Volume 24 Issue 8

HOH-LD-News
Vol. 24, Issue 8
August 20, 2005

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Table of Contents
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- Article 1: OHL Questionnaire Results and Conclusions - Part 3

- Article 2: SHHH Exhibits - Part 1

- Article 3: UI Researchers Prevent Hereditary Deafness In Mice

- Article 4: Classroom Acoustic Standard Available Free

Our advertisers make it possible for us to provide HOH-LD-News as a free service. Please let them know you appreciate their support, and please mention that you saw their message in HOH-LD-News.

- Advertisers in this Issue
First Premium Placement: Back to School Savings and Free Shipping Offer
Second Premium Placement: Hearing Aid Repair: Fast and Affordable
Third Premium Placement: SUBMISSIONS WANTED FOR GROUNDBREAKING NEW BOOK
Classified Section: Three Employment Opportunities

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Contact information and disclaimers are at the end of this newsletter.
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- Article 1: OHL Questionnaire Results and Conclusions - Part 3
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We've finally finished tabulating and analyzing the responses to our first OHL questionnaire (whew!). We undertook this project because we sensed a growing dissatisfaction among the **Oral Hearing Loss** (OHL) population with the lack of services appropriate to them, and we wanted to get a sense of what services people want and how they should be provided.

(**We use the term "Oral Hearing Loss" to include people with hearing loss who prefer spoken language as their primary means of communications. This includes people who are hard of hearing, late-deafened, and oral deaf.**)

For general information about the survey, caveats, etc., please see part one of this article. This is part three of five parts.

Question 4

On a scale from 1 to 10 (10 is the highest), please rate the following national organizations for their effectiveness in serving members of the Oral Hearing Loss (OHL) community. Please feel free to add NATIONAL organizations that we have overlooked.

We'll start with the organizations we mentioned. They are listed here in ranked order, with the highest-ranking organization listed first. For each organization we include the number of people who graded the organization, the average score, and respondents' comments. Numbers following respondents' comments indicate the number of respondents who made that comment. Comments without numbers were made by a single respondent.

SHHH
32 respondents (most) - score 7.1 (highest)
Most respondents; highest ranked
Respondents' comments:
- Focus primarily on older people
- Needs to do more outreach
- Mostly social

AG Bell
20 respondents (tied for fourth most) - score 6.4 (second highest)
Respondents' comments:
- Mostly for children (3)

ALDA
26 respondents (second most) - score 6.0 (third highest)
Respondents' comments:
- Too much focus on sign language (2)
- For late deafened folks
- More of a social group
- Excludes people with residual hearing

Say What Club
21 respondents (third most) - score 5.9 (fourth highest)
Respondents' comments:
- Too much email
- Best because most personalized
- Focused on social
- Limited to cyber help

TDI
16 respondents (sixth most) - score 4.0 (fifth highest)
Respondents' comments:
- Haven't seen any result from them
- Has a narrower mission than others and focuses on results
- Too focused on Deaf/ASL

NAD
20 respondents (tied for fourth most) - score 3.2 (sixth highest)
Respondents' comments:
- Too focused on Deaf/ASL (2)

CSD
14 respondents (seventh most) - score 2.9 (seventh highest)
Respondents' comments:
- Too focused on Deaf/ASL (2)

We asked people to identify other national organizations, and they did! Here's the list:
Beyond Hearing
CIAI
DHHIG
HOH-LD-News
Insight Cinema
Lions Clubs
Sertoma Clubs

Analysis and Comments

The organizations split pretty cleanly into two groups. The top four organizations (scores 5.9 to 7.1) are those that are generally considered to be focused on the OHL community; the other three organizations (scores 2.9 to 4.0) are not generally considered to be focused on the OHL community.

As you might expect, the top four organizations are better known within our community, as indicated by the number of people who know them well enough to assign a score.

SHHH was scored by 20% more respondents that the second most rated organization, and its score is significantly higher than any of the others. The implication is that more people are aware of SHHH than of the others, and people generally have a positive impression of the organization.

