Volume 26 Issue 1

HOH-LD-News
Vol. 26, Issue 1
December 31, 2005

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Table of Contents
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- Article 1: Hearing Loss in Older Adults: a Quality of Life Issue - Part 3

- Article 2: Deaf at the Dragon

- Article 3: Loss of Hearing with a Cold Could be Sudden Deafness

- Article 4: San Francisco Airport to Present Announcements Visually

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: Happy New Year from Harris Communications
Second Premium Placement: Win a Laptop, Trip to Vegas and more with the Sprint IP Survey Sweepstakes
Third Premium Placement: IHHD Online Educational Opportunities
Classified Section: One FM Receiver and two Employment Opportunities

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Contact information and disclaimers are at the end of this newsletter.
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Happy New Year from Harris Communications
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Harris Communications would like to thank you for your patronage in the past year. The New Year will be filled with special sales and new products added to the Harris Communications website. Visit us often to see what's new or what's on sale. As we move into 2006, let us know if we are giving you the service you need. Use the feedback form on our website or send us an email with your comments.

Harris Communications wishes you and your family a Joyful New Year!

Visit us at www.harriscomm.com or contact us at mailto:info@harriscomm.com .
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- Article 1: Hearing Loss in Older Adults: a Quality of Life Issue - Part 3
By Laine Waggoner
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Editor: "Growing older is not for sissies!" I don't recall where I first heard that comment, but daily experiences convince me that it's right on the mark. Hearing loss is one more condition that many people have to deal with as they age, and it's not easy!

Here to discuss these issues is Laine Waggoner, Director of HEAR (Hearing Loss Education and Relationships) in Palm Springs. Laine has earned Masters Degrees in communications and counseling and is a candidate for certification in Gallaudet University's new Peer Mentoring program. She has worn hearing aids for nearly 50 years, and has been an active hearing loss educator, counselor, and presenter for nearly 15 years. You can reach her at LaineWaggoner@dc.rr.com.

This is part three of three parts.

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The benefits and limits of hearing aids

All too frequently, people have unrealistic expectations about what hearing aids can accomplish. They do not understand that aids cannot restore "perfect" hearing in the same way that eyeglasses can correct poor eyesight. Nowadays, there is greater success with the newer hearing aids, because there have been tremendous advances in audiological testing, diagnosis and hearing aid technology. It is now possible to fit for hearing losses that may have been difficult or impossible to fit in the past.

The ground-breaking Cochlear Implant (CI) surgery has given hearing to many adults who have lost so much acuity that they can no longer use traditional hearing aids.

Obstacles to hearing loss success

I believe that the major obstacles to hearing aid success are:

a) People often do not take sufficient time to patiently adjust to using their new hearing aids.

b) They lack the assertiveness to communicate effectively with their hearing aid dispensers to assure the best "fit".

c) They expect perfection to happen miraculously, without working on their interpersonal communication skills.

Importance of support groups

That is why I believe support groups for people with hearing loss and their families are an excellent way to share information, learn new, creative and effective coping skills and practice speech reading. My motto is that "communication is a two-way street", thus hearing loss becomes everyone's problem.

Some barriers to seeking help

Many older adults who are late-deafened are leery of what they view as "hard-sell" tactics of some hearing aid dispensers. They are also confused by the conflicting claims they see in printed ads.

I suggest three ideal steps toward better hearing:

1) Consult a physician (ENT - ear-nose-throat specialist, otologist or otolaryngologist) for a medical evaluation.

2) Consult an audiologist (I prefer an AuD= Doctor of Audiology) who has no financial interest in selling a hearing aid. The goal is to learn what type and degree of hearing loss exists and whether a hearing aid might help. Get a copy of your audiogram for personal use.

3) Explore the appropriate types of hearing aids that will fit your uniquely individual hearing loss, dexterity, vanity and budget.

The process of hearing aid selection involves audiologists' clinical skills at taking precise measurements, their judgment, and a certain amount of trial-and-error fitting before getting the best custom results. In the future, more dispensing audiologists will provide follow-up (aural) education to help hearing aid users adapt to their new aids and the new sounds they are hearing. Family members should also be involved in these sessions.

A hearing aid is only as good as the professional who directly evaluates the patient. A poorly adjusted hearing aid can be both uncomfortable and damage the ear. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates hearing aids and similar devices, requires a medical evaluation before a hearing aid may be fitted. I think it unwise to purchase hearing aids without that evaluation. Otherwise you will be required to sign a waiver if you wish to bypass this FDA requirement. In addition, buying hearing aids by mail or over the Internet means you won't get the individual attention you should have.

Hearing aids improve quality of life

Dr. Sergei Kochkin of the Better Hearing Institute reported in November 2004 that 93 percent of hearing aid users surveyed reported that their aids have a positive impact on their quality of life.

