<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
	<title type="html"><![CDATA[Hearing Loss Web Discussion Board]]></title>
	<link rel="self" href="http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/extern.php?action=feed&amp;type=atom"/>
	<updated>2009-11-18T23:20:27Z</updated>
	<generator>PunBB</generator>
	<id>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/index.php</id>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Hearing in the Classroom]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=73&amp;action=new"/>
			<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Can anyone recommend an assisted listening device for use in the classroom?  I am a teacher and I wear two hearing aides.  I have a wireless FM device that worked well when I taught small groups of 6-8 students, but now I teach 20 students spread out in a larger area. My listening device doesn't work in that situation unless I walk around the room with the microphone when a student asks a question. That is too slow and inconvenient.  I would appreciate any ideas and would love to hear from other HOH teachers to learn how they are able to cope.  There must be many classroom teachers with hearing lost that teach 30 – 35 students, but I’ve yet to meet one or hear from one.  I’d love to connect with other teachers and start a chat group on this website for teachers.  Love to hear from you!
Thanks,
Marilyn]]></summary>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[northernlights]]></name>
				<uri>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/profile.php?id=3026</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2009-11-18T23:20:27Z</updated>
			<id>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=73&amp;action=new</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Excellent hard of hearing phone service: American Net]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=57&amp;action=new"/>
			<summary type="html"><![CDATA[American Net

Advances in technology and the internet have created a plethora of new ways to connect with one another. FreeRelay, PhoneCaption, and AmericanVRS services are all perfect examples of this. Designed for deaf and hard of hearing users, these services include IP-Relay, voice captioning, and video interpreting for real-time calls that are easy to place online 24/7.

American Network believes in using the power of technology to create connections and build communication. That’s why we offer state-of-the art calling services that connect deaf or hard of hearing callers with perfect clarity. With multiple options including caption calls, relay calling, and VRS, you can choose the service that works for you.


Visit [url]http://american.net/services[/url] to learn more]]></summary>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[alexh]]></name>
				<uri>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/profile.php?id=2547</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2009-11-18T21:07:22Z</updated>
			<id>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=57&amp;action=new</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Minere's Syndrome]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=42&amp;action=new"/>
			<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I have had to deal with this problem since I was about 15 years old, the best I can remember.  At 76 years of age, it's difficult to remember  the 'good ole days.'  I would have vertigo so bad that I would have to stick my feet under the foot board of the bed and grab hole of the poles of the head board just to keep from falling out of bed.  Now, I can be sitting here at the computer and very often my head will spin.  I have to be careful about arising up from the bed or chair or I will fall flat on my face.  Done it many times.  Sometimes my wife catches me and trys to keep me steady.  At 250 pounds it's hard to get me up off the floor especially during my dizzy spells.

The strange part about all of this is that I have never suffered any hearing loss.]]></summary>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[elance]]></name>
				<uri>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/profile.php?id=1344</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2009-11-18T17:58:42Z</updated>
			<id>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=42&amp;action=new</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[device to assist hard of hearing professionals]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=79&amp;action=new"/>
			<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I have a Phonak device that is perfect for large meetings, connecting to other technology, using in a noisy restaurant -- it is truly amazing and absolutely more than I need right now.  It is used with a hearing aid, and basically sound -- voices in particular -- come right in through my aid.  My original cost was $2500, and I've only used it for large meetings -- maybe half a dozen important meetings. Right now I am trying to sell it for $800, simply because I need the funds more than the assist right now. Any interested parties can contact me directly (you may want your audiologist to vet) on my cell, 347-612-9035.]]></summary>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[marysemela]]></name>
				<uri>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/profile.php?id=3267</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2009-11-17T17:12:10Z</updated>
			<id>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=79&amp;action=new</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[CI = not disabled?]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=78&amp;action=new"/>
			<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I'm writing this to somehow find an answer and hopefully possible solution.

My younger brother is profoundly deaf, has been since he was born and as a result has been receiving SSI ever since. At age 7 he got his cochlear implant and adjusted to it quite well. He can hear practically everything and his speech has and continues to improve. He is now 21, in college and has PT job.  Needless to say my family and I are very proud of him. There have been quite a few ups & downs , which i'm sure some of you can relate to, but now it seems like all of those obstacles have for the most part faded away. Until recently.  

