Volume 22 Issue 1

HOH-LD-News
Vol. 22, Issue 1
January 1, 2005

Copyright (C) 2005 Hearing Loss Web. All rights reserved.

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Table of Contents
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- Article 1: Hair Cell Regeneration-Looking Beyond the Hype
- Article 2: Half of Hearing Aids Come with Telecoil
- Article 3: DOR Approves Law School as Employment Goal
- Article 4: Convert Television Captions to Web-Streaming Formats
- Article 5: Reader Feedback
- Classifieds
- Contact Information and Disclaimers

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Contact information and disclaimers are at the end of this newsletter.
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--------------------- Sound Clarity, Inc. ---------------------
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***** HAPPY HOLIDAYS *****

WE WISH YOU THE BEST THIS HOLIDAY SEASON,

FROM ALL OF US AT SOUND CLARITY, INC.

Please contact us with any questions regarding your
Communications needs. We're always happy to help.

Visit us at http://www.soundclarity.com/hohnews
or contact us at mailto:info@soundclarity.com
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- Article 1: Hair Cell Regeneration-Looking Beyond the Hype
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Editor: We've met Dr. Neil Bauman in these pages on several occasions, and we're fortunate to meet him again! He's been watching the hype regarding hair cell regeneration and wanted to offer his thoughts on a realistic timetable for this hearing loss "cure".

Neil is also the author of the definitive book on ototoxic drugs, as well as a number of other works on hearing loss. More information is available on his website www.hearinglosshelp.com .

You can also email him at neil@hearinglosshelp.com .

Finally, I've chosen to remove the footnotes from this article, because superscripts don't come across well in a text document. For the complete article (including footnotes) please point your browser to http://www.hearinglosshelp.com/HairCellHype.htm

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(c) November 2004 by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.

Question: Hair cell regeneration has been in the news for some time now. Will it soon restore hearing for the millions of hard of hearing people? I'd love to know your thoughts about this.-J. S.

Answer: Investigation into hair cell regeneration has come a long ways from the late 1970s when researchers first discovered that sharks could produce hair cells throughout their lives. However, it was not until 1986-87, when researchers discovered that birds could naturally regenerate hair cells to restore damaged hearing, that scientists got excited and began to think, "If it works in birds, maybe we can make it work it humans too!"

Since then, research on hair cell regeneration has accelerated. In the past 3 or 4 years, researchers have made remarkable strides towards one day being able to regenerate hair cells in people with hearing loss.

Unfortunately, every time there is another discovery or breakthrough in this research, the media hype seems to indicate that hair cell regeneration is just around the corner-that in just a few years hearing loss is going to be a thing of the past. Hard of hearing people are getting their hopes up-thinking that in a few years, they will get their hearing back. Is this really going to happen, or are their hopes going to be dashed once again? Let's look at the facts.

First, hair cell regeneration will not help all people with hearing loss. For example, hair cell regeneration won't help deaf people who lost their hearing before they acquired speech. This is because brains wire for sound during the first 6 years of life. If a person doesn't hear any sounds during this time, their brains never develop the necessary auditory capability to understand speech. Thus, even if their ears could grow new hair cells, these hair cells would be useless to them because their brains wouldn't know how to process these new sound signals. (However, if hair cells were regenerated in deaf children in the very first few years of their lives, the results could be fantastic.)

Furthermore, hair cell regeneration won't help people with conductive losses such as are caused by middle ear infections or otosclerosis, nor will it help people with auditory nerve conditions such as acoustic neuromas. Also, hair cell regeneration will not help people with hearing loss if their hearing loss is caused by the absence of certain genes that result in hearing loss even though adequate numbers of hair cells are present. That's the bad news.

The good news is that the majority of people with hearing loss have a sensorineural type of hearing loss that may benefit from hair cell regeneration.

Second, hair cell regeneration is still a long ways off-several decades at least. It is not just around the corner. As of 2004, the most realistic time frame is still 20 or more years in the future. Dr. Rubel, perhaps the leading researcher in the world today on hair cell regeneration, says, "My most hopeful prediction is 20 years, and that's being very optimistic." He further states, "Over 15 years of studies on hair cell regeneration in the inner ears of birds has taught us that a quick and easy cure for sensorineural hearing loss is unrealistic." He adds, "It will be a long time until we have anything near a perfect cure for hearing loss."

