January 1998

January 1998

The Voice of Courage
PUBLISHED TO ENLIGHTEN THE NEW LARYNGECTOMEES ABOUT THEIR FUTURE LIFE, SINCE MID 1972

By Dean Rosecrans P.O. Box 310 Nampa, Idaho 83653 1-800-237-3699 01/10/98

Education | Phone Calls | Warning | Medicare

| Education |

Becoming an old laryngectomee is an Education Process. How do you learn? Mostly it is self taught.

a. How do you find out what to put on an skin irritation near the stoma? Whatever you use must not melt at body temperature and run into the stoma. The lungs must be able to absorb whatever runs into the stoma. Otherwise you must cough it out.

b. How do you find out that a voice amplifier will not amplify the esophageal voice? The esophageal voice (T/E or natural ) has a frequency of 50 to 150 hertz. Ask the seller the frequency response of the amplifier. Most amplifiers state on the label 300 to 10,000 hertz. This will amplify most of the consonants and the ambient noise but not the vowels of the esophageal voice at 50 to 150 hertz. If the frequency is not stated on the label, don't buy.

c. Where do you find out how to get volume with your new voice. The answer to these questions and many more are best found at a support group meeting. The medical profession and the speech profession can also be of great assistance but first hand knowledge from a person that has put vaseline on an irritation or bought an amplifier can tell you the results first hand at a support group meeting. Also notice that the experienced laryngectomees present will be able to communicate well and have their stoma covered.

| Warning |

Did you get new clothing for Christmas? I would like you to go into a fabric store the next time you are out shopping. Walk around a few minutes and see if you don't cough. What causes this coughing? Oh! I am a laryngectomee and I cough a lot.

No, the reason is FORMALDEHYDE a known cancer source. All of the garments you received for Christmas or purchased on sale in December are treated with FORMADEHLYDE. This is the reason the fabric looks well and resists wrinkling no matter how it has been handled.

---WARNING---

THIS PRODUCT IS TREATED WITH A FORMALDEHYDE-BASED RESIN AND MAY RELEASE A LOW LEVEL OF FORMALDEHYDE. OVER EXPOSURE TO FORMALDEHYDE MAY CAUSE EYE AND RESPIRATONY TRACT IRRITATION AND MAY RESULT IN SENSITIZATION. REFER TO MSDS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

This label appears on all bolts of cloth we receive and we remove the FORMALDEHYDE in our manufacturing process.

FORMALDEHYDE resin will cling to the garments for as long as three washings or dry cleanings. FORMALDEHYDE will sensitize the stoma and cause an irritation which will bring on coughing the same as when you walk into a fabric store. Becoming an old laryngectomee is an Education Process. The sooner you find out that you and you alone must watch out for your stoma and take care of yourself the sooner you will become rehabilitated.

Education | Phone Calls | Warning | Medicare

| Phone Calls |

I take phone calls early mornings and late afternoon when everyone else is gone. I talk to all kinds of laryngectomees. I like to hear how they improve in whatever speech they use after two or three minutes on the telephone.

It starts out, and some are really hard to understand. As the conversation goes on they become more proficient. The more one uses their esophageal voice the better it will sound to themselves and to others. Sure it is difficult at first, and you will become embarrassed but as your voice gets stronger the better it will sound to you and others. You will learn that you cannot take command of a conversation by the volume of your voice.

I have been out in the work force for over twenty five years using just my esophageal voice. Yes, there were times when I had to whistle to get someone's attention but I feel the situation called for immediate attention and the rudeness should be excused.

You can try to become a tri-athlete with three types of speech (A/L, T/E, and esophageal) but to become proficient at one is the secret. In my generation many of my parents and grandparents had friends that were bilingual. One from their place of birth and English always came out second best because they used their native tongue at home and English elsewhere.

One must concentrate on the type of communication they are most comfortable with and use it always. Now in the case you need an emergency source in the event you become too emotional then an A/L is good to keep at hand. if the situation is not critical and mostly emotional take your best shot and keep the A/L out of sight.

I have never carried or used an A/L, emergency or not. You will be truly rehabilitated when you are comfortable in public using one type of communication. It is difficult at first but the more you use one type the stronger and louder, that voice will become.

| Medicare |

If you think Medicare is expensive now, wait till it is free. You all know that a new $100.00 deductible is required each year. This means the first $100.00 you spend on Stoma Care Products and/or at a Doctor's office will not be reimbursed by Medicare but all other purchases or Doctor charges will be reimbursed at the rate of 80%.

An example would be if you bought 360 Foam Filters and two batteries for you Artificial Larynx. The total charge would be $162.00. Medicare will pay 80% of the $62.00 so your real cost if you want us to accept assignment of the claim would be $112.40.

The balance ($49.60) would be paid to us by Medicare and then all other purchases from a DME supplier and/or Doctor charges would cost you only 20% of the total if the Medicare claim was assigned.

No matter where you spend you first $100.00 at a Doctor's office or with a DME supplier the first $100.00 must go toward your deductible for 1998. Each time Medicare Part B pays for a claim, you will receive an EXPLAINATION OF BENEFITS which details what was paid. Somewhere on the paper this sentence will appear You have met the deductible for 1998

Send us a copy of this Explanation of Benefits with your next order and send only 20% of the total instead of sending the total amount of the purchase. We will accept assignment of any claim for any of our products except the 30 Foam Filters, 8 feet of Foam & Tape, the Universal Cloth Cover. These products are covered by Medicare but at a reduced rate.

The Beaded Stoma Covers, the Newsletter and the Video are not covered by Medicare. All other products we sell are covered by Medicare .

