Week of 02.01.02 HearingExchange News http://www.HearingExchange.com = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Welcome to the current edition of HearingExchange News! Feel free to forward this to anyone else you think would be interested in it. 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 * Featured Site * Feature Article * News * Message Boards * Featured Book * Awards, Scholarships, etc. * Poll Results * Accessible Programs * Chat Schedule * Get Involved ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " L E T T E R F R O M T H E E D I T O R " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Hi everyone, Please excuse the delay of this issue. I was (and still am) experiencing extensive technical difficulties this week! There's been much press on celebrities and hearing loss as of late. Read on... By now, many of you have heard or read about Rush Limbaugh's cochlear implant activation. He seems to be doing well with it and has published a lot of information at his website http://www.RushLimbaugh.com/?source=hearingexchange. Did anyone see this past Sunday's issue of Parade in their Sunday newspaper? If you looked very closely you could see the hearing aid tubing of Tom Ridge's hearing aid. Unfortunately, there was no mention of his hearing loss in the feature article. A news release for Phil Collins' and his wife's Little Dreams Foundation mentioned that he is now deaf in one ear after a viral infection he contracted last year. To learn about his foundation, click here: http://www.littledreamsfoundation.com/?source=hearingexchange One more celebrity tidbit from People magazine... Actress Halle Berry admitted that she has a hearing loss in one ear. She went on to say that she'd never get a hearing aid because she is too vain! What a shame, she'll never know what she's missing. Do you think public figures should use their celebrity status and become more vocal for the deaf and hearing impaired community? Let us know what you think in our Message Boards. Click here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=000248 Have a great weekend! ~ Paula = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " S P O N S O R M E S S A G E " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Logicom Ci - Miniature FM Receiver for Cochlear Implant Processors - Designed specifically for cochlear implant users and plugs directly into a cochlear implant processor. It is approximately 3/4" x 3/4" in size and replaces the need for larger FM receivers and sound field systems. Its direct electrical input provides superior sound quality as well as a greater signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio. Check it out on the Harris Communications website at http://www.harriscomm.com/?source=hearingexchange or call 1- 800-825-6758 voice, 1-800-825-9187 tty, or mailto:mail@harriscomm.com. ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " W H A T ' S N E W " " " " " " " " " " Tired of being the last to know? HearingExchange updates its News section several times a week. Make us your homepage so you can check the latest news on hearing loss each day. Click here to find out how: http://www.hearingexchange.com/your_homepage.htm We now have hosted, live chats every weeknight! Our new chat for Late Deafened Adults has taken off. With Shari Koeper, SHHH Nashville chapter president, at the helm, it's easy to see why. Join Shari on Wednesday nights at 9:30pm ET for information, support and fun. Due to great interest and demand, I am now hosting a chat for Parents of d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children on Thursday nights at 9:30pm Eastern. Last night we talked about different types of hearing tests and screenings for children. We welcome all parents, so join us next week. Be sure to sign up for our weekly chat reminders so you don't miss the fun! Do it here: http://lb.bcentral.com/ex/manage/subscriberprefs?customerid=6181. You can also view chat information in our new Chat Information forum at: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=39. For your convenience we have also added a Chat Schedule section to this newsletter. Look for it further in this email. To join us in the chatroom, click here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/chat/chat2.htm For detailed instructions on how to chat, send a blank email to mailto:chatinstructions@sendfree.com. ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " F E A T U R E D S I T E " " " " " " " " " " " " " My Baby's Hearing - This new site from Boys Town National Research Hospital is divided into two areas, First Steps which discusses newborn hearing screening, and Next Steps for families with newly diagnosed babies. While not complete, this site is already filling up with great information on many sub-topics. Visit it today and plan to check back often! http://www.babyhearing.org/?source=hearingexchange ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " F E A T U R E A R T I C L E " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " 5 Tips for Assessing the Need for New Hearing Aids by Paula Rosenthal, J.D. As a hearing aid user for 32 years and also a parent of a child who has worn aids for 4 years, determining whether new hearing aids are necessary has not always been clear cut. As with most aspects of managing hearing loss, it is up to you to be proactive in determining if new hearing aids and assistive listening devices (ALDs) are