Volume 29 Issue 7

HOH-LD-News
Vol. 29, Issue 7
November 18, 2006

Copyright (C) 2006 Hearing Loss Web. All rights reserved.

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

- Article 1: Breaking Through: Cochlear Implant Advances - Part One

- Article 2: "Reverse Audism" at Gallaudet?

- Article 3: Noisy toys are not for delicate ears

- 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:
Sonic Alert Alarm Clocks on Sale at Sound Clarity, Inc.
Second Premium Placement:
Wow! Another Big Sale and a $500 Door Prize at Harris Communications
Fourth Premium Placement:
Switch to Sprint
Classified Section:
Two Online Stores and Two Employment Opportunities

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

----------------------------------------------------------------
Sonic Alert Alarm Clocks on Sale at Sound Clarity, Inc.
----------------------------------------------------------------
All Sonic Alert Alarm clocks with bed shakers are on sale. From the famous Sonic Boom SB1000SS to the Travel Clock SB200SS. Guaranteed to wake even the deepest sleepers.

You'll find them all at www.soundclarity.com

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: Breaking Through: Cochlear Implant Advances - Part One
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is a report on Tina Childress' presentation at ALDAcon 2006. For more coverage of this great convention, please point your browser to http://www.hearinglossweb.com/res/hlorg/alda/cn/2006/2006.htm

This is part one of two parts.

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

I lost my hearing at age 28 in eight months. Yet I've never attended an ALDAcon before.

Bilateral implantation

Localization Cues - now that I have bilateral CIs, I can localize well enough to know where my daughter is calling from. Our brain uses the signal from both sides to get information. A good analogy is the use of an eyepatch, like when you get your eyes checked. When you use only one eye, you don't have very good depth perception, so you're not allowed to drive.

Head Shadow Effect - The head blocks sound, so if you only hear out of one ear, it's hard to hear sound coming from the other side. But in a noisy environment, that can work to your advantage. The head can block the noise you don't want to hear, so you can hear better what you do want to hear.

Binaural Squelch - This refers to the ability to focus on and listen to one speaker in room full of noise. Being able to do this requires two ears.

I had a Hearing In Noise Test (HINT) three months after I got my second implant. This is a test of ability to hear sentences, and in my test, the sentences were 10 dB louder than the noise. I scored 74% in the ear that was implanted first, 52% in the second, and 92% using both.

Binaural summation - This refers to the fact that sound perceived from two ears is perceived as louder than sound perceived from a single ear.

Candidacy considerations

The decision to get a CI has always been an important one. Now people also have to decide if they should get two CIs at the same time.

Q. Does insurance cover a second implant?
A. Some do. Talk to your CI center, because they are familiar with which companies cover a second implant.

Q. I have never had bilateral hearing. Would bilateral CIs work for me?
A. That's a question for the CI center. They would have to evaluate you.

Bilateral CIs are a big advantage when a person is trying to hear in noise. The average binaural advantage is 5 dB, which usually equates to about 30% gain in HINT scores.

Localization is important for safety, hearing in groups and finding distant sounds. I lost my car in a mall parking lot after I had bilateral implants. I activated the horn and I was able to find my car. I never could have done that with a single implant.

Unlike other hearing aid and CI microphones, our T-Mic sits right in the ear. So it takes advantage of spectral intensity cues provided by the outer ear. The outer ear also helps shield against other unwanted sounds, and it allows people to use standards headphones.

Other considerations for bilateral implantation

If you have an implant now and get a second one, your first one will probably be your dominant one for a long time. And the longer the time between the two implantations, the longer the first will be dominant. If you get them closer together in time, the dominance isn't as great and won't last as long.

For those who do pretty well with the first one, the second one may not progress as fast as the first. The differences you see may be quality issues - things will just sound better.

A voice barely heard at 10 feet with one ear can be heard at 40 feet with two ears.

Listening with bilateral implants is less tiring and stressful.

Things sound more like what we remember as hearing people.

It's instructive to compare the situation with bilateral CIs now with the situation with hearing aids in the 1970s. That's when it became common for people to use two hearing aids. Now we're going through a similar thing with CIs.

