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March 31, 2006
Choir leader's lessons clear as a bell
More than two decades ago, Marilyn Chandler developed a love for handbell ringing. She has since directed several choirs, taught a workshop at a handbell festival and was asked to perform in a concert with some of the best bell-ringers in the United States. Now she directs the Handbell Ringers of Sun City, the longest continuous active handbell choir in Arizona.
Posted @ 8:40 AM
Delta Zeta to hold fair for hearing fund
Dana Self, a 20 year-old hearing-impaired Colbert resident, is looking forward to Delta Zeta’s first annual Turtle Fund Fair on Saturday. The sorority is sponsoring the fair to raise money for the Turtle Grant, which provides financial aid to the hearing impaired in Athens.
Posted @ 8:24 AM
Good news for U.P. residents with hearing loss
New technology is changing the way U.P. Audiologists treat hearing loss. The 'Vivatone Totally Open Canal' device delivers sound electronically through a wire while the speaker floats in the ear canal. This eliminates the plugged up feeling that normal hearing aids can cause.
Posted @ 8:23 AM
Teachers develop new way to teach reading
Take a minute to remember when and how you learned to read. Chances are, that technique has changes. In Caruthersville, teachers use a new way of teaching phonics. It involves a road trip to Chicago, some chanting, and*even some sign language.
Posted @ 8:05 AM
Lecture addresses deaf needs
Representatives from Birnbaum Interpreting Services spoke Wednesday in the Psychology Building about the advances in technology that affect the deaf and hearing impaired. The lecture focused on video relay services in which a deaf or hearing-impaired person can communicate with others through a TV monitor or Web cam.
Posted @ 8:00 AM
March 30, 2006
Apple releases software to set maximum volume limit
In a world where hearing problems are real, concerns are mounting and lawyers are looking to make gadget providers liable, the maker of the predominant iPod music player has created new volume controls. Apple issued a software update Wednesday for its recent iPod models. The Nano and the video capable iPod it will allow users to set how loud their digital music players can go.
Posted @ 8:32 AM
Local woman, once deaf, plans to take message of hope to Russia
“Press your hands over your ears,” Donna Burney instructs, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. Jana Chinn, a friend from church, complies. “Now,” Burney says, placing a small plastic box against Chinn’s forehead, “can you hear me?” Chinn gives an affirmative nod.
Posted @ 8:28 AM
Device will help boy communicate
Thirteen-year-old Tyler Johnston has difficulty communicating his wants and needs because of non-verbal autism. "We've never had a conversation with him in 13 years," says his mother, Melanie Johnston of Columbia Avenue.
Posted @ 8:03 AM
Manufacturer and distributor of digital hearing aids offers innovative service
America Hears, the premier manufacturer and provider of digital hearing aids over the Internet, offers its customers the ability to adjust their hearing aids online with an easy-to-use package of specialized software and hardware, known as the Virtual Office.
Posted @ 7:57 AM
New technology helps students at RU
It's the high tech approach to helping students who are hearing impaired. Radford University student Taylor Walls, is the first on campus to use a special telecommunications system. It lets her know what the professor is saying without having a live interpreter.
Posted @ 7:56 AM
Sign language communication is key
For some it's an intimidating set of hand movements, but for hundreds sign language is their sole means of communication. Tonight News Five's Jacqueline Woods takes a look at what one institution is doing to try and bridge a silent divide.
Posted @ 7:55 AM
Mother forms own hearing aid
When Joanna Fricot’s daughter was diagnosed with a severe hearing impairment, all she wanted to do was talk to the mother of another deaf child. Ms Fricot said she did not want to hear from another specialist or a doctor, but instead wanted to speak to a parent who had gone through a similar experience.
Posted @ 7:54 AM | Comments (1)
March 29, 2006
Scientists discover why Chinese frog has ear canal
A rare frog that lives in rushing streams and waterfalls in east-central China is able to make itself heard above the roar of flowing water by communicating ultrasonically, scientists reported March 16 in the journal Nature. Attributes that enable the frog to hear ultrasounds are made possible by the presence of an ear canal, which most other frogs don't have. "Our research points out an elegant and novel solution to the problem of communication in high levels of background noise," said Peter Narins, UCLA professor of physiological science and ecology and evolutionary biology, and co-author of the study.
Posted @ 6:22 AM
Retiring Gallaudet president honored
I. King Jordan, a University of Tennessee graduate who received international attention as the first deaf president of Gallaudet University, won a tribute Tuesday from the full U.S. House of Representatives for a career that has featured various highlights. The House unanimously approved a resolution noting his accomplishments in response to his plans to retire in December after 18 years as president of the District of Columbia college for the deaf and hearing impaired.
Posted @ 6:20 AM
Gallaudet University job announcement
Coordinator, Electronic Communications, Public Relations, salary range: $44,900 to $80,800. Oversees all on-line communications produced by the Office of Public Relations, including the University website, the websites of the Institutional Advancement units, the Daily Digest, the Alumni E-newsletter, the Family E-newsletter, Inside Gallaudet news site, and the Public Relations e-mail account, manages the University Web Team and reports to the Public Relations Director.
Posted @ 6:09 AM
Beware of those high decibels
Next time you increase the volume of your television or radio or speak louder because of the noise around you, remember that the noise will take its toll not just on your hearing but also on your voice.
Posted @ 6:05 AM
March 28, 2006
Earphones can cause hearing loss
Millions of us love our digital music players, but could they be causing permanent harm to your hearing? Many of us wonder what we would do without our digital music players. Now, one group is warning, you may want to wonder what you'll do without your hearing if you misuse them.
Posted @ 7:29 AM
Breaking down a wall
Sasha Gehringer is a lot like other third graders at Gladwin Intermediate School. She likes to watch television and play her PlayStation, she likes Swiss cake rolls and teachers say she is very friendly. However, Sasha is deaf, the only student in her school who is hearing impaired, which creates a wall between her and her classmates.
Posted @ 7:27 AM
Court orders hospital to improve services for hearing-impaired
A hospital has agreed to improve interpreter services for deaf and hard-of-hearing patients. David Muise of Hinsdale, who is deaf, sued Cheshire Medical Center in 2004 after he was not provided with interpreter services on four separate visits.
Posted @ 7:26 AM
Ear noises can be treated
Dear Dr. Donohue: I am 55 and have been diagnosed with tinnitus. The doctor said I would have to live with it. The ringing is always there and has gotten louder. Since my insurance does not cover nonmedical hearing problems, I am hesitant to go to a specialty medical center for exotic tests. Do you have any suggestions for tinnitus? -- J.E.
Posted @ 7:19 AM
Before kids can talk, they can sign
Many parents know about using Dora the Explorer or Baby Einstein to help their children's development, but teaching them sign language is another avenue some area parents are exploring.
Posted @ 7:15 AM
Deaf demand special news
The Uganda National Association for the Deaf (UNAD) has protested the failure by the Uganda Broadcasting corporation-TV to provide for a sign language interpreter during its news bulletins.
Posted @ 7:10 AM
Butterfly fundraising appeal music to their ears
Butterflies released at the fundraising launch for a hearing-impaired children’s therapy centre were silent as they fluttered their way skyward yesterday, but the children who released them squealed and chatted away with delight.
Posted @ 7:05 AM
A gift of hearing for newborns
Hearing problems in newborns can now be detected in health centres across the country, thanks to the generosity of a local Rotary club. Eight devices that can detect hearing problems in newborns, each costing around BD10,000, were purchased by the Rotary Club of Adliya from funds raised at the club's Bahrain Golf Invitational (BGI) held in January.
Posted @ 7:00 AM
March 27, 2006
Democrats, Republicans battle on the basketball court at Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University will host the 12th Biennial Congressional Basketball Classic at 7 p.m., March 28 in the university’s Field House. Since its inception in 1987, the game pits Democrats against Republicans to see which party dominates the hardwood. NBA Legends Bob Lanier and Mike Glenn will again serve as honorary coaches.
