Volume 42 Issue 9

HOH-LD-News
Vol. 42, Issue 9
February 27, 2010

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Table of Contents
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- Article 1: The FCC Wants Your Captioning Complaints - And They've Made it Easier for You to Provide Them!

- Article 2: HLAA and AAA Promote Hearing Loops!

- Article 3: Quality of life of kids with CIs similar to that of hearing peers

- 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:
YOUR AD HERE
Second Premium Placement:
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Third Premium Placement:
Hearing Aid Repairs and Reduced Price Hearing Aids from Hearing Haven
Classified Section:
One Online Store and three Employment Opportunities

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Contact information and disclaimers are at the end of this newsletter.
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If you're interested in getting your message out to people who are hard of hearing or late deafened, and to the people who serve them, you might consider a premium ad in this newsletter! Our rates are surprisingly affordable and we reach the movers and shakers in the hearing loss world. And this newsletter (unlike some of the others) is strictly "opt-in", which means that everyone who receives it WANTS to receive it!

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- Article 1: The FCC Wants Your Captioning Complaints - And They've Made it Easier for You to Provide Them!
By Lise Hamlin
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Editor: The FCC wants to hear your complaints about television captioning, and they've streamlined the complaint process to make it easier for you to provide them! Here's Lise Hamlin with a report on a recent meeting she attended.

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On Friday, February 19, 2010, HLAA along with other consumer and industry representatives attended a meeting of the Digital Closed Captioning & Video Description Technical Working Group. This Working Group is hosted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to tackle the problems consumers have seen with closed captioning in a DTV world.

It has become apparent that some of the problems with captioning on DTV's are complex and difficult to track down and solve, some are not so difficult but need the industry to devote resources to address, and others need input from the FCC to ensure the problems are solved. It was good to hear that the folks at the FCC are determined to make headway to solve these difficult problems.

It appears that one issue is that we don't have enough data to know what all the problems are. One way to address that is for consumers to send in more complaints. Well, it just got easier to complain!

At the Feb 19th meeting, the FCC announced that the rules that had been adopted by the FCC for filing of captioning complaints back in November, 2009, are now in effect. We believe these new rules will help consumers get their captioning problems solved much more quickly than the old rules and allow the FCC and industry to better understand the kind of problems we are seeing and where we are seeing those problems.

Under the new rules:

1. You can contact the program distributor directly. The program distributor is the broadcaster, the cable company, the satellite company or whoever is sending you the television signal. The new rules say that a contact person must be available during hours of operation for broadcasters, cable companies and satellite companies so that you can call or email a real person, and, with any luck, get your problem solved very quickly. This has the potential to be very good for complaints where there is a quick fix, like captions suddenly disappearing during a program. Your program distributor's contact information should be made available on the company's bill or on their website very soon, if it is not there already. After March 22, you can also find the contact information on the FCC's website.

2. You can contact the FCC. The new rules say you can bring your complaint to the attention of the FCC first. The FCC will then send your complaint to the program distributor. Also, you can contact the FCC even after you contacted the program distributor directly, if that problem was not solved. This will be helpful because the FCC will be able to see the kinds of complaints that are coming in, and might even be able to start seeing patterns in our complaints.

3. The rules say you must send in a complaint within 60 days of the captioning problem. And the program distributor will have 30 days to respond after they received the complaint from you or the FCC.

4. You can file your written complaint with the FCC by using the on-line complaint form found at esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm?sid=&id=d1e3. You can also file your complaint with the FCC's Consumer Center by e-mailing fccinfo@fcc.gov; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554

For more information about closed captioning and the complaint process, visit the FCC's website at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/closedcaption.html

So, do send your complaints to the FCC. I for one, look forward to the time when we have no complaints to send in!

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- Article 2: HLAA and AAA Promote Hearing Loops!
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Editor: Here is some terrific news! The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) are jointly promoting the "Get in the Hearing Loop" Campaign. People are starting to question if we've reached the "tipping point" for widespread loop access here in the US. How great would that be?

Here's the press release from HLAA.

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The American Academy of Audiology, on behalf of audiologists, and the Hearing Loss Association of America, on behalf of people with hearing loss announce a collaborative public education campaign, "Get in the Hearing Loop."
"Get in the Hearing Loop" is a campaign to enlighten and excite hearing aid users, as well as audiologists and other professionals who dispense hearing aids, about telecoils and hearing loops and their unique benefits. Hearing loops transmit the audio from a PA system directly to telecoil-equipped hearing aids and cochlear implants. The telecoil functions as an antenna, relaying sounds directly into the ear without background noise just like Wi-Fi connects people to the Web.

Hearing aids can easily and affordably become wireless receivers for use with telephones and hearing assistive listening systems - hearing loops and neckloops - by adding a telecoil option to the aid. Sixty-nine percent of all hearing aids dispensed in the U.S. today have telecoils. Yet far too few consumers and hearing professionals know about or use them.

