Volume 43 Issue 13

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Contact information and disclaimers are at the end of this newsletter.
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- Article 1: HLAA Convention Research Symposium: Hearing Aid Research and Development - Part One
By Larry Sivertson
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Editor: The Research Symposium at the HLAA Convention provides an opportunity for regular folks to learn about what's coming down the road for people with hearing loss. Catherine Palmer, Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders at the University of Pittsburgh, moderated this year's panel, which included representatives from major hearing aid manufacturers. Each panelist had ten minutes to present his company's latest technology, followed by ten minutes for questions.

This is part one of three parts.

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Phonak LLC

The first presenter represented Phonak LLC, and focused on three technologies: SoundRecover, ZoomControl, and DuoPhone.

SoundRecover is the Phonak technology that shifts high frequencies that people often have trouble hearing to lower frequencies where they hear better. This often makes much more sense than amplifying frequencies at which a person has little or no hearing. This technology was originally provided to people with severe to profound hearing loss, but has since been expanded to people with mild to moderate losses, and is now available in all Phonak products. People generally report excellent sound quality with SoundRecover, although it may take them a week or two to get used to it.

ZoomControl is the Phonak directional microphone technology that allows the user to focus on sounds coming from any direction, not only those from the front as with conventional directional microphones. This technology is available in their premium products.

DuoPhone is the technology that provides for sound from a telephone to be sent to both ears, a technique that can greatly increase comprehension. This and other improvements are available because of the wireless communication that allows streaming from one hearing aid to the other.

Q. How does SoundRecover differ from the AVR [Ed. A competing manufacturer] algorithm?
A. We pick a cutoff frequency based upon the user's audiogram and shift only frequencies above that cutoff. The AVR algorithm shifts all frequencies.

Q. You've focused on a "typical" hearing loss, which is primarily a high frequency loss. I have a "cookie bite" loss. Are you doing any research that will help me?
A. Our instruments are very flexible and your dispenser should be able to program them to accommodate your loss.

Q. You mentioned that the hearing aids communicate wirelessly with each other. Can you talk more about that?
A. Yes. That technology is available in all but our basic models. An example of the communication is the DuoPhone, which I mentioned a minute ago. Another is the ability to attenuate the volume in the left hearing aid when you're using ZoomControl to focus on a sound on your right.

Q. I bought Phonak aids and loved all the things they did. But my audiologist didn't understand much of it. Phonak refuses to talk directly to consumers, so I wasn't able to use the aids. I returned them and bought Siemens. Have you thought about providing direct consumer support?
A. Like the other major manufacturers, we work through the hearing care professionals. We do have a consumer care line that can help you find an audiologist.

Q. Does everyone like SoundRecover?
A. Most people do, but not all. And some people take a week or two to get used to it. For those who don't like it, we can just turn it off.

Q. Do your aids that have DuoPhone also have telecoils?
A. Yes, but DuoPhone is only functional when the hearing aids are set to microphone or microphone plus telecoil. Otherwise the user would be cut off from the environment.

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Siemens

The next speaker was Thomas Powers of Siemens. He covered their Best Sound Technology, which includes Feedback Stopper, Speech Focus, and Sound Learning 2.

The goal of Feedback Stopper was to set a new standard for eliminating feedback in the presence of high gain. This has traditionally been accomplished by creating a signal of the same frequency and opposite phase to the offending signal. Feedback Stopper uses this strategy, and also "fingerprints" the feedback so the hearing aid can identify it. This strategy provides 28.5 db of additional gain, eclipsing the previous best of 24.5. This technology is available in all Siemens aids.

Speech Focus is Siemens' directional microphone strategy. It employs a a hypercardiod pattern for sounds from the front, a reverse hypercardiod for sounds from the rear, and an omni pattern for sounds from the sides. The switching is all done automatically.

Sound Learning 2 is actually the third generation of the Siemens technology that allows a hearing aid to learn the manual adjustments a user makes in various acoustic environments, and eventually start making those adjustments automatically.

Q. I'm wondering how someone using Speech Focus would know the sound is coming from behind them.
A. It's just a natural learning process, just like with other hearing aids.

Q. My hearing aids have earmolds, and I hear myself much louder than I hear others. Can my aids be changed to openfit, and would that solve this problem?
A. People who use earmolds often comment on that effect of the occlusion from the earmolds. Moving to openfit aids does solve that problem. But that may not be possible if your instruments have high gain. Also, you should check with your audiologist to see if it's possible to use your aids with an open fitting.

