Volume 44 Issue 1

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One Online Store and two Employment Opportunities

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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 Two
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 all the 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 two of three parts.

For complete coverage of the 2010 HLAA Convention, point your browser to:
http://www.hearinglossweb.com/res/hlorg/shhh/cn/2010/2010.htm

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Oticon

The speaker from Oticon addressed their Advanced Wireless Processing, which enables two hearing aids to work together in new ways. The goal is to mimic the ability that people with normal hearing have to enter new acoustic environments and adjust to them without conscious thought. The Oticon AGIL solution is responsible for this, and it's available in most of their instruments.

Three current areas of research are Spatial Sound 2.0, which uses differences in sound arrival times and volumes to improve comprehension; Speech Guard, which preserves more speech sounds without overprocessing them; and Connect Plus, which enhances the connectivity to various Bluetooth devices. The goal of these technologies is to enable the user to more easily comprehend speech, which leaves more mental energy to participate in activities.

Q. I haven't heard you talk about user inputs to your design process. Do you consider user feedback in your research decisions?
A. We maintain a large database of consumers who participate in our research on an ongoing basis.

Q. How can we get involved in that research?
A. We work with various universities, and they do the recruiting of participants.

Q. I recently purchased Oticon Epocs, and I wasn't able to easily manipulate the two buttons. I'm surprised something like that was able to make it to the market. My audiologist said many users really like the technology, but are disappointed with the user interface.
A. Manipulating hearing aid controls is always a tough issue. We have a remote that makes those adjustments very easy.

Q. I work in the computer industry and I know there are ways that hearing aids could totally eliminate things like fan noise. Why don't you do that?
A. (Moderator) These capabilities are often limited by the available processing power, and the increased power consumption that would be required.

Q. I'd like to see the hearing aid manufacturers help eliminate the stigma of hearing loss. Why don't your ads show young, active people using hearing aids?
A. (Moderator) Some of the companies have done that. But I've also heard that people complain that the ads show young people when most hearing aid users are older!

Q. I use a dryer every night, and I still have to have my hearing aid repaired due to excessive moisture. Any ideas?
A. That's an acknowledged problem. We all do everything we can to insulate the electronics and make the cases as watertight as possible, but some people still have problems.
A. (Phonak) We have a moisture resistant hearing aid for severe to profound losses. Many companies are also starting to nanocoat the cases, which provides better moisture protection. These will be on the market soon.
A. (Moderator) Remember that every hearing has two openings, one for the microphone and one for the battery door. So keeping moisture out is a real problem.

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Unitron

The next speaker was Elizabeth Vrchota from Unitron. She commented that understanding speech in noise is the number one complaint of hearing aid users, and that their SmartFocus technology incorporates several techniques that all work together to address that problem. These include directional microphones, speech enhancement (boosting of the frequency bands in which speech is the dominant signal), noise reduction (reducing gain in the frequency bands in which noise is the dominant signal), and volume control. Testing performed by the University of Rochester and Louisiana Tech documented a 16% gain in speech comprehension when all these techniques are used together.

She also discussed Unitron's Smart Alert system, which works with their hearing aids and alerts people to fire and other dangers. The system includes a bed shaker, multiple sensors, a remote, and a recharger. When activated, the system vibrates the remote and also sends a signal to the hearing aids. Distinct signals can be programmed for different stimuli, including the door, phone, and fire alarm. When the remote is placed in the charger base, the bed shaker is activated rather than the remote.

Unitron was careful to make installation and setup of their Smart Alert system simple. They asked a group of people raging in age from 35 to 82 to install the system, and all were successful.

Q. Are there degrees of shaking? I recently got a memory foam mattress, and my bed shaker no longer wakes me.
A. The current device only has one shaking intensity. But you can place it under a pillow rather than under the mattress, and it will wake you.

Q. You mentioned noise reduction. We've been hearing about that for a long time. The noise of people talking in the background is especially troublesome. Are there technological advances that can filter out that kind of noise?
A. What we can currently filter is non-speech. The problem we have is that the hearing aid doesn't know which voice you want to listen to.

Q. I'm excited about the alerting system. Does it interface to a monitoring service, so they can send someone if it alerts?
A. Currently, no.

Q. I think you all underestimate what we are willing to do to hear. For me, performance is much more important than battery life or size.
A. (Moderator) Keep in mind that the people that attend this convention are "advanced" users. Most people go through a progression from wanting something invisible and unobtrusive to just wanting to hear. Most of us are in the latter group.