Pat Kricos, Ph.D., president-elect of the Academy, enthusiastically agreed to join the HLAA in this endeavor, stating, "Thanks to the passionate ground-breaking work carried on by HLAA member David Myers, Ph.D., in his Let's Loop America advocacy endeavor, there have been steady increases in accessibility for individuals with hearing loss. However, we still have a long road ahead of us before people with hearing loss can expect to hear in public areas via hearing loop technology. This collaborative awareness campaign by HLAA and the Academy will ensure that both consumers and audiologists will become fully aware of the remarkable benefits of telecoils and hearing loops."

HLAA Executive Director Brenda Battat comments, "Though HLAA and the Academy have worked together on advocacy issues for many years, this is the first time they have worked together on an educational campaign. My feeling was that educating consumers about telecoils and assistive listening systems would not be effective if the hearing professionals were not on board. It was important to get their buy-in. This is a way to address it from both sides and have a greater impact."

"A successful local hearing loop campaign in the Fox Valley of Wisconsin made me realize that hearing loops can profoundly affect people who use hearing aids," explains Juliëtte Sterkens, Au.D., audiologist and committee member of the "Get in the Hearing Loop" campaign. I want to help bring this news to every hearing aid user in the country and help make my audiology colleagues aware of an opportunity we are missing to help our clients get more from their hearing aids."

The campaign will culminate in the Second International Hearing Loop Conference to coincide with the HLAA annual convention in Washington, D.C., June 16 - 19, 2011. The first International Hearing Loop Conference was organized by the European Association of Hard of Hearing People in Winterthur, Switzerland in September 2009.

About the American Academy of Audiology

The American Academy of Audiology is the world's largest professional organization of, by, and for audiologists. The active membership of more than 11,000 is dedicated to providing quality hearing care services through professional development, education, research, and increased public awareness of hearing and balance disorders. The Academy promotes quality hearing and balance care by advancing the profession of audiology through leadership, advocacy, education, public awareness, and support of research. Further information about the Academy can be found at www.audiology.org, as well as on the Academy's consumer website www.howsyourhearing.org.

About the Hearing Loss Association of America

The Hearing Loss Association of America(r) (HLAA), founded in 1979, opens the world of communication to people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy and support. HLAA publishes the bimonthly Hearing Loss Magazine, holds annual conventions, Walk4Hearing(tm), and more. Information can be found at http://www.hearingloss.org/. The national headquarters is located at 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1200, Bethesda, MD 20814. Phone: 301.657.2248. HLAA has chapters and state organizations across the country.

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- Article 3: Quality of life of kids with CIs similar to that of hearing peers
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Editor: Those of you who know kids with CIs probably don't find this a bit surprising. The ones I've met are wonderful kids who seem happy, healthy, and well adjusted. Here's the press release from UT Southwestern.

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Profoundly deaf children with cochlear implants to help them to hear rate their quality of life equal to their normal-hearing peers, according to new research from UT Southwestern Medical Center auditory specialists.

In addition, the earlier a child is implanted with a cochlear device and the longer he or she wears the device, the better overall quality of life the child reports and the more successful the child is in school, according to the findings, published in the February issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.

"Wearing cochlear implants doesn't seem to create greater psychosocial problems overall for their users," said Dr. Betty Loy, clinical research manager in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and lead author of the study.

Cochlear implants are small electronic devices that are surgically implanted in the inner ear and activated by another device worn outside the ear. They bypass damaged or diseased parts of the ear by directly stimulating the auditory nerve, which is connected to the brain.

Researchers surveyed 88 families of children with cochlear implants, including parents. They then compared the responses with normal-hearing peers in two age groups: 8- to 11-year-olds and 12- to 16-year-olds. Quality-of-life factors assessed included physical, mental and emotional health; self-esteem; relationships with family and friends; and school performance.

Researchers found that younger cochlear implant recipients rated overall quality of life more positively than those who were in the older age group, although that may simply reflect greater adolescent angst, Dr. Loy said.

The survey results also confirmed that parents are generally accurate in gauging their child's perception of quality of life, although they slightly overestimated the satisfaction levels at school for older children.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, approximately 188,000 people worldwide have received cochlear implants as of 2009. In the U.S., roughly 41,500 adults and 25,500 children have received them.

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The study was a joint effort by researchers at UT Southwestern, UT Dallas and the Dallas Cochlear Implant Program. Other UT Southwestern authors involved in the study were Dr. Peter Roland, chairman of otolaryngology - head and neck surgery; Liyue Tong, biostatistical consultant; and Dr. Emily Tobey, clinical professor of otolaryngology - head and neck surgery.

The research was funded in part by a grant from the National Institutes of Health and by the Med-El Corp.

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- Article 4: Short Takes
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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

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New Website for Teens with Hearing Loss Launched

The website, bf4life-hearing or "best friends for life minus hearing" http://bf4life-hearing.weebly.com announced the launch of their
Website. The site, designed by 15-year old Arielle Schacter, is designed to provide teens with hearing loss up to date information on hearing issues and a forum for teens to use as a social connector to meet other teens with hearing loss. "I never meet another person just like me who is deaf or hard of hearing. I started thinking that if I can't meet people who have a hearing loss, then probably tons of other kids have the same difficulties!" said Arielle Schacter, the founder of bf4life-hearing. Arielle, a fifteen-year-old, has been an advocate for children like her with hearing loss. She has been on Inside City Hall twice, appeared in People and The New York Times, testified before the U.S. Access Board and held a press conference with Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. She is, currently, interning for Congresswoman Maloney.

http://bf4life-hearing.weebly.com

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Alarming facts about smoke detectors and what to do about it

There is an assumption that the majority of residential fire fatalities occur when there are not any smoke detectors installed in the home. However, data compiled by the U.S. Fire Administration show that when someone perishes in a home fire, 40% of the time a working smoke detector was actually present. While there are most likely multiple factors contributing to a 40% residential fire fatality rate in the presence of a working smoke detector, one issue that needs to be addressed involves the apparent limitations of current smoke detectors in effectively arousing individuals with hearing loss.

http://tinyurl.com/yj4x69e

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MarkeTrak VIII: 25-Year Trends in the Hearing Health Market

Over the last generation, the hearing loss population grew at the rate of 160% of US population growth primarily due to the aging of America. Hearing aid adoption continues to increase slowly (now 1 in 4 people with hearing loss) as do binaural fittings (8 out of 10). However, less than 1 in 10 people with mild hearing loss use amplification, while 4 in 10 people with moderate-to-severe hearing loss use amplification for their hearing loss. Here is the most complete compilation to date on MarkeTrak consumer demographics and trends.

http://tinyurl.com/y8zlhyw

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- Classifieds
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One Online Store and three Employment Opportunities appear in this issue. (Ads appear after this brief table of contents.)

WCI. Your Single Source for Assistive Technology
MARCH MADNESS SAVINGS AT WCI!
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Employment Opportunity 1
Exciting Career Opportunities at GLAD
Various Southern California Locations

Employment Opportunity 2
Various Positions at GSD
Georgia School for the Deaf
Cave Spring, GA

Employment Opportunity 3
Instructor of the Deaf and Hearing Impaired
Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind
Department of Human Resources, 1450 Main St, Gooding, ID 83330

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Employment Opportunity 1
Exciting Career Opportunities at GLAD
Various Southern California Locations
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Exciting Career 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, 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-- Crenshaw, CA
* Community Interpreter - Los Angeles, CA
* HIV Educator (WSR) - 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

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Employment Opportunity 2
Various Positions at GSD
Georgia School for the Deaf
Cave Spring, GA
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Currently accepting applications for the following positions:
Teacher-High School Math *10 Month Position
Teacher-High School Language Arts *10 Month Position
Teacher-Middle School Language Arts *10 Month Position
Substitute Teachers (hourly paid, based on credentials)
Support Services Worker-Library Aide (hourly paid)

* 10 month employees work 200 days (10 months) but receive payroll checks during each of the 12 months of the year.

For more information about these positions, visit the Georgia Department of Education web site at http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/pea_hr_jobsearch.aspx

Download Job Applications at:
http://www.spa.ga.gov/word/jobinfo/stateapp-emp.doc

Completed applications may be mailed, e-mailed, or faxed to:
Denise Clark, Personnel Office
Georgia School for the Deaf
232 Perry Farm Rd. SW
Cave Spring, Georgia 30124
denise.clark@doe.k12.ga.us
Fax: (706) 777-2240

For more information about these positions, contact Denise Clark, Personnel Office, denise.clark@doe.k12.ga.us or visit the Department of Education web site at www.doe.k12.ga.us

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Employment Opportunity 3
Instructor of the Deaf and Hearing Impaired
Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind
Department of Human Resources, 1450 Main St, Gooding, ID 83330
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Begin Date: August 2010
Closing Date: Open until filled.
Location: ISDB campus in Gooding.

Nature of Work:
Provide academic programs for elementary and/or middle/high school students and other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:
Idaho Standard Exceptional Child Certification with a Hearing Impaired Endorsement or ability to obtain; excellent receptive and expressive skills in American Sign Language; Bachelor's degree acceptable, Master's degree preferred; Desired Math, Science or Language Arts Certification.

Salary: Commensurate with education and experience

Benefits: Comprehensive fringe benefit package included

To Apply:
Interested persons are to submit a letter of application, resume, official transcripts, copies of certification and three letters of recommendations to:
Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind
Attn: Human Resources
1450 Main St
Gooding, ID 83330

Successful candidate will be required to submit a completed ten finger fingerprint card or scan to the Idaho State Dept. of Education no later than five days after the employees' first day of employment with the school or unsupervised contact with students in a K-12 setting, whichever is sooner per Idaho Code 33-130 & 33-512.

Hiring is done without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age or disability. In addition, preference may be given to veterans who qualify under state and federal laws and regulation.

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- Contact Information and Disclaimers
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