It’s now a lot easier — and cheaper — for many hard-of-hearing Americans to get help. Hearing aids can now be sold without a prescription from a specialist. Over-the-counter, or OTC, hearing aids started hitting the market in October at prices that can be thousands of dollars lower than prescription hearing aids. About 30 million people in the United States deal with hearing loss, according to the Food and Drug Administration. But only about 20% of those who could use a hearing aid seek help. Here’s a closer look:

Who might be helped:

The FDA approved OTC hearing aids for adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. That can include people who have trouble hearing phone calls or who turn up the TV volume loud enough that others complain. It also can include people who have trouble understanding group conversations in noisy places. OTC hearing aids aren’t intended for people with deeper hearing loss, which may include those who have trouble hearing louder noises, like power tools and cars.

Hearing test:

Before over-the-counter, you usually needed to get your hearing tested and buy hearing aids from a specialist. That’s no longer the case. But it can be hard for people to measure their own hearing. You can still choose to see a specialist just for that test, which is often covered by insurance, and then buy the aids on your own. There also are a number of apps and questionnaires available to determine whether you need help.

Who’s selling:

Several major retailers now offer OTC hearing aids online and on store shelves. Walgreens drugstores, for example, are selling Lexie Lumen hearing aids nationwide for $799. Walmart offers OTC hearing aids ranging from about $200 to $1,000 per pair. Its health centers will provide hearing tests. The consumer electronics chain Best Buy has OTC hearing aids available online and in nearly 300 stores.

The cost:

Most OTC hearing aids will cost between $500 and $1,500 for a pair, though some may run up to $3,000.

This booklet, prepared by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), provides an overview on depression. It will help you learn the things that everyone should know about depression.

This booklet is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered a guide for making medical decisions. For more information on depression, please visit the NIMH website at www.nimh.nih.gov.

1. Depression is a real illness.

Sadness is something we all experience. It is a normal reaction to difficult times in life and usually passes with a little time. When a person has depression, however, it interferes with daily life and normal functioning. Doctors call this condition “depressive disorder.” It is a real illness. Many factors may play a role in depression.

Causes of Depression

(1) Genetics, brain biology and chemistry

(2) Life events such as trauma, loss of a loved one

(3) A difficult relationship

(4) Early childhood experience

(5) Chronic illness, drug and alcohol abuse

(6) Any stressful situation

2. Depression affects people in different ways.

Not everyone who is depressed experiences every symptom. Some people experience only a few symptoms; others have many. The seriousness and frequency of symptoms, and how long they last, vary depending on the individual and the stage of the illness.

Symptoms of Depression

(1) Feelings of guilt, sadness, worthlessness, helplessness or hopelessness

(2) Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities

(3) Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions

(4) Persistent aches or pains

(5) Insomnia

(6) Appetite and/ or weight changes

(7) Consistent fatigue and decreased energy

(8) Thoughts of death or suicide, suicide attempts

3. Depression is treatable.

Depression, even the most serious cases, can be treated. The earlier treatment begins, the more effective it will be.

Dealing With Depression

Reach out and stay connected: Make real-life communication a priority! Spend time with other people and confide in a trusted friend or relative. Let them help you.

Try to be active and exercise: Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. This does not have to be all at once. A ten-minute walk can improve your mood for two hours.

Eat a healthy and mood-boosting diet: Reduce foods that contain caffeine, alcohol, trans fats, and foods with high levels of chemical preservatives as well as sugars.

Get a daily dose of sunlight: Sunlight can help improve your mood. Whenever possible, get outside during daylight hours and expose yourself to the sun.

Challenge negative thinking: Nothing is as bad as it seems at first. Try to move your focus away from concentrating on what is bad in your life.

Find professional help: If none of the above tips help, do not wait for the symptoms to disappear. Seek professional help.

4. You are not alone.

In addition to your treatment, you could also join a support group. At the meetings, people share experiences, feelings, information, and coping strategies for living with depression.

Depression Around the World

Nearly seven percent of American teens and adults are currently living with depression.

About 300 million people around the world are suffering from depression.

Tamiflu does not kill but prevents H1N1 from further proliferation (繁衍) till the virus limits itself in about 1-2 weeks (its natural cycle).H1N1, like other Influenza A viruses, only infects the upper respiratory tract and proliferates (only) there.The only way of entry are the nostrils(鼻孔) and mouth/ throat.In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1.

Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, some very simple steps can be practiced:

1.Frequent hand-washing.

2."Hands-off-the-face" approach.Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat or bathe).

3.Gargle(漱口) twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt).H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms.Simple gargling prevents proliferation.In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one.Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4.Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrilsat least once every day with warm salt water，Which is very effective in bringing down viral population.

5.Strengthen your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C .If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6.Drink as much of warm liquids as you can.Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction.They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

7.All these are simple ways to prevent, within means of most households, and certainly much less painful than to wait in long queues outside public hospitals.