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- Article 2: WeatherText: Technology for Full Access to Weather and All Hazard Alerts
By Cheryl Heppner
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Editor: There's wonderful new technology that can greatly increase the availability of weather and hazard alert information to people with hearing loss. Unfortunately, it's not currently available, and may not become available for some time. Here's Cheryl's report.

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Last week I learned about an exciting new technology called WeatherText at the monthly meeting of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network (DHHCAN). I represent the Association of Late-Deafened Adults in this national coalition of organizations of, by, and for deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened and deaf-blind individuals.

At various locations across the U.S. there are approximately 1,000 transmitters that send reports throughout the day to warn us of bad weather. Those transmitters can reach about 98% of the country. Unfortunately while there are "accessible" weather radios on the market, they don't provide the same critical details in text that other people are receiving from the radio by voice.

A presentation on WeatherText by Bob Mroz of HY-TEK and Bill Werner of Werner Labs showed that this does not have to continue. Through new technology, there is now a way to transmit both text and voice on the same channel at the same time without one interfering with the other. The system has been tested extensively with the NOAA test transmitter located at the NOAA headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland and in the company's office over the past several years with no faults or failures.

Mroz spent 30 years working at the Federal Communications Commission and was their director for advanced technology at the end of his career there. He and Werner brought two prototypes of a WeatherText receiver to the meeting that looked like a larger version of a remote control. There was a small screen for viewing text.

Additional Advantages of WeatherText

- Clicking one button on the protoype device allowed me to scroll forward or back through the text. This is a great step forward. Current weather radios broadcast the same message over and over. If you are busy with something else or interrupted, you can't stop the text, or make it go backward or forward. If you miss critical information, you have to wait for it to be rebroadcast.

- In a noisy environment it would also be easier to read text than strain to understand the radio voice. Mroz and Werner believe WeatherText is not just for people who are deaf or hard of hearing but that it may actually become "the mode of choice" for people who use currently listen to the voice broadcasts on NOAA Weather Radio.

- Weather radios are inexpensive to make. Mroz and Werner used radios from Radio Shack to build their device at a cost of about $12 each. There is much that manufacturers could do. Font size could be made adjustable and text could be received in multiple languages.

What's Holding Us Back? All this sounds good. The catch?

You can't get this service as an add-on to the existing weather radio. Approximately $10 million is needed to install an encoder at those 1,000 national weather radio sites. DHHCAN coalition representatives at the meeting were also very concerned to learn that the Weather Radio Improvement Plan (WRIP) to improve NOAA weather radio, started in 2008 by the National Weather Service, is already behind schedule. WRIP called for the addition of text capability to weather radio, but it has not been given a priority. There is a danger that adding text messaging could be dropped or continue to be delayed.

Questions and Answers

Q: What's the difference between what you get on weather radio and what you get in the text alerts about weather from CNN or other sources?
A: Weather radio is designed to be available during bad weather, and information from national weather radio is most likely to be available during bad weather. National weather radio will also get its alerts out before CNN because many sources get their information from national weather radio.

Q: Can you use weather radio for whatever location you are in, or does it only work for a place you select?
A: It will work in the location you take it to; that is automatic.

Q: Can this service be converted into everyday equipment so we don't need a second device to get weather radio alerts?
A: Yes, Subaru is already including national weather radio in their car radios.

Q: Can it be added to smart phone apps?
A: Smart phones rely on cell towers, and that makes them vulnerable for receiving information in bad weather conditions. The display is the largest part of the equipment so it could be added to anything.

Q: How does this compare with the Commercial Mobile Alerting System (CMAS) which is limited to messages of 90 characters?
A: There is storage for 4,000 characters in the current WeatherText device.

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C2010 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.

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- Article 3: Hamilton CapTel(r) Introduces iPhone(r) App for Mobile Captioned Telephone
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Editor: We're getting used to seeing all kinds of cool technology that improves the quality of life for people with hearing loss. The latest of these is the App from Hamilton CapTel, which provides captions on an iPhone. Here's their press release.

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Today, Hamilton CapTel announced the immediate availability of the Hamilton Mobile CapTel application for the iPhone. The application provides captions of telephone calls for individuals with hearing loss while they are on the go. Available nationwide, Hamilton Mobile CapTel allows users to listen while reading captions of everything that is said during phone calls - all from the convenience of their iPhone.

