Page 22 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 2, 2022 avvya yavvy eniiooravvy S iorn or vvy io iori by Jim Miller How to Buy Over-theCounter Hearing Aids Dear Savvy Senior, I’m interested in getting some of the new over-the-counter hearing aids that just became available a few months ago. Can you off er any tips to help me with this? Straining to Hear Dear Straining, The new FDA approved over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids that started rolling out this fall are a real game changer for the roughly 48 million Americans with hearing loss. Adults with impaired hearing can now walk in and buy hearing aids at a pharmacy, big box chain, consumer electronics store or online, without a prescription and without consulting an audiologist. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved this new class of hearing aids to lower prices and improve their availability. About a third of people ages 65 to 74 and half of those over age 75 have hearing loss severe enough to aff ect their daily life. Yet about 80 percent of people who would benefi t from hearing aids don’t wear them, according to the National Institutes of Health, primarily because of the hefty price tag. Traditional hearing aids ordered through an audiologist cost anywhere from $1,000 to $7,000 a pair and are not covered by most private insurers and traditional Medicare. The new OTC hearing aids range from $200 up to $3,000. Who Should Get Them? OTC hearing aids are specifi cally designed for adults (18 and older) who have mild to moderate hearing loss. You don’t need a hearing exam or prescription to buy them, and they are designed so you can fi t and tune them yourself. Do you have mild to moderate hearing loss? The specifi c signs are having trouble hearing or understanding conversations, especially in noisier environments, over the phone, or if you can’t see who’s talking. Or, if you need a higher volume of TV, radio or music than other people, or have to ask others to speak more slowly, louder or repeat what they said. If, however, your hearing problem is more severe than that, for example, if you also have trouble hearing loud sounds such as power tools or motor vehicles, or if you struggle to hear conversations in quiet settings, then your hearing loss is considered more signifi cant than over-the-counter aids are intended to address. To help you get a basic sense of your hearing problem, you can take an app-based test like Mimi (mimi.health) or SonicCloud (soniccloud.com). If you fi nd that your hearing loss is signifi cant, you’ll need to work with an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist to fi nd a hearing aid that works for you. What to Look For To help you choose a good OTC hearing aid that meets your needs and preferences, here are some important points to keep in mind. Return policy: It can take weeks for your brain to adjust to hearing louder sounds through a hearing aid, so be sure to choose a brand that off ers at least a 30-day free trial period, or money back return policy. The FDA requires manufactures to print their return policy on the package. Set up: Many OTC hearing aids require a smartphone or computer to adjust and operate the devices to your specifi c needs, while others have the controls on the device. This will also be labeled on the box. Choose one that fi ts your preference and comfort level. Battery: The package also should tell you what kind of battery the device uses. Some of the older versions of hearing aids have replaceable batteries, but many of the newer ones have rechargeable batteries that come in a charging case, where you charge them up every night. Customer support: Some companies off er unlimited customer support to help you adjust or fi ne-tune your hearing aids, while others might limit support or charge extra. Be sure you check. For more information, including product reviews, see the National Council on Aging’s OTC hearing aids buyer’s guide at NCOA. org/adviser/hearing-aids/over-the-counter-hearing-aids. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. OBITUARIES Beverly “June” (Amicangioli) Borseti Of Malden.Passed away unexpectedly on Monday, November 28, 2022 at Tufts Medical Center in Boston at age 92. She was a lifelong resident of Malden. June was born on June 24, 1930 in Malden, one of six children of the late Nicola and Margaret (Cowling) Amicangioli. Raised and educated in Malden, she graduated from Malden High School, and from Fisher College Secretarial School. June worked as a medical secretary for many years including over 20 years at Mass General Hospital in Boston. After the unfortunate passing of her husband, Malden Police Offi cer Frank J. Borseti, she persevered as a strong, loving and supportive mother for her four children. A true matriarch, June was humble and selfl ess yet served as the rock of her family. Generations of family members relied on her genuine care and concern. She served as host for many family holidays, events, and was always up for a laugh around the table fi lled Need a hall for your special event? The Schiavo Club, located at 71 Tileston Street, Everett is available for your Birthdays, Anniversaries, Sweet 16 parties and more? Call Paul at (617) 387-5457 for details. ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ ADVERTISEMENT MHA-PH1SS#TO061819-3 The Malden Housing Authority, the Awarding Authority, invites sealed bids from General Contractors for the Window and Siding Replacement Project at 8 buildings: (14 units), at the following locations: 14-16 Mauriello Dr., 20-22 Spring St., 117 Beachview Ave., 118-120 Beachview Ave., 121-123 Beachview Ave., 124-126 Beachview Ave., 131 Converse St., 161-163 Adams St., Malden MA 02148, in accordance with the documents prepared by MKA Architecture, LLC, 1 Holden Street, Brookline, MA 02445. The Project consists of the replacement of windows in the eight buildings and replacement of existing siding with vinyl siding, misc. trim and details in selected locations as shown on the Drawings and described in the Specifications. The Work, including all alternates for the project, is estimated to cost $501,000 Bids are subject to M.G.L. c.149 §44A-J & to minimum wage rates as required by Davis-Bacon. Electronic Bids will be received until 2:00 P.M., January 5, 2023. All bids shall be submitted electronically online at www.Projectdog.com no later than the date and time specified above. Hard copy bids will not be accepted by the Awarding Authority. Tutorials, instructions and videos on how to complete the electronic bid documents are available online as well as in the Instructions to Bidders. For assistance, call Projectdog, Inc at 978-499-9014 (M - F 8:30AM - 5PM). General bids shall be accompanied by a bid deposit that is not less than five (5%) of the greatest possible bid amount (considering all alternates) and made payable to Malden Housing Authority. Bid forms and contract documents will be available on 12/7/2022 at www.Projectdog. com or for pick-up at: Projectdog, Inc, 18 Graf Road, Suite 8 Newburyport, MA 978-499-9014 (M-F 8:30AM - 5PM). Go to www.Projectdog.com and click Sign Up for free, or login with your existing account. Enter Project Code 853020 in the project locator box. Select “Acquire Documents” to download documents, review a hard copy at Projectdog’s physical location, or request a free project CD. A pre-bid conference and site visit will be held on December 14, 2022, at 1:00PM, starting outside 121-123 Beachview Street, Malden, MA 02148. December 02, 2022 with her family members. She loved providing food and comfort for her family and close friends, and encouraged all to strive for the best in life, especially in their education. She enjoyed bringing people together with her generous heart, and her unassuming and kind way. An avid reader, June was a regular visitor and supporter of the Malden Public Library her entire life. She was also a lifelong, passionate music lover. Through the years, she taught piano lessons from her home to many Malden children, and enjoyed playing into her 90’s. She enjoyed traveling to Las Vegas, New Orleans, Aruba and Canada with friends, but was most comfortable at home in Malden, or spending time at their home in Dennis on Cape Cod. She enjoyed gathering family together for holidays or weekends at the Cape or spending time at Bayview Beach in the summer. Most of all, June was a self-reliant, strong yet humble woman who shared her big heart with those around her. She was beloved by all, and enjoyed a life centered around providing love for her family. She will be deeply missed, but her selfl ess nature and quiet strength will continue in the hearts and minds of her family as her legacy. June was the beloved wife of the late Frank J. Borseti with whom she shared 30 years of marriage. DevotOBITUARY | SEE PAGE 23
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