Volume 51 Issue 5

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One Online Store and Two Employment Opportunities

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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: Middle Ear Microphone Could Improve Cochlear Implants
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Cochlear implants have restored basic hearing to some 220,000 deaf people, yet a microphone and related electronics must be worn outside the head, raising reliability issues, preventing patients from swimming and creating social stigma.

Now, a University of Utah engineer and colleagues in Ohio have developed a tiny prototype microphone that can be implanted in the middle ear to avoid such problems.

The proof-of-concept device has been successfully tested in the ear canals of four cadavers, the researchers report in a study just published online in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers journalTransactions on Biomedical Engineering.

The prototype -- about the size of an eraser on a pencil -- must be reduced in size and improved in its ability to detect quieter, low-pitched sounds, so tests in people are about three years away, says the study's senior author, Darrin J. Young, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Utah and USTAR, the Utah Science Technology and Research initiative.

The study showed incoming sound is transmitted most efficiently to the microphone if surgeons first remove the incus or anvil -- one of three, small, middle-ear bones. U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval would be needed for an implant requiring such surgery.

The current prototype of the packaged, middle-ear microphone measures 2.5-by-6.2 millimeters (roughly one-tenth by one-quarter inch) and weighs 25 milligrams, or less than a thousandth of an ounce. Young wants to reduce the package to 2-by-2 millimeters.

Young, who moved to Utah in 2009, conducted the study with Mark Zurcher and Wen Ko, who are his former electrical engineering colleagues at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and with ear-nose-throat physicians Maroun Semaan and Cliff Megerian of University Hospitals Case Medical Center.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH-DC-006850).

Problems with External Parts on Cochlear Implants

The National Institutes of Health says almost 220,000 people worldwide with profound deafness or severe hearing impairment have received cochlear implants, about one-third of them in the United States, where two-fifths of the recipients are children.

In conventional cochlear implant, there are three main parts that are worn externally on the head behind the ear: a microphone to pick up sound, a speech processor and a radio transmitter coil. Implanted under the skin behind the ear are a receiver and stimulator to convert the sound signals into electric impulses, which then go through a cable to between four and 16 electrodes that wind through the cochlea of the inner ear and stimulate auditory nerves so the patient can hear.

"It's a disadvantage having all these things attached to the outside" of the head, Young says. "Imagine a child wearing a microphone behind the ear. It causes problems for a lot of activities. Swimming is the main issue. And it's not convenient to wear these things if they have to wear a helmet."

Young adds that "for adults, it's social perception. Wearing this thing indicates you are somewhat handicapped and that actually prevents quite a percentage of candidates from getting the implant. They worry about the negative image."

As for reliability, "if you have wires connected from the microphone to the coil, those wires can break," he says.

How Sound Moves in Normal Ears, Cochlear Implants and the New Device

Sound normally moves into the ear canal and makes the eardrum vibrate. At what is known as the umbo, the eardrum connects to a chain of three tiny bones: the malleus, incus and stapes, also known as the hammer, anvil and stirrup. The bones vibrate. The stapes or stirrup touches the cochlea, the inner ear's fluid-filled chamber. Hair cells (not really hair) on the cochlea's inner membrane move, triggering the release of a neurotransmitter chemical that carries the sound signals to the brain.

In profoundly deaf people who are candidates for cochlear implants, the hair cells don't work for a variety of reasons, including birth defects, side effects of drugs, exposure to excessively loud sounds or infection by certain viruses.

In a cochlear implant, the microphone, signal processor and transmitter coil worn outside the head send signals to the internal receiver-stimulator, which is implanted in bone under the skin and sends the signals to the electrodes implanted in the cochlea to stimulate auditory nerves. The ear canal, eardrum and hearing bones are bypassed.

The system developed by Young implants all the external components. Sound moves through the ear canal to the eardrum, which vibrates as it does normally. But at the umbo, a sensor known as an accelerometer is attached to detect the vibration. The sensor also is attached to a chip, and together they serve as a microphone that picks up the sound vibrations and converts them into electrical signals sent to the electrodes in the cochlea.

The device still would require patients to wear a charger behind the ear while sleeping at night to recharge an implanted battery. Young says he expects the battery would last one to several days between charging.

Young says the microphone also might be part of an implanted hearing aid that could replace conventional hearing aids for a certain class of patients who have degraded hearing bones unable to adequately convey sounds from conventional hearing aids.

Testing the Microphone in Cadavers

Conventional microphones include a membrane or diaphragm that moves and generates an electrical signal change in response to sound. But they require a hole through which sound must enter -- a hole that would get clogged by growing tissue if implanted. So Young's middle-ear microphone instead uses an accelerometer -- a 2.5-microgram mass attached to a spring -- that would be placed in a sealed package with a low-power silicon chip to convert sound vibrations to outgoing electrical signals.