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January 1998
The Voice of Courage PUBLISHED TO ENLIGHTEN THE NEW LARYNGECTOMEES ABOUT THEIR FUTURE LIFE, SINCE MID 1972 By Dean Rosecrans P.O. Box 310 Nampa, Idaho 83653 1-800-237-3699 01/10/98
Education \| Phone Calls \| Warning \| Medicare
\| Education \| Becoming an old laryngectomee is an Education Process. How do you learn? Mostly it is self taught. a. How do you find out what to put on an skin irritation near the stoma? Whatever you use must not melt at body temperature and run into the stoma. The lungs must be able to absorb whatever runs into the stoma. Otherwise you must cough it out. b. How do you find out that a voice amplifier will not amplify the esophageal voice? The esophageal voice (T/E or natural ) has a frequency of 50 to 150 hertz. Ask the seller the frequency response of the amplifier. Most amplifiers state on the label 300 to 10,000 hertz. This will amplify most of the consonants and the ambient noise but not the vowels of the esophageal voice at 50 to 150 hertz. If the frequency is not stated on the label, don't buy. c. Where do you find out how to get volume with your new voice. The answer to these questions and many more are best found at a support group meeting. The medical profession and the speech profession can also be of great assistance but first hand knowledge from a person that has put vaseline on an irritation or bought an amplifier can tell you the results first hand at a support group meeting. Also notice that the experienced laryngectomees present will be able to communicate well and have their stoma covered.		\| Warning \| Did you get new clothing for Christmas? I would like you to go into a fabric store the next time you are out shopping. Walk around a few minutes and see if you don't cough. What causes this coughing? Oh! I am a laryngectomee and I cough a lot. No, the reason is FORMALDEHYDE a known cancer source. All of the garments you received for Christmas or purchased on sale in December are treated with FORMADEHLYDE. This is the reason the fabric looks well and resists wrinkling no matter how it has been handled. ---WARNING--- THIS PRODUCT IS TREATED WITH A FORMALDEHYDE-BASED RESIN AND MAY RELEASE A LOW LEVEL OF FORMALDEHYDE. OVER EXPOSURE TO FORMALDEHYDE MAY CAUSE EYE AND RESPIRATONY TRACT IRRITATION AND MAY RESULT IN SENSITIZATION. REFER TO MSDS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. This label appears on all bolts of cloth we receive and we remove the FORMALDEHYDE in our manufacturing process. FORMALDEHYDE resin will cling to the garments for as long as three washings or dry cleanings. FORMALDEHYDE will sensitize the stoma and cause an irritation which will bring on coughing the same as when you walk into a fabric store. Becoming an old laryngectomee is an Education Process. The sooner you find out that you and you alone must watch out for your stoma and take care of yourself the sooner you will become rehabilitated.
Education \| Phone Calls \| Warning \| Medicare
\| Phone Calls \| I take phone calls early mornings and late afternoon when everyone else is gone. I talk to all kinds of laryngectomees. I like to hear how they improve in whatever speech they use after two or three minutes on the telephone. It starts out, and some are really hard to understand. As the conversation goes on they become more proficient. The more one uses their esophageal voice the better it will sound to themselves and to others. Sure it is difficult at first, and you will become embarrassed but as your voice gets stronger the better it will sound to you and others. You will learn that you cannot take command of a conversation by the volume of your voice. I have been out in the work force for over twenty five years using just my esophageal voice. Yes, there were times when I had to whistle to get someone's attention but I feel the situation called for immediate attention and the rudeness should be excused. You can try to become a tri-athlete with three types of speech (A/L, T/E, and esophageal) but to become proficient at one is the secret. In my generation many of my parents and grandparents had friends that were bilingual. One from their place of birth and English always came out second best because they used their native tongue at home and English elsewhere. One must concentrate on the type of communication they are most comfortable with and use it always. Now in the case you need an emergency source in the event you become too emotional then an A/L is good to keep at hand. if the situation is not critical and mostly emotional take your best shot and keep the A/L out of sight. I have never carried or used an A/L, emergency or not. You will be truly rehabilitated when you are comfortable in public using one type of communication. It is difficult at first but the more you use one type the stronger and louder, that voice will become.		\| Medicare \| If you think Medicare is expensive now, wait till it is free. You all know that a new $100.00 deductible is required each year. This means the first $100.00 you spend on Stoma Care Products and/or at a Doctor's office will not be reimbursed by Medicare but all other purchases or Doctor charges will be reimbursed at the rate of 80%. An example would be if you bought 360 Foam Filters and two batteries for you Artificial Larynx. The total charge would be $162.00. Medicare will pay 80% of the $62.00 so your real cost if you want us to accept assignment of the claim would be $112.40. The balance ($49.60) would be paid to us by Medicare and then all other purchases from a DME supplier and/or Doctor charges would cost you only 20% of the total if the Medicare claim was assigned. No matter where you spend you first $100.00 at a Doctor's office or with a DME supplier the first $100.00 must go toward your deductible for 1998. Each time Medicare Part B pays for a claim, you will receive an EXPLAINATION OF BENEFITS which details what was paid. Somewhere on the paper this sentence will appear You have met the deductible for 1998 Send us a copy of this Explanation of Benefits with your next order and send only 20% of the total instead of sending the total amount of the purchase. We will accept assignment of any claim for any of our products except the 30 Foam Filters, 8 feet of Foam & Tape, the Universal Cloth Cover. These products are covered by Medicare but at a reduced rate. The Beaded Stoma Covers, the Newsletter and the Video are not covered by Medicare. All other products we sell are covered by Medicare .