For many of the roughly 36 million American adults with some degree of hearing loss, a hearing aid does not provide enough help, and a cochlear implant risks permanently losing whatever residual hearing is left. These people struggle tremendously—particularly in noisy listening environments. Christopher W. Turner, Ph.D., a professor of speech pathology and audiology, and otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at the University of Iowa, received an NIH Challenge Grant to conduct his research, Optimizing the Combination of Electric and Acoustic Hearing. The research is based on preliminary data involving a hybrid cochlear implant designed to preserve acoustic low-frequency hearing while allowing high-frequency sounds to be processed electrically in the same ear. The preliminary research has resulted in significantly improved performance on tests that measure understanding of speech in background noise and enhanced perception of music.

The NIH Challenge Grants in Health and Science Research are funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. NIH has designated at least $200 million for comparative effectiveness research to perform a rigorous evaluation of the impact of different options available for treating a given medical condition, such as competing drugs, or very different approaches, such as surgery and drug therapy.

For more information, search the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool, and look for grant number 1RC1DC010696-01.

Source: NIH www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/inside/wtr10/pg11.html

A recent study from the University of Utah, co-authored by the Chair of the Bioengineering Department, Dr. Richard Rabbitt, has demonstrated that the human ear actually has tiny, “flexoelectric motors” that rev up to better enable us to hear by amping up sounds mechanically rather than neurologically.

In other words, your ears have tiny motors to rev up your hearing – all the more reason to take care of your hearing today and tomorrow.

In an interview published by the University of Utah News Center, Professor Rabbit put it this way, “We are reporting discovery of a new nanoscale [really teeny] motor in the ear. The ear has a mechanical amplifier in it that uses electrical power to do mechanical amplification.”

The Utah News indicated that, “Previous research elsewhere indicated that hair cells within the cochlea of the inner ear can “dance” – elongate and contract – to help amplify sounds.

The new study shows sounds also may be amplified by the back-and-forth or “dancing” of stereocilia, which are the 50 to 300 hair-like nanotubes projecting from the top of each [cochlear] ear cell.”

William Brownell, a co-author of the study and professor of Otolaryngology at Baylor Collage of Medicine in Houston, whimsically described the discovery in terms we can all understand.

Brownell says the new study shows how the flexoelectric effect can account for the amplification of sound in the cochlea. Stereocilia essentially are membranes that have been rolled into tubes so the fact that a membrane can generate acoustic [mechanical] energy is novel. Imagine hearing a soap bubble talk.”

Flexoelectrical Energy

Katie Brenemen, a bioengineering doctoral student at the University of Utah and co-author of the study, stated that this energy may also be a part of digestion and memory formation. In other words, flexoelectrical energy may be a newly introduced source of power used throughout the body, not just at the end of the cochlear hair-like projections.

In a recent post by Ed Yeates of KKSL newsradio Professor Rabbitt was quoted as saying, “What we are reporting here is a new motor that really hasn’t been understood in the past. It’s the stereocilia, the little tubes on the top of the cell.” Inside the inner ear, the little dancing hair-like tubes actually act like electric motors.” [that amplify sound before being sent to the brain where it will be further processed.]

Any discovery in how we hear and process sound offers hope to those with hearing loss.

Vroom. Vroom. Your ears have motors to help you hear better, more clearly and keenly.

But damage to the hair like projections that wave back and forth in the cochlear fluid is irreversible.

So even though you may have millions of tiny amps boosting sound before transmission to the brain, these mechanisms are still delicate. It’s important, whether you age 10 or 100 to protect the hearing you have.

To learn more about this topic visit:  Hearing motors in your Ears?  Fire up your Engines.

14 December 2009 - A new study into hearing has uncovered the secret of our extraordinary ability to perceive a range of sounds - from a pin dropping to the roar of a jet engine - and could lead to a better understanding of deafness and hearing loss.

With further research, it is hoped that we may soon be closer to understanding mechanisms behind deafness, enabling improved methods aimed at repairing hearing loss due to damage or genetic defects. The findings also shed light on other sensory systems, such as smell and vision.

Funded by the Wellcome Trust, Deafness Research UK and the Royal Society, Dr Walter Marcotti, of Sheffield University’s Department of Biomedical Science, has discovered how a particular calcium sensor present in highly specialised sensory cells allows us to hear with such remarkable sensitivity across a wide range of sound intensities. Working collaboratively with researchers in four other institutions, Dr Walter Marcotti and his research assistant Dr Stuart Johnson have found that a calcium sensor present in auditory sensory cell synapses allows them to encode graded sound stimuli. Their findings have been published in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

The article can be found at: www.nature.com/neuro/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nn.2456.html

The human ear can process an impressive range of sounds, from a pin dropping to a jet engine on take-off. This remarkable achievement depends upon the ability of these sensory receptors to respond to graded signals across a wide range of sound intensity. A similar phenomenon exists in other sensory systems, including the eye. The system depends on the properties of specialised ribbon synapses that convey sensory information from the receptors to the brain.

Dr Walter Marcotti and Dr Stuart Johnson explain: “The function of this specific calcium sensor is to extend the dynamic range of sensory synapses in order to increase hearing sensitivity across such a wide spectrum of sound intensities. We are now studying how the calcium sensors, or synaptotagmins, interact to produce our remarkably sensitive auditory, visual and olfactory systems”. By revealing the main determinants of normal cochlear synaptic development, they hope that the information gathered could bring us closer to an understanding of mechanisms behind deafness, and improve methods aimed at repairing hearing loss due to damage or genetic defects.

Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK, said: “The findings of Dr Marcotti’s team are incredibly exciting. The notion that we may be able to repair hearing loss at some level in the future is one that will give hope to millions of deaf people and sufferers of other hearing conditions across the world. It is of course early days and with all such scientific breakthroughs we need to be cautious; however we believe that the findings are significant and we may indeed be closer to understanding deafness than at any point previously.”

This is exactly the type of research that Deafness Research UK aims to fund. Deafness Research UK is the country’s only charity dedicated to finding new cures, treatments and technologies for deaf, hard of hearing and other hearing impaired people. The charity supports high quality medical research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all forms of hearing impairment including tinnitus. The Deafness Research UK Information Service provides free information and advice based on the latest scientific evidence and informed by leading experts. The Information Service can be contacted on Freephone 0808 808 2222 .

Taken from http://www.deafnessresearch.org.uk/

January 15, 2010 - During this economic downturn with record-breaking unemployment rates, ODEP and its Federal partners are launching a six-city Listening Tour in Dallas on January 21, 2010, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Westin City Center (650 N. Pearl Street, Dallas, TX). Three key constituencies will provide input: employers (public and private sector); individuals and consumers; and advocacy organizations and service providers (such as Employment Services and Partners).

According to U.S. Department of Labor's Assistant Secretary Kathleen Martinez, "The employment figures for people with disabilities are way too low. Because these figures are not acceptable, I am pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is working in tandem with other Federal agencies to change this picture as we strive for good jobs for everyone, including those of us with disabilities. As we proceed, we need to learn from local stakeholders, so we are issuing this invitation and want to hear from you."

To gain rich insights into both systemic barriers and best practices, the Listening Tour is seeking input in three key areas: (1) More effective ways to increase employment of women, Veterans and inorities with disabilities; (2) Identification of Federal and state systems that are effectively collaborating to achieve successful employment outcomes for people with disabilities; and (3) Three top issues on which the Federal government should focus to support an increase in labor force participation of people with disabilities.

Listening Session presentations on January 21 in Dallas are by the public residing in the U.S. Department of Labor's Region IV (Texas, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming) to Federal officials from the U.S. Department of Labor and other Federal agencies, including the Employment and Training Administration, Veterans Employment and Training Service, Woman's Bureau and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs of the U.S. Department of Labor and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services of the U.S. Department of Education; U.S. Office of Personnel Management; and the U.S. Social Security

Administration. "By holding one of its listening tours in Dallas, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office on Disability Employment Policy is offering the Region IV community an opportunity to discuss the many important issues related to the successful employment of people with disabilities, women and veterans," stated Charlotte A. Stewart, Executive Director, REACH Resource Centers on Independent Living-Dallas, Fort Worth, Denton & Plano, TX.

As the nation gears up to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the historic Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 2010, ODEP will focus efforts on information gathering in all six DOL regions. In the spirit of ODEP's new Assistant Secretary Kathleen Martinez, ODEP is aligning expectations to move its variety of stakeholders "From Assurances to Action." ODEP 2010 Listening Tour cities include: Philadelphia (January 27), Chicago (February 11), San Francisco (February 16), Atlanta (February 24) and Boston (March 3).

ODEP is a Federal Agency within the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that provides national leadership to increase employment opportunities for adults and youth with disabilities while striving to eliminate barriers to employment. Through research and policy development, ODEP supports the creation of expanded work options and meaningful employment, promotes economic opportunities and independence, encourages self-determination, and supports inclusion of people with disabilities in their communities. ODEP customers include: Federal, state, and local government agencies; Educational and training institutions; Private employers and their employees; Disability advocates; and Providers of services.

The 2010 ODEP Listening Tour is being coordinated by Event Strategies, Inc. (ESI), a Virginia-based full service production company dedicated to event-based communication and special events. For more information about ODEP and its programs, visit its Web site at www.dol.gov/odep. For more information about the 2010 ODEP Listening Tour, visit www.disabilitylisteningtour.com

Online registration for the AG Bell 2010 Biennial Convention, June 25-28 at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek in Orlando, Fla., is now available! This year's convention features 11 intensive short courses; 80 concurrent sessions; 3 1/2 days of programming for children and teens with all hearing abilities; and a special presentation by keynote speaker and ABC "Good Morning America" contributor Lee Woodruff as well as a complimentary copy of her bestseller, "Perfectly Imperfect: A Life in Progress."

AG Bell members are currently eligible for the early bird member rate if you register before April 2. If you are not a member but want to qualify for the early bird member rate of just $315 per person, click here to join AG Bell. To download a PDF of the complete registration brochure, click here. To register online, click here. For more information about the convention, visit www.agbell2010convention.org.

AG Bell Family Convention Scholarship Information

Families who would like to attend an AG Bell Convention for the first time and have limited financial resources may apply for a family scholarship to help offset the cost of attending the convention. To learn more and to download an application, click here.

AG Bell Convention Volunteer Opportunity

Volunteerism is key to the success of the AG Bell Biennial Convention and as we prepare to converge on Orlando, Fla., in June, the work in developing an onsite team is now underway. Support from dedicated AG Bell members such as you will ensure a great experience for all convention attendees!

Applications are now being accepted for AG Bell 2010 Biennial Convention volunteer positions. The convention will be held June 25-28 at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek in Orlando, Fla. If selected as a volunteer, you will receive the discount volunteer rate of $195 in exchange for at least eight hours of volunteer service during convention. Please note that volunteers are responsible for their own expenses and travel arrangements.

The deadline for applications is February 15, 2010. Click here to submit your application today!