If you have questions or want to talk to a bilateral user, come by our booth and we'll put you in touch with one.

Speech Processing Strategies

Sound can be characterized by three domains, and it's important to consider all of them in a processing strategy.
Intensity Domain - We give your brain as much information as possible and let your brain do the work. Our input dynamic range is 96 dB.
Temporal Domain - We use up to 5200 hz sampling rate and 83K pps.
Spectral Domain - The HiRes120 has 120 channels.

120 spectral bands via current steering

Because we can stimulate multiple electrodes simultaneously, we are able to effectively create virtual channels, which allows to provide more frequency information. This is especially important for music and listening in noise.

This 120 channel capability is available to people implanted since the spring of 2001, because the internal device supports the required technology.

It may help some people to understand the various domains by considering a digital camera analogy. The Temporal rate can be compared to the camera resolution (pixels). The spectral resolution can be compared to the number of colors. And the Intensity or Amplitude can be compared to the camera's dynamic range.

Harmony BTE (new processor)

Our new processor is the Harmony BTE. We have maintained accessory compatibility with the Auria, so all of your Auria accessories will work with the Harmony. It features:
- Smallest, least conspicuous headpiece
- Durable processor engineered to withstand rain, sweat, and moisture
- Only processor that supports 120 channels
- Built in Telecoil
- Improved battery life - 50% better - up to 18 hours on a battery
- Built in multi-function LED status indicator, which provides a lot of information, including an indication of how much battery life remains

----------------------------------------------------------------
Wow! Another Big Sale and a $500 Door Prize at Harris Communications
----------------------------------------------------------------

Get ready for the Holidays with another big sale from Harris Communications. Starting Monday, November 20, Harris Communications will have 10% off of ALL products in their webstore. Any order over $50 will also receive free shipping!*

* Sales offer expires November 26, 2006. Free shipping on UPS Ground Shipments to the contiguous US only. Certain product restrictions apply. See website for more details.

Remember that any order of $50 or more will enter you automatically in our big $500 Gift Certificate drawing. (Deadline for drawing is November 30, drawing held on December 1.)

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: "Reverse Audism" at Gallaudet?
by Debbie Mohney
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's Colorado's Debbie Mohney with an interesting interpretation of what the Gallaudet brouhaha was all about and the larger issues surrounding it.

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

You bring up a very good point about perspective. The perspective that you are referring to in Deaf culture about how the world perceives their disability is one that is continually perpetuated by the Deaf community.

As a hard of hearing person, I very much feel the reverse audistic views coming from the Deaf community that I don't belong in their community because I don't know sign language, and I didn't grow up deaf. Either society is oppressing them, or the system at Gallaudet is oppressing the hearing loss community. So, where is this perspective going to end?

It can only end when people become more open minded about the fact that there is more than one approach to deafness, and it does mean advancing into today's world with today's technology. The students have embraced the technology of instant messaging, so why can't they embrace the technology that the majority of people with hearing loss want to use? These are tools, not a method of extinguishing deaf culture, nor eradicating hearing loss. There will always be people for whom the technology does not resolve the issues that they have with their hearing loss, and to address them, the Deaf community needs to realize that we are not against them, we just want to have the same courtesy of getting the accommodations that we need. And that must happen at Gallaudet just like any other public institution. These students need to realize that they are actively discriminating against a larger hearing loss population that does not use ASL and will never use ASL.

It doesn't have to be an "us vs them" situation. Our country has supported Gallaudet by providing tax dollars, and these students have enjoyed a policy of exclusion for too long in a system that supports reverse audism, and we as taxpayers should make our voices heard to these students that inclusion goes both ways. Either they need to learn to be more open minded and realize that they are not being oppressed and that it is a learned and perpetuated perspective, or they can become a private university and pay for this exclusiveness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Article 3: Noisy toys are not for delicate ears
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Editor: Every year about this time we see articles about the dangers of loud toys. I'm hoping that folks are getting the message and avoiding toys that can damage a child's hearing. The folks at Hear-it provide some good tips on avoiding these dangers.

Hear-it is an international site for hard of hearing folks. Please do take a minute to visit them at http://www.hear-it.org

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

Children's toys are often extremely noisy. In some cases, they constitute a direct danger to children's hearing.