AG Bell is ranked second highest, although it is not as well-known as either ALDA or the Say What Club (based on the number of people who scored it).

The scores for ALDA and the Say What Club are nearly identical, although ALDA seems to be better known.

The perception of the respondents' is that the organizations in the second group are focused on Deaf ASL users rather than the OHL community.

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- Article 2: SHHH Exhibits - Part 1
By Cheryl Heppner and the NVRC Staff
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Editor: One of the best things about the hearing loss conventions is a chance to see what's new in the hearing loss world. Cheryl Heppner and the NVRC staff did a great job of capturing the excitement of the exhibit floor, as you'll see in this series of reports.

If you'd like to share this article, please be sure to credit NVRC. (See credit at the end of the article.)

This is Part 1 of 4 parts.

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Visual Language Interpreting (VLI)

This Washington, DC sign language interpreter agency recently won a contract to provide interpreting for the staff of the Social Security Administration in the Baltimore area. VLI's Bill Kendrick said that its specialty is conference interpreting. In 2004 it provided interpreters for the AG Bell and NAD conferences, and this year it was responsible for coordinating interpreters for the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf convention. VLI also provides CART services. www.vli-dc.com; info@vli-dc.com.

SoundAid Hearing Aid Warranties

Sound Aid warranties are for hearing aids, bone anchored hearing processors, and cochlear implant processors. They also cover tinnitus instruments and some FM receivers used with hearing aids and cochlear implants. The company offers three kinds of warranties - comprehensive ("for anything that could ever happen"), loss and damage, and damage & component failure. They have four different rates, with the lowest for the conventional analog hearing aids and the highest for the advanced high technology digital sound processing instruments, bone anchored hearing aid processors, and cochlear implant processors. There's also a different rate for models under 5 years of age and older models. Some deductibles are charged if you have more than one loss, your lost aid is over 5 years old, or you are a resident of "high risk facilities" such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, group homes, or hospices. www.soundaid.com or 1-800-525-7936.

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Hearing Enhancement Survey

The RERC is interested in experiences with - and opinions of - assistive listening devices. Assistive listening devices work with your hearing aid or cochlear implant to make it easier for you to understand speech in meetings, at church, at the movies, in classes, and in many other situations. Are they working for you? What suggestions do you have? The results will be shared with professionals, companies, and other consumers. To take the online survey: https://securedgspp.gallaudet.edu/ald/

MED-EL Corporation

MED-EL's Nathan Schepker said the company's new Pulsar cochlear implant has lots of platforms for future technology as researchers push to improve the understanding of music and the ability to understand speech in noise. The company is now looking at new strategies to accomplish this. MED-EL's "Symphony of Technology" packet includes a CD in English and Spanish, "How a Cochlear Implant Works," and booklets on Understanding Cochlear Implants, Pulsar and Research, and Tempo Speech Processor. www.medel.com; implants@medelus.com

Institute for Persons Who are Hard of Hearing or Deaf

Evelyn Cherow, Executive Director of this Institute at National University in La Jolla, CA, has a lot going on with online courses, such as four-week, 40-hour courses - captioned - on Understanding Hearing Loss and Living with Hearing Loss. The cost is $295 each, and curriculum developers are Dr. Henry Ilecki and Dr. Sam Trychin. And there's a Leadership Education Program to grow a network of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing. Also a Sign Language Communication Skills program, some Career Development programs for adults who are hard of hearing or deaf, continuing education courses for professionals and families on Enhancing Educational Outcomes for children and youth ages 5-21, and on Improving Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Service Delivery for infants and young children who are hard of hearing or deaf. ihhd.nu.edu; 1-877-532-7606.