Q. Does Sound Learning automatically adjust anything besides volume?
A. Yes, it also handles compression characteristics.

Q. Our Manhattan Chapter had some money from our walk, and we wanted to install a loop in a local senior center. Unfortunately, only two of about 30 hearing aid users had telecoils, and only one knew how to use them. Do you encourage audiologists to install telecoils and teach people how to use them?
A. All of our hearing aids have telecoils unless they're just too small to accommodate them. We do train audiologists on their use, and hope the audiologists are doing their part.

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- Article 2: Cochlear Implants: 2010 and Beyond - Part Four
By Cheryl Heppner
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Editor: The folks in Virginia recently held their third cochlear implant conference, and reporter extraordinaire Cheryl was there to record the proceedings. I think she was just warming up for the summer conferences! Here's her report. This is part four of four parts.

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Cochlear Implants in the Future

To wrap up his presentation at the third state conference on cochlear implants, Dr. Daniel Coelho of Virginia Commonwealth University gave us a glimpse of current trends.

Pushing the age for implantation: Children are being implanted at younger ages, and adults are being implanted at advanced ages.

Hybrids: Work is being done to combine the use of cochlear implants and hearing aids in order to preserve hearing that is still available.

MRI Compatibility: Ways are being explored to make cochlear implants MRI-compatible or allow for easier removal/insertion of the magnet.

Completely Implantable: Research is being done to learn how to successfully implant the entire cochlear implant, including the processor.

Medical/gene therapy: Research is also being done to develop cures for hearing loss.

Dr. Coelho was asked about the Lyric hearing aid. He said that the reason it lasts so long on a single battery is due to its being placed in the ear where it can be very close to where the sound is needed. This puts less demand on the battery to supply volume and clarity.

He also talked about involvement in Cochlear's study of hybrid hearing, in which a hearing aid and cochlear implant are combined in a single ear. This technology is intended for people who have decent hearing at lower frequencies and hearing loss at the higher frequencies. There is potential for better speech understanding in a noisy situation. The device looks the same as an implant outside the ear but has an added earpiece. Currently this device is approved by the FDA only for research trials. The jury is not yet in on whether the hybrid system is a good thing.

In a study of two to three years, 17 subjects have now been implanted. Of those, 13 have had the systems activated. All are adults with progressive hearing loss. Most are doing better with the system and continue to show improvements.

At the close of his remarks, Dr. Coelho predicted that in the future people would say of today's cochlear implants "I can't believe that is how you got people to hear; it is so prehistoric."

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(c)2010 by Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons (NVRC), 3951 Pender Drive, Suite 130, Fairfax, VA 22030; www.nvrc.org; 703-352-9055 V, 703-352-9056 TTY, 703-352-9058 Fax. You do not need permission to share this information, but please be sure to credit NVRC.

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- Article 3: The Sky is Falling! The Sky is Falling!
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Editor: I usually avoid commenting on political issues, and I think I can be true to that goal and still comment on this situation. That's because this is an accessibility issue that Gary Shapiro and others are trying to politicize. The bottom line is that these folks don't think that new technology should be accessible to people with disabilities - and that's the crux of THEIR press release (below).

If only we could get the arrogant and overbearing disability community to stop oppressing the defenseless, mega-rich multinational corporations that comprise the consumer electronics industry! If you'd like to share your thoughts with the folks at CEA, you can send them to Megan Pollack at mpollock@CE.org .

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"Our objective is to meet the needs of disabled Americans while retaining the freedom we need to continue as the greatest innovation creator," said Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)(r) President and CEO Gary Shapiro in testimony delivered today before a congressional committee. Testifying on behalf of CEA, Shapiro made his comments before a hearing held by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce's Subcommittee on Communications, Telecommunication and the Internet exploring, "The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009."

Shapiro agreed on the value of a centralized database of all products and services for disabled Americans. He explained CEA's concern that H.R. 3101, by requiring all Internet connected products and services be accessible by Americans with all disabilities, would freeze technology and deter innovation and entrepreneurs. Shapiro suggested several alternatives to the end goal of providing Americans access to information, education and entertainment. "The legislation before us - H.R. 3101 - is extremely broad in its scope; chilling innovation and the entry of new products. More, it ignores the increasing number of products on the market which serve the needs of many in the disability community."