Posted @ 8:11 AM
Master lip-reader overcomes obstacles
On the surface, there's nothing remarkable about Joan Davies, who hosts Polk Place, an informative, Polk County government-access television show, chatting smoothly with a variety of guests. But if you turn your head away from her while talking to her, she can't understand a thing.
Posted @ 7:16 AM
Now hear this
Frustrated by her husband’s lack of responsiveness and his unwillingness to admit that he had a hearing problem, Diane Moskowitz opted for a creative solution. "One night, she asked me how I was going to know when she wanted to have sex if I didn't have a hearing aid," recalls Rick Seifert, a former Daily News reporter.
Posted @ 7:04 AM
Hearing-aid technology advancing at alarming rate
Devices for the hearing impaired are part of the growing electronics market. Audiologists and physicians who work to fight hearing loss see advances in technology aiding their efforts in the same striking way they are driving the success of hand-held electronic communication tools, iPods or portable game machines.
Posted @ 7:00 AM
Signing opens worlds without sound
Sounds of chatter drift into Rebecca Cleary’s quiet classroom, where the silence is broken only by occasional laughter. Cleary’s students at Douglas Byrd High School can talk — they just don’t. They sign. Cleary teaches the only sign language class offered to hearing students in the Cumberland County schools.
Posted @ 6:55 AM
Seashell Books to raise money for South African Cochlear Implant Fund
Seashell Books aims to raise much-needed money for the Cochlear Implant Fund in South Africa with the publication of inspirational books in conjunction with Lulu, the world’s fastest-growing provider of print-on-demand books.
Posted @ 6:54 AM
Tuned to sounds of silence
It's possibly a world first. Lawrence English, a Brisbane-based sound artist, has just put a sound installation for the hearing-impaired in the Queen Street Mall. Silence Listening is based on a series of ideas the musician has been researching for the past year, which also gave rise to his artwork that was on show in the Window display space at Queensland Performing Arts Centre that "visualised soundwaves".
Posted @ 6:52 AM
Hearing loss
Sadly, the sense of loss from not being able to clearly hear those close to them becomes a painful experience for many people. It is an interesting and relatively unknown fact that more than 10 per cent of the UK's adult population suffer from hearing loss that needs attention, but only one in seven does anything about it.
Posted @ 6:50 AM
March 26, 2006
Speaking up
Larry Brown of Ross is convinced a nasty mathematical formula comes into play when a person notices another wearing a hearing aid. "You are automatically 15 years older and 50 points dumber in your IQ," he says.
Posted @ 6:56 AM
Staring abuse straight in the face
On a warm day in June 1997, two middle-aged deaf men drove to the lake cottage of a Catholic priest who molested them decades before, when they were in grade school. Flooded with memories and anger, they drove around for more than an hour looking for the place Father Lawrence Murphy had been allowed to retire more than 20 years earlier.
Posted @ 6:53 AM
National Deaf Poker Tour lets deaf poker players go all-in with major tournament action
Poker may be the biggest thing on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond, but for many hearing-impaired, getting into the action has proved to be an insurmountable challenge, until now. Six deaf poker fans have taken it upon themselves to try to change this by launching the National Deaf Poker Tour, a specially-tailored poker tournament series catering to the needs of deaf players.
Posted @ 6:51 AM
KSD graduate vying for Miss Deaf America title
Miss Deaf America may not have its contestants walking across the stage in swim suits, but it compares to the other Miss America pageant in just about every other way. Mickie Brunton, who was named Miss Deaf Kentucky in 2005 and serves for two years, is a 2004 Kentucky School for the Deaf graduate from Louisville.
Posted @ 6:49 AM
First sign language programme for hearing babies launched in S'pore
Parents who find it hard to understand their babies can now learn to communicate with them through sign language. A programme has been launched in Singapore and it teaches infants as young as six months to use sign language to tell their parents what they want.
Posted @ 6:42 AM
March 25, 2006
Woman hosts Polk County TV show despite deafness
On the surface, there's nothing remarkable about Joan Davies, who hosts "Polk Place," an informative, Polk County government-access television show, chatting smoothly with a variety of guests. But if you turn your head away from her while talking to her, she can't understand a thing.
Posted @ 7:10 AM
Hearing-impaired kids get help
A 14-member mission from San Diego-based charity foundation has donated over 860 hearing aids for hearing-impaired children in Viet Nam during the mission’s visit in HCM City this week.
Posted @ 7:07 AM
Deaf group looks to expand community reach
Saturday people who say they're part of a very isolated community in Treasure Valley gathered in hopes of extending their reach. People at the third annual Deaf and Hard of Hearing Club Festival say only communicating with each other is not enough-- and they need to overcome some major barriers to expand that world for the next generation.
Posted @ 6:47 AM
Shared secrets reveal much suffering in silence
Thirteen-year-old Arthur Budzinski hid under his bed crying. Born to hearing parents who did not speak sign language, he could not tell them of the terror he faced back at St. John's School for the Deaf in St. Francis. It was 1962. When the truth was told decades later, they all would weep.
Posted @ 6:46 AM
Stores using sign language to converse with drivers
I love to read everything from newspapers to novels to the signs outside area businesses. The kind of signs I’m talking about are the ones where the words are formed with moveable letters that can be changed as often as the employees feel inspired. And, when they get inspired … watch out.
Posted @ 6:38 AM
March 24, 2006
Hearing loss gives NJ native his voice
Michael Chorost climbs the flight of stairs to a room filled with metal file cabinets. He’s never been to this place before, but he is greeted like a long-lost relative. A smiling woman hands him what he has come to see: file number 27392. The 40-year-old science writer opens the file and sees a photograph himself as a young child.
Posted @ 9:28 AM
Phil Collins rocks on against all odds
According to media reports, 55-year-old singer Phil Collins is gradually losing his hearing and becoming increasingly lonely in his beautiful Swiss home near Geneva. The problems are said to have begun in 2000 when Collins first became aware of a loss of hearing in his right ear and took this as a sign that he needed to change his attitude to life.
Posted @ 9:04 AM
Movies catering to deaf audiences
Linda and Mike Cheek and three of their kids enjoyed a movie at Campbell 16 Cinema recently, watching "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" as a family. A normal occurrence for many Springfield families, trips to the movie theater have been rare for the Cheeks. Linda and Mike have three deaf sons. For their family, going to the movies isn't much fun because Alan, Michael and Sean can't hear the film.
Posted @ 8:55 AM
Learning together
Gillianne McCarthy and Sarah Harrington, both 4, kneel in front of the dollhouse during free play as they decide together which figure should take a nap in the doll-sized bed. "Let's put her in," says Gillianne to Sarah as she hands her a small figure. "No, we can't do that. She's a teacher."
Posted @ 8:50 AM
Parrot saves deaf man from fire
A parrot was Friday credited with saving the life of his British owner from fire by mimicking the sound of the smoke alarm and running up and down his legs, according to reports. Peter Taylor, from Mirfield in the northern county of Yorkshire, had taken out his hearing aids and was asleep when the fire broke out.
Posted @ 8:45 AM
Helen Keller: American hero or filthy communist?
The life and times of Helen Keller have served as a source of inspiration for many throughout the world. But would people be so quick to level praise on a supposed role model if they knew the truth about her dark, dark legacy, one filled with hobogoblins, wizards, and Czars? Let us examine the facts closely in the hope that one day, the real Helen Keller will be exposed to the world:
Posted @ 6:36 AM | Comments (1)
March 23, 2006
Hippocrates and ringing ears
I was lying in bed battling the flu bug and listening to a doctor on the radio talking about how far the science of medicine had advanced in such a short time. Medical science, according to the radio doctor, had come further in the last 50 years than it had in all the centuries going back to the Father of Medicine, Hippocrates himself. As the doctor continued his paean to the miracles of modern medicine, I lay there sniffing, coughing and thinking that in some areas medical science hadn't come all that far. I wonder what Hippocrates would think of our miracle medicine if he were to pay us a visit from the great beyond.