Wireless Center of Excellence

At this series of exhibits, convention-goers could get a sneak preview and try new phones and text devices by Cingular, Verizon, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Sprint, Nokia, LG, T-Mobile, Nextel, UT Starcom, and RIM. The Center's ad read: "Talk by phone. Some new hearing aids are designed to be usable with wireless devices with lower RF emissions. These wireless devices, identified by an 'M3' or 'M4' rating on the box, soon will be available from major manufacturers and carriers. Talk by text. Today's wireless devices are light, versatile, and packed with features to make writing easier. Some have full QWERTY keyboards, all have predictive text for faster typing, and may support e-mail and instant messaging services. And with the popularity of text-only communication, some carriers have plans for talk with text-only so you don't have to pay for voice features and calls you may not use." www.atis.org/hac/index.asp; www.accesswireless.org

SoundClarity

George and Tony Khal, back again this year, feature Clarity brand products and those from many other manufacturers in their 45-page catalog. The products run the range from telephones/TTYs and telephone accessories to assistive listening devices and all kinds of alerting and paging devices. They were doing a brisk business selling the new PockeTalker, which looked like a silver pager, for $99 as a convention special. Among the other new devices they had on display this year were the Clarity C600 phone - hearing aid compatible, amplifies up to 30 dB, two-hour battery power backup, and lighted keypad for $149. www.soundclarity.com; 1-888-477-2995 V/TTY.

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(c)2005 by Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons (NVRC), www.nvrc.org. When sharing this information, please ensure credit is given to NVRC.

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- Article 3: UI Researchers Prevent Hereditary Deafness In Mice
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Editor: Here's another example of the exciting progress being made in the effort to cure or correct hearing loss. The ability to control the expression of individual genes is crucial to many efforts, so this is a real breakthrough. As I recall, something like 40% of hearing loss is caused by genetic factors.

Here's the press release from the University of Iowa.

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July 27, 2005 - Working with mice, University of Iowa scientists and colleagues from Okayama University, Japan, have shown that it is possible to cure a certain type of hereditary deafness by silencing a gene that causes hearing loss.

Richard Smith, M.D. (left), the Sterba Hearing Research Professor in Otolaryngology at the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, described the study as a proof-of-principle experiment, but added that the success may point the way to new treatments for deafness in humans.

"We gave a genetically-deafened mouse interfering RNA that specifically prevents a gene from being expressed that would otherwise cause deafness. By preventing its expression, we prevented the deafness," said Smith who was senior author of the study. "Even though this is in the early stages, it is really exciting because it points to other options for people who have hearing loss other than hearing aids or cochlear implants."

The gene-silencing technique used by the UI team is called RNA interference (RNAi) and works specifically against genetic conditions caused by a so-called dominant negative mechanism -- when a single copy of the mutant gene is sufficient to cause disease because the protein from the faulty gene has a dominant adverse effect over the protein from the normal gene. Although many of the most common deafness genes do not work through this mechanism, several human forms of inherited deafness, including the one mimicked by the UI mouse model, are caused by a dominant negative mechanism.

To test the gene-silencing technique, Yukihide Maeda, M.D., Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in Smith's lab and lead author of the study, introduced a mutated gene that causes deafness in humans into the inner ear of mice. This gene acted through a dominant negative mechanism, and the mice had moderate hearing loss. Next, Maeda simultaneously introduced the mutant gene and a short piece of interfering RNA specifically designed to silence the gene. Standard hearing tests, similar to those used on newborn babies, confirmed that the treated mice were able to hear.

Smith noted that RNA interference was not only successful but also highly specific. Despite the fact that the mouse and the human gene differed by only two nucleotides over the short stretch of gene targeted by the RNAi, the mutant human gene was silenced while the normal mouse gene was unaffected.

With a view to someday moving this therapy to humans, the researchers also developed a non-invasive strategy to deliver the RNAi. A small piece of foam soaked in a solution containing the interfering RNA was placed against the membrane covering one opening into the inner ear of the mice. The slightly porous membrane allowed the interfering RNA to diffuse into the inner ear cells.