When used in ordinary play, some types of battery-driven toy guns can create noise levels between 110 and 135 dB, corresponding to the noise generated by a heavy truck, a rock concert or an airliner at take-off. Less, but consistent, noise from music boxes or robots (85-95 dB) can also be damaging.

In many workplaces, employees are required to wear hearing protection where noise levels exceed 85 dB. Noisy toys are not only a problem to children but also to parents as they often find the noise annoying and even painful, too.

Noice-induced hearing loss is cumulative; it happens gradually over time. That is why it is important to start protecting your child's hearing at an early age. Because of a child's shorter arm span, noisy toys are potentially more dangerous as children hold them close to the ear. Moreover, the way children play with their toys usually does not comply with the industry's "recommended use".

It is, therefore a good idea, when buying toys, to find out how much noise they generate, and perhaps choose other types of less noisy toys. Parents can also check their children's toys to find out how to reduce their noisiness, which toys should be removed and which are only suitable for outdoor use.

Below, hear-it has collected some practical advice for parents, including information on potential risks and possible measures that can be taken to reduce the noise generated by toys.

- Think about noise when buying toys. If it sounds too loud to you, it will also be too loud for your child.

- Avoid buying toys that have a warning that they should not be used close to the ears, as children will forget this during play.

- Put masking tape over the speaker of the toy to reduce the volume.

- Musical instruments and toy guns with sound effects can be damaging or cause irritation. In some cases, the best solution is to replace such toys with other less noisy toys or restrict their use to outside play areas.

- Computer games can be annoying for other people. Place your children's computer in a special room rather than in the living room or common room.

- Children's mats or rugs are an efficient means of reducing noise from playing blocks, for example.

How you store the toys also affects noise levels. Hardwood or plastic boxes create lots of noise when the children rummage around for their toys, or empty the contents onto the floor. Line the boxes with fabric or felt to reduce noise. Toys can also be kept in baskets or fabric bags.

Apart from the safety and nuisance aspects of noisy toys, parents should also consider that noisy toys convey the message to children that hearing health is not important.

The damaging effect of repeated exposure to intense noise over a person's life span is something we should warn our children about. Educating kids on the importance of hearing conservation as a preventive measure and teaching them healthy hearing habits is just as important as focusing on the immediate noisy source.

Sources: "Noisy Toys: Annoying or Harmful?", The Hearing Review, 2006, "Støj i daginstitutioner - om praktiske/tekniske løsninger til dæmpning af støjen i daginstitutioner og skolefritidsordninger.", Socialministeriet, 2001 (Noise in day-care centres - practical/technical solutions for reducing noise in day-care centres. Danish Ministry of Social Affairs, 2001.) and "Høje lyde fra legetøjshylden", Råd & Resultater nr. 3, 1999 ("Noise from the toy shelf", the Danish consumer magazine Råd & Resultater, 3, 1999).

----------------------------------------------------------------
Switch to Sprint
----------------------------------------------------------------

Try the latest version of the FREE Sprint IP Wireless application for BlackBerry users!

* Click on your Blackberry Internet browser
* Go to www.sprintrelay.com/download/ to begin the FREE download.
* Check out the new updates on Sprint IP Wireless!

Don't have a BlackBerry device, add SprintIP to your AIM Buddy list to make a relay call.

----------------------------------------------------------------

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- 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

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

Aberdeen Captioning Comments on FCC Exemptions

The hearing loss community is pretty upset about the permanent captioning exemptions recently granted by the FCC, and consumers with hearing loss have stepped up and provided lots of comments. Here's a somewhat different perspective from the folks who run Aberdeen Captioning, who do a lot of captioning of religious programming. Their fees (as little as $60 for a live half-hour show) really call into question the "financial hardship" claim upon which the exemptions are based.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/y2466l