They experienced improvements in:
- Effective communication,
- Social and family relationships, feelings of safety,
- Self-confidence, work relationships,
- Sense of independence, emotional health,
- Improved mental ability, and
- Physical health.

Aural rehabilitation increases quality of life

The availability of post-fitting rehabilitation will be greatly enhanced as more Peer Mentors and hearing loss support specialists are professionally-trained to work with hard of hearing people and their families.

Hard of hearing Peer Mentors like me, are a unique resource for extending and enriching the professional services of audiologists and dispensers by reinforcing what they tell their clients. Our role is to help people to better understand the subtle and profound impact of hearing loss on their lives and to learn creative coping.

Resources for this article

AARP at links.aarp.org/hearingaid

Alexander Graham Bell Assn. for the Deaf, www.agbell.org

American Academy of Audiology, www.audiology.org

American Speech, Language, Hearing Assn. (ASHA)
www.asha.org or email: actioncenter@ASHA.org
See ASHA's Assistance Device Demonstration Center

Association of Late Deafened Adults, www.alda.org

The Better Hearing Institute, BHI, www.betterhearing.org for statistics.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines: "Sound Advice on Hearing Aids" at www.ftc.gov

Harvey, Michael, Ph.D., "Odyssey of Hearing Loss", 1998, Dawn Sign Press, www.dawnsign.com

Hearing Health Magazine, www.hearinghealthmag.com

Hearing Loss Association of America (formerly Self Help for Hard of Hearing people), www.hearingloss.org

League for the Hard of Hearing, www.lhh.org

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, www.nihdcd.nih.gov

Waggoner, Laine, Hearing loss articles on web site at www.vitalco.net

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- Article 2: Deaf at the Dragon
by Erin Geld
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Editor: When we talk to people with hearing loss about employment, the most frequent comment we hear is they don't want a job that requires telephone work. It certainly makes sense to me. I don't recall anyone ever saying that they didn't want to be a wait person in a restaurant. I don't believe people avoid mentioning that job because they think it would be easy, but rather because it's so out of the question that they don't even consider it!

Here's Erin Geld's narrative of her experiences as a wait person at the Green Dragon Café. And some surprisingly mature philosophy from a young adult. Erin is a junior at Cornell University.

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Having stood at many a coffee shop counter, tapping my Cornell card irritably while watching baristas flail around for my caffeine fix, I have always known that Cornell food facilities were primarily intended to supply ready reinforcements to stressed, exhausted students. When waves of people come in between classes, employees must switch into high gear, moving the line as quickly as possible, dashing for the customer's order the second it comes out of their mouths. Not the first workplace you would suggest for a hard-of-hearing person. A nice, quiet library circulation desk would be more appropriate. However, being the restless ants-in-your pants type, I really, really wasn't interested in sitting and zapping books on an hourly basis.

I wanted something fun - so I applied for a job in the Green Dragon Café. Friends convinced me that my fears of mishearing orders from ill-tempered customers were exaggerated, and on the following Sunday, I found myself (slightly hung-over) at an introductory meeting with a handful of other newly hired Dragons. We signed up for shifts, learned where they kept the milk and were on our way.

I am now working the busy lunch periods, during which I rarely stop, between grabbing Snapples, chicken cesar wraps and wrestling with the espresso machine. I had little time to think about how much of a handicap my hearing loss was to my job. I did find myself employing strategies to make work easier - for instance, I preferred to station myself at the more-or-less central location of cash register, where it would be easier to communicate with the customers and co-workers.

Later, friends asked me how my venture at the Dragon was going - if the hearing thing was as difficult as I thought it would be. I mostly joked about the difficulty of understanding the unusual number of heavily-accented international architecture students, but also admitted that I did frequently experience annoyance when I had to ask a customer to repeat their requests a third or fourth time. It doesn't happen often, but when it does I always feel a sharp, familiar twinge of inadequacy.

It took me some time to realize that this inadequacy had little to with the embarrassment at the hearing loss itself. It was a little more complicated than that - it was how I expressed my hearing loss to those around me.

This summer, I worked in a non-profit organization, the League for the Hard of Hearing, in New York City. This was the institution that had diagnosed a profound-to-severe hearing loss and fitted me with my first hearing aids when I was two-and-half years old. Growing up, I had enough speech and comprehension therapy that I could be called "mainstreamed" and (other than my sister) I didn't know any other deaf or hard-of-hearing people. I resisted being labeled as disabled - I was only hard of hearing and I did just fine, thankyouverymuch. Working at the League was an eye-opener. Here, my feelings on hearing loss couldn't help but change.

