Subject: HearingExchange News Week of 5.16.01 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Welcome to the latest edition of HearingExchange News! You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to it at HearingExchange.com. Feel free to forward this to anyone else who might be interested in HearingExchange. Subscription and removal information are at the end of the newsletter. If the links don't work or you are an AOL user: please copy and paste the links into your browser. ----------------PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSOR------------------- The new Access Clock, a multi-purpose alerting device, is now available. Click here http://www.harriscomm.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Product_ID=7371&CATID=16 for details or for more information, contact Harris Communications at mailto:mail@harriscomm.com ----------------------------------------------------------- IN THIS ISSUE: * Letter from the Editor * What's New * Feature Article * News & Articles * Message Boards * Featured Site * Upcoming Events * Featured Book * Ask the Experts * Poll Results * Featured Product * Get Involved ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " L E T T E R F R O M T H E E D I T O R " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Hi Everyone! Have you ever felt overwhelmed with assistive equipment? In our household of 3 hard of hearing people, we have 3 sets of hearing aids, 3 sets of FM listening systems, 2 wireless email pagers and 2 cell phones. It's no wonder I lost my daughter's Microlink audio shoe (the receiver for her FM system). After searching high and low, I finally put in a claim for a replacement with only days to go until the insurance ran out. Today, two and a half weeks after it was lost, my daughter found it in a box of toys! Go figure. Have you or your child ever lost their hearing aids or assistive equipment? How did the company handle it? Post your stories on our Message Boards at: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000065.html Have a good week! ~ Paula ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " W H A T ' S N E W " " " " " " " " " " The "Our Staff" page has been updated to include several new pictures and bios of our experts and contributors. Check it out at http://www.hearingexchange.com/staff/ You'll see the dedicated people who are helping to make HearingExchange an informative and welcoming community online for people with hearing loss, parents and professionals. We are still working to resolve some wrinkles in the chat program. We will not schedule a formal chat until it is ready. We appreciate your patience and look forward to meeting many of you in an upcoming chat. ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Sponsored by: F E A T U R E A R T I C L E Harris Communications " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is a dream vacation for people all over the world including those who are deaf and hard of hearing. Famous characters, amusement rides, Broadway-style shows and more attract millions of visitors each year. For people with hearing loss, Disney World presents many accessibility challenges. With some advance planning and the tips provided here, you can increase your access to this World class theme park and make your trip thoroughly enjoyable. Click here to read the full article: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/paulas-051501.htm ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " N E W S & A R T I C L E S " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Once again, Margie Littell Ulrich, CCC-A offers an insightful article about hearing loss. Read an excerpt from "Children's Hearing" below. Children have better hearing sensitivity than the accepted normal range for adults. The normal range of hearing for children is between -10dB to +15dB. It is not uncommon for children to have unrecognized hearing loss. Instead the teacher may tell the parents that the child is not "paying attention", or has "difficulty following directions", or the child is not learning as well as expected. Unfortunately, many children, especially with mild hearing losses, are misidentified as having ADD or ADHD. School hearing screening programs tend to use hearing testing equipment which is calibrated to adult hearing standards. Thus, many children are missed in school hearing screenings. This information from the Educational Audiology Association should be used as a guide to the educational ramifications of common levels of hearing loss in children. Read the full article at: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/articles-051501.htm = = = = = Using the Go.Web service, WyndTell customers can access an array of content such as news, sports, weather and driving directions from web sites including USA Today news and Fox Sports as well as other sites targeted specifically to people who are deaf or hard of hearing such as Silent News and Tripod Captioned Films. Go.Web also offers special e-mail, book-marking and customization options that enable WyndTell users maximum flexibility in their Web browsing choices. Learn more here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-050901.htm = = = = = EEOC Wants Wal-Mart Sanctioned WASHINGTON (AP) - The federal government wants a federal judge to punish Wal-Mart Stores Inc. over claims it failed to comply with terms of a discrimination settlement involving two deaf job applicants. Read the full story: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-051101c.htm = = = = = WESTBOROUGH, Mass., May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Arch Wireless, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ARCH - news), a leading wireless Internet messaging and mobile information company, today announced a new marketing program for its Arch Webster(TM) 100 two-way interactive wireless messaging service that targets hard of hearing individuals. For every Arch Webster 100 service plan activated through this direct mail campaign, Arch will donate five percent of the monthly service fee to Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH), an organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people who are hard of hearing. For more: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-051101b.htm = = = = = WALTHAM, Mass., May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: LIOX - news), a provider of solutions for worldwide deployment of technology and content, today announced the first industry-wide program for