William Jefferson Clinton is the First Political Selection in the Hard of Hearing Hall of Fame

From: The Hard of Hearing Hall of Fame - Jul 5, 2006

The Hard of Hearing Hall of Fame (www.hardofhearinghalloffame.com) is proud to announce the selection of William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd president of the United State of America as the 2006 Political Person selection for the Hard of Hearing Hall of Fame. Clinton is the initial Political Person honoree. Selection criteria is based on consideration of Bill Clinton’s achievement as president, his continued world-wide community activism, and his own hearing loss.

"Clinton's loss was caused in part by age, and in part by exposure to loud noises, especially from musical instruments. Parents of teenagers may want to learn more about how exposure to loud music can cause their teens to lose their hearing."
-- Article Late Deafened - President Clinton Gets Hearing Aids from About.com

According to the National Health Information Survey there has been an increase of 26 percent in the United States for 45 to 64 year olds from 1971 to 1990. Bill Clinton is a prime example of this statistic. Bill Austin, president of Starkey Laboratories, a hearing aid company fitted Clinton with hearing aids at the relatively young age of 51. Through the normal aging process Clinton might not have needed hearing aids until he reached his sixties. When questioned about Clinton's hearing loss and loud music Austin said, "No question, that's what did it."

More and more baby-boomers are being fitted for hearing aids, although many face the disability with denial. "The average person with a hearing loss will duck and hide for about seven years," said Austin.

"Bill Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe III on August 19, 1946, in Hope, Arkansas, three months after his father died in an automobile accident. In high school, he took the name of his step father, Roger Clinton of Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Bill Clinton graduated from Georgetown University and was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford. He received a law degree from Yale in 1973. After graduation, he returned to Arkansas and taught law at the University of Arkansas before entering politics. His 1974 campaign for Congress ended in defeat, but two years later he was elected Arkansas Attorney General.

In 1975, Bill Clinton married Hillary Rodham, whom he had met while a law student at Yale. In 1980 Chelsea, their only child, was born.

Bill Clinton was elected governor of Arkansas in 1978, but lost a bid for reelection in 1980. He regained the governorship two years later and served until 1993. During his 12 years in office, Governor Clinton earned national recognition for his progressive programs, especially his efforts to improve the quality of public education.

After a tough primary campaign, Bill Clinton won his party’s nomination and went on to defeat Republican President George Bush, and independent candidate Ross Perot in the 1992 presidential race. When President Clinton won reelection in 1996, he became the first Democrat since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second term."
-- Biography from the William J. Clinton Presidential Library

The overall mission of the Hard of Hearing Hall of Fame is to educate people about potential inner ear damage AND to seek tax deductible donations to support research for hearing regeneration.

Here are some comparisons of noise levels and possible damage:
Sustained exposure causing possible hearing loss - 90-95dB
Walkman on 5/10 - 94dB
Musket fire – in excess of 100dB
Power mower - 107dB
Amplified rock, 4-6' - 120dB
Black powder cannon – in excess of 120 dB
Pain begins at a level of about 125dB
Rock music peak 150dB

The Hard of Hearing Hall of Fame is sponsored in part by Rotarians for Hearing Regeneration – A Rotary Action Group (www.hearingregeneration.org). The Action Group promotes interest in research and the funding of the Hearing Regeneration Initiative at the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center at the University of Washington (www.depts.washington.edu/hearing/).

It was thought that once hair cells of the inner ear are destroyed (noise or drug-induced), they do not re-grow, but now research by Dr. Edwin Rubel (VMBHRC) gives hope to those with hearing loss. Dr. Rubel and his associates are attempting to re-grow hair cells in mammals. There scientists believe that within ten years they will be able to re-grow inner ear hair cells and improve the lives of millions of people worldwide.

Hearing Loss Statistics:
· Hearing loss is the number one disability in the world.
· 15 of every 1000 people under age 18 have a hearing loss.
· Nearly 90% of people over age 80 have a hearing loss.
· Ten million Americans have suffered irreversible noise induced hearing loss, and 30 million more are exposed to dangerous noise levels each day.
· Approximately 59,000 people worldwide have received cochlear implants. About 250,000 people would be good candidates for a cochlear implant. Most people worldwide can't afford implants.

Other Hard of Hearing Hall of Fame Selection Categories: Art, Sports, Business, Feature Films, Military, Music, Politics, Professions, Rock and Roll, Science, and Television. The Hard of Hearing Hall of Fame is currently accepting nominations for Military Person.

The Hard of Hearing Hall of Fame website (www.hardofhearinghalloffame.com) contains downloadable videos as well as articles on hearing loss as well as the hearing regeneration initiative (the sharing of world wide information concerning the re-growth of hair cells).

Submitted by
Don Doman
trainingmedia@yahoo.com
www.ideasandtraining.com
253-759-6639