On an assignment researching hearing loss happenings in Europe, I came across an exhibit in London's Victoria and Albert Museum that featured designer hearing aids. For someone who has a creepy-looking tube coming out of her ear, followed by an ugly skin-colored widget, the design proposals on the website were stupefying. Some, with shimmering strands of silver, were made to look like elegant jewelry, while some were bold, funky statements in color and other hearing aids were chic, disposable (!) inserts for milder, everyday losses. The objective of the show was to challenge the stigma of hearing disability and make hearing-aid products as stylish, desirable and accessible as eyewear. Could it really be done? Did I buy it?

I don't like wearing my hair in a high ponytail because you can see my hearing aids. I stopped wearing one in my nearly-deaf right ear when I was self-conscious mess of a 14-year-old. To this day, I haven't put it back in and most people wrongly assume it's a fully functioning ear. I never thought twice about playing down the role of my hearing aids, even though the impact of my hearing loss on my everyday life and personality is immeasurable. I try to hold out as long as I can before telling someone. It was always the natural thing to do. It's a strange feeling when I eventually tell someone of my disability - it's a little like admitting a bad secret.

What if I decided to break a lifelong tendency and actually started being vocal about my hearing loss? What if I started wearing a pretty, draping attachment to the hideous doohickey? What if I wore "I'm deaf!" written on a baseball cap?

It's frightening, but I probably should. What the hell, I am disabled. Not totally disabled, but disabled. Being hard of hearing, without question, presents difficulties in my everyday life. If I wore that hat to work at the Green Dragon, people would probably speak louder and clearer and I would not have to go through the awkward motions of admitting a disability at every embarrassing mix-up incident.

Ultimately, it might even prompt some dialogue regarding disability and handicaps in everyday life that go beyond wheelchair ramps. Disability is a living, breathing thing that is rarely solved by a new gadget - technology can only do so much - it requires daily engagement and resolve. The worst discomforts in a disabled person's day and life come from stagnant, resigned attitudes, for to believe that disability is a final condition is the greatest handicap of all.

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- Article 3: Loss of Hearing with a Cold Could be Sudden Deafness
By Jeffree Itrich
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Editor: Roughly 60,000 Americans lose suddenly lose hearing in one or both ears every year. Prompt medical treatment can often successfully restore at least partial hearing, if it begins immediately. Unfortunately, the general public (and even the hearing loss community) is surprisingly uninformed about this surprisingly common malady. Here's a press release from UCSD with important information

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Sudden deafness is an ear emergency that strikes one person in 5000 every year, says Jeffrey Harris, M.D., UCSD Chief of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery.

Harris says about half the patients may notice dizziness or imbalance for up to a day or two, but the main symptom is a blocked ear and tinnitus (ringing, roaring, or buzzing noise). If caught quickly, at least 50% of cases can be reversed with medical treatment.

"Current evidence suggests that sudden deafness usually arises as a complication of viral infection," says Harris. "The cold weather season is also the head cold season. Many patients who catch cold develop ear blockage and assume it is just congestion from the head cold when it could be sudden deafness. By the time the cold symptoms are gone and they notice that only one ear cleared and the other one is still blocked, it is often too late to treat the deafness."

Harris adds that if a person had normal hearing before getting a head cold, there is a simple test that will tell if a blocked ear is from congestion or nerve damage: Hum out loud. If you hear your voice louder in the blocked ear, the problem is congestion and is probably temporary. But, if you hear your voice louder in the good ear, this indicates possible nerve damage in the blocked ear.

A blocked ear should be examined by an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, throat, head and neck specialist) as soon as possible. UCSD is conducting a clinical trial on sudden deafness. For information about the trial call 858-657-6836 or visit www.suddendeafness.org.

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- Article 4: San Francisco Airport to Present Announcements Visually
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One of the common complaints from travelers with hearing loss is that they can't understand the public address announcements in airports. (Note that people with normal hearing sometimes have trouble understanding these announcements too.)

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that "Passengers with hearing disabilities will be able to read public-address announcements on dozens of large video screens at San Francisco International Airport in the coming months under terms of a lawsuit settlement announced Wednesday."

For the full story, please point your browser to:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/12/15/BAGH2G89UC1.DTL

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- Classifieds
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One Event and two Employment Opportunities appear in this issue. (Ads appear after this brief table of contents.)

Universal FM Receiver
Landmark Audio Technologies
www.landmarkfm.com

Employment Opportunity 1
Web/Graphic Designer
Telecommute
HTMLaddict.com

Employment Opportunity 2
Various Opportunities
GLAD
Various Southern California Locations

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Universal FM Receiver
Landmark Audio Technologies
www.landmarkfm.com
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Landmark Audio Technologies is a producer of affordably priced assistive listening systems that are easy to use and satisfaction guaranteed. You can find us online at www.landmarkfm.com or please give us a call at 888-677-4387.

