Subject: HearingExchange News Week of 4.03.01 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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------------------- If you have hearing aids with T-coils and moderate to profound hearing loss, Hatis can assist you with your telephone calls. Available at Harris Communications. Check it out at: http://www.harriscomm.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Product_ID=2300&CATID=16 -------------------------------------------------------------- IN THIS ISSUE: * Letter from the Editor * What's New * News & Articles * Message Boards * Featured Site * Featured Book * Ask the Experts * Poll Results * Get Involved ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " L E T T E R F R O M T H E E D I T O R " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Hi Everyone! I recently returned from a fun, but tiring vacation to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. While I was there I took notes on accessibility issues for the deaf and hard of hearing. I'll be posting an article on this shortly at HearingExchange. Have you been there? Were you pleased with Disney's park accomodations for those of us with hearing loss? Please send your stories my way, I'd like to include them in my future article. Email your comments and anecdotes to me at mailto:editor@hearingexchange.com. Don't forget: SHHH is sponsoring FREE hearing screenings in select communities on May 5th in the U.S. during Better Speech and Hearing Month. Find out more at: http://www.hearingexchange.com/hearing_screening.htm. Spread the word! Have a good week! - Paula ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " W H A T ' S N E W " " " " " " " " " " Residents of a select few cities can still have time to see the Oscar nominated movie, "Sound and Fury" on the big screen. New dates and locations have been added for your convenience here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/sound_fury_dates.htm Check the Event Calendar for the months of April, May and June. Several workshops, symposiums and conventions are slated around the country that you won't want to miss. Be sure to click on the actual date that you're interested in for more extensive information. Go to the Calendar here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/events/calendar.cgi ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " " N E W S & A R T I C L E S " " " " " " " " " " " " " " The Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York is conducting a study to find the genes responsible for Usher Syndrome (hearing loss and retinitis pigmentosa (vision loss)in Ashkenazi Jews. If you or a member of your family are an Ashkenazi Jew or of Ashkenazic heritage and have Usher syndrome, or both hearing loss and vision loss that has no other known cause, you and your family member may be eligible to participate. Click here to read more: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-0402a.htm = = = = = 3.29.01 - Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced the creation of the Employment Assistance Referral Network (EARN), a national toll-free telephone and electronic information referral service for employers who are seeking to hire workers with disabilities. Read the full article: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-0402b.htm = = = = = ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The younger deaf and hearing-impaired children are when a cochlear implant awakens their hearing, the better they will do on speech recognition tests later in life, according to the new results of the largest and most carefully designed study of its kind. Click here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-0325b.htm = = = = = Scientists have engineered ear cells that could be transplanted into humans to arrest hearing loss or even regenerate long-lost hearing. The work has been carried out by Professor Matthew Holley, of the University of Bristol. Read more about this exciting new research: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-0329a.htm = = = = = SYLMAR, CALIF., MARCH 21 -- California-based innovator of medical implants, Advanced Bionics Corporation (r), today announced that its Clarion (r) CII Bionic Ear (tm) System received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the treatment of deafness in children and adults. The new bionic ear technology, which took five years and $30 million to develop, is approved for use in children and adults with profound hearing loss in both ears. For more: http://www.hearingexchange.com/articles/henews-0322a.htm These new articles and many more are all available on the main page of HearingExchange. Go to http://www.HearingExchange.com and review the News and Articles sections. =========================================================== " " " " " " " " " " " " " " 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 Concerned about the effects of electrical stimulation in conjunction with cochlear implants? Check this thread in the Cochlear Implant forum for valuable information you won't want to miss: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000008.html Do you have a cochlear implant? Please share your experience with the surgery with a concerned parent. Her daughter's surgery is scheduled for May 22nd. Add your comments to the thread at: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000014.html Looking for info on head injury and hearing loss. Please share any stories on how soon after the bump on the head did the hearing loss occur. Were you successful in getting back the hearing? A mother of a 4 year old is seeking input in our Deaf/Hard of Hearing forum. Please offer her your support and experiences at: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000036.html Have you been throught the special education maze? A mom of a preschooler with mild/moderate bilateral hearing loss is looking for advice on how to prepare him for kindergarten and obtain the services he will need. Post your insight here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/000008.html Share your experiences as an adult with hearing loss, you'll find you are not alone in the Late Deafened forum. Join the thread at: http://www.hearingexchange.