appropriate. Don't wait for your hearing healthcare professionals (doctors, audiologists, etc.) to keep you up- to-date on the latest products available. Follow these tips below to help assess the need for new hearing aids for yourself or your child. Read more on this important issue here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/paulas-012102.htm ============================================================ " " " " N E W S " " " " You hear your baby's first cry and breathe a sigh of relief. Your new bundle of joy is perfectly healthy, or is he? Each year more than 12,000 babies are born in the United States with a hearing impairment. Despite the fact that hearing impairment is the number one birth defect in the U.S., only an estimated 65 percent of newborns are currently being screened for hearing loss. Read this important message from Cochlear Corp. and the National Campaign for Hearing Health here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-013102.htm = = = = Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has released a position paper on cochlear implants in children. Read it here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-012202.htm = = = = Thanks to a new device from HATIS Corp., in-the-ear hearing aid users are now able to buy and use cell phones without annoying interference. Learn more here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-012702b.htm = = = = These and other current 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! Once registered, you can easily post a new topic or reply to current threads. Join the more than 975 members on our boards. Registration is free and email addresses are confidential. Click here to register: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi From our Late Deafened Adults forum: Has anyone retired early or gone on long term disability from their hearing loss? Read the complete post and respond here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=5&t=000055 - - - From our Parent to Parent forum: Do you know anything about CROS or Bi-CROS hearing aids? Help one of our members looking for information for her stepson who is deaf in one ear. Click here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=000204 - - - From our Parents with Kids with Hearing Aids forum: Some of our members are working toward health insurance coverage for hearing aids. Interested? Read this thread at: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=37&t=000008 - - - From our Digital Hearing Aids forum: Is there anyone who has information on the new Genesis hearing aids? Are they only for adults? Help a member here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=34&t=000011 - - - These topics and hundreds of others 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 B O O K " " " " " " " " " " " " " "Skillstreaming in Early Childhood: Teaching Prosocial Skills to the Preschool and Kindergarten Child" is an excellent resource for parents and teachers of children with hearing impairments. Easy to follow lesson plans teach children how to ask for help, wait their turn, share, deal with fear, deal with teasing and 35 other skills every child should know. There is also a terrific chapter on managing behavior problems. There are other Skillstreaming books for older children as well. Buy it today! Click here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0878223207/hearingexchange/002-0377446-0784811 ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " A W A R D S, S C H O L A R S H I P S A N D F I N A N C I A L A S S I S T A N C E " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " International Professionals Section (INPROSEC) of AG Bell Seeks Applicants For Annual Awards. Nominations should be received by May 1, 2002. Click here for more info... http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-012902c.htm Undergraduate Summer Internship in Language Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Application deadline is February 8, 2002. Learn more here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-012702c.htm Oticon Focus on People Awards - Seeking Nominations in several categories. Deadline for entries is March 15, 2002, http://www.hearingexchange.com/awards/awards-010802.htm The American Academy of Audiology is pleased to support research through its Research Awards Program. Two categories of Research Awards are available. If you are an audiology student or graduate, click here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/awards/awards-121401.htm CODA International offers two scholarships to assist hearing children of deaf parents to pursue post secondary educational opportunities. Find the information here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/awards/awards-120701.htm Going to college? Click here to learn if you qualify for the Minnie Pearl Scholarship for students with severe to profound bilateral hearing loss. Application must be postmarked before February 12, 2002. Click here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/awards/awards-100101.htm ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " P O L L R E S U L T S " " " " " " " " " " " " The results of our last poll will be posted next week. Sorry for the delay! This week, our poll asks: "Has Rush Limbaugh's cochlear implant surgery affected you?" Be sure to enter your vote in this poll at the main page of HearingExchange. http://www.HearingExchange.com ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " A C C E S S I B L E P R O G R A M S " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Each week we update our site with movies and theaters around the U.S. that offer captioned movies for the deaf and hard of hearing and movies that have audio descriptions for the visually impaired. We also post accessible programs in this section. Stay tuned to this page: http://www.hearingexchange.com/tv_programs.htm If you know of an event that will be accessible to people with hearing loss, submit it to our Event Calendar for everyone to see. It's easy, just click on the following link and scroll to the bottom of the page to enter the information. Click here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/events/calendar.cgi ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " C H A T S C H E D U L E " " " " " " " " " " " " " * Mondays 9pm ET - General Chat - Curly * Tuesdays 9pm ET - Adults with Hearing Aids - Kay * Wednesdays 9:30pm ET - Late Deafened Adults - Shari * Thursdays 9:30pm ET - Parents of Deaf and HOH Children - Paula NEW! * Fridays 9pm ET - Auditory Neuropathy - Elaine Chatroom is open 24/7. Click here to chat now: http://www.hearingexchange.com/chat/chat2.htm Chat hosts wanted, see below for further details. ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " G E T I N V O L V E D " " " " " " " " " " " " The HearingExchange community thrives with your participation! Below are free resources available to you as well as ways to become active in our community. Join us! * Paula's Pearls - FREE Syndicated Content My articles in the Paula's Pearls section on the main page of HearingExchange are available for FREE syndication. I've received many reprint requests from magazines, newspapers, hospitals, teachers, therapists, childcare providers, parents, website publishers and others. To see a complete list of titles and links to my articles, send a blank email to mailto:syndicatedcontent@sendfree.com. If you're interested in reprinting any of the articles in "Paula's Pearls" send an email to mailto:reprints@hearingexchange.com. To be notified when new articles are available click here and check off the Syndicated Content list on the subscription page: http://lb.bcentral.com/ex/manage/subscriberprefs?customerid=6181 (If you are already a subscriber to any of our lists, click on the "unsubscribe" link at the end of this email and check off any new lists you are interested in. Then be sure to click on submit. Be careful not to unsubscribe!) * Become a Chat Host Do you like to chat online? Have a favorite topic related to hearing loss? Apply to become a chat host at HearingExchange. Just one hour a week and it's so much fun! Visit this page for more information on available chat topics and to apply: http://www.hearingexchange.com/chat_host.htm * Start a Hearing Loss Journal Journaling is a terrific way to reflect on your experiences and to help others learn about living with hearing loss or parenting a child with one. To get started on your journal register here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/journals/register.cgi?action=register&sort=date&cat=stories To read other people's journals visit this page: http://www.hearingexchange.com/journals/stories.cgi?sort=date&cat=stories * Send a FREE Postcard Please 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 * Refer a Friend to HearingExchange We also offer an online "refer a friend" service at http://www.hearingexchange.com/recommend/index.html. Just fill out the form and we'll send them a note about HearingExchange. * Link to Us We have terrific graphics and banners for those of you with web sites. Grab one of our links today and let us know when you do. We will be happy to offer a reciprocal link to qualified websites. Go to: http://www.hearingexchange.com/link_to_us.htm * Visit our Jobs and Resumes Board 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 or review current entries. All posts must be related to hearing loss fields. To view all listings, leave the search box blank. 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 * View and Post on the Event Calendar 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 world. 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:experts@hearingexchange.com. All experts must have experience with hearing impaired adults and/or children. * Doing Research? Need Resources? Our Resource Directory is growing! We now have 286 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. ============================================================ Your input is always welcome at HearingExchange. Send us your comments, suggestions and any news related to hearing loss to mailto:feedback@hearingexchange.com. Paula Rosenthal, Publisher HearingExchange - http://www.HearingExchange.com Ideas & Information on Hearing Loss To subscribe to this newsletter or any of our other free, informative ezines or chat reminders, click here: http://lb.bcentral.com/ex/manage/subscriberprefs?customerid=6181. All addresses are kept strictly confidential. To view past issues of HearingExchange News, click here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/newsletter_archives.htm © Copyright 2002 HearingExchange, a division of Taylor Rose, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reprint and redistribute this newsletter as long as it reprinted in its entirety, is unedited and includes this copyright.