Week of 9.11.01 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 * Message Boards * Featured Site * Ask the Experts * 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, Yesterday was a very somber and tragic day in the United States. As a profoundly hearing impaired person, I am so thankful for email, instant messaging and closed captioning on television. My entire family is located in New York while I am in the Midwest. Without these technologies, I would have received little in the way of timely, accurate information. While my family and friends are safe, my sincerest condolences and thoughts are with the many people and families who were not so fortunate or are still waiting for news. If you would like to offer financial assistance to the victims and their families or make a much needed blood donation, please visit the Red Cross website at http://www.redcross.org. I have decided to keep our HearingExchange chat scheduled for tonight (Wednesday) at 9:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (8:30 p.m. Central, 6:30 p.m. Pacific). We will have a general discussion on hearing loss in adults and children. Click on the chat link at the top of the main page at HearingExchange or the following link: http://www.hearingexchange.com/chat/chat2.htm If you need further assistance, send a blank email to mailto:chatinstructions@sendfree.com for complete instructions. Kindest regards, ~ Paula ============== S P O N S O R M E S S A G E ============= Harris Communications offers the Portable InfoLoop with External Mic - A portable unit designed for communicating with hearing aid users who have a T-Coil switch. Lightweight unit includes a built-in amplifier, microphone and induction aerial loop. Ideal for office reception areas, social service offices as well as conference and interview rooms. Click here for more information: http://www.harriscomm.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Product_ID=1278&CATID=10 ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " W H A T ' S N E W " " " " " " " " " " HearingExchange is celebrating its first anniversary! What started out a year ago as a hope to share information with others has become a comprehensive community filled with helpful news, articles, resources, experts and so much more. Our message boards contain a wealth of information as well. We'll be giving away 5 prizes including an amplified telephone and a vibrating alarm clock. We thank our anniversary celebration sponsors for their generosity: HearingPlanet.com - http://www.HearingPlanet.com and Harris Communications - http://www.harriscomm.com. Enter to win here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/contest.html We have added a Chat Reminder list for those of you who would like to receive a weekly reminder with the date and time of the chat. To join, enter your email address in the Sign On box on the main page of http://www.HearingExchange.com. Help spread the news about our supportive and informative HearingExchange community. Do you know a doctor, teacher, therapist, audiologist or friend whom you would like to share HearingExchange with? 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 " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Practicing Pre-School Prose by Dorothy P. Dougherty, MA, CCC-SLP According to research by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, a high quality early childhood program may give your child a firm foundation that will make it easier for him to learn to read, earn good grades, and develop relationships with other people. Good health, age appropriate social and emotional maturity, and well-developed language skills will contribute to your child's success. To develop a love of learning that will last forever, give your child the tools he needs to be successful in pre-school by preparing for "Pre-school Prose." Read this feature article here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/featured_091101.htm ============================================================ " " " " N E W S " " " " Symphonix-sponsored clinical study reports long-term benefits of the Vibrant Soundbridge for the hearing impaired. Click here for the article: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-091001.htm = = = = = Babies exposed to sign language make babbling gestures even if they can hear perfectly. Read John Whitfield's interesting article on babies whose hands babble in the current issue of the prestigious science journal, "Nature." Click here: http://www.nature.com/nsu/010906/010906-16.html = = = = = Can you imagine a utopian world free of disabilities and disabling conditions? Read John M. Williams' column in Business Week Online to learn why he thinks stem cell research can do just that. http://biz.yahoo.com/bizwk/010829/whzhsksfmgoyx_k5hxkueq.html = = = = = Digital Frog International leaps into adaptive technology world with new educational adventure. Find out more here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-091101.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. ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " 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 have recently became a candidate for a cochlear implant. I have been give a choice of choosing a Clarion or a Nucleus. I have read through the material, watched the tapes and I just really don't know. Does anyone know of a web site that compares the two side by side? Any help would sure be appreciated." How did you decide which implant to get? Respond to TJs post here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000049.html - - - - - From our Deaf/Hard of Hearing forum: "I am a high schoolspecial education teacher who recently aquired a HOH student on my case load. I am looking for stratagies for teaching reading..." If you taught your hearing impaired child or student how to read, share ideas with us. Read more details and reply here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000151.html - - - - - From our Parenting forum: "My son is three years old and was diagnosed deaf at 11 months of age. He just started preschool, and his teachers asked his father and I to start accessing the deaf community. I really don't know what that involves...[he] is also autistic and has been working through developmental delays..." Click here if to learn more and offer suggestions: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000128.html - - - - - From our Late Deafened forum: Have you experienced sudden hearing loss? If so, you are not alone. Visit this thread to join the discussion: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000010.html (Click on page 5 if you want to read only the most recent posts.) - - - - - From our Students forum: "I am a senior about to graduate with my B.A. in Communicative Disorders. I was planning on going to grad school for SLP [Speech Language Pathology}, however i am not sure if this is right for me. I am really interested in working w/ deaf children, maybe in the habilitation of language after they recieve cochlear implants or working with deaf/hoh children using the oral approach. Would I go to grad school for SLP or Deaf Ed?" Post your response here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum8/HTML/000030.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 " " " " " " " " " " " " " Clarion by Advanced Bionics. launches the exciting new CII Bionic Ear™ on their website. The website also includes information on comparing implants, breaking news regarding hearing related issues, and user stories. While visiting, checkout and signup for their email newsletter called TEAM CLARION to receive the latest news, website updates, and more. Click here: http://www.bionicear.com ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " A S K T H E E X P E R T S " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Questions for Dr. Pat Chute, Cochlear Implant Expert Q: My daughter is now 7 years old, when she was 11 months she contracted spinal meningitis and lost her hearing in her right ear. Her hearing doctor has told me she cannot be fitted with a hearing aid or a cochlear implant since he said her nerves have been destroyed. I feel since she is in school she would at least benefit from an aid of some sort but he told me that the aid would only cause confusion and interference in her good ear. Do you agree? Q: My 12 year old daughter has a cochlear implant. I'm looking into the personal sound amplification systems for classroom use. She now has open field but I'm hearing about the Logicom cube personal FM system. Would you recommend that for Clarion's Platinum body processor plus BTE versus open field and Lightspeed speaker system. (She'd hate carrying around a speaker in front of the other kids.) Read Dr. Chutes responses here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/experts/cochlear_implant.htm ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " F E A T U R E D B O O K " " " " " " " " " " " " " Has your child recently been diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing? Unsure of what to do next? "Choices in Deafness: A Parents' Guide to Communication Options" by Sue Schwartz is a must-read for every parent. In an unbiased manner, it discusses the various methodologies available to teach children with hearing impairments how to communicate. Medical causes of hearing loss, the diagnostic process, the audiology visit and other topics are covered as well. Buy this book here! http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=4LXBB0ZUXS&mscssid=3VBPCECS1TWD9LLQDT53LNWHRMTSDMFC&isbn=0933149859 ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " P O L L R E S U L T S " " " " " " " " " " " " Our last poll asked: Do you tell people you have just met about your or your child's hearing loss? Yes, always. 16% Only if it is relevant. 55% Only if they ask. 6% Sometimes, if I feel like it. 13% No, never. 6% This week, our HearingExchangePoll asks: What do you like best about HearingExchange? 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 " " " " " " " " " " " " Did you know the articles in the Paula's Pearls section on the main page of HearingExchange are now available for syndication? We receive 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. Businesses offering products or services, please 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.