Volume 26 Issue 9

HOH-LD-News
Vol. 26, Issue 9
February 25, 2006

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Table of Contents
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- Article 1: Emergency Preparedness and Emergency Communication Access - Part 3

- Article 2: New Cochlear Implant Could Improve Hearing

- Article 3: Trend in hearing protection technology moving towards "sound management"

- Article 4: Short Takes

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:
Amplified Telephones on Sale at Sound Clarity
Second Premium Placement:
Deaf Yoga DVD on Sale at Harris Communications
Third Premium Placement:
IHHD Online Educational Opportunities
Fourth Premium Placement:
"In The News" - HLW Provides Ongoing Hearing Loss News Coverage
Classified Section:
Two Online Stores
One Trip to Israel
Two Employment Opportunities

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contact information and disclaimers are at the end of this newsletter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

----------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------- Sound Clarity, Inc. ---------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------
We feature all brands of Amplified Telephones: Ameriphone, Audex, Clarity, ClearSounds, Krown, Ultratec, Walker, Williams Sound.

They're all on Sale from $24.99 to $284.95

Example: Clarity AP-C4205 Cordless Phone 40dB $129.95

Hearing Aid Batteries always shipped FREE anywhere in the U.S. For more information go to http://www.soundclarity.com/hohnews or contact us at mailto:info@soundclarity.com
----------------------------------------------------------------

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Article 1: Emergency Preparedness and Emergency Communication Access - Part 3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Editor: Emergency preparedness for people with disabilities is in the news, and rightfully so! Here's a report on Cheryl Heppner's presentation at the 2005 TDI Conference. Cheryl is the Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons. If you'd like to share this report, please credit NVRC. (See credit at the end of the article.) This is part 3 of 3 parts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3. Telephones

Hearing Aid Compatibility
- The number of hearing aid compatible wireless phones will increase soon, but choices will still be limited.
- For more information: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/accessiblewireless.html

Relay Services
- Internet-based relay services like Internet Protocol (IP) Relay and Video Relay Service (VRS) can't provide location-specific information, so consumers are told not to use them in an emergency.
- The CapTel (captioned telephone) can be used to make 911 calls.
- When landline phones go down in an emergency, they may not get service back for minutes, hours or days. The FCC helped to set up Priority Service Restoration for relay services; relay providers who apply for, and are approved, will be put back in operation as quickly as possible during an emergency. (MD and VA were the first to apply).

Reverse 911 (R-911)
- This system works the opposite of 911 - instead of you calling to report an emergency, an emergency operations will call you to tell you about one.
- R-911 can make TTY calls, but your community must buy the TTY feature as an add-on its R-911 package.
- Emergency messages by voice will need to be well-paced, clear enough to understand, and ideally able to repeat the message for a caller with hearing loss.
- Some localities with R-911 and similar systems will give a number you can call for more information; when you dial it you may get a voice menu.

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP)
- This Internet-based system of making and receiving phone calls is now taking off as wireless calling did.
- VOIP may be used with a cordless phone, but not all cordless phones are hearing aid compatible or have jacks for cochlear implant patch cords.
- A recent FCC rule will soon require most companies to make VOIP work with 911's location finding feature.

4. Text Alerts

Local Text Alerts
- These are now popping up all over the country; Washington, DC and Virginia's Arlington County & Fairfax County offer them.
- Typically you can go to a website to sign up, and usually you can choose to have emergency alerts sent to several devices.

Local TV station alerts
- Some local TV stations offer a service where you can sign up for breaking news updates by going to their website.