New This Convention: Super Sessions

The AG Bell 2010 Biennial Convention will offer for the first time three "Super Sessions." Convention attendees can choose one of these three innovative presentations:

• Parent Advocacy Training AG Bell's acclaimed Parent Advocacy Training (PAT) program will be relauched at convention and will provide parents an opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to work collaboratively with public early intervention and K-12 school systems.
•  Professional Preparation in Listening and Spoken Language Join Listening and Spoken Language Specialists Christina Perigoe, Ph.D., LSLS Cert. AVT, and K. Todd Houston, Ph.D., LSLS Cert. AVT, and a panel of academics to explore several models of professional preparation that have emerged in both the pre-service and in-service training of listening and spoken language professionals.
•  Career Transitions Join fellow AG Bell convention attendees who are deaf or hard of hearing for an intensive session on career development. Learn about transition from college to a new job, career advancement techniques, overcoming obstacles in the workplace and how to participate in an interview with confidence.

AG Bell 2010 Biennial Convention Hotel Reservations Now Available

Those planning to attend the AG Bell 2010 Biennial Convention June 25-28 in Orlando, Fla., can now make hotel reservations at the AG Bell convention rate. The brand-new, state-of-the-art Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek inside the gates of Walt Disney World is the convention host hotel and offers a luxurious spa, Orlando's newest golf course, complimentary yoga and other exercise classes, lagoon-style pool with water slide, 12 restaurants serving cuisine from around the world, and much more! Click here for more information or to make a reservation. Click here for more information on the AG Bell 2010 Biennial Convention.

Congress also considers children’s coverage mandate and payment disclosure rules

The election of Scott Brown (R-MA) to the Senate is likely to have a significant impact on health reform efforts since Republicans, voting as a group, now have the power to block key votes needed to pass the legislation. It remains uncertain, however, what direction Congress will take as a result of this change.

High level negotiations continue between the House of Representatives and Senate to determine the overall structure of healthcare reform legislation including the specifics of a proposed tax on medical devices. HIA and a coalition of hearing health groups continue to work in support of the Senate’s FDA Class I Device exclusion provision which would exempt hearing aids from the tax. The House bill exempts only items sold at “retail” from its 2.5% tax on medical devices, and that would effectively result in a tax on all hearing aids sold. As previously noted, Reps Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Shelley Berkley (D-NV) and Dina Titus (D-NV) have contacted the Speaker directly in support of the Class I exemption, as have several senior hearing health champions from the Ways and Means Committee. Every Representative who attended a local HLAA/AG Bell event in their district that was sponsored by HIA and supported by IHS has been supportive of efforts to exempt hearing aids from the tax.

Also under consideration is a House provision that would mandate insurance coverage for hearing aids for children under 21 years old, although the form of coverage required is not specified in the legislation. The Senate bill does not include such a mandate. In addition, Congress is also working to reconcile Practitioner Payment Disclosure provisions that are included in both House and Senate health care bills. Both proposals would require disclosure of payments to physicians, and the House bill would expand the requirements to other medical groups. The medical device industry is focused on efforts to insure that any federal “sunshine” regulations preempt state reporting programs to minimize paperwork and compliance-related burdens.

HIA will continue to work with our supporters in the House and Senate as negotiations continue, and we will keep you posted. Contact Andy Bopp, abopp@bostrom.com with any questions.

Tuscaloosa, Ala. - A University of Alabama researcher is embarking on a $5.6 million phase-three, randomized, controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of an innovative treatment that uses a noise-generating device, along with counseling, to alleviate the debilitating effects of tinnitus – that ringing in the ears that drives some people to distraction.

The non-medical habituation-based treatment being studied is known as Tinnitus Retraining Therapy or TRT. The investigational study of TRT will involve tinnitus sufferers drawn from the U.S. Navy, Marines and Air Force, and will be conducted in Navy and Air Force flagship hospitals in California, Texas, Maryland and Virginia. Researchers expect to recruit 228 participants for the study.

Dr. Craig Formby, UA distinguished graduate research professor in the department of communicative disorders, leads the NIH-sponsored study. Formby’s team at UA leads the clinical part of the study, which is funded by a $3.2 million award from the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have received a $2.4 million award to manage and analyze the study data. The project will be spread over five years, including four years for recruiting study participants and conducting the treatment and follow-up measurements.

Tinnitus is the No. 1 service-connected disability among veterans returning from the Middle East conflicts. In 2008, compensation for tinnitus disability in the VA medical system alone exceeded $500 million and is projected to exceed $1.1 billion and affect more that 800,000 veterans by 2011.

“Tinnitus is a noise inside the ear or head in the absence of any sound that could account for it,” Formby says. “We don’t know what happens. In some cases, it’s related to an acoustic insult or gunfire. However, there may be no obvious cause for the tinnitus for many sufferers. It’s some sort of over-stimulation of the auditory system that produces hyperactivity either at a peripheral or central level.”

Most people who have tinnitus ignore it, Formby says, but for some it’s torture. As many as 50 million Americans experience tinnitus. Estimates are that for about 2 to 5 million people, the problem is incapacitating.

“We know of reports of sufferers who have chronic debilitating tinnitus that is so troublesome that they would elect to cut the auditory nerve to get rid of the persistent ringing,” Formby says.

The current standard of care involves counseling people with debilitating tinnitus. The counselors typically try to help the tinnitus sufferer to manage the problem by suggesting coping strategies and by providing information about tinnitus.

“The standard of care historically has included reassurance that the patient’s condition is not life threatening nor an indicator of imminent hearing loss,” he says.