Although the UI team was successful in curing the mice of their genetic deafness, and the delivery strategy should translate easily to humans, a number of issues still must be addressed before the technique can be considered as a potential human therapy. These hurdles include determining if the treatment will still work in a mouse that has been deaf for some time before the RNAi is delivered, and finding ways to sustain the gene-silencing effect over an extended period of time.

Smith added that developing the technique to produce long-term rescue of hearing loss is a future focus for his research team.

In addition to Smith and Maeda, the research team included Kunihiro Fukushima and Kazunori Nishizaki of Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine in Okayama, Japan. The study, which was published in the June 15 issue of Human Molecular Genetics, was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

University of Iowa Health Care describes the partnership between the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine and UI Hospitals and Clinics and the patient care, medical education and research programs and services they provide. Visit UI Health Care online at www.uihealthcare.com.

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- Article 4: Classroom Acoustic Standard Available Free
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We've seen several studies in the past few years that reveal that the acoustic environment in most classrooms is bad enough that even kids with normal hearing sometimes have trouble understanding the teacher. Imagine how difficult it must be for kids with hearing loss!

The ANSI Classroom Acoustic Standard is now available to individuals at no cost. Many school districts cite this standard as a requirement for new classroom construction and for major renovations, so it's an important document.

It's a bit technical (ok it's a LOT technical), so probably not something you'd pick up for casual reading. But if you have any involvement with schools (or other buildings where quiet environments are important), you should know about this document.

You'll have to register on the ASA site to get it, but there's no charge, you don't have to give them credit card information, and the registration process is pretty painless. Once you've gone through the "checkout" process, there's a (not very noticeable) link (ANSI_S12.60-2002.pdf ) that you click on to download the standard.

To be the first one on your block to have this standard, point your browser to http://asastore.aip.org/

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

Employment Opportunity 1
Mental Health Counselor Internship (Paid Position)
Family Wellness Program of The Center for Childhood
Philadelphia, PA

Employment Opportunity 2
Member Services & Information Technology Officer
TDI
Silver Spring, MD

Employment Opportunity 3
Sign Communication Proficiency Interview (SCPI) Coordinator
Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB)
Flint, MI

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Employment Opportunity 1
Mental Health Counselor Internship (Paid Position)
Family Wellness Program of The Center for Childhood
Philadelphia, PA
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Paid Mental Health Counselor Internship with Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Children and Families Available!

With the Family Wellness Program of The Center for Childhood of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. For a graduate student in final semester during Spring 2006. Under an LPC's supervision, the intern will provide group and individual therapy, psycho-social consultation, information and referral, and training and work with a full range of HOH/Deaf children and children with Deaf/HOH parents. Previous experience with Deaf/HOH individuals required. For more information see: www.chop.edu/ccc and go to "Resources for Healthcare Professionals" or email GrossmanA@email.chop.edu

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Employment Opportunity 2
Member Services & Information Technology Officer
TDI
Silver Spring, MD
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General Description: Member Services & Information Technology Officer is responsible for member services, webmaster/layout design activities, and information technology for TDI's publications, websites, and related programs/services.

Salary: Negotiable, commensurate with experience & education
Organization: TDI
Type of Appointment: Full-time
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Posting Date: 7/29/2005
Closing Date: open until filled

Duties & Responsibilities:
* Maintain membership database on a regular basis. Resolve member/subscriber service issues.
* Conduct layout/graphic design services for the Blue Book, the GA-SK Newsmagazine, TDI's website, biennial TDI Conference, and any other TDI operations including but not limited to: brochures, membership and subscription application/renewal forms, promotional cards, program books, power point presentations, and video clip productions.
* Assess information technology needs of TDI's operations, develop plans, and implement action to accomplish these needs.
* Represent TDI at various events hosted by consumer, industry and/or government groups.
* Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

