Hearing loss usually occurs slowly, over decades, without pain or visible symptoms. As a result, you may not be aware you have a problem until someone else brings it to your attention. Take this simple test from experts at Self Help for Hard of Hearing People:

• Do you have to turn the volume up on the television?

• Do you often have to ask others to repeat?

• Do you have difficulty understanding when in groups or in noisy situations?

• Do you sit up front in meetings or in church in order to understand?

• Do you have difficulty understanding women or children?

• Do you have trouble knowing where sounds are coming from?

• Are you unable to understand when someone talks to you from another room?

• Have others told you that you don't seem to hear them?

• Do you avoid family meetings or social situations because you "can't understand"?

• Do you have ringing or other noises (tinnitus) in your ears?

More than three "Yes" responses may indicate a hearing problem. A professional hearing evaluation will determine the exact degree of hearing loss present. For more information. visit www.hearingloss.org.

In the Swim

Tight-fitting swim caps help keep hair dry but can be difficult to put on. To avoid tearing vinyl caps, use a hair dryer to warm the cap before putting it on. You'll never puncture your swim cap again.

Swimming and water workouts provide excellent aerobic exercise without doing damage to the metatarsal bones in the feet. Age can make running or jogging more painful.

Building Strong Bones

Healthy dietary habits keep bones strong and reduce the risk of painful and unsightly osteoporosis-related fractures in the spine, hip, and wrist. The following tips from New York physicians at Montefiore Medical Center can help you get all the bone-building calcium your body needs.

• Adults over age 50 require 1,200 mg of calcium daily. Remember, the body won't absorb more than 500 mg at a time. Wait four to six hours between doses or dairy servings.

• A one-cup serving of one percent fat cottage cheese has 138 mg of calcium: one cup of nonfat yogurt contains 450 mg of calcium. Calcium content in hard cheese varies, too. A good hard cheese to eat is Swiss cheese (270 mg calcium per ounce).

• Low-fat dairy products are higher in calcium than whole-milk products.

That's because nonfat products are often fortified with dry milk solids. Check labels to see what you're eating.

• Heavily processed and salted foods such as bacon, salami, smoked salmon, and prepared soups interfere with calcium absorption. Cola beverages contain phosphoric acid that blocks calcium absorption.

Timeless Beauty Tips

Skin tone and texture change over time, so daily make-up routines should, too. Experiment with these beauty hints to help you look your best at every age.

• Try a lighter shade of your favorite color and an eye pencil rather than eyeliner. Dark eye makeup may accentuate fine lines and wrinkles.

• Use a moisturizer formulated for your skin type. Skin loses its elasticity and begins to dry out with age.

• Apply brown (not black) mascara to define eyelashes without overdoing it.

• Pink and brown lip shades in a matte finish tend to be more flattering than deep glossy reds.

Who's Who of Hearing Experts

• An otolaryngologist specializes in diseases of the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck. You may also hear this physician referred to as an ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor.

• An otologist is an otolaryngologist who specializes in treating ear disorders.

• An audiologist is a health professional who can identify and measure hearing toss. An audiologist can dispense hearing aids but doesn't prescribe drugs or perform surgery.