Getting a cochlear implant doesn’t restrict by age whether you are a newborn or in your 90’s. A touching story was recently shared by a chapter member about a parents struggle to have their newborn born deaf get a cochlear implant when originally told no. As many people know, a child’s ability to effectively learn to communicate starts at a very young age. Have a further read below.
We’re looking forward to seeing you at our first meeting of 2020! Note that we will still be meeting at the Sherman Oaks Library.
Date: Saturday, January 25
Time: 9:30am, social; 10am-noon, meeting
Place: Sherman Oaks Branch Library, 14245 Moorpark St, Sherman Oaks
Notes: Feel free to bring a snack to share. It’s the Lunar New Year; perhaps some fortune cookies are in order.
Topic: The Latest information on Cochlear Implants / Hearing Aids / Hybrids and other Hearing Loss Related Issues
Presenter: Suzannah Hagan, AuD, CCC-A, F-AAA; Assistant Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery: Director of Cochlear Implant Program at USC Keck Medical Center. She has also been affiliated with Advanced Bionics.
Attendees will have an opportunity to share memories about Katherine Burns, chapter co-founder, past president, and dear friend, who lost her four-year battle with cancer on December 25.
Although the article notes Thanksgiving as a common gathering that can give all of us with hearing loss communication fits, the article really makes sense for any social and holiday gathering. Giving yourself breaks, compassion, and using certain strategic ways to effectively communicate and enjoy the gathering can help make your family and holiday get-together that much more enjoyable. Learn tips and strategies with this article.
Interesting story from The New York Times about just which direction should decisions be made regarding teaching a hard of hearing or deaf child to succeed in the world. Do you have them helped via technologies, such as cochlear implants or hearing aids, or do you teach them to communication through sign language or other alternative forms of communication? Decide for yourself here.
Did you know demands from all walks of individuals is growing for captioning. In fact, 80% of individuals use captioning that do not have hearing loss!
With people watching videos on the go using their phones, oftentimes audio isn’t possible so captioning saves the day. It’s safe to say captioning is going mainstream which is great for all of us hard of hearing folks! Check out further information from this article.
Understanding and managing tinnitus with Dr. Sharzad Cohen.
This presentation is designed to explain different theories about the causes of tinnitus and the available therapeutic methods. A review of the recent research about tinnitus and the relationship between tinnitus and hearing loss will be offered. Tinnitus management techniques and instruments will be discussed to eradicate the myth that tinnitus has no solutions!
In an interesting development that may provide a road ahead for more captioning options throughout the U.S., 8th U.S. Court of Appeals in St. Louis voted 2 to 1 in favor that Fox Theatre must provide captions whenever a patron asks. This is not just for one matinee performance per Broadway run which is commonly offered by theatres that say they offer captioning services.
Please see this article for further information and some background on how this all developed!
What a feel good story this is! A deaf man in Maine adopted a sheltered puppy who is also deaf and together they make a wonderful and touching story. And the dog also understands and is learning sign language! Interesting to think that hearing loss doesn’t just impact humans but also our canine and other furry friends!
For a good read – A deaf man and deaf puppy, a perfect pair!
For those familiar with accessibility options with our phones, iPhones naturally are always ahead of the game compared to their Androids users. Recently, great strides have been made with Google Live Transcribe for your Android phone that it might be worth your while, if you have an Android, to download and try the “Google Live Transcribe”.
Recent improvements have shown enhanced functionality to better understand speech, sounds from the TV, and even offers bilingual switching of languages during conversations.
You can learn more and download here – https://www.android.com/accessibility/live-transcribe/.
Our very own Katie Wright with her grandson Connor supporting this bill.
Our bill passed by unanimous consent out of Assembly Health! Thank you to everyone who made calls, wrote letters and traveled to Sacramento today to express their support for the bill. Please call and thank Assembly Members on the Health Committee. Next step Assembly Appropriations.
Assembly Bill 598 mandate that private health insurance companies cover the costs of hearing aids for children. Only 1 in 10 children are under health care that provides coverage for hearing aids. Learn more about the bill.
There is also a Facebook page devoted to this important initiative.
Here’s where to find the list of the next assembly members to target:
