Week of 7.30.01 HearingExchange News http://www.HearingExchange.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - IN THIS ISSUE: * Letter from the Editor * Sponsor Message * What's New * Feature Article * News * Guest Article * Message Boards * Featured Site * Featured Book * Poll Results * Get Involved * Sponsor Message ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " L E T T E R F R O M T H E E D I T O R " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Hi Everyone! I have just returned from Maryland where the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing hosted its summer conference. I spoke to a group of parents and professionals about transitions and decisions when parenting a child with hearing loss. It is great to meet other parents and hear about their experiences. Are you in the midst of making decisions about your child's education or therapy? Tell us about it here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000101.html Our weekly chats on Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST have been going well for those of us who are able to get into the right chat room. We are still trying to work on the software bug that is preventing some of you from joining us. If you have a problem, please send an email to mailto:chat@hearingexchange.com. along with the type of browser you use and its version number. I hope to see you this Thursday evening for another hour of lively discussion on hearing loss related issues. Have a good week! ~ Paula ============== S P O N S O R M E S S A G E ============= Harris Communications is pleased to announce new, lower pricing for Hatis products. Hatis works with your hearing aid (t-coil is needed) to provide you with undistorted sound on the telephone. Hatis works with nearly all cellular and cordless phones equipped with a 2.5mm headset jack and is available in single or dual models. Click here for more information: http://www.harriscomm.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Product_ID=1910&CATID=13 ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " W H A T ' S N E W " " " " " " " " " " Help spread the news about our supportive and informative HearingExchange community. Do you have a doctor, teacher, therapist, audiologist or friend who you would like to tell about HearingExchange? We will send them a color postcard by U.S. Mail FREE for the asking. Just fill out the form at: http://www.hearingexchange.com/postcards/index.htm We also offer an online "refer a friend" service at http://www.hearingexchange.com/recommend/index.html. ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " F E A T U R E A R T I C L E " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Evaluating School Programs for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children by Paula Rosenthal, J.D. When a child is prelingually deafened or hard of hearing (usually prior to the age of 3), many families will seek a special education program to assist the child with his speech and/or language development. Since the average age of diagnosis of hearing loss is 2.5 years to 3.5 years, children often suffer from significant receptive and expressive language delays. Whether the family chooses oral communication, sign language, a signed English system or total communication, choosing a school can be a daunting task. Read this article here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/paulas-071001.htm ============================================================ " " " " N E W S " " " " LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--July 23, 2001--Academy Award® winner Marlee Matlin will host a party and performance of Nickelodeon's BLUE'S CLUES LIVE!, benefiting the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation (CAAF). Click here for more: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-072401.htm = = = = = Business Week Online Assistive Technology columnist John M. Williams chatted with Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer about their plans for accessibility in software. Read the interview here... http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/jun2001/nf20010613_081.htm = = = = = Melville, N.Y., July 10, 2001 – NEC Foundation of America today announced eight separate grants totaling $300,000 to not-for-profit organizations focusing their services on education technology applications and/or emerging technologies for people with disabilities. Click here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-071301b.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 of the site as well as their archives. ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " G U E S T A R T I C L E " " " " " " " " " " " " " Seven Tips for Locating, Screening CART Providers Finding the most qualified Communication Access Realtime Translation specialists in your area (Vienna, VA, July 20, 2001) - If you’re deaf or hard-of-hearing, you probably already know how CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) technology can help you fully participate in such activities as religious services, educational classes and seminars, or medical appointments. But do you know the best methods to find and screen CART providers? Below are seven tips from the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) to locate CART services and determine whether a CART provider is qualified to effectively and accurately perform realtime translation. Read this article here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/article-072201.htm ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " 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. From our Cochlear Implant forum: I would like some ideas about how anyone wears their speech processor. I wear my processor in the case where I put through my belt. I just wondered if there is any other way to wear it. I have about three to six months before I can get the behind the ear speech processor! To reply, click here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000038.html - - - - - From our Deaf/Hard of Hearing forum: Is there anyone out there who has had experience with a progressive hearing loss in a young child? Could you share your story with me? Mychild is 3(almost 4)...my husband and I are very concerned and confused about the possibilty of a progressive loss and the causes and treatments. Any information would be appreciated and helpful. Read this mother's story and share your experiences with her here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000127.html - - - - - From our Parenting forum: We saw (our first) ENT yesterday and, after a 30 second look in his ears and up his nose, he diagnosed Nicholas as having "bowed" eardrums from either excessive pressure inside his head (caused by a eustacian tube disorder) or a genetic defect that makes his eardrums rigid...I am currently looking for a new ENT, but was wondering if anyone has experience with this type condition. If you can help this mother, please respond here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000099.html - - - - - From the Special Education forum: ...Since I am new to this process, I would like to read other parents' experiences with speech therapy and itinerant services provided by the public school system-- Good? Bad? How frequent are the services received/needed? Offer your insight: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/000021.html - - - - - From our Late Deafened forum: ...After a recent bout of infection in my right ear about two months ago, I experienced a brief infection, or it seemed so in my left ear. I was taking prednisone and antibiotics for the infection. This "infection" had very little drainage and no pain, but it knocked that ear out completely...I'm deaf in it. After many tests and CAT scans my ENT thinks that the joints of the middle ear bones are loose and that there is no way to restore the hearing. Audiologists told me that my nerve hearing is still good in that ear. Is there any operation that can repair those bones in my middle ear? My ENT can't tell me why I keep getting infections (I have a slight one now in my right, or good, ear), and he says he can only wait and see if I get hearing back from the left ear. I'm a musician and I'm really depressed...any advice? Offer your support here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000028.html - - - - - From our Professionals forum: I'm a few books short for my reading classes this year and \ am looking for any children's books that would be appropriate for my class of 2nd thru 5th grade deaf/hoh kiddos... (picture level - about 3rd grade level). If you know of any books that fit into the themes listed below, please contact me! THANKS IN ADVANCE!! * predator/prey * animals in the wrong environment * weaker character becomes stronger * intro. to magic and fantasy http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum7/HTML/000023.html - - - - - From our Students forum: Interested in participating in a cochlear implant survey? Visit this thread: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum8/HTML/000023.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 " " " " " " " " " " " " " The Cochlear Implant Association, Inc. (CIAI) is an outstanding source of support for those with cochlear implants, parents and professionals. The organization offers a national convention, local support groups and advocacy. Visit the site to read excellent articles (some available in Spanish), learn more about CIAI, its chapters, publications and more. Click here: http://www.cici.org ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " F E A T U R E D B O O K " " " " " " " " " " " " " Missed Connections: Hard of Hearing in a Hearing World Barbara Stenross covers many topics in this easy to read book about living with hearing loss. She discusses, hearing aids, assistive devices, lipreading and includes a list of dos and don'ts for people who live or work with deaf or hard of hearing people. Click here to view the book: http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/bookSearch/isbnInquiry.asp?sourceid=00342007703857399246&ISBN=1566396824&bfdate=07-30-2001+22:37:15 ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " P O L L R E S U L T S " " " " " " " " " " " " Our last poll asked: Do you have a knowledgeable professional who assists you with your hearing loss? 41% said: Yes, my audiologist. 14% said: No, I don't. 12% said: Yes, my child's teacher of the deaf/hearing impaired. 11% said: Yes, my ENT. 9% said: Yes, my child's speech therapist. 4% said: Yes, my child's pediatrician. 3% said: Yes, other. 1% said: Yes, my family doctor. This week, our Old Hearing Aids Poll asks: What do you do with your old hearing aids? Be sure to vote in this poll located on the main page of the web site! http://www.HearingExchange.com ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " G E T I N V O L V E D " " " " " " " " " " " " The articles in the Paula's Pearls section on the main page of HearingExchange are now available for syndication. We have received many reprint requests from hospitals, teachers, therapists, childcare providers, parents, website publishers and others. If you are interested in reprinting any of these articles, please send an email to mailto:reprints@hearingexchange.com. You can sign up to be notified when new articles are available by entering your email address in the Sign Up box on the main page of the site and select HearingExchange Syndicated Content. Link to Us! We 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 will be happy to offer a reciprocal link to your website. Go to: http://www.hearingexchange.com/link_to_us.htm Refer a Friend! We've made it easy for you to tell your friends, family 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. All posts must be related to hearing loss fields. 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. Submissions should be 500 to 800 words maximum. Visit this page to learn about our Writers Guidelines: 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 a teacher of the deaf and hearing impaired. All experts must have experience with hearing impaired adults and/or children. Our Resource Directory is growing! We now have over 230 hand-picked links related to hearing loss for you to review. When 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. **Note: We do not accept commercial sites for the free directory listing. Contact us at mailto:advertising@hearingexchange.com. " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " S P O N S O R M E S S A G E " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Oticon offers an award winning website, OtiKids, dedicated to providing support for children with hearing loss and their families. The site supplies parents with knowledge that can help them understand and accept their child's hearing loss as well as useful communication techniques. Visit http://www.oticonus.com/OtiKids today! ============================================================ 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 - http://www.HearingExchange.com Exchanging Ideas & Information on Hearing Loss To subscribe to this newsletter visit our site and enter your email address in the newsletter subscription box. All addresses are kept strictly confidential.