Formby will compare the current standard of care for management of tinnitus in the military with TRT and with a placebo condition that will control for the treatment effects of the noise-generator component of the TRT treatment. After specialized TRT counseling to start the habituation process, each of the affected military personnel will use a pair of ear-worn noise-generator devices produced by General Hearing Instruments that produce a “soft seashell-like noise,” which blends with the tinnitus.

“In TRT theory, the soft noise throughout the day from the noise generators helps to facilitate the habituation process, which is initiated by the counseling,” Formby says. “Patients are encouraged to use their devices from the time they start their day until the end of the day or at least for eight hours a day. The patients are told to forget the devices are on. Don’t worry about the tinnitus, don’t keep a log, and don’t worry about how bad their tinnitus is from hour to hour or day to day; just go on with their lives.”

They are also taught about their auditory system and how it is believed to work together with parts of the brain and central nervous system to give rise to their debilitating tinnitus conditions.”

In the clinical trial, Formby and his co-researchers will measure treatment-related changes in the impact of the tinnitus on each participant’s daily activities. They also will track measures of perception, awareness, and annoyance of the tinnitus for each participant in the study. The questionnaire responses for participants who are assigned to the TRT treatment group will be compared with the responses of tinnitus patients given the current standard-of-care treatment for tinnitus in the military and with a third treatment group who are assigned to the placebo noise-generator control.

“If successful, then most patients receiving the full TRT treatment will likely report the tinnitus is no longer troublesome for them at the conclusion of the study,” Formby says. “If you make a measurement of the tinnitus in terms of its pitch and loudness characteristics at the start of the study and at the end of the study, then the perceived tinnitus properties will likely be similar. But the patient’s perception of the annoyance and awareness of the tinnitus will be reduced, and the tinnitus will not be bothersome to them in the way it was at the start of the study. The other treatment groups are not expected to benefit appreciably from their interventions.”

Formby has been working with the U.S. military since 1999, to develop the study protocol for this pioneering investigation, which is the first definitive phase-three clinical trial of TRT sponsored by NIH. The clinical trial will take place at the Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton in Irvine, Calif.; the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.; the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Va.; the San Diego Naval Hospital; the David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif.; and the Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

The department of communicative disorders is part of UA’ s College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.

Taken from uanews.ua.edu/2009/.

Getting and keeping a job in the current economy is not easy, and it is even more of a challenge for people with hearing loss. However, there are ways to maximize the chances with some pro-active measures.

Better Hearing Institute (BHI) and the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) are useful resources for hearing-impaired people looking for a job.

The BHI stresses that hearing aids are crucial for effective on-the-job performance, as they will ensure good communication, which is a critical skill in the workplace.

The HLAA’s Employment Toolkit also lists valuable tips for hearing-impaired job seekers, as well as those who have already landed a job.

Among the information included in the Toolkit is advice on dealing with workplace challenges such as communication with bosses and co-workers, as well as federal legislation relevant to employees with hearing loss.

For more information on these resources and to learn more about hearing loss and employment visit: Hearing Loss in the Workplace: It’s All in the Day’s Work.

11 December 2009 - The first year to two years of life is a critical time for hearing impaired children and their language development. Whilst young babies with hearing difficulties can now be fitted with cochlear implants, accurately assessing the effectiveness of the implants does present challenges prior to their development of language skills.

However, a major breakthrough may now be on the horizon, thanks to a bourgeoning collaboration of the world's leading experts in hearing, engineering and cognitive development.

The international team, comprising experts from Macquarie University, the Kanazawa Institute of Technology (KIT), Cochlear Limited, National Acoustic Laboratories, and the CSIRO, met at Macquarie University this week to discuss plans for a world-first brain imaging device that will allow scientists to test the auditory cortex of hearing impaired babies fitted with cochlear implants.

Such a device would improve hearing specialists' ability to accurately assess the effectiveness of a baby's implant and then make adjustments if needed - even before the child can speak - to give them the best hearing possible and assist with language development.

"Ultimately the aim is to be able to better adjust the implants while the children are still very young - only babies - so their cognitive development will proceed normally from a very early age," said Professor Stephen Crain, from Macquarie University's Centre for Cognitive Science.

"At the moment accurately measuring how well a cochlear implant is working in a very young child is difficult. This is because babies and toddlers are unable to communicate effectively using language, so they can't describe to scientists what they are hearing or how loud and clear something may sound to them," he said.

"If we can achieve early implantation and then adjust the implant to the child's brain, we believe we can make implants more effective."

Crain and his team devised the first brain imaging system in the world that can measure the magnetic fields generated by a child's brain during cognitive processing. Called a MEG system - short for magnetoencephalography - the device was developed by scientists from Japan's Kanazawa Institute of Technology (KIT) and is now housed at Macquarie University's cognitive science laboratory.

"It is probably possible to construct a map of the auditory cortex of a child with normal hearing using our existing child MEG system, but if we tried to test a child with a cochlear implant, the system would be overwhelmed by the powerful signals emitted by its electronic components," Crain said.

"In order to successfully develop a system which can be used with these children, we need to invent a completely new way of shielding the MEG sensors from the powerful magnetic waves generated by a cochlear implant."

If such a device can be developed, Crain and his team will establish ‘normal' cognitive function by using a control group of children without hearing impairment, before working with young children fitted with cochlear implants.

Work is expected to commence on a prototype of the new system early next year.

Taken from http://www.mq.edu.au/newsroom/control.php?page=story&item=4006.