Posted @ 9:36 AM
Touch The Sound, the movie
Imagine living in a world consumed with sound and having limited use of your sense of hearing. For Evelyn Glennie, this is the world in which she lives, and it is this world you are introduced to in Touch the Sound. As one of the world’s most respected percussionists, Glennie has learned to adapt her hearing loss out of necessity, and the result is intriguing.
Posted @ 9:23 AM | Comments (1)
Sennheiser on headsets & hearing damage: What you should know
As developments in headset design continue to advance, wearing a headset, especially for extended periods of time, has become more comfortable. But what many users fail to understand is that wearing a headset "comfortably" means more than not feeling like its being worn. In fact, without the right protection, wearing a headset can expose users to a number of hearing related difficulties.
Posted @ 9:14 AM
Twelve million seek medical help for tinnitus
Tinnitus is a term derived from the Latin word "tinnire" meaning "to jingle." The word is often pronounced two different ways, TINnitus and tinNITEus. According to dictionaries, neither pronunciation is preferred, but the order of listing reflects the frequency of use. Regionally, one pronunciation may vary over the other.
Posted @ 5:14 AM
Cochlear implant opens up Queens boy's world
Jeremy Michaels is a straight-A student at Queens Lutheran School. Last quarter, he made Principal's List and is preparing for high school. He hopes to attend either Stuyvesant or Bronx Science, two of the city's most prestigious and academically demanding secondary schools, and wants to become a scientist.
Posted @ 4:57 AM
Speaking up for the deaf
A few of you have written in to enquire about sign language (SL) recently. You were fascinated with this powerful means that the deaf use to communicate with each other. Last week, I spoke to Lucy Lim, assistant manager of Majudiri Y Foundation for the Deaf in Kuala Lumpur, and asked her to tell me more about the special language used by the hearing impaired.
Posted @ 4:55 AM
Gallaudet lectures and exhibition feature works of famed 19th century deaf photographers
The photographic artistry of Frances and Mary Allen takes center stage April 5-6 as part of the I. King Jordan Lecture Series. For the first program, Suzanne Flynt, author of “The Allen Sisters: Pictorial Photographers 1885-1920” and curator of the traveling exhibition of that name now on view at Gallaudet University, will present the story of their extraordinary lives through their exquisite photographs.
Posted @ 4:52 AM
RNID Conference tackles healthcare barriers
Breaking down the barriers faced by Scots with hearing problems will be discussed at a major conference being held in Edinburgh today. Delgates at the RNID Scotland seminar will look at making it easier for hearing impaired people to access healthcare and a range of other issues.
Posted @ 4:50 AM
New weapon for fighting ear infections
Ear infections are a familiar –and unpleasant—reality for many children, and not just in the winter. Ear infection season stretches into April in most parts of country. Whether your child is simply tugging at her ear or screaming with ear pain, it’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms of an ear infection and take the appropriate steps, working with your physician, to confirm an ear infection.
Posted @ 4:00 AM
March 22, 2006
Portable music players linked to hearing loss
Electronic devices are changing the way people listen to music. But studies show the devices may be causing hearing loss in many people. Some experts say people may be playing them too loud and for too long. Researchers from Zogby International did a study for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Posted @ 5:07 AM
Roger Daltrey says he is deaf
The Who's Roger Daltrey's ears have become another casualty of rock'n'roll. The singer told Billboard that his years at the helm of legendary rockers The Who have left him nearly stone deaf. His hearing loss is so significant now that he's taken to listening only to quiet music while at home in order to preserve what little hearing he has left.
Posted @ 5:05 AM
Tinnitus may interfere with tough mental tasks
People who suffer from chronic, moderate tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, may have more trouble performing demanding cognitive tasks than individuals without tinnitus, Australian investigators report. "Our results are good news in that there is no difference between groups on everyday, familiar tasks," co-investigator Dr. Catherine Stevens told Reuters Health.
Posted @ 5:04 AM
Regents urge unified plan for university economic development
Iowa does not fully capitalize on the technologies developed at its three public universities, or how they could aid Iowa's economic development, members of the state Board of Regents said Tuesday. One regent, Tom Bedell of Spirit Lake, said Iowa should consider whether to require companies that want to build and market technology developed at the universities to build an Iowa plant. They would agree to produce the devices in exchange for the technology license.
Posted @ 5:03 AM
Mid-Priced segments hold the largest potential in the hearing instruments market
The number of individuals with hearing loss is increasing with the advent of the baby boomers. This burgeoning generation has the financial capacity to adopt hearing instruments as a life-style enhancing device, and will overcome the social barriers to hearing loss.
Posted @ 5:00 AM
Sign language won't be foreign very long
Sign language will soon become an alternative choice for Baltimore County high school students looking for foreign language credits. The state board of education Feb. 28 unanimously approved recommendations by a special task force, the American Sign Language Work Group, to make sign language courses count the same as foreign language classes in all public high schools.
Posted @ 4:55 AM
Elementary sign language proves popular with kids
When founders of a sign-language club at John Blacow Elementary School announced their first meeting in February, they hoped to draw interest from 20 pupils. They were pleasantly surprised when more than 40 signed up.
Posted @ 4:47 AM
March 21, 2006
Plan to disband Idaho School for Deaf and Blind put on hold
A plan to disband the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind in Gooding is dead, at least for now. The House Education Committee rejected a proposal that would have shuttered the 100-year-old school in two years, favoring a more regional approach to educating Idaho students with hearing and vision impairments.
Posted @ 4:50 AM
Deaf-friendly synagogues offer sign language interpreters
When Fern Reisinger, who is deaf, was growing up, she says she did not feel included while attending synagogue. "I never enjoyed temple. I never understood what was going on," she explained. "I went along with the group and just read. I lost out on being a whole Jewish person. I am familiar with general traditions, but do not have the true meaning of Judaism. That is a loss for me."
Posted @ 4:48 AM
Request for better news in sign-language
Keeping track of the daily news on TV is nearly impossible for Cyprus’ deaf population and the House Interior Committee met yesterday to discuss ways of improving the situation. With the notable presence of private broadcasting channels Antenna and Mega, the Committee appointed its first related meeting, following the suggestion of Deputies Katie Cleridou of DISY, Yiannos Lamaris of AKEL, Androulla Vassiliou of the United Democrats, Antigoni Papadopoulou of DIKO and Green Party leader George Perdikis.
Posted @ 4:45 AM
New hearing aid device
A combination of aging baby boomers who listened to too much loud music and personal music devices that pipe music right into your ears, have made hearing loss the number three health problem in the over-50 age group. Modern hearing-aids offer tremendous help, and now they've gotten even better. KTEN's Meghan McDermott has more in the HealthWatch report.
Posted @ 3:59 AM
SoundBytes to announce H.E.A.R. program for hearing health professionals
SoundBytes, a catalog, web and retail-based company that specializes in providing assistive equipment for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals and the agencies that serve them, today announced that it has developed a program specifically designed for audiologists and other hearing health professionals who wish to present a comprehensive line of assisting devices to their clients.
Posted @ 3:51 AM
Old wives and the tales they tell
We’ve all heard them at one time or another, probably passed down to us from our mothers, grandmothers or maybe an elderly aunt. Old wives’ tales have been handed down since the beginning of recorded time. Some are loosely based on fact; others are pure fiction based on superstition. But we will only attempt to separate fact from fiction regarding some of the more common-place “tales” heard today.
Posted @ 3:01 AM
Ear Technology Corp. to produce hearing aids at Johnson City plant
Ear Technology Corp. will soon begin producing customized parts for its TransEar bone-conduction hearing aid at a manufacturing facility on North Roan Street. Production was previously licensed to United Hearing Systems of Plainfield, Conn.