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

Bilateral Cochlear Implants go Mainstream

Many cochlear implant recipients are happy with hearing from just one ear, but even good-hearing cochlear implant recipients commonly have difficulty hearing in noise. Even in mildly noisy situations, a single cochlear implant does not seem loud or clear enough, in part because two ears are needed to provide direction of sound, focus on a speaker, and suppress extraneous sounds. A growing body of research now shows that many of these deaf individuals benefit from bilateral (two ear) hearing restoration with cochlear implants. Fascinating is that the same physiological tools normal hearing folks use to hear better in noise with two ears (binaural hearing) also help bilateral cochlear implant individuals.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/y6ou92

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

Bluetooth 101: The Audiologist's Guide

Bluetooth technology has been implemented in numerous consumer electronic devices (Miller 2002) and has now struck the field of Audiology. A handful of Bluetooth products are now available to patients to enhance the listening performance of current hearing systems. Bluetooth devices available on the market enable wireless transmission of sound between a mobile phone and an ear-level unit, a mobile phone and a microphone transmitter, and a microphone transmitter to an ear-level unit. This ear-level unit may be attached to an existing hearing aid or an independent device fitted directly in the ear canal.

http://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/article_detail.asp?article_id=1715

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

Two online stores and two employment opportunity appear in this issue. (Ads appear after this brief table of contents.)

WCI. Providing Solutions for People with Hearing Loss.
ALL CLARITY PHONES 20% OFF
http://www.weitbrecht.com

Potomac Technology. Everything You Need Under One Roof!
EASY HOLIDAY SHOPPING!
http://www.potomactech.com

Employment Opportunity 1
Various Positions
GLAD
Los Angeles

Employment Opportunity 2
Superintendent
Illinois School for the Deaf
Jacksonville, IL

-------------------
WCI. Providing Solutions for People with Hearing Loss.
ALL CLARITY PHONES 20% OFF
http://www.weitbrecht.com
-------------------

WCI is here to help you stay connected this holiday season. All Clarity phones are 20% off in November. Take your pick from several choices like the Clarity 510 amplified phone with Clarity Power Boost and 50 number quick dial memory or the CLS45i Amplified Cordless Phone/Speaker Phone.

Call 1-800-233-9130 (V/TTY) or visit us at http://www.weitbrecht.com (use code WCID1106 when ordering).

To receive a copy of our WCI catalog, email sales@weitbrecht.com.

WCI. Providing Solutions for People with Hearing Loss.

-------------------
Potomac Technology. Everything You Need Under One Roof!
EASY HOLIDAY SHOPPING!
http://www.potomactech.com
-------------------

Holiday shopping is easy and convenient at Potomac Technology with 10% off and Free Shipping! It's the perfect time to get started on all those gifts for everyone on your list. Choose from a huge selection of items from Signalers and Telephones to Jewelry and Books all at 10% off! Then add free shipping to orders over $100.00.

Why wait? Do your holiday shopping now! Call us now at 1-800-433-2838 (V/TTY) or visit us online at http://www.potomactech.com for details (use code PTECH1106 for when ordering). And to request our catalog just email us at info@potomactech.com

Potomac Technology. Everything You Need Under One Roof!

-------------------
Employment Opportunity 1
Various Positions
GLAD
Los Angeles
-------------------

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.

* Director of Human Services - Los Angeles, CA
* Community Interpreter - Riverside, CA
* Job Developer/Interpreter - Crenshaw, Norwalk and West Covina, CA
* Community Health Educator-Los Angeles, CA
* LIFESIGNS Dispatcher - Riverside, CA
* Grant Writer - Los Angeles, CA
* Accounts Receivable Specialist - Los Angeles, CA
* Program Assistant/Interpreter - Los Angeles, CA

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
Superintendent
Illinois School for the Deaf
Jacksonville, IL
-------------------

The Illinois School for the Deaf, announces a vacancy for the SUPERINTENDENT position. Applications are due by January 15, 2007, with a start date of July 1, 2007.

Founded in 1839 and located on a beautiful 50 acre campus in Jacksonville, Illinois School for the Deaf is a residential state school for the education of children who are deaf and hard of hearing in Illinois. The school is operated by the State Department of Human Services/Division of Rehabilitation Services with the objective of preparing students for productive, well-adjusted and responsible adult lives.

Marjorie Olson
400 West Lawrence
Springfield IL 62794-9429
217-524-1379 (Voice/TTY)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- 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.