Sonic Kids is a collaborative pediatric hearing aid project involving parents, Sonic Innovations, Inc., audiologists, and Utah Department of Health and Hearing Speech and Vision Services

SALT LAKE CITY - Sonic Innovations, Inc. (Sonic), a Utah-based global provider for hearing care services and solutions, is partnering with the Utah Department of Health, Hearing Speech and Vision Services (HSVS) and the Utah Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Committee to help children with hearing loss. The program, entitled Sonic Kids, will provide two hearing aids per month to Utah children at no cost to their families.

The first recipient of the Sonic Kids program is eight-year-old Kingsly Nana Fabu. He received the initial fitting on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 9 a.m. at the Children with Special Health Care Needs Bureau located in the Utah Department of Health building at 44 Mario Capecchi Dr. (Medical Dr.) in Salt Lake City. Kingsly received a pair of Sonic Velocity 24 BTE (behind the ear) hearing aids. These are the premium aids in the Velocity line of products suited for patients who are constantly in challenging listening environments that typically include background noise.

“Sonic Innovations is proud to be part of such a worthy project. Children’s hearing loss can lead to developmental, emotional and communication issues which can often times be corrected with a simple hearing aid. I believe that the Sonic Kids project will change the lives of several children in need,” says Sonic CEO Sam Westover.

“When the audiologist told me Kingsly was receiving the hearing aids, I was so happy because my son will finally be able to hear better,” said Aline Nana Fabu. “I could not afford hearing aids, so I am very excited they will help my child. As a mother, you want your son to hear you. Now he will hear better in school and at home. I am very glad.”

Applicants for the Sonic Kids program may be referred by public and private agencies and audiologists. Audiologists who fit the hearing aid(s) must agree to the use of the best practice hearing aid fitting protocol endorsed by the Utah Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Committee. The managing audiologist will work with Sonic to choose appropriate hearing aid(s) for the eligible child.

“This is such a wonderful and exciting opportunity,” says Dr. Kelly Dick, chair of the Utah Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Committee. “Families of children with hearing loss who are not able to afford hearing aids may apply to receive them through the Sonic Kids program. All applications will be reviewed by a selection team that will determine which children meet the eligibility requirements. Factors include age and financial need.”

About Sonic Innovations:

 Sonic Innovations, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, has international offices and manufacturing centers across the globe. In conjunction with their distributor partners, Sonic Innovations has provided hearing care services and solutions in more than 25 countries and the company’s partners have prescribed more than 1 million Sonic hearing instruments and can be found online at www.sonici.com.  Sonic Innovations is part of the Otix Global, Inc. family (NASDAQ: OTIX), which can be found online at www.otixglobal.com.

On Saturday, February 6, 2010, from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., New York City-area students with hearing loss and their parents are invited to a free one-day conference entitled "Life After High School." The conference will be held at the Long Island Marriott Hotel in Uniondale, N.Y. Students will engage in activities that will help them learn their strengths and how to transition those into a college major or as the focus of a career. The deadline to register is January 29. To register or for more information, click here or email FutureQuest@ntid.rit.edu.

In addition, high school sophomores and juniors who are deaf or hard of hearing are invited to participate in the 5th annual Rochester Institute of Technology SpiRIT Writing Contest.

Winners will have their choice of a scholarship and travel expenses to the Explore Your Future program at RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), or a $500 cash prize. EYF is a six-day summer career exploration program for deaf and hard-of-hearing students that gives them the opportunity to sample different careers as well as college life. The deadline to enter this year’s competition is March 15, 2010. For complete contest guidelines and entry information, click here.

A serendipitous discovery of deaf zebra fish larvae has helped narrow down the function of an elusive protein necessary for hearing and balance. The work, led by Rockefeller University’s A. James Hudspeth, suggests that hearing loss may arise from a faulty pathway that translates sound waves into electrical impulses the brain can understand.

“These zebrafish larvae were originally pegged for another study, but then we saw that one-fourth of them failed to respond to acoustic stimuli and made erratic spiraling movements, and that suggested that they were born deaf,” says first author Michelle R. Gleason, who spearheaded the project. “So we took this opportunity to examine what could be responsible for this extreme hearing loss.”

All ears. Electron micrographs of two hair cell bundles in the zebra fish ear show the difference between those born with (left) and without (right) the protein Tmie.

At first, Gleason and Hudspeth, head of the Laboratory of Sensory Neuroscience and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, didn’t detect any structural defects in the zebra fish’s inner ear, which houses sound sensors called hair cells. The cells are adorned with height-ordered hair-like projections called stereocilia, which, when deflected toward the tallest member, set in motion a series of events that decodes sounds into a neural code. “It was such a clean phenotype,” says Gleason. “Everything about the mutants’ inner ear seemed normal.”

But something was clearly amiss. Even though the deaf zebra fish had hair cells, several tests used to measure their presence and function made it seem as if these hair cells might as well not be there.

By comparing the genomes of normal zebra fish and the deaf ones, the team mapped the affected DNA and then zeroed in on the precise gene, which encodes for the protein Tmie. The gene had two mutations, resulting in a severely shortened protein that affected the function of the hair-like sensors, leading to hearing loss.

Using powerful electron microscopy techniques, Gleason and her colleagues confirmed previous findings in mice studies that showed abnormalities in the hair cells. The deaf zebra fish had fewer and shorter kinocilia as well as a reduced number of stereocillia. But the researchers also found that the tips of the stereocilia were much thinner than normal stereocilia and lacked a tethering protein that connects one stereocilium to the next. The findings, says Gleason, suggest that Tmie plays a bigger role in the transmission of sound than previously thought.

“At the ultra-structural level, we specifically show that these mutant defects map to a very specific cog in the transduction machinery,” says Gleason. “And that’s exciting because we now have a clearer target for therapy.