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000002.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 " " " " " " " " " " " " " This issue's Featured Site is the advocacy organization Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH). SHHH offers an excellent monthly journal on hearing loss issues with its national membership. Local chapters offer opportunities for education and socialization. Read more about SHHH in the Featured Site area at http://www.HearingExchange.com. ============================================================ " " " " " " " " " " " " " F E A T U R E D B O O K " " " " " " " " " " " " " Recently updated in its fifth edition, Legal Rights: The Guide for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People offers a good education about the laws affecting people with hearing loss. Read more about it in the Featured Book box on the main page at http://www.HearingExchange.com. Order a copy today by pasting this link into your browser: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1563680912/hearingexchange/103-4175061-8520633 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 " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Questions for our Parent Support Expert, Lisa Simmons: #1: I am a teacher of the hearing impaired and have worked with deaf children for several years. I have found some deaf children difficult to work with because they question what they're asked to do. They want to argue, delay doing their assignments, correct my signing, etc. Is this behavior related to their deafness or are they just strong willed children? I have found I must be very firm with them, but I get tired of the continuous struggle. I've never heard anyone address this issue. #2. Q. I am a mother of 3 hearing impaired children who have been diagnosed with Recessive Non-Syndromic Hearing Loss. They have bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. I've been told that this is a progressive disease and they could possibly lose their hearing altogether one day. The children are 6, 4 and 8 months old. We have been teaching them sign language but not fluently. Is there any way of knowing if or when they could possibly lose all their hearing? Should I start taking classes to become fluent in sign? Read Lisa's responses here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/experts/past_questions.htm Question for our Audiologist Expert, Ira Springer Q. My 6 year old son has problems hearing at home and school. Today he had audiological tests at the local hospital. After apparently performing poorly at the audiography test (ear phones and audiometer) he had a bone conduction test. This showed that he has very good hearing on one side, but one ear gave very poor results. The consultant told me that even if he was completely deaf on one side, an aid would not be prescribed, as we only need two ears to determine the direction of sound. The social implications of wearing an aid are 'too great' at this age, and his education would not suffer by not having one. Is this correct? Do you recommend that I get a second opinion regarding the possible treatment? Read Ira's reply here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/experts/past_questions.htm Question for our Cochlear Implant Expert, Dr. Pat Chute What are the risks if any associated with the implant? What is the percentage that those risks occur? Pat Chute responds here: http://www.hearingexchange.com/experts/past_questions.htm Be sure to submit your question only once to the appropriate expert. We are unable to respond personally to each question we receive. Due to time constraints, our experts are unable to assist students with their research. Students should visit our Resource Directory for valuable research resources at http://www.hearingexchange.com/resources/ ============================================================= " " " " " " " " " " " " P O L L R E S U L T S " " " " " " " " " " " " Our last poll asked how you found our site: Link from another site 30% Word of mouth 6% About.com 18% An article by Paula 3% Search Engine 30% Other 12% This week, we'd like to know what if any assistive devices you use at work or home. Submit your answers at the poll on the main page of HearingExchange at http://www.HearingExchange.com. We plan to set up a chat room for our members shortly. We'll let you know when this becomes available. Interested in a regularly scheduled chat? Let us know what you'd like to chat about and when is most convenient for you. Email me at mailto:editor@hearingexchange.com ============================================================= " " " " " " " " " " " " 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 700 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 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 need experts in the fields of Speech Language Pathology and Otolaryngology. All experts must have experience with hearing impaired adults and/or children. Our Resource Directory is growing! We now have over 195 links related to hearing loss for you to review. Visit http://www.hearingexchange.com/resources/ when you're looking for organizations, assistive devices, hearing aid manufacturers, listservs and much more. Use our Add a Link feature 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