Shapiro noted that the current legislation does not take into account the ever changing dynamic of Internet-based services and devices. "We are no longer living in a world of single function devices...The legislation's attempt to adapt old regulations established to apply to primary function services and devices ...to new multi-function devices will not produce the desired result, and will only impede the advancement of new technologies and accessible features."

Shapiro suggested several amendments to H.R. 3101. "It is a core CEA belief that the development of technical standards must be left to consensus-based industry standards bodies, rather than government agencies or Congress ...CEA has proposed the development of an advisory committee consisting of all affected stakeholders working together to develop industry-led technical solutions for IP-based video programming services and devices." Already, CEA has established working groups to tackle remote control usability by the visually impaired and to address closed captioning in a digital age.

"We are also concerned about the draconian fines on manufacturers if they do not meet the 'accessibility for everyone' requirements. More, CEA is concerned about the barriers created for entrepreneurs and innovators by the burdensome documentation and reporting requirements that take effect during a product's design phase," said Shapiro. He also said the industry and the FCC must be afforded flexibility with respect to the content and format of any reports.

In closing, Shapiro said, "We have and will continue our efforts to ensure that all Americans are able to reap the benefits of new and emerging communications technologies. We look forward to working with all interested stakeholders on a legislative approach that reflects the rapid innovation of our market with the desire to ensure that these products and services are accessible to persons with disabilities."

About CEA:

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $165 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - The Global Stage for Innovation. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA's industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org.

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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 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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NY Subway Information Booths Looped

Getting around on the New York subways just got a lot easier for hard-of-hearing passengers. That's because station information booths are now fitted with "hearing loops" thanks to the efforts of Janice Schacter, chair of the Manhattan-based Hearing Access Program, and funds from President Obama's stimulus package. "We had a shovel-ready project that fit the criteria," says Schacter. Much as a Wi-Fi network delivers wireless Internet access to computer users in coffee shops, a loop system takes sound from an electronic source, such as a microphone or TV, and delivers it directly to a hearing aid, right into a listener's head. Hearing loops are relatively simple to install. The loop is created when a wire is installed around the perimeter of the room or subway car and plugged into an audio source. That wire then sends a signal to a tiny copper coil that's now standard in most hearing aids. (Older hearing aids can usually be retrofitted for about $250.)

http://tinyurl.com/24dun93

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Button Batteries Pose Serious Danger for Children, Elderly

There has been an increase in the use of "button" style lithium cell batteries in recent years, which are used in many household productions including remote controls, flashlights, watches, hearing aids, cameras, children's toys and books, and musical greeting cards. There has also been a significant increase in the number of battery ingestions, particularly among children. New research published in the June issue of the journal Pediatrics has found that between 1985 and 2009, there has been a 6.7-fold increase in the percentage of battery ingestions, including 13 deaths involving button batteries that become lodged in the esophagus. Certain battery types, especially the 20-millimeter lithium cell battery, can also cause serious injury if not promptly removed, such as tissue tears, burning, and internal bleeding, because they continue to generate an external current, even when weakened.

http://tinyurl.com/3xj9kpc

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10 Signs You Need A Hearing Evaluation

The sooner hearing loss is diagnosed and treated, the better. Because hearing loss does occur gradually persons find ways to compensate without even knowing they are doing so. The following are common signs of hearing loss:
1. You have trouble hearing people talking on the telephone.
2. You have trouble following a conversation when people are talking at the same time
3. The family complains that the TV is too loud.
4. You strain to hear conversations.
5. You have trouble hearing in noisy environments.
6. You say 'What?' a lot.
7. People don't speak clearly. They mumble.
8. You misunderstand what people say.
9. You have trouble hearing children and women.
10. You become annoyed at others because you can't understand what they say.

http://www.healthyhearing.com/releases/46284-10-signs-hearing-loss

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

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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

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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.

* Network I.T. Administrator - Los Angeles, CA
* Community Advocate -- Riverside, CA
* HIV Educator - Los Angeles, CA

If interested for any of these positions then please submit resume and application to:

Jeff Fetterman
Human Resources Manager
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
-------------------

Currently accepting applications for the following positions:
Assistant Director for Instruction
Graduation Coach *10 Month Position
Teacher-High School Math *10 Month Position
Teacher-High School Language Arts *10 Month Position
Literacy Content Specialist *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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