Public Speaking: Short, Sweet and Funny

Introducing Our Speaker This Evening,

John M. Adams III

I’m often asked to speak to groups about hearing loss. Now, I know speakers who go in with slide shows, frequency charts and other visual aids that, frankly, confuse the audience.

I use a different approach. When asked to speak, I keep it short, sweet and, if I can add a little humor, so much the better. After all, hearing health is not the most compelling topic to a 16-year old.

I urge all owners of hearing aid retail outlets to get out in to the community, not to sell hearing aids, but to teach audiences of all ages, the basics of hearing health. Now, I know, the thought of speaking in front of a group of people is a little, well, terrifying, so to help you get started, here’s the basic speech I use for speaking events.

You can expand it, shorten it, add to it, use it however works best for you and your audience. It’s been successful for me so you’ll keep your audiences’ attention, you’re only on stage for a few minutes and you might actually get a chuckle or two.

So, without further ado, here’s YOU!!! (applause, applause)

Thank you. Thank you.

I’m hear today to talk to you about hearing, or more specifically NOT hearing. Hearing loss affects 27 million Americans, some sitting in this room right now picking up every other word I say. I’ll try to talk a little louder.

Hearing loss is caused by a number of factors. Age is, perhaps, the most common so for those of you who remember 8-tracks (shout) HI, HOW YOU DOIN’? Illness is a common cause of hearing loss. So is exposure to loud noise over a long period of time. If you’re standing next to a jackhammer eight hours a day without any hearing protection, you’re damaging your hearing mechanism.

Your ear is much more than that thing you see outside your head. It’s made up of lots of tiny parts – the ear drum, three tiny bones, the cochlea (you don’t have to know these for the test) and other delicate parts that are damaged when exposed to loud noise day in and day out.

Sudden, loud noise – called concussive noise – is also a cause of hearing loss. 35% of our military returning from Iraq and Afghanistan experience some degree of hearing loss – even though these troops are equipped with hearing protection. The problem is, they won’t use it. They’re afraid of missing a warning sound of danger - a footfall in the dark – and if I were walking through an Afghan village at 2:00 on foot patrol, I’d want to hear any potential danger ASAP. So we can’t blame our troops for resisting hearing protection when their lives are at stake.

The Best Cure Is Protection

Here’s the thing about hearing loss. In most cases, once it’s gone it’s gone for good. So, for those who still have good hearing, protect what you have. It’s a wonderful gift. And for those who’ve noticed a loss in hearing, it still pays to protect what you have so wear ear cups, ear plugs and other protective ear gear whenever you’re around loud noise.

Assisted Hearing Devices

I want to switch topics to keep it short. I want to talk to you about those assisted hearing devices you see on TV for $14.95 plus shipping and handling? Please, don’t buy one, don’t use one. These devices actually do more harm than good and here’s why.

You – the user – will naturally turn the device up as loud as necessary to hear clearly. That’s often too loud and, in fact, so loud that you further damage your hearing causing even more problems.

Hearing Aids

Here’s my biased recommendation, but be assured, it’s a good one. Go see a hearing health professional. Today’s hearing aids are discrete, automated and comfortable to wear. Not like the olden days.

These hearing aids can be tuned to your specific hearing loss, delivering a clearer, more natural sound.

Now, I’m not here today to sell hearing aids. I’m here to talk to you about hearing health.

Again, step one: protect what you got by wearing ear cups, ear plugs or some other hearing protection whenever you’re around loud noise at home, on an airplane, in the workplace – wherever.

Turn down the volume. How many of you use an IPod or MP3 player? And how many keep those ear buds plugged in for hours each day? Hate to tell you this but somewhere down the line you’re going to experience hearing loss and you aren’t going to be pleased about it. So unplug yourself.

We live in a noisy world, no matter where we live – city or farm. Be aware of the noise levels around you in a restaurant, a party or even in the kitchen at home. Give your ears some time to recover by sitting quietly and reading, meditating or taking a nap. Whatever, just unplug.

Finally, make an appointment to have a hearing evaluation. It’s painless and it will point out the type and extent of hearing loss you have, if you do, indeed, have hearing loss.

At this stage, you can talk to your hearing pro about solutions or walk away. But you won’t know what you’re missing if you don’t hear the entire spectrum of sounds that surround you.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to hear me out. I hope you all leave here to making appointments with your healthy hearing specialists.

Isn’t it time?

Thank you.