"This is a major addition to the Hamilton CapTel family of solutions, delivering unprecedented access and freedom for iPhone users that are hard of hearing," said Dixie Ziegler, vice president of Hamilton Relay, provider of Hamilton Mobile CapTel service. "At Hamilton, we are dedicated to delivering personalized service and providing the most technologically advanced solutions. Every call is important, and due to the widespread use of the iPhone, we have created a free iPhone App that is easy-to-use with an intuitive interface to meet the needs of iPhone users in the U.S."

Similar to captions on television, Hamilton Mobile CapTel delivers captions for telephone conversations. The popularity of the iPhone in particular has spurred creation of an iPhone App that is free, easy and highly functional. The Hamilton Mobile CapTel iPhone App delivers several useful features that meet the demands of people who are hard-of-hearing:

- Listen to what is said while simultaneously reading captions of what's said on the screen of the iPhone
- Integration of Contacts; phone numbers are available when it's time to place a call
- Free captions in both English and Spanish
- Available on any 3G/3GS iPhone
- Works with an iPhone compatible headset---wired or Bluetooth
- Registered Web CapTel users can download the app immediately and have access to their profile and contacts stored on the iPhone, captioning can begin within seconds

"The development of the iPhone App was paramount for our tech-savvy users. CapTel Service has changed people's lives for the better---no more frustration trying to hear the person at the other end of the phone," said Ziegler. "Now, iPhone users can place and receive captioned phone calls from just about anywhere. And best of all, this is a free service, available throughout the United States."

Hamilton Mobile CapTel is a service that can be used on a single, mobile telephone that is capable of supporting both voice and data simultaneously through a 3G or Wi-Fi connection. While initially only available for the iPhone 3G/3GS, due to resounding demand, Hamilton Mobile CapTel has plans to provide this service on a variety of devices.

Download the free Hamilton Mobile CapTel iPhone App at the iTunes(r) App StoreSM. Search "Hamilton Mobile CapTel" or download directly at: http://iphone.appmobilize.com/track/185118

iPhone users who are new to CapTel can visit www.HamiltonCapTel.com for more details or may begin the one-time registration process at www.HamiltonWebCapTel.com.

About Hamilton CapTel

Hamilton CapTel is a service of Hamilton Relay, a division of Hamilton Telecommunications, a diversified communications and technology services provider based in Aurora, Neb. Founded in 1901, Hamilton Telecommunications has grown to encompass eight primary company divisions allowing Hamilton to operate on a local, regional and national basis. For more information about Hamilton CapTel, please visit www.hamiltoncaptel.com.

CapTel is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc. iPhone and iTunes are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.

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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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Saving the music industry from itself

I'd say I'm an audiologist who specializes in serving a misunderstood, underserved market where hearing is mission critical. My primary work is to prevent hearing loss in musicians. It's an interesting job, as I have worked with over 1000 famous musicians, and many more not-so-famous ones. It all started back in the 1980s when a local band here in Chicago came to me for help because the lead singer was having hearing problems and was going to quit. I was able to help her, and she kept performing. So basically, I saw a need, an empty space where there should be some sort of prevention program in place, and nobody was doing anything about it. I thought it was time somebody did.

http://tinyurl.com/27axu5e

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Novel bioplastic to boost performance of bionic devices

A young researcher has developed conductive bioplastics that will boost the performance of bionic devices such as the cochlear ear and the proposed bionic eye. "Our plastics will lead to smaller devices that use safer smaller currents and that encourage nerve interaction," says biomedical engineer Rylie Green of University of New South Wales (UNSW). Her plastics are already being tested in prototype bionic eyes and she hopes they will find application wherever researchers are attempting to integrate electronics with the human body.

http://tinyurl.com/358hph9

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Rockville parents opt for Cued Speech

In 2005, Rockville residents Steve Scher and Grace Consacro learned their twin daughters, Lola and Ella, were born with hearing losses. The parents, who have hearing loss, said they wanted their daughters to grow up learning and communicating with the spoken word, as they had. At 18 months, Lola and Ella underwent surgery for cochlear implants. Many of the couple's deaf acquaintances and friends criticized them for the decision. "Some deaf people think you should wait and let the children decide," Consacro said. "But we thought it was important to do it. We saw it as the best choice possible for the children." The couple's son, Max, born two years later, received cochlear implants at 14 months. After several years of raising their children to learn a type of communication among the deaf and hard of hearing known as Cued Speech, the couple was recently honored with the national Cueing Family Award at a ceremony at Flower Valley Elementary School in Rockville, where Consacro teaches.

http://tinyurl.com/242vxcp

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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.

* 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
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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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- Contact Information and Disclaimers
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