Posted @ 2:41 AM
Turn it down
Those who walk around with the volume cranked up on their iPods and portable CD players may not be making appointments to have their hearing tested anytime soon. But by the time they reach their 50s, they may notice that they're not hearing as well as they once did. By that time, whatever loss they have suffered likely is permanent.
Posted @ 2:36 AM
Hearing aid cuts down the racket
A device the size of two weetbix is set to quieten things down in one Yarra Ranges home. Yarra Junction resident Thomas Hughes no longer has to have his television blaring, thanks to his new assistive listening device.
Posted @ 2:35 AM
March 20, 2006
Activist shares hearing loss battles
Redwood City native Raegene Castle, 64, lost most of her hearing six years ago. The co-president of the Peninsula chapter of the Hearing Loss Association (HLA) — formerly Self Help for the Hard of Hearing People (SHHH) — spoke to staff writer Nicole Neroulias about her efforts to help other hearing-impaired members of the community.
Posted @ 11:54 AM
How to prevent hearing loss
I've experienced bouts of fairly severe tinnitus on several occasions after a loud rehearsal or concert, and I know I'm not the only person who's guilty of having been somewhat cavalier about hearing loss. Now that so many of us seem to spend half our time with headphones on or listening to car, stereo or TV speakers, a new generation of the hearing impaired is on the horizon, and many of us will be affected unless we start to pay more attention.
Posted @ 11:46 AM
U.S. Deaflympic team chosen
Certain hand gestures mean the same for everybody. The "rock on" sign, for instance, with index and pinkie finger extended, means "you rock" or "we rock." The sign for "congratulations" is like the sign winning race car drivers give on their way into Gasoline Alley: clasp your hands together like you've just caught a butterfly, and then shake them heartily. "Congrats."
Posted @ 11:41 AM
Donation helps Boal Barn turn up the volume
Imagine listening to a musical in which songs are unintelligible. Or, picture going to a play and being unable to hear parts of the dialogue. Some theatergoers have experienced those problems at State College Community Theatre productions in the Boal Barn Playhouse in Boalsburg. In its 51 years of performing in the historic venue, the company has never used amplification, instead relying on its actors to project their voices.
Posted @ 2:55 AM
Silly talk? Baby says no
Jacqueline Smith likes cheese — a lot. But here's the thing, the cute-as-a-button 18-month-old is, well, 18 months old and sometimes saying the word "cheese" isn't as easy as it sounds. So, what's a gal to do when she's got a hankering for some dairy, but just can't seem to get the words out?
Posted @ 2:33 AM
March 19, 2006
I play in a deaf football team
Press Packer James is a player in a deaf football team. In his report he tells us why he thinks it's important to show hearing players that being deaf doesn't stop you from playing great football.
Posted @ 6:29 AM
Silent tales enthrall children
Jodi Miller sat in the chair before nearly 20 tykes and animatedly told classic children's tales that delighted and enthralled, all without saying one word. The Central Illinois Center for Independent Living and Barnes and Noble co-hosted a "Sign Language Storytelling" hour at the bookstore Saturday afternoon that drew several families with deaf or hard-of-hearing children.
Posted @ 2:51 AM
Turn those iPods down, experts warn
Hearing loss, already a cause for concern during the noisy 20th century, is only getting worse, experts say. "It will become an epidemic if this continues," said Dr. Roland D. Eavey, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and director of pediatric otolaryngology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.
Posted @ 2:42 AM
March 18, 2006
The sound of silence
I Initially dismissed the ringing in my ears as the hum coming from the fridge or the computer. But after pressing my ear against these appliances, I realised the sound was coming from within. The point I am trying to make is not that I need to consult an ENT specialist soon (which I do), but rather how quiet it can be in some neighbourhoods here, sometimes to the point where you can detect your own hearing disorders.
Posted @ 5:21 AM
Hearing loss on the rise
The number of people losing their hearing continues to increase. A recent survey found 13-percent of 16 to 19 years old have some hearing loss caused by over-exposure to noise. Many who lose their hearing think it is not a big deal, but it is, especially because we depend so much on communicating. At the age of 14, Patrick Condon started losing his hearing.
Posted @ 5:18 AM
A sign of friendship
As young teenage girls, best friends Emma Stone and Allison Bohm like to talk. But instead of using their mouths, the two often talk through their hands. Having mastered sign language, the girls can carry on conversations without uttering a word. “It’s fun to be able to talk at school, and nobody knows what we’re saying,” Bohm, 13, said laughing. “And we can never get in trouble for being too loud.”
Posted @ 5:12 AM
Grenade blast cripples Iraq vet's memory
His 3-year-old son Nicholas' first steps, the first time Liam, his newborn, smiled - Staff Sgt. Douglas Piper lived to see them. Then his scarred memory erased even those precious moments. "I can't remember what they did yesterday," Piper says. "Sometimes, I can't remember what I did yesterday. The days are broken."
Posted @ 2:58 AM
Hicks aids hearing impaired
Ask anyone that is or was a college student if they can remember a professor that was difficult to hear and understand, and nearly all of them will have at least one horror story to tell. For students who suffer from deafness or hearing loss, understanding even the most coherent professor is nearly impossible.
Posted @ 2:45 AM
March 17, 2006
Operation Lifesaver cooperates with deaf community, promotes safety around tracks and trains
As a result of the death Wednesday of a deaf high school student near railroad tracks in Texas, Operation Lifesaver's state programs are responding to requests from the deaf community and the media for information to help prevent similar tragedies. Operation Lifesaver, a national nonprofit public safety education organization, offers tips for pedestrian and driver safety around tracks and trains.
Posted @ 6:49 AM
Technology can help the disabled
People with disabilities, academics and some of the world's leading technology entrepreneurs will gather this month to explore ways technology can make life easier for persons with disabilities. Cal State Northridge's 21st annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference is scheduled for March 20 to 25 at the Los Angeles Airport Hilton and Marriott hotels.
Posted @ 6:48 AM
Industry commits to eliminate added mercury in button cell batteries
Mercury deposits that build up in lakes and streams develop into methylmercury, which can accumulate to harmful levels in fish and the people and animals that consume them. Depending on the level of exposure, methylmercury can lead to reduced fertility, impaired development and behavior, and loss of life. In an effort to further environmental responsibility, the battery industry recently announced an initiative to eliminate added mercury from button cells—the batteries widely used to run watches, calculators, and hearing aids.
Posted @ 6:41 AM
Gallaudet gears up for Charter Day festivities
The 2006 Charter Day celebrates the 142 years since President Abraham Lincoln signed Gallaudet University’s Charter in 1864. In addition, this year will also mark the 37th Annual Charter Day Brunch and Awards Program. Taking place on April 8 at the Kellogg Conference Hotel at Gallaudet University, this event will honor this year’s GUAA and LCCF award recipients. The mistress of ceremonies is Dr. Khadijat “Kubby” Rashid, ’90, Associate Professor of Economics and Finance.
Posted @ 6:38 AM
Anti-iPod lawsuit strikes foolish chord
People love iPods; that’s a fact. It has even been reported that Pope Benedict XVI is plugged into his as he wanders throughout the Vatican. But, just like any other wonderful toy, someone wants to take away the world’s fun. Remember what happened to lawn darts?
Posted @ 6:37 AM
Senate subcommittee passes sign language bill
High school students could earn foreign language credit by taking sign language classes under a bill that passed a Senate subcommittee Thursday. Bill supporters hope the measure will encourage students to learn sign language and increase deaf students' interaction with their peers.
Posted @ 6:36 AM
Deafness invalidates confession
A deaf woman's recorded statement to police in which she admits stabbing to death her boyfriend was thrown out of court because Roseville police failed to make certain she understood her Miranda warning rights.
Posted @ 6:33 AM
WHO on Hearing Care in DCs
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new set of training manuals aimed at equipping health care workers in developing countries (DCs) with simple and cost-effective methods to reduce deafness and hearing problems through actions at the primary level of health care.