The package is glued to the umbo so the accelerometer vibrates in response to eardrum vibrations. The moving mass generates an electrical signal that is amplified by the chip, which then connects to the conventional parts of a cochlear implant: a speech processor and stimulator wired to the electrodes in the cochlea.

"Everything is the same as a conventional cochlear implant, except we use an implantable microphone that uses the vibration of the bone," Young says.

To test the new microphone, the researchers used the temporal bones -- bones at the side of the skull -- and related ear canal, eardrum and hearing bones from four cadaver donors.

The researchers inserted tubing with a small loudspeaker into the ear canal and generated tones of various frequencies and loudness. As the sounds were picked up by the implanted microphone, the researchers used a laser device to measure the vibrations of the tiny ear bones. They found the umbo -- where the eardrum connects to the hammer or malleus -- produced the greatest sound vibration, particularly if the incus or anvil bone first was removed surgically.

The experiments showed that when the prototype microphone unit was attached to the umbo, it could pick up medium pitches at conversational volumes, but had trouble detecting quieter, low-frequency sounds. Young plans to improve the microphone to pick up quieter, deeper, very low pitches.

In the tests, the output of the microphone went to speakers; in a real person, it would send sound to the implanted speech processor. To demonstrate the microphone, Young also used it to record the start of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony while implanted in a cadaver ear. It is easily recognizable, even if somewhat fuzzy and muffled.

"The muffling can be filtered out," says Young.

To hear a recording of the start of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony through the new microphone implanted in a cadaver's middle-ear, go to: http://unews.utah.edu/news_releases/a-middle-ear-microphone/

Source: University of Utah

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- Article 2: Listen Technologies Partners with Ampetronic to Deliver Induction Loop Solution
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Listen Technologies has partnered with Ampetronic to expand its portfolio of assistive listening technologies to offer comprehensive assistive listening solutions to customers in the Americas.

Listen Technologies is pleased to announce its partnership with Ampetronic, the world leading provider of audio induction loop systems for assisting individuals with hearing loss. The addition of induction loop technology will round out Listen Technologies' RF and Infrared Wireless Listening offerings.

Hearing Loop solutions are widespread throughout the world but only recently has the technology started to be installed in a wide range of venues in North America. This is primarily as a result of grass roots efforts of the hard-of-hearing community who are demanding the benefits that this technology can bring to them. A loop solution transmits an audio signal directly into a Telecoil hearing aid reducing the need for an external receiver. The hearing aid becomes the receiver and the experience is enhanced as the users receive sound tailored to their hearing loss, can feel less discriminated against, and have no need to request or wear additional receivers.

Hearing loops can be installed in a variety of environments, from larger venues such as theatres, conference facilities, houses of worship to smaller one-on-one communication settings such as ticket counters and meeting rooms. Loop solutions can also benefit those that need hearing assistance in taxi cabs, trains, and buses.

Commenting on the partnership, Julian Pieters, Ampetronic Managing Director said, "We are thrilled to partner with Listen Technologies, a company that shares our strong commitment to improving the lives of hard of hearing people. Listen understands the need to deliver a complete assistive listening solution in the Americas, and are excited about the unique role that loop technology plays in improving hearing access. Our partnership will make professional quality loop solutions available across the breadth of the USA for the first time."

"The data that is available on the hearing loss population is staggering," said Russell Gentner, Listen Technologies President. "One out of eight US citizens (12 years and older) have bilateral hearing loss - that is 52 million Americans. This growing hearing loss community wants to engage in a full rich experience in a public setting and not be concerned with whether or not the solution they need is available. The beauty of this partnership is that Listen can be impartial when it comes to the technology for assistive listening and focus on delivering the best solution to meet our customer's needs."

About Listen Technologies Corporation

Listen Technologies Corporation manufactures and distributes wireless audio products world-wide for use in auditory assistance, soundfield, tour group, language interpretation and conferencing applications. Listen products provide superb audio performance, flexibility and ease of use, making them the ideal choice for schools, houses of worship, factories, entertainment facilities, government agencies and other entities. For more information on Listen solutions, contact Listen Technologies at +1.801.233.8992, or visit www.listentech.com.