Emergency E-mail Network
- You can sign up for free alerts about emergencies anywhere in the country at: www.emergencye.com

The Weather Channel
- Weather alerts are available, but this service has a monthly fee: www.theweatherchannel.com

State Programs
- Maine and North Carolina have state programs to distribute weather radios and text devices to residents who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Workplace Programs
- Some workplaces now send alerts to the computers or text devices of their employees

5. Visual Alarms

- Low frequency alarms are now being explored.
- A new add-on device claims to work with existing smoke detector technology such as light signalers.
- Some investigation is also underway on the use of different colored lights or other forms of visual signaling - e.g. one signal for sheltering in place, one for evacuating the building

6. Message Boards

- Message boards are springing up along highways and in public transportation.
- Rail Network TV on MARTA in Atlanta provides broadcast TV with captions

Research - Some important research is now being done on emergency communication. Examples are:

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)
- Sponsored by Dept. of Homeland Security with the Federal Communications Commission, NOAA, government, public and private partners
- Seeks to create an all-hazard warning system that can be used by federal, state, local and tribal levels
- Alerts would have audio, video, text and data messages
- Some testing has already being done

Accessible Emergency Notification and Communication: State of the Science
- November 2-3, 2005
- Presented by the RERC on Telecommunications Access
- Kellogg Conference Hotel at Gallaudet University, Washington, DC
- http://tap.gallaudet.edu/emergencycommconf.htm

Access Alert Project
- WGBH Center for Accessible Media
- American Institutes for Research
- Marcia Brooks, Project Director
- Mary Watkins, Outreach Director
- Marcia_Brooks@wgbh.org

***************
(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

----------------------------------------------------------------
Deaf Yoga DVD on Sale at Harris Communications
----------------------------------------------------------------

If you always wanted to reap the benefits of practicing yoga but could not find instruction, this is the DVD for you. "Deaf Yoga for Beginners" is the first yoga DVD taught in ASL with subtitles and music for the hearing and hard of hearing. Guided by traditional Hatha Yoga instructor, Lila Lolling, this DVD offers an excellent introduction to various yoga topics, such as proper breathing, Chakras and more. For a limited time we have this DVD on sale for only $21.95 (regularly $24.95). Sale ends March 5, 2006.

For more information, go to http://www.harriscomm.com/link/?www.harriscomm.com?sr=hlw or contact us at mailto:info@harriscomm.com
----------------------------------------------------------------

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Article 2: New Cochlear Implant Could Improve Hearing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Editor: The folks at the University of Michigan have come up with a new electrode "array" that may provide significant hearing improvement over current technologies. The device is currently being tested in animals, and may be available for humans in a few years. Here's the press release.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A ribbon-like cochlear implant developed at the University of Michigan could greatly improve hearing for profoundly deaf patients, and simplify insertion to help surgeons minimize damage to healthy ear tissue.

A team led by U-M's Kensall D. Wise, director of the NSF Engineering Research Center for Wireless Integrated Microsystems (WIMS), made the implant using thin-film electrode sites that directly stimulate the auditory nerve.

The implant is currently being tested in guinea pigs and cats, said Wise, who has appointments in the departments of Biomedical Engineering and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. The device may be available in four to five years for use in humans, Wise said, and could be used in current cochlear patients---removing the old device first---to improve their hearing. Additionally, the FDA approves implants for wider use as the technology improves.

Approximately 100,000 patients today have received cochlear implants worldwide. The current technology, Wise said, is bulky, difficult for surgeons to insert, and doesn't allow a great range of perceived frequencies. The present implants use electrodes formed from a bundle of wires fed into the snail-shaped cochlea of the inner ear, but difficulties in inserting such devices make it tough to achieve the deep insertion needed to stimulate lower-frequency sounds, and collisions with the cochlear wall can damage any residual hearing that still exists.

"The range of frequencies that can be stimulated depends on how far into the cochlea the implant can go, with the lower frequencies located further up toward the apex of the spiral canal," Wise said. In current technology, each implant has anywhere from 16 to 22 stimulating sites along its length. By contrast, the U-M implant will host up to 128 stimulating sites.

"More sites mean greater tonal range and better frequency perception," Wise said, "and the implant's flexibility will minimize damage to existing hearing."

The ribbon film technology lets researchers embed other functions in the implant, such as position sensors that allow surgeons to watch the implant's progress on a monitor as they're feeding it into the cochlea.