Posted @ 6:30 AM
Housing association plumber aims for sporting success
A housing association's apprentice plumber is hoping to swap his tools for sporting success later this month. Nick McKen, from Magna West Somerset Housing Association, hopes to gain selection for the England Deaf Rugby Union team's squad.
Posted @ 6:25 AM
March 16, 2006
“Noise-induced” society causing early hearing loss
The current debate over iPods causing hearing loss is just another indicator of how America’s “noise-induced” society is causing more hearing problems at earlier ages, says University of Alabama audiologist Rebecca Brooks.
Posted @ 4:45 AM
10-month-old receives two cochlear implants at NYU Center
After spending all 10 months of his life in utter silence, Lawrence Goldfeld heard sound for the first time on Tuesday. And it was terrifying. Sitting in a highchair in a small examination room at NYU’s medical center, Lawrence, in a striped polo shirt and khaki pants, chewed contentedly on rubber building blocks.
Posted @ 4:30 AM
Button batteries pose serious injury risks
Button or disc batteries power a variety of products including hearing aids, watches, calculators and key chains. Button batteries range in diameter from 6mm to 23mm, with most being less than 15mm. Because of their small size they can easily be mistaken for pills or candy. They are easy to swallow or lodge in an ear or nose. Many adults may find this surprising or amusing.
Posted @ 4:25 AM
McAvoy killed by train while text-messaging on cell phone
Austin police now say the reigning Miss Deaf Texas was killed by a freight train apparently while text-messaging family and friends on her cell phone. Eighteen-year-old Tara Rose McAvoy of Austin was killed Sunday while walking along the Union Pacific tracks in South Austin.
Posted @ 4:24 AM
Meningitis vaccine to be tested in Africa
A vaccine against meningitis A will be tested and if all goes well could be available in the next few years in Africa where the disease kills thousands of people each year, researchers said on Wednesday. The Meningitis Vaccine Project (MVP) and the privately owned Serum Institute of India Ltd said Phase 1 trials of the vaccine have paved the way for tests in Gambia and Mali later this year following approval from regulatory authorities.
Posted @ 4:23 AM
Hearing tests for all new-borns
All parents in England will be offered the chance of a hearing test for their new-born baby shortly after its birth. Over 1,600 babies will be screened every day as part of the NHS New-born Hearing Screening Programme as it is rolled out across the country.
Posted @ 4:22 AM
March 15, 2006
iPods, mp3s damage teen ears
IPods and MP3 players may be doing more damage to young ears than people realize. A recent survey commissioned by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association finds that more than half of high school students polled have lost some hearing because of how they use the music players.
Posted @ 5:35 AM
C-ing is believing
Without having full use of his hands, Jeff Delgado can’t grasp a pencil, take notes in class, or turn the pages of a book. But Delgado, who suffers from Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, will graduate from Roger Williams University with a bachelor’s degree in business management in 2007. He credits modern technology for allowing him to excel in school.
Posted @ 5:30 AM
Cochlear implant may help profoundly deaf
A cochlear implant is a device for severely-to-profoundly deaf people who do not benefit from traditional hearing aids. It's designed to produce hearing sensations by electrically stimulating nerves inside the inner ear.
Posted @ 5:24 AM
Experts suspect portable devices to blame for rise in hearing loss
A disturbing number of high-school students and adults are reporting early signs of hearing loss, and hearing experts think they know the culprits: iPods and similar portable devices that allow people to funnel loud sounds into their ears for hours on end. More research is needed to conclusively establish the link between the white cords dangling from millions of ears and hearing difficulties.
Posted @ 5:17 AM
Hands on ABCs
Envision a room full of little faces scrunched up in grimaces, eyes squinting and tiny hands with wiggling fingers posed in front of their bodies. There, you have it, 4-year-old students at Chisholm Elementary are practicing their new sign language word for the week, bears.
Posted @ 5:10 AM
Deaf children victims of bureaucratic turf wars
The Wellington Association for Deaf Children is calling upon the Government to provide free New Zealand Sign Language classes for all deaf children and their families. The New Zealand Federation for Deaf Children supports the parents in their demand.
Posted @ 5:09 AM
Easing learning with chronic tinnitus
Chronic tinnitus may make it harder to master new tasks, but practice could help overcome that hurdle, researchers report. People with tinnitus hear ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling, or other sounds without any known cause. Tinnitus can be fleeting or constant and vary in loudness.
Posted @ 5:08 AM
March 14, 2006
Hearing loss symptoms reported in high school age students and adults
More than half of high school students surveyed report at least one symptom of hearing loss according to a poll commissioned by the American Speech-Language-Hearing-Association (ASHA) and conducted by Zogby International. The poll looked at not only the usage habits of high school students and adults with respect to some popular technology that provides audio through ear buds or earphones—devices like Apple’s iPod, other MP3 players, and portable DVD players--but it also probed the public’s views about potential hearing loss from such devices, plus what they believe would be the most effective way to convey a hearing-loss prevention message.
Posted @ 5:29 AM
Four-legged hearing aid
Kindergartners got to meet the inspiration for their money and food drive. She pants and has a tail. Josie, a 2-year-old border collie and black lab mix, came along with her owner, Jennifer Baroun of Waukesha and 10-year-old Kayanna, for whom Baroun is legal guardian, to show students on Friday why they brought in dog food, toys and money the past few weeks.
Posted @ 5:14 AM
RIT unveils deaf studies archive during heritage month
A celebration of National Deaf Heritage Month (March 13-April 15) at RIT includes an exhibit of paintings by artist Susan Dupor, a book discussion with author Carol Padden, and the unveiling of a new Deaf Studies Archive at Wallace Memorial Library.
Posted @ 5:07 AM
Ensemble's jazz is easy to access
Some jazz performances are said to be more accessible than others. But at the Wheelock Family Theatre on Thursday the multimedia ensemble JazzArtSigns took the concept to a whole other level, making jazz literally accessible to everyone.
Posted @ 4:59 AM
DVD series spawns television series premiering across the country
Adding to a growing line of Signing Time! media that includes DVDs, CDs, books and a resource website, Two Little Hands Productions has announced that the Signing Time! television series has already been picked up by 68 television stations across the country including in 6 of the top 10 markets.
Posted @ 4:55 AM
Miss Deaf Texas struck by train, killed
The reigning Miss Deaf Texas died Monday afternoon after being struck by a train in Austin. Authorities say 18-year-old Tara Rose McAvoy was walking near railroad tracks when she was struck by a Union Pacific train. A witness told Austin television station K-T-B-C the train sounded its horn right up until the collision occurred.
Posted @ 1:48 AM
A message to Lou Ferrigno
Mr. Ferrigno, for many years, I've enjoyed your movies and T.V. shows as they've been great entertainment. I must also say I was very proud to see you became an L.A. County Deputy Sheriff. As a retired LEO, welcome to the family. What you do for the deaf is admirable. I am suffering from Tinitus (military service and police range activity-before gunmuffs). I've already suffered a percentage loss of my hearing and the ringing is bearly tolerable.
Posted @ 1:45 AM
Pessimism can harm hearing
Seniors who think hearing loss is just a part of growing old, along with other age-related stereotypes, may end up boosting their odds for poor hearing in their "golden years." That's the finding of a new study that suggests that a person's negative stereotypes about the elderly can have real consequences for personal health as he or she ages.
Posted @ 1:40 AM
I was just looking for my deaf dog
A sheperd has been banned from driving - after he claimed he had to use his pick-up truck to round up a deaf runaway sheepdog. James Hogg had downed several whiskies at home when his dog, Gael, went missing late at night.
Posted @ 1:39 AM
March 13, 2006
Cochlear implants aim for age-related loss
Cochlear implants may not be just for the profoundly deaf anymore: Iowa scientists are developing the next generation, a "hybrid implant" to combine the best of bionics with regular hearing aids for age-related hearing loss. If it works - and early study results are promising - it one day may help thousands of older Americans whose hearing is progressively fading. The key difference: Unlike regular cochlear implants, the hybrid model would let people keep their natural music appreciation even as it helps them hear speech more clearly again.