Third, once hair cell regeneration is possible, the public has been lead to believe that treating hard of hearing people will result in them having normal hearing once more. However, if you carefully read the reports as they come out, you begin to realize that researchers are not talking about hard of hearing people receiving normal hearing through hair cell regeneration. They are talking about "growing enough hair cells where hearing aids could be used more effectively and provide much more acoustic information" than would otherwise be possible.

In fact, Dr. Rubel expects that hair cell regeneration, far from leading to the demise of hearing aids, will actually make them even more common and useful. He explains, "Hair cell regeneration will, if anything, increase the population of people who could benefit from hearing aids."

This is because a normal human ear has between 16,000 and 30,000 hair cells, yet hair cell regeneration researchers are talking about only being able to grow a few hundred hair cells -not the thousands upon thousands needed for normal hearing. Obviously, regenerating a few hundred hair cells is a drop in the bucket and will in no way restore hearing to normal-better hearing, yes, but not normal hearing.

Did you know that even in the animals that God designed to naturally regenerate hair cells, hearing does not return to normal? For example, researchers used loud noise and antibiotics to produce a 70 dB loss in chickens. When these chickens regenerated hair cells to replace the damaged ones, their hearing returned, but not to normal. They had a permanent 23 dB hearing loss. Most studies on birds have reported mild permanent hearing losses and mild to moderate tuning (discrimination) impairments.

Thus, even though much hearing returns, the regenerated hair cells are not as "good" as the originals. Before and after photomicrographs of hair cells are revealing. Before noise damage, the hair cells are symmetrical and beautifully ordered. Later, pictures taken of regenerated hair cells show them as irregularly shaped and the stereocilia (the "hairs" of the hair cells) look like they were all hashed together-not beautifully arranged like before.

These are some of the facts. Therefore, at the present time (2004), hair cell regeneration is nowhere near ready to be applied to humans. However, if research into hair cell regeneration continues at the present pace, hair cell regeneration in humans will very likely become a reality sometime in the next few decades. Even so, it won't be a cure for hearing loss. Rather, it will be another aid to better hearing, just like hearing aids are today.

Neil Bauman, Ph.D., has successfully coped with a life-long severe hereditary hearing loss. He is a hearing loss coping skills specialist, author and speaker. Send your questions to him at: neil@hearinglosshelp.com.

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- Article 2: Half of Hearing Aids Come with Telecoil
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Editor: It's amazing how often I run across people whose hearing aids do NOT include telecoils. Their value for talking on the phone is unquestioned, and current efforts to increase the use of induction loops makes telecoils all the more important. Yet hearing aids continue to be sold without them.

There is good news, however. The common wisdom has been that roughly a third of new hearing aids in the US are telecoil-equipped. It now appears that the number is closer to half! Here's David Myers with the story. For more information, please point your browser to www.hearingloop.org

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One of the impediments to the spread of hearing aid compatible phones and assistive listening has been the claim that here in the USA, unlike certain other countries such as the UK, only 30 percent of hearing aid wearers are equipped with telecoils. For assistive listening, that's, of course, not a real problem, because anyone can be served with a loop receiver/headset. Moreover, many of us have reasoned, if we build it they will come. If, for example, SHHH enjoys continued success in its effective efforts to have tomorrow's digital phones, as well as today's landline phones, hearing aid compatible, then hearing aid manufacturers, hearing professionals, and the hard of hearing will all gravitate to telecoils, which will further increase impetus for hearing aid compatibility.

Happily, a long-awaited survey of the six leading hearing aid manufacturers (producing more than 90 percent of new aids) has just been presented at the 2004 ASHA Convention in Philadelphia. The investigators, Rebecca Blaha and her Ohio State University audiology mentor, Stephanie Davidson, presented their findings on "Hearing Aid Telecoils: Current Numbers in the U.S. Market." Their main finding: "The results from this study showed that 48% of the hearing aids sold in the United States contain telecoils."

So, when asked or publicizing what percent of hearing aids have telecoils, the best estimate is now "half" (not 30 percent). Moreover, virtually 100 percent of BTE aids (which tend to be worn, I'd presume, by the folks who most need telephone help and assistive listening) have telecoils.