About Ampetronic

Ampetronic is the world leading provider of Audio Induction Loop Systems for assisting the hard of hearing. Ampetronic provides a complete product and service package to meet the requirements of any assistive listening application, no matter what the environment. Customers benefit from Ampetronic's 25 years of experience as innovator and market leader, both through its outstanding and versatile product range, and directly through their comprehensive support services. For more information on Ampetronic visit www.ampetronic.com

Source: Listen Technologies

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- Article 3: Neuromonics Clinical Summary Details Results of Effective Tinnitus Treatment
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For sufferers of tinnitus, the condition described as ringing in the ears when no external sounds are present, treatment and relief have been elusive and inconsistent. Now, Neuromonics, Inc., has issued a comprehensive clinical summary of results to help tinnitus sufferers and providers understand that they can obtain effective treatment.

Neuromonics manufactures and distributes the only FDA-cleared, patented and clinically proven medical device designed for long-term significant relief of tinnitus. Clinically administered and monitored, the Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment uses the non-invasive device, customized to each patient's individual audiological profile, to deliver a neural stimulus that targets the brain's auditory pathways.

The clinical summary, in Word format, is available at Neuromonics' website, or by requesting a copy by e-mailing rita.walbert(at)neuromonics(dot)com. The summary includes detailed results of Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment's clinical efficacy as presented in papers appearing in peer-reviewed medical journals. In addition, the summary outlines nine additional studies that researchers have presented at medical meetings throughout the United States and Europe. Each provides additional evidence of clinical efficacy.

"The body of clinical data that Neuromonics has compiled is unmatched by any other tinnitus treatment provider," says Duane Knight, chief operating and financial officer with Neuromonics. "The results not only speak to the long-term efficacy of the treatment in a variety of patient groups, but also demonstrate that the Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment repeatedly achieves clinically significant reductions in tinnitus disturbance and awareness for tinnitus patients."

The summary provides detail on three clinical trials involving 555 patients who demonstrated a consistent clinical benefit that persisted to 12 months in suitable patients, according to Knight. The peer-reviewed journals and papers in the summary include:

* Ear Nose & Throat Journal, 2008; 87:330-9. "Treatment of tinnitus with a customized acoustic neural stimulus: A controlled clinical study"

* Ear and Hearing, 2007; 28:242-59. "The Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment: third clinical trial"

* Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology, 2008; 117:791-9. "Treatment of tinnitus with a customized, dynamic acoustic neural stimulus: clinical outcomes in general private practice"

* Trends in Amplification, 2008; 12:210-22. "Treatment of tinnitus with a customized, dynamic acoustic neural stimulus: underlying principles and clinical efficacy"

Neuromonics, Inc. (http://www.neuromonics.com)

Based in Bethlehem, Pa., Neuromonics, Inc., manufactures and distributes the FDA-cleared, patented and clinically proven medical device designed for long-term significant relief of tinnitus. With research and development beginning in the early 1990s, the Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment has helped thousands of tinnitus sufferers improve their quality of life and overcome the daily life challenges associated with tinnitus. The treatment has been featured on national news media including "The Doctors" and CNN.

Source: Neuromonics, Inc

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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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Deep Canal Fittings: Advantages, Challenges, and a New Approach

As professionals in the hearing care industry, we all aim to achieve a fine balance between a wearer's need for better speech intelligibility, preferred sound quality, and personal lifestyle preferences-cosmetics, robustness, comfort, etc. It is in this effort that we progress and evolve as an industry. Discreetness has always been a driving force behind hearing aid design and manufacturing. For decades, completely-in-the-canal (CIC) and more recently IIC (invisible-in-the-canal) hearing aids have solicited considerable sums in R&D and sales, along with significant consumer desire and attention. Well-known obstacles to hearing aid adoption and common perceptions of hearing aid wearers may all factor into the drive for smaller, more discreet instruments. There is a large variety of custom hearing aid options on the market today-all with varying forms and functions. Yet, it is consumer desire for invisibility and comfort that encourages manufacturers to develop smaller, deeper-placed hearing instruments. Fitting hearing aids deeply into the external ear canal produces pleasing acoustic and aesthetic benefits. Deep-fitting hearing aids available today range from disposable, extended-wear, analog solutions to conventional digital hearing aids with a standard zinc air battery.

http://www.hearingreview.com/issues/articles/2012-04_02.asp

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New hearing-aid technology

Digital advances have made today's hearing aids smaller, smarter and easier to use. And microchips, laser beams and even insects may help create a more crystal-clear experience in the future. Research at Arizona State University, Cornell University and other institutions is assisting in the push to improve hearing and reduce the cost just as millions of baby boomers and Gen Xers are expected to boost demand for the devices. The technology already has evolved dramatically from the ear trumpets of the 1860s. Engineers and medical professionals made significant, recent improvements in the quality of hearing aids and said they expect to see additional breakthroughs within the next year. One recent advance is the ability to identify and amplify desired sounds such as a human voice while muting background noise, said Jerry Ruzicka, president of Starkey Laboratories Inc., which makes hearing aids.

http://tinyurl.com/6o77ejd

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Airport Terminal has Visual Displays AND Loops!