Posted @ 4:54 PM
This lab promises hope for the hearing impaired
To connect with the human world, they speak with their expressions and gesticulate to make their speech coherent! Sign language — the only medium that connects a hearing impaired with the rest of the world. But not any longer, if one believes in the efforts of Shreelal Jha, Director Technical, Self-Financed R&D Consultancy for Impaired, Sardar Patel University
Posted @ 4:47 PM
Doctors training in sign language
A specialist course is being offered during their medical training at Queen's University in Belfast. The course, which also includes training in deaf awareness, is being run in association with the Royal National Institute for the Deaf.
Posted @ 4:42 PM
March 11, 2006
Deaf teacher incorporates culture into language class
As her Deer Valley High School students gestured at each other, their hands a flurry of concepts, words and letters, Jennifer Goins quietly patrolled her classroom. Silence predominated, save for a few voices reading aloud and the subtle sounds of hands moving in the air. Then one group called out, "Whoa. You skipped ahead."
Posted @ 9:14 PM
Ear Protection: Combo vaccine prevents some infections
A vaccine that triggers immunity against two common bacteria can prevent many ear infections in babies, a European team of researchers reports. Middle ear infections send roughly 20 million U.S. children, most of them infants, to the doctor every year. Recurrent infections sometimes lead to partial hearing loss and can require surgical implantation of tubes to improve fluid drainage.
Posted @ 5:04 PM
Chronic, moderate tinnitus interferes with cognitive abilities
Individuals with chronic, moderate tinnitus do more poorly on demanding working memory and attention tests than those without tinnitus, according to a recent study. However, on less complex tasks, no significant differences were found, suggesting that tinnitus has no effect on tasks that involve more involuntary, automatic responses.
Posted @ 5:02 PM
Chronic hearing problem disrupts concentration, study suggests
Millions of Americans with chronic ringing in their ears who lose some abilities to concentrate and recall may be helped by learning through repetition, according to a new study. Nineteen adults with moderate to severe tinnitus, a condition where people hear sound that doesn't exist, performed worse in recall and attention tests than 19 adults without the ringing, hissing or buzzing sound in their ears, according to the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research study.
Posted @ 4:59 PM
Cochlear gains 14% thanks to rival's woes
Shares in hearing implant maker Cochlear surged almost 14 per cent on Friday after its major rival in the US was forced to recall a product.Advanced Bionics, a subsidiary of Boston Scientific Corp, has urged doctors in the US and Europe to return the yet-to-be implanted hearing aid, HiRes 90K, due to the possibility of malfunction from moisture in its circuitry.
Posted @ 4:50 PM
March 10, 2006
Funds slashed for theatre of the deaf
After 38 years, officials at the National Theatre of the Deaf are wondering how long they can continue producing their unique form of drama. A federal grant that provided the group with the bulk of its operating revenue since 1967 was not renewed last year, leaving the West Hartford-based group with an uncertain future.
Posted @ 9:01 PM
Seminar focuses on sign language for hearing babies
Canada -- A free introductory seminar on teaching sign language to hearing babies will be presented Wednesday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. and again Saturday, April 1 at 10 a.m.
Posted @ 8:59 PM
No substitute to use of sign language
That was the startling announcement from Janet Young, resource development officer of the Deaf Association of Northern Ireland. She was speaking last week at the Stormont Hotel, Belfast, during the launch of a DVD promoting sign language as an effective tool in acquiring and understanding language during the critical period from birth to the age of three.
Posted @ 8:58 PM
Singing Hands also support, heal
The members of “Singing Hands” are a little different from the traditional church choir: They don’t sing. At least, not with their voices. Instead, recorded music — spiritual standards like “The Lord’s Prayer” or cultural anthems like “Proud to be an American” — back up the performers, who sign the words.
Posted @ 8:56 PM
March 9, 2006
Dim view of aging linked to hearing loss
Older adults who harbor negative stereotypes about aging may have a more rapid decline in their hearing, a new study suggests. Researchers at Yale University found that among older men and women, between 70 and 96 years old, those who held to the stereotypes of older adults as "frail" and "senile" showed a greater decline in hearing over the next three years.
Posted @ 8:49 PM
Legislators hear need for School for Deaf
Speaking to a joint session of the Legislative Education Oversight Committee, which met at Wilson Technical Community College Wednesday morning, Davis explained how the school helped foster her growth as a person and as a student.
Posted @ 8:36 PM
Two MSD actors sign lines in Columbia production
Audiences attending this weekend's presentation of “The Miracle Worker” may safely bet that actors will use sign language as Helen Keller's life is portrayed. What might not be expected is that two of the actors are hearing-impaired, and they will use sign language to deliver their lines in what traditionally has been casted to hearing actors.
Posted @ 8:35 PM
Baby signing growing in popularity
Five mothers and five small children sit on colorful sheets on the classroom floor, surrounding a pile of stuffed animals, child-sized hats and fake fruit. “Kitty, kitty,” the mothers say, stroking the air near their faces. “Apple, apple,” they insist, rubbing their cheeks.
Posted @ 8:33 PM
Bangor Discovery Museum to offer baby sign language class
You and your baby can learn to speak with your hands at the Maine Discovery Museum beginning March 21, said Jennifer Chiarell, marketing director. The museum will hold its first session of baby signing classes with Deaf, American Sign Language educator Carrie Pierce.
Posted @ 8:32 PM
With signing, babies have gift of gab
All toddlers know sign language. Every parent can tell you the whining child standing at their feet with arms stretched straight up into the air is saying, "Pick me up!" Some babies and toddlers recently added a few more sign language words to their vocabulary at Tiny Signs, a one-time sign-language class for children 6 months to 5 years old at the Draper Library.
Posted @ 8:29 PM
Business promotes sign language
After a career in marketing, a local woman decided to change the course of her life and opened her own business last November. The business, Sign Language Communications, is located along Brooktree Road in Wexford and teaches clients sign language and other subjects.
Posted @ 8:28 PM
Hearing-impaired program director nearing retirement
Carol Moyer is a great communicator. She's been communicating with people for much of her life, from working as a customer representative for cellular phone and cable television companies to a receptionist in a doctor's office. But those odd jobs weren't where she made an impact.
Posted @ 8:24 PM
March 8, 2006
Seeking the right amount of sound in the fury of combat
Modern combat is almost always noisy, but it was especially so in the Iraqi city of Fallujah in November 2004, when U.S. forces engaged insurgents in vicious house-to-house - often room-to-room - fighting. The reverberation of gunfire and explosions within concrete walls was so loud at times that "someone screaming in your ear could barely reach you," said Jesse Grapes, 27, who as a first lieutenant led a platoon of Marines in the two-week battle. Combat leaders sometimes had trouble making themselves understood over radios - critical when time lost waiting on reinforcements or air cover can cost lives.
Posted @ 7:39 PM
Deaf teacher overcomes obstacles
Deaf teachers who are in a classroom of hearing children are rare, but not at Fry School in Naperville. Encouraged by his parents to focus on speech and lip reading skill, Chris Laskowski says it helped him. For the past five years, Chris Laskowski has been teaching physical education at Fry School.
Posted @ 7:37 PM
Making an audible difference
It's a choice seat to be right next to the UW pep band at a Badger game, but you can only safely be there, without ear protection, for about six seconds. Sound exposure at a Chicago blues bar is only slightly better. According to researchers, risks for hearing loss start after nine minutes. If you want to stay for hours, minimize the noise with some ear protection.
Posted @ 7:35 PM
MSD basketball squad wins by four touchdowns
Maybe Michigan School for the Deaf should start a football program. The Tartars already have many of the skills essential to that game - speed, quickness, good hands, precision passing and toughness.