About a month ago my brothers SSI was denied, so he appealed the decision. The judge at the appeal denied it again claiming because my brother had a cochlear implant and was able to attend college and maintain the same job for a year, he was no longer disabled.  To me, this ruling seems a bit asinine.  Yes, my brother has a PT job but also depends on his SSI to help pay for things such as meds, ENT visits for mapping and anything else related to to his CI so he can continue to function in the norms of society. 

The plan now is to appeal the appeal which, from what we've heard, never turns out the way one would want it to.  We've been doing research on what is considered "disabled" and havent been so lucky. If anyone knows of or has had any experiences similar to this that would help his case, please let me know. Any info or suggestions would be greatly appreciated :)]]></summary>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[Kathleen Luisa]]></name>
				<uri>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/profile.php?id=3276</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2009-11-17T04:00:20Z</updated>
			<id>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=78&amp;action=new</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Speak Out and Reach Out]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=25&amp;action=new"/>
			<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Hello, All -


Please let me preface this by saying, this is NOT spam and I hope you will read this post with an open heart. I currently work for a marketing agency that represents an online job center and a social networking community geared toward the career advancement of people with disabilities. This company maintains partnerships with distinguished national organizations that aide and advocate for people with disabilities, each of which is working tirelessly to empower the millions of Americans living with disabilities. 

Our goal is to create a video montage which will be posted on a channel of youtube.com in order to create awareness regarding an all inclusive workforce for people with disabilities. If you, or someone you know, would like to volunteer your time and tell us your personal story about a moment that you felt inspired please submit a short video (1-3min) to the email provided. Also, be sure to include your name, E-mail, and phone number.

If your video is selected we will contact you to verify your information and use of this video. 

All submissions must be sent to ShiningStars1994@gmail.com

The deadline is March 9, 2009.

Send an Email to ShiningStars1994@gmail.com or send a PM with any questions or concerns you may have. 

We sincerely thank you for your help and support,

~Marissa~]]></summary>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[abbieonline]]></name>
				<uri>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/profile.php?id=498</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2009-11-16T18:45:18Z</updated>
			<id>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=25&amp;action=new</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Hearing Aid that passed noisy restaurant test]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=67&amp;action=new"/>
			<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The sound of a noisy Chicago restaurant during the breakfast rush -- the clang of plates and silverware and the clamor of many voices -- was the crucial test of new hearing aid technology in a study conducted by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

The study showed that the hearing aids worked well in a noisy environment -- the most challenging test for a hearing aid. But the patients wearing the devices didn't need to fly from St. Louis to Chicago to participate in the test. Instead, the restaurant came to the clinic of Michael Valente, Ph.D., director of the Division of Adult Audiology in the Department of Otolaryngology at the School of Medicine. Or at least its sounds did.

"We have a sound room set up to be an exact duplication of being in a loud restaurant. It's real restaurant noise, and it allows us to realistically test hearing aids," Valente says. "One of the most common complaints I hear from people who wear hearing aids is that they have stopped going to restaurants because they can't communicate. So we are testing hearing aid technology that might better help people hear in noisy places."

The study, published in the International Journal of Audiology, was the first to use such a setting to test a new hearing aid technology -- open-fit hearing aids with directional microphones. Open-fit means the devices let ambient sounds into the ear canal, unlike more conventional hearing aids, which completely block off the canal. Canal blockage creates an occlusion effect that makes wearers' own voices sound a little like they are talking from the bottom of a barrel, so open-fit is an attractive new option.

Directional microphones actually aren't a new development. They have been available for many years on conventional hearing aids, but researchers have questioned whether open-fit aids with directional microphones will be effective. Directional microphones help users distinguish conversation from background noise by partially canceling out low frequency sounds coming from the sides and from behind. Because open-fit aids let sound pass directly to the eardrum, some believe this will lessen their ability to decrease background sounds.

"We found that the open-fit hearing aids with directional microphones on average gave wearers a 20 percent improvement in speech intelligibility in the restaurant setting compared to not having a hearing aid or wearing an open-fit aid without a directional microphone," Valente says. "We are the first to show that a directional microphone in open-fit can provide improved performance in noise."

In fact, the aids without directional microphones performed worse in the noisy situation than no aid at all. "That's not unusual," Valente says. "People often tell me that when they are in a noisy situation, they take out their hearing aids because they don't help and sometimes even make it harder to hear."

