Week of 02.27.02 HearingExchange News http://www.HearingExchange.com Currently 1,828 subscribers = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Welcome to the latest edition of HearingExchange News! Feel free to forward this to anyone else you think would be interested. 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 Book * Sponsor Message * Featured Site * Ask the Expert * Poll Results * Chat Schedule * Accessible Programs * Get Involved ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " L E T T E R F R O M T H E E D I T O R " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Hi everyone, I gamely picked up the phone today when I saw my sister's number on the Caller ID. We're in the midst of arranging a joint vacation between our families. Despite her patient, repeated attempts, I was unable to decipher several of the things she was trying to tell me. I don't remember when hearing on the telephone became difficult for me because it happened so slowly. Nowadays, I rely almost exclusively on email and Instant Messenger to communicate on a daily basis. Spring will be rolling around soon and my cochlear implant evaluation is set for early June. This will be my second time going through this process. My last one was 2 1/2 years ago and despite my profound hearing loss I was deemed a "borderline" candidate. I tested a bit too well on the sentence testing, yet I did not get any words right during the single words test. At that time, I opted to hold off on the surgery. My powerful hearing aids and keen speech reading skills have enabled me to "hear" reasonably well despite my non-existent speech discrimination. But as time passes, I long for the days when I could converse easily on the phone, follow along in movie theaters and hear in the car. For me, the time has come to restore the quality of my life. I know it will be a difficult process and that success varies with the individual. It is a challenge I'm ready to take on. Have you had to decide to get a cochlear implant for you or your child? Share your thoughts on our Message Boards here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=000114 Have a good week, 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 " " " " " " " " " " Join us for a special event this Thursday evening at 9:30pm Eastern in our chatroom! Chris Writer, Manager of Consumer Education for Cochlear Corporation will be our guest. Ms. Writer will be discussing Nucleus cochlear implant technology and the new ESPrit 3G behind the ear version currently in trials. To enter our chatroom, click on the following link: http://www.hearingexchange.com/chat/chat2.htm If you are new to chatting, please send a blank email to mailto:chatinstructions@sendfree.com See you there! We are pleased to announce the grand opening of The HearingExchange Shop! In the coming weeks you will find an assortment of must-have books and magazines on hearing loss. Currently, we are offering several of Dr. Neil Bauman's books on tinnitus, coping with hearing loss, Meniere's, hearing aids and more. Dr. Neil is the Coping Skills, Tinnitus and Otoxic Drugs expert at HearingExchange. He is also an active participant in our evening chats. To check out his books, click here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/store/ Payment is accepted via PayPal on our secure ordering page. Need hearing aid batteries? We've just made it easier to order fresh batteries online. Click on the following link to place your order with our partner, Drugstore.com. http://www.hearingexchange.com/store/batteries.htm Do you know of a newspaper or magazine that could use a column on hearing loss? Send me an email with your suggestion(s) to mailto:editor@hearingexchange.com. 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 ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " F E A T U R E A R T I C L E " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " 5 Tips for Preparing Your Child for Cochlear Implant Surgery by Angie King Are you considering a cochlear implant for your child? It's tough to help your child calm his or her fears about an upcoming surgery when you yourself are a bushel of nerves. Below are 5 things to do alleviate yours and your child's fears about the surgery and hospital visit. Read the full article here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/featured_article_022602.htm ============================================================ " " " " N E W S " " " " How do kid's feel about their CLARION? Advanced Bionics asked and they answered. Well, they didn't just answer, they created works of art. Many CLARION kids responded to the call for drawings expressing their thoughts and feelings about their implants. Their masterpieces have been beautifully displayed in the new CLARION kid's calendar. Order your FREE calendar here: http://www.bionicear.com/?source=hearingexchange = = = = February 21 - Bush Administration's 2003 budget endangers future of America's newborns - From Hearing Health Magazine Funding for support of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EDHI) programs would be cut completely with passage of the proposed 2003 federal budget currently on the table. Learn more about this new development here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-022602c.htm = = = = Conference season is coming! March is shaping up with several hearing loss related seminars and events around the U.S. Check out the Event Calendar here and go to March for more information. Be sure to click on the dates for further details. http://www.hearingexchange.com/events/calendar.cgi 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 for more. ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " M E S S A G E B O A R D S " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Have something to say? Join more than 1,130 members and say it on our Message Boards! Once registered, you can easily post a new topic or reply to current threads. Registration is free and email addresses are confidential. Click here to register: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi >From our MED-EL Cochlear Implant forum: Do any of you have the MED-EL cochlear implant? Please tell us why you chose this brand and how you're doing with it here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=18 - - - >From our Hearing Aid Users forum: "...My concern now is that I am over 21 and soon to be independent is there any organization or fincial assistance take will help me replace my six year old-failing hearing aids?" Please post your suggestions here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=14&t=000021 >From our Progressive Hearing Loss forum: My husband just visited his doctor in San Antonio who told him that his ear drum has been "sucked" into his ear and is laying against the bones inside the ear...he has tinitis, auto-immune inner ear disease, as well as a few others...[the doctor] told my husband that he was prescribing a new medicine and that my husband is to pop his ears twice a day. If this does not correct the problem after a month then he will have to have surgery...does anyone know what this surgery would be called or what it consists of? Please respond to this post here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=23&t=000003 - - - >From our Parenting Infants forum: "Does anyone have information on where I can find out about laws in michigan regarding insurance coverage for children born with birth defects? I would greatly appreciate any links to websites or just any info you may have..." If you can help, please reply here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=29&t=000005 - - - >From our Hair Cell Research forum: Interested in hair cell regeneration or related issues? Check out this forum moderated by Daniel Morris, also known as HHIssues. Dan has spearheaded one of the most active forums of its kind online right here at HearingExchange! Click here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=12 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 " " " " " " " " " " " " " When the Brain Can't Hear - Unraveling the Mystery of Auditory Processing Disorder - This newly released book is written by Teri James Bellis, PhD, a professor of audiology and experienced researcher and lecturer on Auditory Processing Disorder (formerly called Central Auditory Processing Disorder - CAPD). With chapters on APD in children and adults as well as diagnosis and treatment, Dr. Bellis clearly explains this often misunderstood disorder and offers ideas and resources for coping with it. Recommended reading for adults with APD, as well as parents and professionals who deal with it on a regular basis. Buy it here: http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/bookSearch/isbnInquiry.asp?sourceid=00342007705100819458&ISBN=0743428633&bfdate=02-27-2002+01:11:10 (Please copy and paste the link into your browser if necessary.) ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " S P O N S O R M E S S A G E " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " HEAR-MORE - Products for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. HEARMORE.com is the ultimate site you can use to locate and purchase specialty products. FREE catalog, printed or on CD- ROM. Visit today at: http://www.hearmore.com/?source=hearingexchange ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " F E A T U R E D S I T E " " " " " " " " " " " " " The National Academy of Sciences offers an extensive history of cochlear implants and hearing loss in their section, "Sound from Silence: The Development of Cochlear Implants." This is an excellent primer for students of hearing loss as well as anyone interested in cochlear implants. Visit this interesting site today: http://www4.nas.edu/beyond/beyonddiscovery.nsf/web/cochlear?OpenDocument/?source=hearingexchange ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " A S K T H E E X P E R T " " " " " " " " " " " " " Question for Ira Springer, AuD. FAAA - Audiology Expert "What does a "cookie bite" hearing loss mean?" To read his Dr. Springer's answer, click here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/experts/audiologist.htm To submit a question to one of our experts, visit this link: http://www.hearingexchange.com/experts/ Please submit your question to just one expert. We will re-direct it if necessary. =========================================================== " " " " " " " " " " " " P O L L R E S U L T S " " " " " " " " " " " " Last week we asked: "Does hearing loss run in your family?" Results: No 53% Yes 35% I'm not sure 12% This week, our Educating Others poll asks you to fill in the blank: "When people ask me about my hearing loss I..." Be sure to register 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 " " " " " " " " " " " " " * Monday 9pm ET - General Chat - Curly * Tuesday 9pm ET - Adults with Hearing Aids - Kay * Wednesday 9:30pm ET - Late Deafened Adults - Guest Host - Kay * Thursday 9:30pm ET - Chat with Paula and SPECIAL GUEST on 2/28 Chris Writer of Cochlear Corporation * Fridays 9pm ET - Auditory Neuropathy - Elaine COMING SOON - Chat for Parents of Deaf and HOH Children 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. 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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. Until next time, 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. To modify your subscriptions, click on the unsubscribe link below, make your changes and click on "submit." 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.