accessibility testing of technology products. The program will launch on June 21, 2001 to coincide with the effective date for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Section 508, which requires that technology purchased by the government be accessible to people with disabilities. Read the full article: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-051101a.htm = = = = = These and other news briefs and articles are all available on the main page of HearingExchange. Go to http://www.HearingExchange.com and review the News and Articles sections and their archives. =========================================================== " " " " " " " " " " " " " " M E S S A G E B O A R D S " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Have something to say? Say it on our Message Boards! You don't need to register to participate. You can easily post a new topic or reply to current threads. Are you having trouble with our boards? PLEASE let us know at mailto:moderator@hearingexchange.com Are you or do you know a person over 55 with a cochlear implant? Has anybody got info on sucess rate for seniors. Gene is deaf in 1 ear and has minimal hearing with help of an aid in other. His balance is better in deaf ear. Will he lose that balance if he is implanted in the deaf ear? Submit your comments to this thread at the Cochlear Implant forum at: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000021.html A visitor to the Deaf/Hard of Hearing forum writes, "Sometimes I make a phone call and can't get the info I want because after three attempts to have the person repeat... I'm close to tears. I hang up and pretend I'm another person and hope to not to get the same voice. How do you deal with people who are rude or with people who "think" they are nice because they scream ot talk like I'm a 10 year old?" Post your comments here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000058.html Our Parenting forum has been very active with parents seeking advice and support. One mother posted the following: We have a 4-year-old son who was recently found to have "mild" hearing loss in both ears. They think it was caused by gunk in his ears, althoug he has never complained of an earache. I first noticed him asking us to repeat ourselves over a year ago, but we thought it was just a phase. Our pediatrician repeatedly dismissed our concerns, and we finally had him tested at an ENT clinic. The doctors have recommended having tubes put in for drainage and the adenoids removed. I think that the hearing loss has affected his behavior and his interactions with other kids. I'm hoping that the drainage will help his hearing, but I'm curious if there are any ideas for how to help him recover behaviorally (and with his language). He also seems to be regressing lately, and very dependent on me (his mother and often his interpreter). It's all so new to us and we'd love any advice on how to work with him. Please offer her your ideas at: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000044.html Do you live in the D.C. area or know someone who does? A parent needs resources and services to assist her child. She writes, "We have a nine year old hearing impaired child who is moderately hearing impaired who wears hearing aides. She received her hearing aides when she was five and we recently went through the extensive testing at the Clarke School in MA. Our daughter has been in an inclusion program and from the tests we realize this has been a mistake since her language is still delayed and now I am searching for other parents in the D.C. area who are in an oral program to talk to and find out about resources in this area. HELP! Post your advice here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000043.html Do you have tips on coping in college as a hard of hearing student? Join the thread in the Special Education forum at: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/000016.html Are you a professional working with deaf and/or hard of hearing children or adults? Visit our Professional forum and post an introduction about yourself. It is a wonderful networking opportunity, not only for you, the professional, but also for the people you assist. http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Professionals+Section&number=7 HearingExchange member, Pat L. is a grad student working on her dissertation. She is conducting a study on late deafness. If you are interested in participating click here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum8/HTML/000011.html These topics and more can be found on our message boards. Click here to see a list of all the forums available: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Ultimate.cgi ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " F E A T U R E D S I T E " " " " " " " " " " " " " Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) is the instant translation of the spoken word into English text using a stenotype machine, notebook computer and realtime software. The text appears on a computer monitor or other display. CART services are proving invaluable for deaf and hard of hearing children and adults in education and employment. This special section of the National Court Reporters Association offers information about CART services, a services locator, testimonials, news and more. Visit the site here: http://cart.ncraonline.org ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " U P C O M I N G E V E N T S " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " May 19, 2001 The Kentucky Chapter’s Spring Conference “Keys to Auditory Success " with Dr. Carol Flexer at Lexington Hearing and Speech Center, Lexington, KY This program will contain vital information for the successful use of hearing aids, FM systems and cochlear implants for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. For more information, please contact: call 502-348-9164 or send an email to mailto:jjbreed@bardstown.com = = = = June 22-25, 2001 - 16th Annual Self Help for Hard of Hearing People International Convention at the Hilton Cherry Hill. Please visit http://www.shhh.org for more information. ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " F E A T U R E D B O O K " " " " " " " " " " " " " How to Talk to Your Baby: A Guide to Maximizing Your Child's Language and Learning Skills. A terrific book for parents who are teaching their deaf and hard of hearing children to talk. Particularly noteworthy chapters include, "Creating a Language-Rich Environment," "The Five Methods of Language Learning" and "The Stages of Language Development." Ms. Dougherty's book also offers many easy language lessons parents can incorporate during everyday activities at home, at the supermarket, at the playground and in the car. Check it out at: http://service.bfast.com/bfast/click?bfmid=2181&sourceid=34200770&bfpid=0895299321&bfmtype=book Our Bookstore is growing! Find great books for people with hearing loss, parents and professionals. Visit the HearingExchange Bookstore today to learn more: http://www.hearingexchange.com/bookstore/index.htm ========================================================= " " " " " " " " " " " " " " A S K T H E E X P E R T S " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Question for our Cochlear Implant Expert, Dr. Pat Chute: Q. I have severe hearing loss in both ears. I am told that I have about 75% loss, with the three highest tones gone. I am a 48 year old male, and have worn aids since I was 20 years. I use Widex Senso BTEs. My word discrimination is below average to poor. I am getting frustrated with not being able to hear and understand. Am I a candidate for a cochlear implant? Read Dr. Chutes's response and previous questions and answers at: http://www.hearingexchange.com/experts/cochlear_implant.htm Question for our Parent Support Expert, Lisa Simmons: Q. I am the mother of a three year old hearing impaired child. I would like to get a support group started to the Baton Rouge area. What should be the thing discussed first? What do you think is the most important? Do you have ideas how I should approach starting one? Read Lisa's response and previous questions and answers at: http://www.hearingexchange.com/experts/parent_support.htm Question for the Auditory Verbal Therapist Expert, Linda Daniel What makes auditory verbal therapy different from the oral hilosophy parents used with their children 50 years ago? Read Lisa's response and previous questions and answers at: http://www.hearingexchange.com/experts/auditory_verbal.htm ============================================================= " " " " " " " " " " " " P O L L R E S U L T S " " " " " " " " " " " " Our last poll asked: Are people more patient with you after they learn you have a hearing loss? Answers: Rarely 9% Sometimes 36% Usually 40% Always 2% Never 13% This week, our Cochlear Implant Poll asks: "Have you been evaluated for a cochlear implant?" Be sure place your vote at the poll on the main page of the web site! http://www.HearingExchange.com ============================================================= " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " F E A T U R E D P R O D U C T " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " The newest way for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to reach anyone, anytime, from almost anywhere using 2-way wireless messaging. WyndTell service on the Motorola T900 is now available and comes in four fabulous colors! Order now from Harris Communications and receive an $80 rebate from Wyndtell.com at: http://www.harriscomm.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Product_ID=16477&CATD=8 ============================================================= " " " " " " " " " " " " G E T I N V O L V E D " " " " " " " " " " " " Would you like to host a forum at HearingExchange? We're in need of board moderators. This position does not take much time and can be very rewarding. If you're interested, send me an email at mailto:editor@hearingexchange.com and let me know what your topic of interest is. Link to Us! We now have terrific graphics and banners for those of you with websites. Grab one of our links today and let us know when you do. We'd be happy to offer your website a reciprocal link. Go to: http://www.hearingexchange.com/link_to_us.htm Refer a Friend! We've made it easy for you to tell your friends and colleagues about HearingExchange. Simply click on this link and fill out the form, we'll take care of the rest! http://www.hearingexchange.com/recommend/index.html Do you work with deaf or hard of hearing children or adults? Do you want to? Visit our free Employment Board! Post your resume or list an open position at your organization today. Go to http://www.hearingexchange.com/jobs/ Like to write? HearingExchange is currently accepting article submissions. We encourage you to participate by submitting your original articles, tips or ideas for articles. Articles should be 500 to 800 words maximum. Visit this page to read more about submitting your work: http://www.hearingexchange.com/article_submissions.htm Hosting an event of interest to the adults, parents or professionals who deal with hearing loss? Looking for workshops or seminars on this issue? Visit our Event Calendar and browse around, there are many great seminars around the U.S. Be sure to click on the actual date of an event to read more about it. Post your events by clicking here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/events/calendar.cgi Are You an Expert? We Need You! We're currently seeking qualified experts. If you're an expert or know someone who is, please send us their email address or have them contact us at mailto:info@hearingexchange.com. We especially need an expert in the fields of Otolaryngology. All experts must have experience with hearing impaired adults and/or children. Our Resource Directory is growing! We now have 217 links related to hearing loss for you to review. When you're looking for organizations, assistive devices, hearing aid manufacturers, listservs and much more, visit: http://www.hearingexchange.com/resources/ Use our Add a Site feature at: http://www.hearingexchange.com/resources/add.cgi to refer great links you have found. We will review and post them promptly. HearingExchange now offers awards to websites that offer valuable information for people with hearing loss, parents of deaf and hard of hearing children or the professionals who work with them. Do you know of a website or organization that deserves an award? Go to: http://www.hearingexchange.com/awards.htm and submit them to us for consideration. ============================================================ Your input is always welcome at HearingExchange. Send us your comments, suggestions and any news related to hearing loss. Looking forward to "hearing" from you, Paula Rosenthal, Founder & Publisher HearingExchange - Exchanging Ideas & Information on Hearing Loss http://www.HearingExchange.com To subscribe to this newsletter simply click here: mailto:HearingExchangeNews-subscribe@listbot.com