathing.
If you smoke your child may inhale the smoke (this is known as passive smoking) and this may cause them to snore. Passive smoking will also increase their risk of developing coughs and respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, which will increase the likelihood of them snoring.
Inflamed adenoids or tonsils can also cause children to snore, so it is always a good idea to see your GP if your child snores on a regular basis.
If your child has a retrognathia jaw shape this can also contribute to snoring, as the facial structures develop at different speeds. Most children will not require any treatment, but if your child experiences problems you should take them to see their GP.
Obesity is another possible cause of snoring and children who are overweight are more likely to snore than children with a healthy body weight. If your child is overweight encourage them to lose weight by eating healthy foods and doing plenty of exercise.
What should I do if my child snores?
If your child snores now and again this is probably due to their sleeping position or the result of an illness such as a cold. However, if they snore on a regular basis it is advisable to take them to see their GP. Ask your GP about how to stop snoring and they may recommend some snoring treatments.
In rare cases, snoring may be a symptom of sleep apnoea. If your child has symptoms including snoring, a lack of concentration, mouth breathing and behavioural problems, arrange to see your GP.