One other striking finding was the variation among the six companies, three of which put telecoils in most of their aids, and three of which did so for less than 40 percent of their aids. Although the companies were guaranteed anonymity, so I can't tell you who they are, it triggers the idea that the NCHAT might communicate with the leading manufacturers, commending those who are leading the way and encouraging the others to follow suit. Might this be one way in which we could support the spread of both hearing aid compatible phones and assistive listening. (It also is consistent with Mark's letter to the VA on our behalf, encouraging the same.) There seems to be positive momentum toward the inclusion of telecoils, which maybe we can help accelerate.

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- Article 3: DOR Approves Law School as Employment Goal
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Editor: Have you ever dealt with your state's Department of Rehabilitation? If so, did you find them friendly and helpful? Did they seem to have your best interests at heart?

Here's an article about a rehabilitation program that approved law school as an employment goal. As always, your feedback on information in these newsletters is encouraged.

This article first appeared in Protection & Advocacy, Inc., Newsletter #89, Fall 2004, and is reprinted with permission.

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Eric Heckman is deaf, and he wants to be a lawyer. In February 2003, the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) approved Heckman for vocational rehabilitation services. But DOR refused to support Heckman's employment goal because he:

• Has a bachelor's degree he can use to find employment;
• Did not score high enough on a DOR career assessment/evaluation; and
• Had to agree to take the LSAT exam before DOR would write his Individual Plan for Employment (IPE).

DOR wanted lower employment goal

The law school Heckman wanted to attend at that time did not require an LSAT exam. DOR insisted that Heckman change his employment goal to paralegal or a similar field - to get his foot in the door. Heckman refused, so DOR closed his case.

PAI letter reopens case

Heckman called PAI. Dolores Victor, a staff attorney in PAI's Oakland office, investigated. She agreed to help Heckman with both issues - the case closure and the refusal to support his employment goal. After Victor asked for an informal review of the case closure, DOR reopened it.

DOR changes position

But DOR still would not support Heckman's goal of becoming a lawyer, so Victor represented him at an administrative review hearing. At that hearing, Victor persuaded DOR to change its position.

Then she helped Heckman develop and write his IPE. DOR approved Heckman's plan, which includes (1) LSAT preparation and exam fees; (2) Law school admittance and tuition fees; (3) Books and supplies; (4) Transportation; (5) A tutor (if necessary); (6) Assistive technology, including an evaluation for laptop computer equipment; (7) taking the Bar exam twice (if necessary); and (8) the Bar prep course.

PASS approved, too

Victor also helped Heckman get his Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS) approved after Social Security had delayed it for more than a year.

Stand up for your rights

In Heckman's words, "Attorney Dolores and PAI did a fantastic job helping me." He believes that it is important to hope to reach your dream, to stand up for your rights, to open more opportunities for people with disability.

"The law is on our side," he says. "The U.S. Constitution gives us the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. We must continue the legacy of Justin Dart, and insist that people with disability not be left out."

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- Article 4: Convert Television Captions to Web-Streaming Formats
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Editor: Those who are interested in captioning streaming video on the Internet are familiar with MAGpie, WGBH's software that allows anyone to insert captions into videos of various format.

WGBH recently announced a new tool called CaptionKeeper, which converts television captions into a format suitable for streaming video. Here's the press release.

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Boston, MA. WGBH's National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) announces the availability of software which enables closed captions created for broadcast and video to migrate to the Web.

CaptionKeeper (TM) software automatically converts line-21 captions created for television or video into Web-streaming formats. The software, now available for purchase, uses existing closed-caption data to create caption text suitable for live and/or archived multimedia presentations via RealPlayer, Windows Media Player and QuickTime Player formats.

The development of CaptionKeeper follows WGBH's release of its award-winning Media Access Generator, or MAGpie software. MAGpie is a free tool that enables do-it-yourself captioning and audio description (for users who are blind or have low vision) of digitized media, and is used by people around the world to make Web-based multimedia accessible. CaptionKeeper joins MAGpie as an easy-to-use tool for creating a more accessible Web.

For additional information on CaptionKeeper, including technical specifications and cost, please visit (www.captionkeeper.org) or contact the NCAM via e-mail at captionkeeper@wgbh.org.

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- Article 5: Reader Feedback
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We've received a couple of emails regarding previous articles that we'd like to share with everyone.

First, after reading our article on the Lions Clubs low cost hearing aid Stefanie Graves emailed me and asked that I remind people to donate their old hearing aids to their local Lions Clubs. Many local chapters recycle the aids for people who can't afford to buy them!