"With the position sensors, doctors can see, on a screen, a silhouette of the ribbon against the shape of the cochlea," Wise said. "Eventually the idea is to be able take the signals from the position sensors and use them to control actuators in an insertion tool, so that the electrode array can achieve deep insertion and navigate around any obstacles in its path.

"The idea is to use a pneumatic insertion tool that can be inflated or deflated, similar to a spiral party favor, and is pre-stressed to hug the inner wall of the cochlea," Wise said. "The position sensors set the stage for doing that because they give you feedback on what's happening when you insert these devices."

Researchers make the implant with the same processes used to make integrated circuits, which means they can be made in batch. The research is funded by the National Science Foundation and was to be presented on Feb. 6 at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) in San Francisco. Doctoral student Pamela Bhatti was to present the paper, which is co-authored by Wise and by research fellow Sangwoo Lee.

----------------------------------------------------------------
You're Career Oriented... Career Driven...and Hard of Hearing or Deaf
----------------------------------------------------------------
The Institute for Persons Who Are Hard of Hearing or Deaf (IHHD) is a nonprofit Congressionally-funded agency dedicated to facilitating workplace and career advancement for aspiring professionals like you.

IHHD provides important online educational opportunities to share experiences, access top professional leaders, and develop crucial communication and business skills. Choose from a number of programs that cover all aspects of career growth - from starting a business to leadership and advocacy development.

These month-long courses are delivered online using National University's acclaimed state-of-the-art interactive learning system to provide optimal accessibility. Visit: http://cha.nu.edu/ec/formihhd-careerdev.html?ypd002
----------------------------------------------------------------

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Article 3: Trend in hearing protection technology moving towards "sound management"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Editor: We've lately been seeing an increasing focus on noise induced hearing loss and calls for people to protect their hearing. Does that mean inserting a pair of foam earplugs in noisy environments? Not necessarily - much more sophisticated hearing protection devices (HPDs) are available. Here's a press release from Bacou-Dalloz about these devices.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Smithfield, RI - According to industrial audiologist Brad Witt, the days of striving to develop Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs) that could simply block the most sound are over. "Today," said Witt, who is Audiology and Regulatory Affairs Manager for the Bacou-Dalloz Hearing Safety Group, "the focus is definitely more on sound management: on attenuating the hazardous noise to a level that still allows communication and warning signal detection."

"In noise-hazardous environments, we are not trying to eliminate all sound," said Witt. "There are still sounds we want to hear, such as co-worker voices, warning signals, mobile radios, and even some machinery noise that may alert us to malfunction or maintenance needs. Wearing high-attenuation protectors without regard to communication creates a feeling of hazardous isolation, being cut off from the verbal and audible cues that keep us safe and connected with our work."

In response, Witt said, HPD manufacturers are increasingly working to develop more innovative products that protect without compromising these basic communication needs. One way this has been accomplished, according to Witt, is by designing HPDs with "flatter" attenuation characteristics.

"First-generation earplugs and earmuffs were not so effective against low-frequency noise, but attenuated high-frequency noise quite easily. These ski-slope attenuation curves created a distorted sound while wearing HPDs, making speech difficult to understand."

In contrast, newer generations of hearing protectors have raised low-frequency attenuation significantly, nearly matching the high-frequency attenuation. "This flatter attenuation curve creates a sound while wearing HPDs which is more natural," said Witt. "It still blocks the noise, but with less distortion of speech and warning signals. The effect is most noticeable for workers who have some existing hearing loss, even a mild loss."

Another innovative approach to managing the sound in loud environments is through sound amplification earmuffs. "How many times have we seen workers remove their earplugs to hear a radio call, or lift up their earmuff to talk to a co-worker?" Witt asked. "Sound amplification earmuffs have microphones, placed directionally on the ear cups, which amplify normal sounds to a safe level while still protecting from the hazardous workplace noise. The result is that workers have more control over hearing what they need to hear, without compromising protection."