Hearing aids are expensive and it’s just common sense to take care of them. Here are six tips discussed in an article on Healthy Hearing that will extend the life of your hearing aids.

1. Invest in a hearing aid dehumidifier.

As you move through the day, hearing aids can obtain moisture which can over time cause wear and tear on your hearing aids. Talk to a professional about a hearing aid dehumidifier that does just what it says it does. Remove your hearing aids before hitting the sheets, remove the hearing aid batteries and place them in the dehumidifier and gently, overnight, the gadget dries out the inside bits of your hearing aid.

2. Clean away ear wax.

Ear wax and hearing aids are not a happy combination. In fact, ear wax can gum up the works, clog the hearing aid speaker or microphone, give less than peak performance and eventually cause your hearing aids to be sent in for repair.

Your hearing professional should instruct you on how to clean your hearing aids and provide you with special cleaning tools. Use the tools as directed but most importantly inspect your hearing aids each time you remove them from your ears. If you see wax, wipe away with a soft cloth. For earwax down inside the hearing aid, consult with your hearing professional to learn how to properly clean your particular hearing aid model.

Finally, practice good ear hygiene. If ear wax build-up is a problem consider using over the count ear wax softeners. Follow the directions on the box and you’ll keep your ears clean enough.

3. Clean the hearing aid’s microphone screens.

Microphone screens are subject to was and debris and when they become filled with debris the hearing aids’ performance can suffer. If you have experienced a sudden loss of volume or your directional microphone settings for noise does not seem to be working, your microphone screens may be plugged up.

If you see debris in the microphone screens try wiping away. If it does not remove, consult with your hearing professional. Microphone screens can easily be cleaned and/or replaced if necessary by your hearing professional.

4. Repair or replace behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid tubing.

BTEs and receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) hearing aids utilize tubing to deliver sound from the hearing aid unit behind the ear to the ear canal. Over time, this tubing can harden and subsequently crack or cause change in sound quality. This may be an easy fix if your hearing professional gives you a quick lesson, but to be on the safe side, have your hearing professional replace any old, stiff or worn tubing from the hearing aids.

5. Before you go to sleep, let a little air in.

Before you go to bed for the night, pop open the battery doors of your hearing aids. This will allow air in to allow drying on the inside and keep circuits running smoothly. This also will reduce the drain on your hearing aid batteries.

6. Avoid extreme heat or cold.

This is an easy one. Don’t leave your hearing aids near the heater or in a car during 100 degree weather or on the flipside in below zero weather.

Today’s hearing aids are made to rugged, reliable standards so you don’t have to coddle the darned things; however, they are electronic devices and should be treated the same as your new flashy HDTV or laptop computer.

Protect that investment you made in quality of life by taking a few extra steps and providing a little tender loving care.

Keep them clean, reduce moisture, use a safe, recommended means of keeping the ear canals clear of waxy buildup and, finally, if you have any questions, ask your hearing professional. They are your best resource for showing you the in’s and out’s of your particular hearing aids.

To learn more about these tips and implementing them in your hearing aid care regimen, visit: Take Care of Your Hearing Aids, So They Take Care of You.

Envoy Medical, a Minnesota corporation, has developed the first Fully Implantable Hearing Restoration System known as the Esteem®. On December 18th, an Advisory Panel of independent ENT experts unanimously recommended that the FDA approve the Esteem®.

Patrick Spearman, Envoy Medical’s Chief Executive Officer, was quoted as saying “This is great news for all sensorineural hearing loss sufferers. Envoy has been able to accomplish with the Esteem® what hearing aids set out to do but were unable to. Our Esteem® allows recipients the opportunity to hear naturally and restore their lives back to normal.” In the clinical trial, patients averaged an 11 decibel improvement in Speech Reception Threshold (SRT) scores beyond their hearing aids. At a quiet conversation level, average patient speech understanding improved by more than 45% over their hearing aids.

The Advisory Panel’s vote is a recommendation only, and the FDA will still have to formally approve the Esteem® before it can be marketed to the public. In most cases, the FDA does follow the Advisory Panel’s recommendation.

Esteem®- The Hearing Implant™ - is surgically implanted, invisible to others, and once approved for the US market will cost approximately $30,000 (including the device, surgery and audiometric testing).

Envoy can be contacted at the following phone numbers:

Patrick Spearman, CEO    (936) 443-4952   

Shelly Amann, President    (651) 338-9343   

Bethesda, MD: The Hearing Loss Association of America® is pleased to announce that the association’s Walk4Hearing™ program surpassed its fundraising goal of $1 million for 2009. Dedicated volunteers organized Walk events in 21 cities across the country, with more than 4,000 people participating in the largest walkathon program for people with hearing loss.

Significant developments in the Walk4Hearing™ program contributed to the association's goal of increasing awareness about hearing loss, minimizing the stigma associated with wearing hearing aids and cochlear implants, and raising funds to expand services and programs for people with hearing loss and their families at the national and local levels.

Mike Orscheln, president and CEO of Phonak, a Walk sponsor served as the first Business Team Chair for the Chicago Walk4Hearing™. In a pre-event statement, Orscheln stated, "At Phonak, we are committed to opening up the world of hearing to those with hearing loss through the development of and manufacture of world-class digital hearing systems.” Other national sponsors included Advanced Bionics, HearUSA, IBM, and Sorenson SIP Relay. Harold Salters, Director of Federal Regulatory Affairs for T-Mobile, a major sponsor of the Walk4Hearing™ said, “T-Mobile is proud of its support and commitment to the Walk4Hearing™, dating from the very first Walk. Every year, participation by our employees and others increases and we share HLAA’s excitement about the greater turnout and awareness of hearing loss issues throughout our communities and nation.”