Open-fit hearing aids have been available for about three years. They are designed for people who have normal hearing in the low frequency range but have lost hearing in the upper range, where most conversational sounds are. This is a very common type of hearing loss that often comes with aging or prolonged noise exposure. Valente says the open-fit hearing aids are what most new patients are asking for because they are very light and almost invisible, but they are not the best choice for all hearing problems.

Studies such as this help clinicians counsel patients on choosing the type of hearing aid that will work best for them and also what to expect from any hearing device. "I tell patients that a hearing aid will definitely allow you to hear better in a quiet environment, but in a noisy place, it won't ever work as well as it does in quiet," Valente says. "I also emphasize that even normal-hearing people have trouble communicating in noise. I say, next time you go to a restaurant with someone, estimate how much of the conversation you hear. Then ask them how much of the conversation they heard. I'll bet the difference won't be as large as you think."

Next Valente will begin a project in collaboration with the National Association of Future Doctors of Audiology (NAFDA) of the Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences (PACS) at Washington University in which they will measure sound levels in restaurants in the St. Louis area. Very often patients when seen by an audiologist in the Audiology Department report they no longer frequent restaurants because communication is impossible. So Valente and his colleagues want to provide patients with a noise rating system that will help them determine whether they will find a restaurant's environment comfortable.

In this system, similar to programs currently in place in San Francisco and Washington, D.C., a rating of "one bell" would indicate a restaurant where the noise levels are soft enough to allow for easy communication, while a rating of "four bells" would indicate that communication would be very difficult. Valente and his colleagues will soon make this rating system available to the public via the restaurant review section of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper and Web site. In addition, it will be available on the Web site of the Division of Adult Audiology (audiology.wustl.edu).]]></summary>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[Angelica05]]></name>
				<uri>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/profile.php?id=2779</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2009-11-16T05:46:56Z</updated>
			<id>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=67&amp;action=new</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[A Cure for Tinnitus]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=77&amp;action=new"/>
			<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Hello friends, I was looking for solutions to these terrible noises and found an ebook that discusses natural methods, the ebook they sell, so I want to know if some of you have used it, I would buy it, I need your advice. Thank you.
You can see here [url]http://bit.ly/Tinnitus[/url]]]></summary>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[Richards]]></name>
				<uri>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/profile.php?id=3219</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2009-11-14T01:32:00Z</updated>
			<id>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=77&amp;action=new</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[moved]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=76&amp;action=new"/>
			<summary type="html"><![CDATA[moved]]></summary>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[Richards]]></name>
				<uri>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/profile.php?id=3219</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2009-11-13T02:41:35Z</updated>
			<id>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=76&amp;action=new</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Affordable Hearing Aids?]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=40&amp;action=new"/>
			<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I am a retired hearing aid dispenser and business owner after 40 years. I have worked with the deaf and hard of hearing my entire life.

The high cost of hearing aids has always been something that irritates me to no end.  I have complained to the upper echelons but nobody really listens.  My father nor my mother could ever afford hearing aids as well as many of my deaf and hard of hearing relatives.  My grandmother who passed away at 99 years of age never had a hearing aid and spent the last few years of her life very lonely.

The hearing industry complain that only 2% of those who need hearing aids are buying hearing aids.  

While I was in business I worked with the other 98% and enjoyed the expressions of happiness that spread all over their faces when they could hear again.  My average cost of hearing aids was $398.  There were many times that I fitted my clients at my cost.  Yes, I retired, not wealthy but content.

The market of hearing aids would improve tremendously if the 98% could be targeted with less costly hearing benefits.  The problem is that greed takes over and the other is that no one wants to work harder to earn an income. 

There just is not enough room nor time to vent all my frustrations over this, but I hope somebody will read it and have compassion for all those who will never be able to enjoy life to the full by providing hearing aids at a more reasonable price.

John W Dudley, Retired Hearing Aid Dispenser (RHAD) .  I’ve always wanted initials at the end of my name.]]></summary>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[Shi-Ku Chishiki]]></name>
				<uri>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/profile.php?id=1344</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2009-11-05T18:06:05Z</updated>
			<id>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=40&amp;action=new</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Social Security Disability for 70db hearing loss in the 4k zone???????]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=44&amp;action=new"/>
			<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I'm fighting SSHL

I'm not done with treatment yet, but I've lost 75db in the 4k zone in my left year and 65db in the right. Two doses of prednisone didn't help.