Posted @ 7:28 PM
New technology sustains firm serving deaf customers
It hasn't been easy, but Harris Communications has survived. One reason is that most of the time, technology has been the friend of founder and owner Robert Harris. And an absolute godsend to his customers: the deaf and hard of hearing. They depend heavily on sight rather than sound. Advances on the Web and its many related innovations have empowered them immensely.
Posted @ 7:24 PM
Technology helps deaf communicate easily
My husband is a very remarkable man, especially how he handles his hearing loss. He wears a cochlear implant and works as an attorney. When in court, my husband uses several tools to help him follow what is going on, such as an FM system and a CART reporter.My husband first experienced CART reporting at a cochlear implant association convention in 1997.
Posted @ 7:20 PM
Keeping deaf fans rockin'
The flashing lights, the crowd's giddy energy. The 44-year-old man-boy himself, Jon Bon Jovi. Would Shannon Kennedy miss this, even if she could barely hear a thing? No way. As Bon Jovi's band launched into a tirade of drum and guitar, Kennedy, deaf since age 2, nodded her coolly disheveled head to the beat, digital camera in hand.
Posted @ 7:13 PM
Breaking the silence
Every year Sabine Muller helps send about 70 information packs - complete with cuddly toys wearing hearing aids - to families who've learned their children are deaf. It's a way of supporting families who've had to cope with what can be a very hard blow.
Posted @ 7:12 PM
Hearing loss
Your hearing will not normally be tested at a routine check-up but, if you suspect it has deteriorated, your GP may do some preliminary tests at the surgery or you may be referred for specialist investigation. A free hearing test is also available over the telephone from hearing charity RNID, call 0845 600 5555 to take the test.
Posted @ 7:11 PM
March 7, 2006
Fourth Florida lawmaker refuses to accept political hearing aid in term limits campaign
Voter Voice Amplifiers will be delivered to the offices of 123 lawmakers at the opening of the 2006 legislative session, March 7th at the capitol in Tallahassee. These satirical hearing devices will remind politicians of their failure to listen to the will of the voters on term limits. Florida voters cast their ballots overwhelmingly in favor of eight-year term limits in 1992, but 127 legislators defied the electorate by voting to give themselves twelve years in office.
Posted @ 6:28 AM
Ear buds no friend to music lovers
Hearing loss may come early for some college students who listen to music constantly while walking around campus. Small ear plugs that accompany iPods and other mp3 players may cause more damage to listener's ears than people are aware of.
Posted @ 6:22 AM
Cochlear implants
A cochlear implant is a hearing device that gets sound to the brain when a deaf ear can't. A new study shows why it's critically important for children born deaf to receive the implants sooner rather than later.
Posted @ 6:18 AM
SoundBytes becomes Florida relay business partner
Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc., which provides specialized telecommunications equipment for people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf/Blind, or Speech Impaired, is pleased to announce that SoundBytes has become a Florida Relay Business Partner. SoundBytes is a catalog, web and retail-based company that specialize in providing assistive equipment for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals and the agencies that serve them.
Posted @ 6:17 AM
Rheumatoid arthritis does not increase risk of hearing loss
Mayo Clinic researchers have found that people with rheumatoid arthritis are no more likely to have hearing loss than other members of the general population. The finding is contrary to previous study results that linked the disease to elevated risk of hearing problems. The study results will be presented Monday at the American Auditory Society annual meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Posted @ 6:16 AM
Sign language to proclaim the Gospel
Fr Takawej, a parish priest in Bangkok, organised a sign language course to teach the language of the deaf to some of his parishioners. He said: “10 deaf people attend our Sunday Mass and two of them have converted.”
Posted @ 6:15 AM
March 6, 2006
Hearing loss prevention Is personal for Oregon Health & Science University researcher
Oregon Health & Science University hearing researcher Robert Folmer, Ph.D., will speak from personal and professional experience about the damage loud noise can do to one's hearing at the Washington Advocacy Conference hosted by the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery next Tuesday, March 7.
Posted @ 10:53 PM
Seniors graduate from sign language class
Some Chattanooga senior citizens turn an every-day challenge into a proud accomplishment. Residents at the Alexian Grove retirement center graduated from sign language class today.
Posted @ 10:49 PM
Sign-language takes to the web
IT Week: As chief executive of sign-language services provider SignPost, can you explain why web sites need live signing? Malcolm Wright: I always thought that the deaf can read subtitles, so it wouldn't matter [if sites do not offer sign language], but there are about 70,000 people in the UK who use British Sign Language [BSL] as a primary means of communication.
Posted @ 10:43 PM
Hearing the results of research
Early detection of infant hearing problems has become a growing priority in Canada. The earlier problems are detected, the less likely a child will be to fall behind in speech, language and social skill development. Research at the National Centre for Audiology (NCA) at Western has proven invaluable since the recent implementation of universal programs for infant hearing screening in Canada.
Posted @ 10:42 PM
Gallaudet Board adds two members
Ms. Celia May Baldwin, interim chair of the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees, announced the appointments of two new members: Ms. Cheryl Heppner and Ms. Pamela Lloyd. The selection of the new members received the unanimous approval of the Trustees at their meeting February 2006 meeting.
Posted @ 10:41 PM
For iPod users, a budding problem
Seattle-based builder and author Pete Nelson blasts his iPod to drown out the sound of his power tools when he works. He cranks it up when he skis and even listens to the portable music player while working at his computer. "I'm having a love affair with my iPod," says Nelson, whose wife, 15-year-old daughter and 13-year-old twin sons all have iPod addictions.
Posted @ 3:57 AM
Train to be the friend of a young deaf person
The trauma of being deaf or hard of hearing will be eased for children across Wales with help from a pioneering scheme to encourage volunteering. The Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) has been given a £7,000 Millennium Volunteers grant towards its Peer Befrienders project, which trains young people to provide counselling and befriending for children with hearing difficulties.
Posted @ 3:40 AM
New association for the deaf launched
The launching ceremony, held recently at the Docklands Cinema on Latanier Road, was marked by the presence of the Minister for Health and Social Services, Vincent Meriton, the chairperson of APHI, Anita Gardner, a group of people with hearing impairment, other members of the association, parents and guests.
Posted @ 3:39 AM
Ear infection vaccine developed
A vaccine which could help prevent ear infections in young children has been developed by Czech scientists. Also known as acute otitis media, the infections can be very painful and - very rarely - cause long term damage. The vaccine was effective against two bacteria - the streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus influenzae, the Lancet reported.
Posted @ 3:26 AM
March 5, 2006
Groups aim to make T-coil technology commonplace in Duke City
Shannon Smith Peinado wanted to concentrate in her classes at the University of Phoenix, but most of the time, she ended up fidgeting with her notebook. Bags grew under her eyes. After class, her head hurt. As soon as she got home, she'd collapse into bed and fall asleep.
Posted @ 4:06 AM
Kaiser fills high-tech demand
Joyce Bonner has relied on Kaiser Permanente for her health care the past 40 years. Except for the birth of her third son, at the Morse Avenue hospital 36 years ago, most of her doctor's visits have been routine - the kind of preventive maintenance for which the health care giant is best known.
Posted @ 4:03 AM
Hearing loss on rise among troops
The Army's chief of staff, Gen. Peter Schoomaker, wears hearing aids. Asked why once, the crusty special operations veteran grinned and said: "Guns, helicopters, demolition – 36 years of it." Gen. Schoomaker's faulty hearing is far from rare in the military. And experts say the war in Iraq has led to epidemic rates of hearing loss among troops.
Posted @ 3:49 AM | Comments (1)
Hearing aids for healthy ears
Many people who hear normally but can't decipher background noise from the real message, such as in a loud restaurant, are benefiting from open-ear hearing devices. Originally developed for those with high-pitch hearing loss, these digital devices also may help adults and children with processing disorders that keep them from filtering out the static in their environments.