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Employment Opportunity 1
Web/Graphic Designer
Telecommute
HTMLaddict.com
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HTMLaddict.com, a deaf owned business, provides Internet services including web development, design, and Internet marketing-- currently seeking a creative genius whose main strength is in making really great website designs.

This is a challenging and demanding job-often involves creating a design using (sometimes very) limited resources in two hours or less. We need someone who's smart, quick and dependable.

The successful candidate will be hired as an independent contractor with a guaranteed minimum of 24 hours per week, up to 50-60 hours, hourly pay DOE.

More Information: http://dealwright.com/tracker.php?t=8

Contact: Elise "Lisi" Whitworth, elise@htmladdict.com

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Employment Opportunity 2
Various Opportunities
GLAD
Various Southern California Locations
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT GLAD

GLAD is an Affirmative Action Employer with equal opportunity for men, women and people with disabilities. For more information on the following positions, go to: www.gladinc.org. The status of all positions is: Regular, Full-time, Non-Exempt, Full Fringe Benefits unless otherwise noted. All positions are open until filled.

JOB DEVELOPER/INTERPRETER in Anaheim and Crenshaw
Brief summary: Employment services offered at GLAD assist deaf and hard of hearing individuals with job information, job training, job placement and accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Co-located at 5 Employment Development Department (EDD) Offices and at each local office. The programs under employment services are: Job Readiness Training, Workplace Accessibility, Job Development, Placement and Follow-up...

COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATOR - Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program in Los Angeles
Brief summary: Under the supervision of the Director of Health Services, using the guidelines of the assigned scope of work provided by the California Department of Health Services' Community Challenge Grant, the Community Health Educator will: Provide teenage pregnancy prevention and education services to Deaf and Hard of Hearing youths, adults and parents in Los Angeles County using the "Be Cool...Sign NO to Sex" curriculum; Plan and implement daily activities...

COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATOR-HIV PREVENTION PROGRAM - Los Angeles
Brief summary: Work under the supervision of Director of Health Education/Services to implement the assigned scope of work; Schedule and implement outreach encounters, individual counseling sessions and multi-session workshops on HIV Risk Reduction to deaf woman and sexual risk and men having sex with men (MSM); Maintain calendar of sites, dates and times; Make necessary referrals for high-risk women and MSM; Work collaboratively with subcontracted Outreach Specialist for recruitment and project related activities...

HARD OF HEARING SPECIALIST - Riverside
Brief summary: Provide direct peer counseling, on one to one basis and family's coping process; Address individual's needs to become knowledgeable about his or her hearing loss; Provide linkage to other individuals and resources such as advocacy related to healthcare; Provide assistance in transitional period for hard of hearing individuals with hearing loss; Provide transition to other agency staff for advocacy; Develop relationship with (1) agencies providing early intervention services such as diagnostic and audiological clinics, deaf/hard of hearing program at local education agencies, diagnostic clinics, and (2) other interested parties such as Hearing Coordination Center staff and audiological community representatives...

HIV HEALTH EDUCATOR (WSR) - Los Angeles
Brief summary: Work under the supervision of Director of Health Education/Services to implement the assigned scope of work; Schedule and implement outreach encounters, individual counseling sessions and conduct multi-session workshops on HIV Risk Reduction to deaf women at sexual risk. Make necessary referrals for high-risk women. Administer risk assessment and behavior commitment forms. Identify barriers and procure culturally appropriate HIV/AIDS materials including videos, written prevention and outreach materials. Responsible for reviewing, developing and modifying prevention curricula and materials...

HIV HEALTH EDUCATOR (MSM) - Los Angeles
Brief summary: Work under the supervision of Director of Health Education/Services to implement the assigned scope of work; Schedule and implement outreach encounters, individual counseling sessions and conduct multi-session workshops on HIV Risk Reduction to men having sex with men (MSM) at sexual risk. Make necessary referrals for high-risk women. Administer risk assessment and behavior commitment forms. Identify barriers and procure culturally appropriate HIV/AIDS materials including videos, written prevention and outreach materials. Responsible for reviewing, developing and modifying prevention curricula and materials...

LIFESIGNS DISPATCHER - Los Angeles
Under the supervision of the Director of LIFESIGNS, the LIFESIGNS Dispatcher will: be responsible for answering all incoming calls; accept and fill all requests for service with appropriate interpreters; keep detailed information on each assignment; dispatch interpreters to various assignments; perform such tasks and responsibilities as may be delegated...

If interested for any of these positions then please submit resume and application to:
Jeff Fetterman
Human Resources Specialist
Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness, Inc.
2222 Laverna Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90041
V/TDD: (323) 550-4207
Fax #: (323)550-4204
E-mail: jfetterman@gladinc.org

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