In addition to significant visual enhancements, AZO's new terminal also features auditory improvements. Designers included two new systems to help ensure that visitors with hearing loss don't miss boarding announcements and other crucial information. The new terminal's Ascom paging system is integrated with WinFIDS, an electronic display system from Infax that drives flight information, ticket counter, gate and baggage claim displays. Announcements heard through the paging system are visually displayed on the monitors using an XML-based interface provided by Infax. Visitors who prefer to listen for announcements but have difficulty hearing them can use the airport's new hearing loop system. The system magnetically transmits sound to hearing aids and cochlear implants with telecoils. To use one of AZO's "hearing loops," travelers switch their personal devices to the T (telecoil) position for clearer, amplified versions of public address announcements. Signs with the universal symbol for hearing loops identify their locations throughout the terminal, including individual devices at ticket counters and in-floor systems in the meet-and-greet hall and boarding areas.

http://www.airportimprovement.com/content/story_result.php?article=00341

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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.)

WCI. Your Single Source for Assistive Technology
Celebrate Mother's Day All Month Long
http://www.weitbrecht.com/onsale?php?utm_source=hlw

Employment Opportunity 1
Exciting Career Opportunities at GLAD
Various Southern California Locations

Employment Opportunity 2
Rehabilitation Employment Specialist
Decatur, GA

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WCI. Your Single Source for Assistive Technology
Celebrate Mother's Day All Month Long
http://www.weitbrecht.com/onsale?php?utm_source=hlw
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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.

* · Staff Interpreter - Bakersfield, CA (BGLAD)
* · Staff Interpreter - Los Angeles, CA
* · Staff Interpreter - Riverside, CA (CODIE)

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
Rehabilitation Employment Specialist
Decatur, GA
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Application Deadline: 05/14/2012
Job Code: 14659
Pay Grade: 13
Position Number: 00084679
Entry Salary: $2,449.96 per month
Location of Vacancy: Vocational Rehabilitation - Decatur

Duties & Responsibilities: This position requires the expertise of an individual who can build and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with businesses on behalf of persons with disabilities resulting in job placement and/or job retention in assigned territory. Provides or arranges for a variety of services to employers. ... ...Works as part of a team of Rehabilitation professionals to create work opportunities for people with disabilities in the area of BLINDNESS AND / OR DEAFNESS.

Entry Qualifications: Masters degree in education, counseling, rehabilitation counseling or a closely related field OR Bachelors degree in rehabilitation counseling, social work or a closely related behavioral or social science AND One year of professional experience in social work, counseling or equivalent areas OR One year at a lower level position as a Rehabilitation Casework Associate.

Preferred Qualifications: Masters degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, Counselor Education, School Guidance Counseling, Community Counseling, Counseling Psychology or a closely related field which includes psychology, sociology, special education, human development or marketing OR Bachelors degree in Counselor Education, School Guidance Counseling, Community Counseling, Counseling Psychology or a closely related field which includes psychology, sociology, special education, human development or marketing AND two(2) years of professional experience in Job Development and Job Placement or establishing and developing collaborative relationships within the social service and/or business community. AND ONE (1) YEAR PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD OF BLIND AND / OR DEAFNESS.

Vacancy Open To:
* DOL employees eligible for promotion, transfer or demotion.
* Current state employees who are eligible for promotion, transfer or demotion.
* Applicants from the general public.

Additional Information: **NOTE: Due to the large volume of applications received in this office, we are unable to provide information on your application status over the telephone. No notifications will be sent to applicants except those who are selected for interviews. In this position you may be required to travel with use of own vehicle.

Position is currently Unclassified.

Application Instructions:
* Please submit a completed State of Georgia application, INCLUDING A COPY OF YOUR COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS for employment to: Kathy Norcross, Fax 404-486-0217 or by mail to Georgia Department of Labor, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Attn: Kathy Norcross, 1700 Century Circle, Suite 300, Atlanta, Ga 30345-3020. All applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date to be considered.
* Please put Position Number 00084679 in the upper right corner of the application.
* Application must include Job Title, Job Code, and Position Number to be considered
* Application must be received in Human Resources by the application deadline.
* All qualified applicants will be considered, but may not necessarily receive an interview.
* Applicants selected for hire will be subject to a criminal history record check and, if applicable, must take and pass a pre-employment drug test.
* The Georgia Department of Labor participates in "E-Verify." For more information on E-Verify, contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at: 1-888-464-4218.

Additional information: http://tinyurl.com/7hn8j6m

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