Washington Redskins safety, Reed Doughty, who has had a hearing loss since childhood, was the Honorary Chair for the Washington DC Walk4Hearing™ and was featured in a Public Service Announcement aired by Comcast SportsNet. The Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation also showed their support of the Walk4Hearing™ by donating a “Kids Kick-off” ticket package.

Across the country Walk4Hearing™ sites experienced an increase in the number of teams, with 600 registered. They also welcomed participation from a greater number of families with children with hearing loss. In addition, "alliances" were formed with various schools systems, schools for students who are deaf and hard of hearing, universities, hearing loss-related organizations, and audiology programs. Alliance groups share in the proceeds.

Lauren Harman of Yardley, Pennsylvania, who walked in the Garden State (NJ) Walk4Hearing™, is the winner of the 2009 Walk4Hearing™ raffle prize drawing of top fundraisers. She will enjoy one week at the Spa and Golf Resort in Ixtapan de la Sal, Mexico.

About the Hearing Loss Association of America

The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), founded in 1979, opens the world of communication to people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy and support. HLAA publishes the bimonthly Hearing Loss Magazine, holds annual conventions, Walk4Hearing™, and more. Information can be found at www.hearingloss.org/. The national headquarters is located at 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1200, Bethesda, MD 20814. Phone: 301.657.2248. HLAA has chapters and state organizations across the country.

New 32-inch LCD TV includes built-in wireless transmitter, headset for better listening, easy-to-use remote control, automatic shut-off service -

SAN DIEGO – January 4, 2010 – TV Ears, a manufacturer of doctor recommended TV listening solutions, will unveil the first ever “Senior-Friendly” LCD high definition television at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show this week 

The 32-inch set includes a built-in wireless transmitter and headset for better listening, an easy-to-use, color-coded remote control device, and an automatic shut-off feature that engages after four hours of inactivity.

“We wanted to provide a state-of-the-art TV for seniors who had neither the experience nor desire to fumble with all the buttons and settings required to watch a mainstream high definition television,” said George Dennis, Founder and CEO of TV Ears. “We also wanted the set to be trouble-free and energy efficient, so we included a feature that automatically turns the television off if the volume or channel has not been changed for four consecutive hours, figuring that the person watching has left the room or fallen asleep.”

Dennis also added that “this system offers a good alternative while also helping those who have trouble hearing the dialogue on their favorite show. In doing so, we’ll bring back the family TV viewing experience for everyone in the home!” 

Additionally, the TV Ears TV provides extra large screen text for easier viewing, and comes with the company’s “White Glove” specialty service that includes delivery with complete hook-up, programming and one-on-one instruction service of the TV and associated TV Ears Headset by a knowledgeable and friendly technician. Customers can also call a toll-free telephone number for assistance after their purchase.

TV Ears’ TV will be introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from January 7 to 10 at the company’s “Silver Summit“ booth number 2911. The set will be available for purchase in March 2010 on the TV Ears Web site, through select audiology dealers and at specialty retailers. The Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is $1199.00. More information is available at www.TVEars.com.

About TV Ears

TV Ears manufactures doctor recommended TV listening solutions that have helped more than 1,000,000 people hear the television clearly and once again enjoy what they are watching bringing families back together and returning tranquility to the home. The company is acknowledged as one of the Fastest Growing Companies in America and continues a pattern of consistent growth with innovative quality products and an increasingly loyal and expanding base of satisfied customers. For more information, visit www.TVEars.com

2009-12-09, Stäfa, Switzerland -Hear the World combines forces with Global Explorers, a not-for-profit educational travel organization, to offer the first-ever Hear the World Expedition to the Peruvian Amazon.

The expedition will integrate students aged 17-22 of mixed hearing abilities to raise awareness about hearing as a fundamental part of life that many take for granted. The acoustical environment of the Peruvian Amazon is a complex symphony exploding with life – where one’s ability to listen is increasingly magnified. For that reason, it is the perfect setting to educate students about the importance of hearing and the consequences of hearing loss. Students with and without hearing loss will form this unlikely team that will work together and learn from one another while shattering expectations and learning to use adversity to their advantage.

The expedition team will be accompanied by Bill Barkeley, a world-class mountain climber and one of the 15,000 people in the United States with Type 2 Usher’s Syndrome – the leading cause of deaf-blindness in the world. Bill’s 2007 summit of Mount Kilimanjaro shattered expectations and confirmed his role as an advocate and inspiration for the hearing loss community.

The expedition will take place from 8th to 17th July 2010. Full-time students ages 17 to 22 with and without hearing loss can apply till 15th January 2010. More information about the application and the expedition you can find here.

HearUSA CEO Says It’s Time to Recognize Hearing Care as a Medical Necessity

West Palm Beach, FL - January 5, 2010 - With hearing loss in America approaching what medical researchers say may be epidemic proportions, a top hearing care executive is calling for this to be the year that hearing care is recognized as a medical necessity.

“Even mild hearing loss, left untreated, can impair communication and negatively impact social and family relationships, job performance and health and safety,” said Stephen Hansbrough, CEO of HearUSA (Amex: EAR), one of the nation’s largest hearing care companies.

He said studies show that untreated hearing loss, which has been linked to depression, loneliness, reduced alertness and stress and can put personal safety and overall health at risk, is also costing billions of dollars in lost earnings.

While hearing aids can treat 95 percent of all hearing loss, Hansbrough said they are used by only one in four of the 36 million Americans with hearing loss.