* Required - Substantial knowledge of techniques, tools, and other resources in database management, online SQL experience preferred.
* Required - Ability to create and layout written material for websites, publications, information and referral program, and outreach/training activities.
* Required - Ability to produce video clips and other interactive features for TDI's in-house and remote websites.
* Required - Substantial knowledge of techniques, tools, and other resources in database management, and information technology.
* Required - Excellent personal interaction skills with diverse individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, deaf-blind or hearing.
* Required - Excellent writing and research skills.
* Required - Excellent computer skills including familiarity with Word, Excel, Publisher, Power Point, and Access. Experience with Web design and/or database management software preferred.
* Required - Self-starting ability, and planning and organizing skills in nonprofit management environment.
* Required - Experience with user interface web design and architecture.
* Required - Knowledge and application of web accessibility features required by Section 508 and by W3C/WAI.
* Required - Skills in HTML, SQL, and JavaScript development.
* Required - Familiarity with SQL and other database programming languages.
* Preferred - ASP.NET or PHP programming experience.
* Preferred - Familiarity with the latest Internet technologies (Flash, multimedia video).
* Preferred - Knowledge of accessibility regulations, policies and procedures in telecommunications, media, and information technology for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, or deaf-blind and their families.
* Preferred - General knowledge of resources in hearing loss at local, state, and national levels in relation to telecommunications, media, and information technology

Training and Experience Requirements:

Preferably a Master's degree in communications, computer science, engineering, mathematics, information technology, or related curriculum and one year of experience; or a bachelor's degree in one of the above fields and three years of experience. Experience in database administration, technical writing, and design documentation.

How to Apply:
All applicants must submit a letter of interest and a resume to TDI. Applications must be received at the TDI office by 5:00 p.m. on or before the closing date. Email submissions are welcome. No phone calls please.

TDI selects applicants for employment based on job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.

Contact Person: Claude L. Stout, Executive Director
Contact Agency: TDI
Contact Address:
8630 Fenton Street, Suite 604, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3803
Contact Numbers:
TTY: (301) 589-3006; Voice: (301) 589-3786; Fax: (301) 589-3797
WWW & Email: www.tdi-online.org tdiexdir@aol.com

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Employment Opportunity 3
Sign Communication Proficiency Interview (SCPI) Coordinator
Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB)
Flint, MI
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IMMEDIATE POSITION OPENING

SIGN COMMUNICATION PROFICIENCY INTERVIEW (SCPI) COORDINATOR

Michigan Department of Education
Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB)
Flint, Michigan

APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 12, 2005

JOB DESCRIPTION
MSDB is filling a full-time, contracted professional employee to coordinate the SCPI process for the Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB). The contracted employee will recruit members to the SCPI review team, develop strategies to deliver the SCPI program statewide, and work on the MSCPI which evaluates children's sign communication proficiency. The employee must also be qualified to serve on the SCPI team.

JOB DUTIES
- Develop promotional materials for SCPI program and promote the program statewide
- Recruit and train SCPI team members
- Establish, administer, and evaluate SCPI program; recommend program policies and procedures; and design forms
- Collect and maintain program data necessary to meet program reporting and evaluation requirements and the goals of the agency
- Analyze ongoing program operation and recommend modification of policies and procedures to meet commitments more effectively
- Make recommendations in areas of expertise
- Develop alternative strategies for programs based on analysis and research
- Act as liaison with other agencies, organizations, and employees to coordinate the SCPI program
- Prepare budgets
- Maintain records and prepare correspondence related to the work

COMPENSATION
$25.00 per hour plus benefits

QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Possession of a bachelor's degree in any area of study.

Special Requirements, Licenses, and Certifications
Ability to communicate using American Sign Language at the Superior Plus level measured by the SCPI process.

Application Details
If you are interested in this position, please submit a resumé and cover letter identifying your qualifications for this position to Ms. Sue Leach, Michigan Department of Education, OSE-EIS, P. O. Box 30008, Lansing, MI 48909. If you have additional questions about the position, contact Ms. Leach at 517-373-1695, or by e-mail at LeachSM@michigan.gov.

EEO Employer 8/16/05

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