The sudden hearing loss came back on the second dose of prednisone, which ended on a Friday and even though I called on the Wednesday before the dose was over saying it was coming back, and again on Monday when it came back in full force, the ear doctor didn't want to see me until my regular scheduled appointment on the next Wednesday (tomorrow, June 3). Personally I think that is irresponsible.

I went in for the audiologist test today and got the bad news (it wasn't news, I could tell I had the problem).

I have been a musician all my life, I'm getting ready to collect early social security, and I'm putting it off until the doctor either fixes it or tells me there is nothing more to do.

Does anyone know if this qualifies for a social-security disability claim?

It will be very difficult working if I can't hear pitch properly.

Thanks]]></summary>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[AllEars]]></name>
				<uri>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/profile.php?id=1192</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2009-11-05T14:29:46Z</updated>
			<id>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=44&amp;action=new</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Court Hearing for Domestic Abuse Divorce, Can't Hear]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=12&amp;action=new"/>
			<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I had my first court hearing today and couldn't hear a thing. I filed for divorce after 30 years of marriage. It is an abusive marriage. He does not allow me access to money for hearing aids...or food or transportation....but he is a dentist, earns a good living, so I am not qualified for financial aid. I cannot afford hearing aids or an attorney...he paid an attorney $6500 to represent him. I need to hear what the judge is saying. I feel like a fool and it was not appreciated by the judge when I burst out crying in frustration. I now have a continuance.
Any advice?]]></summary>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[janet]]></name>
				<uri>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/profile.php?id=131</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2009-11-04T22:05:50Z</updated>
			<id>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=12&amp;action=new</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Poor Speech Recognition]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=22&amp;action=new"/>
			<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I am 68 and have similar volume loss in both my ears according to hearing tests, but my right ear has terrible speech recognition; about 30%. What is also very strange to me is that even though my audiologist says that the volume loss in my right ear is about the same as my left ear, if I plug my left ear my souind level drops dramatically as though my right ear is almost deaf. My audiologist is totally stumped for such a sound loss since the tests show that my right ear should not have such a sound loss. Has anyone else experienced this? With the speech recognition problem in my right ear a hearing aid does not really help in that ear.

  Also, my hearing sound without my hearing aid for my left ear seems to have increased recently and become higher pitched, but I still have TERRIBLE problems in large groups understanding voices with or without my aid. Not sure what this increase in volume is from, since I would assume that my hearing volume would just decrease with age. Very strange.

  I as I said my speech recognition in large groups is terrible with or without the one aid.
  Thanks for any advice you can give.]]></summary>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[janet]]></name>
				<uri>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/profile.php?id=491</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2009-11-04T21:41:45Z</updated>
			<id>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=22&amp;action=new</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Left Ear High Frequency Hearing gone]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=75&amp;action=new"/>
			<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I never used hearing protection while shooting rifles, pistols or shotguns when in early adulthood. I have lost about 90% high frequency hearing in my left ear. I am right handed and shot weapons from my right side, does anyone know why that would have affected my left ear more than my right ear.

Thanks in advance    JK]]></summary>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[jacobkensington]]></name>
				<uri>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/profile.php?id=3078</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2009-10-31T20:27:33Z</updated>
			<id>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=75&amp;action=new</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Loud Noises]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=17&amp;action=new"/>
			<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I have a pretty good hearing loss. I'm 68 yrs old. I do not have hearings aids (but need them). I notice that any loud noise (someone dropping something, the dogs barking, etc) is extremely irritating to me. I try to contain my irritation, but sometimes it gets out of hand and I cause problems with my family. Is  this normal in persons with what I consider to be moderate hearing loss? Will hearing aids help with this problem? I don't know enough about this subject, but it seems to me that my brain is highly sensitive to sound in order to compensate for my hearing loss, and when a loud noise hits it, it reacts (usually not in a good way). Any comments?]]></summary>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[flatMC]]></name>
				<uri>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/profile.php?id=339</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2009-10-29T13:55:19Z</updated>
			<id>http://www.hearinglossweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=17&amp;action=new</id>
		</entry>
</feed>