Second, regarding the article entitled "Airport Announcements to be Captioned?" Harry Piela reports that Finland already has a sophisticated text messaging system that broadcasts announcements in airports. We're looking for reports from other countries, so let us know if you have any information ;-)

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- Classifieds
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Two Employment Opportunities appear in this issue. (Ads appear after this brief table of contents.)

Employment Opportunity 1
Director of Student Services
Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind (ISDB)
Gooding, ID

Employment Opportunity 2
Educational Interpreter positions
Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Jericho and Bennington, VT

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Employment Opportunity 1
Director of Student Services
Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind (ISDB)
Gooding, ID
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STARTING DATE:
(Anticipated) April 1, 2005

SALARY RANGE:
Negotiable-Commensurate with education and experience

BENEFITS:
Comprehensive fringe benefit package

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
* Master's Degree in Education (Deaf or Blind preferred), or Business Administration with direct school operations experience
* Three years teaching experience (Deaf or Blind preferred)
* Experience with personnel supervision and evaluation systems, problem solving, complaint resolution, and policy development
* Administrative Certification in field of Education
* Fluency in sign language or Braille communications

DUTIES:
Administer all programs within Student Services, including:
* Cottage Life Program (Residential environment)
* Student Health Center (Nursing staff & care providers)
* Students and Campus Staff Transportation (Land & Airlines)
* Student Activities (After school training and recreational)
* Post Secondary Transition Program (Job & Life skills training)
* Summer Work Experience Program

LOCATION:
ISDB is located in Gooding, Idaho (pop. 3,500), a small farming community at the foothills of the Sawtooth Mountain Range. The city of Gooding is a quiet, family oriented community. Abundant recreational and professional growth opportunities are available within a short driving distance. For more info about ISDB check our website at: www.isdb.state.id.us

APPLICATION PROCEDURES: Submit:
1. Letter of application
2. Copies of certification
3. Three letters of recommendation
4. Official transcripts
5. Resume

DEADLINE:
Open till filled

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Human Resources Department at 208-934-4457 (V/TTY)
or send email to: sherry.hann@isdb.idaho.gov
Successful candidate will be required to furnish a background check within three months of employment as per Idaho Code 33-130.
Hiring is done without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or disability. In addition, preference may be given to veterans who qualify under state and federal laws and regulations. If you need special accommodations to satisfy testing requirements, please contact the HR Department.

Major Responsibilities:

1. Hire and train qualified staff to supervise students.
2. Conduct annual staff evaluation system based on job performance and growth.
3. Healthy, clean, and safe living environment for students who stay on campus during the week.
4. Comprehensive medical program to meet the needs of individual students.
5. Transportation program for students when they travel to and from school, including coordination of airline schedules and cost analysis.
6. Athletic program for boys and girls from elementary through high school.
7. Recreational program.
8. Student organizations in Cottage Life Program.
9. Employment program that provides opportunities for successful work experiences for high school students during summer vacation. Also, placement of seniors after graduation.
10. Guidance/counseling program for students as needed and required by state policies.
11. Budgets as assigned and provide input as budgets are developed.
12. In-service programs for staff in Students Services Department.
13. Comprehensive school activity calendar.
14. Behavior modification program in Cottage Life Program.
15. Public relations.
16. All other assigned duties at the discretion of the Superintendent.

Typical tasks performed:

1. Provide management, organization, guidance, and leadership for the Department of Student Services.
2. Develop appropriate relationship with students, parents, and staff.
3. Maintain good relations with the public.
4. Foster interdepartmental cooperation.
5. Provide appropriate environment for students served.
6. Communicate effectively with Superintendent and Administrative Leadership Team.
7. Develop departmental goals in accordance with laws, policies, regulations and the mission of ISDB.
8. Develop personal goals to meet employment needs and personal life needs.

Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind (ISDB)
Serving Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Blind and Visually Impaired Students of Idaho Since 1906

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Employment Opportunity 2
Educational Interpreter positions
Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Jericho and Bennington, VT
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Jericho, VT
Full-time in Jericho, VT for High School
Start date January 3rd, 2005

Part-time Bennington, VT for K-6 grades
2 hours per day

Qualifications: Fluency in American Sign Language and English; educational interpreting experience; completion of Interpreter Training program preferred; understanding of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students; knowledge of child development.

Please send resume to:
Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing,
209 Austine Dr.,
Brattleboro, VT 05301, 802-258-9519

Or

email:bmassey@austine.pvt.k12.vt.us

Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is an EOE

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- Contact Information and Disclaimers
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