Witt predicts this trend will guide new product development for several years to come. "We are just now beginning to take full advantage of recent advances in material and manufacturing technology which make these new approaches to hearing protection possible and economically viable," he said. "This, in turn, has sparked new developments in the design of these systems so we can better control not only how much, but the manner in which sound reaches the human ear."

But new technology is not the only way safety officers are seeking to "manage" sound in their workplace environments. "One of the simplest things they can do is provide HPDs with a range of attenuation ratings (NRRs)" said Witt. "By targeting attenuation to the level of the noise hazard, workers can be assured of adequate protection, while not totally blocking their ability to hear and communicate on the job."

Combining the innovation and expertise of Howard Leight Earplugs and Bilsom Earmuffs, the Bacou-Dalloz Hearing Safety Group is a world leader in hearing safety.

----------------------------------------------------------------
"In The News" - HLW Provides Ongoing Hearing Loss News Coverage
----------------------------------------------------------------

Hearing Loss Web (Publisher of HOH-LD-News) is thrilled to announce a new chapter on our website. Called "In the News", this section will keep you current with what's happening in the hearing loss world between weekly issues of HOH-LD-News.

We're using the same editorial discretion about what stories to include on "In the News" as we do for stories to include in HOH-LD-News. So what you'll see are the hearing loss stories that we think are important!

If you like the HOH-LD-News story selection, you'll like the "In the News" story selection.

Don't forget to bookmark:
http://www.hearinglossweb.com/news/curr.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Article 4: Short Takes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Editor: Here are our picks of some additional stories that you may find interesting. For more, please point your browser to:
http://www.hearinglossweb.com/news/curr.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Open aids selling

Lilliputian aid all the rage among the slightly hard-of-hearing set

It's tiny, it's sleek, and consumers are raving about its great sound. The latest iPod model? No, it's a new type of hearing aid. Made with the latest in digital technology and nearly invisible when worn, the device is intended for people with high-frequency hearing loss. It has been on the market for less than a year, but one leading company says sales of the new hearing aid have been four times higher than expected. The new devices can best help people with only mild to moderate high-frequency hearing loss, which accounts for about 20% of hearing impairment cases, Dr. Servedio said.

http://www.nysun.com/article/27131

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hearing-Loss Growth Speaks Volumes

There are many reasons why people experience hearing loss - congenital ear deformities, tumors, chronic diseases, side effects of some medications, viral infections of the inner ear, and blunt trauma. However, the majority of hearing loss cases can be attributed to the simple act of growing old. As the population ages, the National Institutes of Health says hearing impairment is a growing public health concern. Nearly 28 million Americans alone currently have trouble hearing, according to the NIH, and that number is expected to double by 2030.

http://tinyurl.com/94yub

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Totally implantable cochlear implant is the future

A cochlear implant surgery at grand old age of 71 made dramatic changes in the life of renowned artist Satish Gujral. Hearing sounds after 62 long years of silence, Gujral now adds more vibrant colours to his paintings, discarding the usual dreary dark and light. Such is the impact of sounds! And hence the significance of cochlear implant surgeons like Dr Sandra DeSa Souza.

http://tinyurl.com/9vdke

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Classifieds
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two Online Stores, one trip to Israel, and two Employment Opportunities appear in this issue. (Ads appear after this brief table of contents.)

WCI - Your Single Source for Assistive Technology
Telephone Accessories on sale!
http://www.weitbrecht.com

Trip to Israel
August 13-25, 2006
Registration Ends on March 15th!

Potomac Technology - Everything You Need Under One Roof!
Free Shipping & 15% off Clarity Phones!
http://www.potomactech.com

Employment Opportunity 1
Various Opportunities
GLAD
Various Southern California Locations

Employment Opportunity 2
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Deaf Counseling, Advocacy and Referral Agency (DCARA)
San Leandro, CA

-------------------
WCI - Your Single Source for Assistive Technology
Telephone Accessories on sale!
http://www.weitbrecht.com
-------------------

Get your real Pot O' Gold at WCI in March with these terrific telephone accessories! The NEW Clarity CE225 Portable Telephone Amplifier connects easily to a corded phone making calls louder, clearer and easier to understand. It's specially priced at just $29.95.