Posted @ 3:45 AM
Jury awards $108,000 to deaf FedEx employee
A federal jury has awarded $108,000 in punitive and compensatory damages to a deaf worker who accused Federal Express Corporation of failing to provide him with a reasonable accommodation in the form of American Sign Language interpreters.
Posted @ 3:36 AM
Students find sign language 'beautiful'
Sign language is a lot like life. The hand gestures that convey words and ideas range from the simple — touch a finger to the lips to say "red" — to the complex — a series of complicated, consecutive motions to illustrate a "daily activity."
Posted @ 3:32 AM
Listen up, early hearing tests are serious
Michael Thomas is your average five-year-old, an active go-getter who swims, bowls and even plays golf. The only indication that Michael might not be your average kid is a bright blue hearing aid. He has hearing loss in one ear, a condition detected by chance when he was three.
Posted @ 3:31 AM
March 4, 2006
Silent shout of support
As boisterous schoolchildren lined up on the steps for tours of the Legislative Building on Friday, one group of adults and children stood silent but their silence spoke volumes. Graduates, former faculty, students, parents and other friends of the Washington School for the Deaf, about 60 in all, came to Olympia from around the state to send a message: The Vancouver residential school fills a vital role for the hearing-impaired and must not be closed.
Posted @ 4:10 AM
Loud music damages hearing sensitivity over time
David Sizemore is happy that his 16-year-old son, Ian, shares his passion for music. But there's an unfortunate side effect the elder Sizemore hopes Ian doesn't inherit: Hearing loss. The Kingsport resident suffers from moderate high-frequency loss in his left ear, less in his right ear and tinnitus, or ringing, in both ears, which he attributes to too many concerts back in the mid-'70s and early '80s.
Posted @ 3:55 AM
Stereo headphones in 1973, a hearing aid by 1999
When I chose to write about loud music and hearing loss, I did so with more than a passing interest. Although I've never been a musician, I've been head-over-heals in love with music ever since I can remember. In my lifetime, I've bought thousands of records, been to hundreds of shows and was a disc jockey at my college radio station.
Posted @ 3:43 AM
Act of signing adds to the performance of ‘RATS!’
Rarely do the myriad elements of stagecraft — scenery, lighting, choreography, music and acting — melt into the realm of fairy tale with the fluidity of StageHAND’s performance of “RATS!” Thursday morning on the New Bern Civic Theatre stage.
Posted @ 3:29 AM
Hearing problems, safety risks cited with headphone use
Portable music headphones that are best for your hearing can put you at risk by blocking out warning sounds around you. Audiologists worry many young people risk permanent hearing damage due to the high volume levels of their iPod, MP3 or portable CD players.
Posted @ 3:28 AM
What’s that? Speak up!
Ssorry, could you repeat that? Didn’t catch that. What’s with ? Such phrases are often heard over conversations in noisy environments such as parties, shopping malls and so on. This typically involves the older age group and unfortunately is often ignored and labelled “old age’ and “can’t be helped”.
Posted @ 3:27 AM
March 3, 2006
Vaccine could end children's ear infections
GlaxoSmithKline Plc has developed a new vaccine that could help prevent ear infections, a widespread problem for children, according to a study published in the British medical journal Lancet. Acute otitis media, the medical name for ear infections, is one of the most commonly diagnosed childhood ailments and causes fever, pain and can lead to hearing loss in severe cases.
Posted @ 12:43 PM
Ear implants: Patients can hear you now
Once children who were born with malformed ears would have been sentenced to a lifetime of deafness or at least greatly reduced hearing. Now, doctors are able to build what nature does not. Imagine life like TV with the sound turned down, especially if you're 7 years old. Jacob Ferchau knows.
Posted @ 12:37 PM
Deaf director honored by student academy
Kaaren Caplan cried "a million tears" when she learned her 2-year-old daughter, Kimby, was deaf in one ear and could barely hear in the other. But Kaaren said she cries even more now because she is so proud of how much Kimby has accomplished. In June, Kimby won a bronze medal in the Student Academy Awards for her film "Listen," which documents her journey of learning to articulate. She now dreams of one day winning an Oscar.
Posted @ 12:36 PM
Students learn sign language
Although the school day is done, a group of students sit attentively in the Herman Avenue Elementary School auditorium. The room is surprisingly quiet. Strangely, though, there is a flurry of motion and a sense that the room is not quiet at all. Made possible through an Auburn Education Foundation educator grant, the Sign Language Club introduces students to the basics of American Sign Language.
Posted @ 12:32 PM
Sign language is changing
California State University, East Bay, changed its name more than a year ago. The highways leading to the Hayward campus, however, have become relics of the college's former, more local, identity. As of this week, signs on Interstate 880 and I-580, among others, still were telling motorists that California State University, Hayward, was nearby.
Posted @ 12:18 PM
The sign for easing a family's frustration
Frantically, David Mikell tried to communicate to his parents what he wanted. The 5-year-old waved his hands once. Twice. Ten times. Finally, he walked to the freezer and grabbed what he'd wanted all along: a pizza. Then he walked out in a huff.
Posted @ 12:17 PM
Tragedy of deaf children on the waiting list
The tragedy of deaf children on the waiting list for cochlear implants (CI) was in the media recently.[1] The news items focused on the need for increased funding so that more CI operations could be financed to increase the current total of 28 operations a year.
Posted @ 12:14 PM
Mark to make deaf-defying run
Fifteen years after a cowardly pub assault robbed Warrnambool's Mark Gravolin of his hearing, the 36-year-old is preparing a deaf-defying run along Raglan Parade. Mr Gravolin will carry the Queen's Baton from McDonald's central restaurant west to Macey's Bistro during leg eight of Sunday's route from Warrnambool to Hamilton.
Posted @ 12:11 PM
Demand outstrips supply of interpreters
The two biggest changes affecting the quality of life for deaf people over the past 20 years are the profusion of subtitles on television and the professional interpreter service inaugurated by the RNID.
Posted @ 12:10 PM
Disabled and deaf in pioneering new history project
A northern city's disabled and deaf community are being urged to record their experiences for a pioneering new history project. English Heritage and the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP) are opening a unique collection of photos, posters and books chronicling the experiences of disabled and deaf people across the UK.
Posted @ 12:09 PM
March 2, 2006
Popular technology unpopular with ear’s hair cells
Popular technology—not just the personal music player, iPod--could prove harmful to the hearing of the nation, and especially to that of the young, if it is not used properly, testing by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) suggests. With media attention focused on the ubiquitous iPod, ASHA investigated further, testing the decibel levels of a range of randomly chosen devices that produce sound which is plugged into the ear.
Posted @ 10:34 PM
Technology poised to create a deaf generation
Hear that silence? It’s the sound of America going deaf from an earful of technology. What’s that, you say? Popular technology — not just the iPod — threatens everyone’s hearing, especially children and teenagers, according to a new report by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
Posted @ 10:26 PM
Her courage and work built a bridge of hope for the kids
Graciela Rascón and I sat at the rear of a classroom to watch a group of 4-and 5-year-olds during their lunch break. They placed a small tablecloth and plate on their little desks and then, very properly, placed their spoons next to the plate.
Posted @ 10:18 PM
Imagination Stage casts deaf performers in hip-hop show
In a whorl of contorting limbs, flying braids and colorful costumes, four actors spin around the stage to a hip-hop beat before jumping to a stop. "Anansi, where you be?" they shout, moving their hands in unison with the words. Not quite good enough, says Patrick Crowley, director of "Hip Hop Anansi," stopping the rehearsal. Their timing is off, he says, between what they speak and what they say with their hands. An interpreter next to him converts everything he says into sign language.
Posted @ 10:15 PM
A visit from Helen Keller
February school vacation week gave West Roxbury and Roslindale children the opportunity to attend the re-enactment of Helen Keller's life at the West Roxbury Branch Library last Wednesday. Children's librarian Gwen Fletcher said that Keller's life serves as a role model in the children's lives.