He said that while cost was a major factor, other barriers to greater use of hearing aids were stigma (which is fading), unfamiliarity with today’s state-of-the-art hearing aids technology and lack of trust and confidence in an often-confusing hearing aid marketplace.

“Acceptance of hearing care as a medical necessity would enable millions suffering from untreated hearing loss to receive hearing aids and support services from qualified, credentialed providers,” said Hansbrough.

“Hearing care must be made more affordable, accessible and consistent,” said Hansbrough, reaffirming HearUSA’s support for the hearing aids tax credit legislation currently pending in the House and the Senate.

According to a study conducted by Johns Hopkins University researchers and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, “Hearing loss is a societal problem. It is known to be highly prevalent and the costs of increased needs and diminished autonomy associated with hearing loss are shared by society.”

 The study concluded that “the prevalence of hearing loss is predicted to rise significantly because of an aging population and the growing use of personal hearing devices. Indeed, we may be facing an epidemic of hearing impairment.”

In its landmark study, “The Impact of Untreated Hearing Loss on Household Income,” The Better Hearing Institute estimated that the annual cost in lost earnings due to untreated hearing loss was $122 billion, with the Federal government losing $18 billion in taxes.

The Better Hearing Institute also reports that America’s hearing loss population is growing at a rate of 160% of the overall population growth.

About HearUSA:

HearUSA is the recognized leader in hearing care for the nation's top managed care organizations through its network of more than 2000 hearing care providers and 178 company-owned centers. HearUSA is the nation's only hearing care network accredited by URAC, an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation. HearUSA is also the administrator of the AARP Hearing Care program, designed to help millions of Americans aged 50+ who have untreated hearing loss.

Decades of research has shown time and time again that smoking is bad for your health. Yet 1 in 5 Americans continue to puff away daily, causing negative health effects – including hearing loss.

According to a recent published report on AudiologyOnline, the link between smoking and hearing loss was examined including multiple studies that have shown a clear connection between smoking and hearing loss. Yet another reason to move “kicking the habit” to the top of your resolutions list.

Smoking and Hearing Loss

Scientists have recognized the danger smoking presents to hearing for nearly 40 years, though this danger hasn’t been studied to the extent other tobacco-related health risks. Dr. Bharti Katbamna’s, a Western Michigan University researcher, discussed multiple research findings linking smoking with hearing loss and reported the following:

• The dangerous chemicals in cigarette smoke affect the ears’ ability to transmit vibrations through the hearing mechanism, with the most significant damage reported in the cochlea, the inner ear.
• The affect smoking has on hearing appears to be correlated with the amount of cigarettes smoked. A study conducted on Japanese office workers who smoke, showed “that as the number of cigarettes smoked per day and pack years of smoking increased, the risk for high-frequency hearing loss increased in a dose dependent manner…”
• A 2005 study “showed that smoking, age, and noise exposure together pose a greater risk for hearing loss than each factor alone. They showed that non-exposed nonsmokers in the 20-40 years age category were least likely to experience hearing loss, whereas smokers over 40 years with a history of noise exposure were most likely to show a hearing loss.”

Research suggests multiple biological mechanisms that may play a role in developing hearing loss due to smoke exposure, one which includes nicotine and carbon monoxide may actually deplete oxygen levels to the cochlea causing tissue damage.

Smoking alone does increase the chances of experiencing hearing loss, as indicated by multiple studies. However when you combine the negative effects of smoking with the negative effects of exposure to loud noise and the aging process on hearing, well, you have a potent combination that may well lead to serious and irreversible hearing loss.

Protect your hearing and consider placing “Stop Smoking” on your resolution list this year. Your ears will thank you (as will the rest of your body).

To learn more about the link between smoking and hearing loss, visit: Smoking and Hearing Loss: One More Reason to Kick the Habit.

St Louis, MO. - January 7, 2010 - Oaktree Products, Inc. a leading multi-line distributor of audiology and hearing aid supplies, accessories and equipment, recently donated an array of hearing assistance technology (HAT) to the Student Academy of Audiology at Illinois State University. The purpose of the donation was for the creation of an assistive listening device (ALD)/HAT resource room at Illinois State University as part of a Community Service Learning Project. Illinois State University Au.D. students from the classes of 2010 and 2011 designed a display case for the products in the clinic’s waiting room. Patients of the university clinic can view the products in the display case and read the descriptions, while student clinicians can provide demonstrations with patients in a multipurpose therapy/rehab room demonstration room designed as a living room.

Quintin Hecht of the IL State Student Academy of Audiology stated, “Oaktree’s donation of HAT for our project has enabled us to conduct demonstrations of technology for patients and to have a more in-depth understanding of all the features and benefits. We’re grateful to Oaktree for their generosity and support.” Bob Kemp, CEO and founder of Oaktree, stated, “At Oaktree, education and training are an important part of what we do. There is no better way to learn about all the technology available to help patients than with hands-on experience. We are very happy to provide that experience for IL state Au.D. students through our donation.”

About Oaktree Products, Inc.

Founded in 1992, Oaktree Products, Inc. is a global multi-line distributor of hearing health care products intended for use in the clinical environment or for resale to patients, currently providing over 3100 items to professionals worldwide. In addition, Oaktree Products serves as a resource to the hearing industry and to hearing health care professionals, providing education, training, and general information in the areas of infection control, assistive listening devices (ALDs), cerumen management, auditory test recording administration, and business development. For more information, visit www.oaktreeproducts.com. Stay current on the latest happenings at Oaktree on Facebook and Twitter!