NATL PROTECT YOUR HEARING MONTH: LEXINGTON & SAM ASH MUSIC OFFER FREE HEARING SCREENINGS

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NEW YORK - October 17, 2011 - Imagine not being able to hear all the beautiful sounds of life through music? Hearing specialists have become increasingly aware that virtually all genres of music, even classical, ...

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NEW YORK - October 17, 2011 - Imagine not being able to hear all the beautiful sounds of life through music? Hearing specialists have become increasingly aware that virtually all genres of music, even classical, have the potential to produce noise-induced hearing loss, most of which is preventable and treatable. To address the growing concern about hearing loss among musicians and music listeners, the Lexington Hearing and Speech Center, NY's foremost resource for the deaf and hearing impaired, and Sam Ash Music, the iconic music retailer, are teaming up to offer free hearing screenings at Sam Ash's flagship Manhattan location during National Protect Your Hearing Month.

Lexington's Mobile Hearing unit will be at Sam Ash, 156 West 48th Street, on Thursday, October 20, 2011 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., where certified New York State audiologists will perform free screenings for musicians and music lovers on a first-come, first-served basis. The screenings are painless and take less than five minutes.

"Music is our passion and we want to make sure that those who make the music and those who listen to it are able to hear all the rich sounds as the artists intended," said Paul Ash, president, Sam Ash Music Corporation. "We encourage everyone to know the signs of hearing loss, take measures to help prevent it and have their hearing checked regularly. There's no reason for anyone to miss out on music."

"Hearing protection is often overlooked by musicians and we thank Sam Ash for their part in helping us spread the word about hearing loss among musicians and music lovers," said Adele I. Agin, Executive Director of the Lexington Hearing and Speech Center. "By protecting our hearing, knowing the signs of hearing loss and having annual hearing screenings, we all may be able to enjoy the sweet sound of music for many years to come."

The American Academy of Audiology estimates that 36 million American adults have some degree of treatable hearing loss, and over half of those are younger than age 65. Musicians and others exposed to loud music or noise have hearing losses greater than expected for their ages. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that one in five teenagers now shows signs of hearing loss, mostly due to portable music devices utilizing earbuds. Experts agree that regular hearing screenings and knowing the signs of hearing loss can help ensure good hearing health and identify any potential problems.

Protecting your Hearing
Some of the signs of hearing loss include asking people to repeat themselves, turning an ear toward a sound to hear it better, keeping the volume of the radio or television at a level others say is too loud, or if pain or ringing in the ears. "People who find themselves in any of these situations should see an audiologist for a hearing examination," said Ms. Agin. "The slightest hearing loss can have a great impact your daily life."

The hearing health professionals at Lexington recommend the following to help maintain good hearing health among musicians and listeners alike:

Turn the volume down to at least the halfway point on personal music players and consider switching from earbuds to headphones. Earbuds, which nestle near the eardrum, have been linked to noise-induced hearing loss.
Use earplugs when you are around loud music for prolonged periods of time. Many earplugs on the market today offer discreet, transparent and natural sound protection and are barely noticeable even from a few inches away.
Be aware of the symptoms of hearing loss.
Have your hearing checked by an audiologist every year.

About Lexington Hearing and Speech Center
An affiliate of the Lexington School for the Deaf, the Lexington Hearing and Speech Center is part of the largest organization serving the deaf and hard of hearing community in New York State. Located in Jackson Heights, Queens, in New York City, Lexington Hearing and Speech Center provides a complete range of hearing testing and audiology services for infants, children, adults and seniors, utilizing state-of-the-art hearing booths and audiology equipment. It is the home of one of New York City's most technically advanced hearing testing suites, large enough to accommodate children, families, seniors, and populations who need special accommodations. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 718-350-3171, email hearingandspeech@lexnyc.org, or visit www.lexnyc.org.

About Sam Ash
Founded in 1924 in Brooklyn, New York, Sam Ash Music is the nation's largest family-owned musical instrument retailer. The Sam Ash family of companies is involved in all aspects of musical instruments, recording, and professional sound retailing and distribution. Sam Ash's direct response subsidiary, Sam Ash Quikship Corp., manages the SamAsh.com website and has corporate offices in Hicksville, NY. The company operates a state of the art call center and distribution center in Tampa, FL, where it also services the educational market through its Educational Services business. The hallmark of Sam Ash Quikship is its huge selection of musical gear, guaranteed lowest prices, and expert service for musicians and educational institutions throughout the U.S.A. The company's recently re-launched website, http://www.samash.com, provides a world-class shopping experience for musicians nationwide.

The Sam Ash Music family of companies also includes a retail subsidiary with 45 Musical Instrument Megastores in 16 states. Sam Ash retail customers range from novice musicians to the most familiar names in music. Sam Ash's huge inventory of musical instruments and accessories, sound and recording equipment, books, music and videos, computers and music software is unrivalled.