Dialing phone numbers is a breeze with the Vocally Infinity. Not only do you have the convenience of voice-activated dialing with names but now you can speak numbers as well. No more miss dialed or wrong numbers again! The price is only $189.95 and that's no blarney!

Call us now at 1-800-233-9130 (V/TTY) or visit us online at http://www.weitbrecht.com (use code WCI306H when ordering).

Get a copy of our NEW catalog by emailing your request to: sales@weitbrecht.com

WCI. Your Single Source for Assistive Technology

-------------------
Trip to Israel
August 13-25, 2006
Registration Ends on March 15th!
-------------------

Who: Jewish Deaf and Hard of Hearing People (single, married, Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, etc.)

What: 12 day trip includes most meals, hotel, ASL interpreters, direct El Al flight, air conditioned bus guided tour to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Masada, Golan Heights, etc. Meet with other Israeli Jewish Deaf and Hard of Hearing people.

Registration Ends on March 15th!

Please see proposed itinerary and letter of interest on the website:
http://www.njcd.org/ourway/sections.php?id=C0_70_9

For contact or more information:
Email: Landau9@optonline.net

Fax at 908 352 7395

Write to:
JDSR
PO Box 2005
New York, NY 10159-2005

-------------------
Potomac Technology - Everything You Need Under One Roof!
Free Shipping & 15% off Clarity Phones!
http://www.potomactech.com
-------------------

Potomac Technology March Special

Free Shipping & 15% off Clarity Phones!

It must be the luck of the Irish! Not only are all Clarity Phones 15% off during March, you also get free shipping on orders over $50.00! Fill your shopping cart with all the wonderful items Potomac Technology has to offer. Start with a Clarity phone like the CLS45i that not only is cordless but also has speakerphone capabilities both in the handset and on the phone base, or choose from several cordless telephones available. Whatever your needs, we have a Clarity Phone to fit your lifestyle.

Visit us online at http://www.potomactech.com or call 1-800-433-2838 (V/TTY).

Use code "PTEC306H" when ordering.

Potomac Technology. Everything You Need Under One Roof!

-------------------
Employment Opportunity 1
Various Opportunities
GLAD
Various Southern California Locations
-------------------

GLAD is an Affirmative Action Employer with equal opportunity for men, women and people with disabilities. For more information on the following positions, please 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 - Anaheim and Norwalk

* HARD OF HEARING SPECIALIST - Riverside

* HIV HEALTH EDUCATOR (MSM) - Los Angeles

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

-------------------
Employment Opportunity 2
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Deaf Counseling, Advocacy and Referral Agency (DCARA)
San Leandro, CA
-------------------

DCARA is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to build on over 40 years of continuous growth and evolution of the non-profit, community-based social service agency. DCARA serves the Deaf Community in the San Francisco Bay Area and 14 counties in Northern California. The CEO will be responsible for all aspects of the agency's operations, programs, finances, and personnel. To see the full job announcement including information about DCARA, minimum qualifications and application process, visit http://www.dcara.org.

CLOSING DATE: March 31, 2006

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Contact Information and Disclaimers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are very interested in your comments concerning the content and format of this newsletter. We want this publication to be useful to you. Please send your comments and suggestions to: hearinglossweb@hearinglossweb.com

Visit our Website at: http://www.hearinglossweb.com

To subscribe to this newsletter, email
HOH-LD-News-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Yahoogroups will respond with a subscription email.

To unsubscribe to this newsletter, email
HOH-LD-News-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com. Yahoogroups will respond with an unsubscription email.

Archives for this newsletter are on our website at:
http://www.hearinglossweb.com.
Click on "Free Email Newsletter" in the header.

Advertising information for HOH-LD-News and Hearing Loss Web is available at http://www.hearinglossweb.com/Misc/adv/adv.htm.

Publication of articles or advertisements does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services offered, nor of the companies that offer them.