#10, March 2006

Contents

Message from GPCIA President

Notes of Interest

HLAA 2006

Lou Ferrigno to Speak

Cochlear Celebration

Bilateral Accessories

New Information on Meningitis Risk in Children with Cochlear Implants

Most Teens Experiencing Hearing Loss

Three Cheers for the Red Roof

 

Message from your GPCIA President

 

Greetings,

 

Just a few lines to try to up-date everyone concerning the up-coming TWELTH annual Georgia Peach Cochlear Implant Association retreat “Working Together – We can Do It” which will be held this year at the beautiful Mountain Creek Inn Conference Center at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia, June 2-4, 2006.

 

The GPCIA Board of Directors and Committees have been working very hard to try to make this year’s retreat a very wonderful, fun and educational time for all attendees. The registration packet will be in the mail to each of you in a few days. Please complete your registration and get it back in the mail to us as soon as possible. You will have a split registration packet again this year as we did last year, as you will send your room registration directly to the Mountain Creek Inn at Callaway Gardens or you may call them at 1-800-543-7121; be sure to mention that you are with the Georgia Peach Cochlear Implant Association group when calling to make your room reservations to receive the special room rates. The registration form and children’s registration forms for the GPCIA Retreat should be sent to the address listed on the registration form.

 

Some of the highlights of this years retreat will include:

 

· Keynote Speaker: Executive Director of Hearing Loss Association of America, Terry Portis, Ed.D.

· Presentation by Denise Portis with her impressions and experiences with her new found hearing with the Cochlear Implant

· Presentations by the Cochlear Implant Manufacturers’ Representatives

· Self Directed Auditory Rehabilitation for Hearing Aid and Cochlear Implant Users

· Ototoxicity by Bill Hatcher, R.Ph

· Binaural Implants with Wendell Todd, MD, and Audiologist Jolie Fainburg, MS

· Panels and Rap Sessions for all attendees

· Children’s Program for all ages under the Director Celia Cantrell, Special Education Instructor

· Exhibits located in the exhibit area, which will open at 2 P.M. Friday, June 2, 2006.

· Welcome Celebration and Luau at the poolside with hosts Connie Stratigos and Lamar Landers, along with all their helpers.

· Saturday morning (7 A.M. to 12 Noon) Snack/Breakfast Bar sponsored by Bill Hatcher, R.Ph.

· Saturday night annual Cook-Out – “Beach Bash” to be held by the lake in Callaway Gardens with hosts Connie Stratigos and Lamar Landers, along with all their helpers.

· Drawing for prizes.

· Sunday morning devotional with Gerald Adams

 

Registration for the retreat will begin at 2 P.M., Friday, June 2, 2006.

 

The weekend of June 2-4 will also be the opening weekend of the Callaway Gardens Circus . . . your room key card will also serve as your pass to the beautiful Callaway Gardens and the Circus during your stay at the retreat.

 

So, come on, join us for a rewarding, educational, fun-filled weekend, learn all the new technology changes about Cochlear Implants, meet old friends, make new friends, and enjoy the good food and fellowship offered at Calloway Gardens Resort.

 

Hope to see you there!!!

 

Sincerely,

 

Richard M. Bowman

President, Gerogia Peach Cochlear Implant Association

 

 

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Notes of Interest

 

 

Kerry Payne is no longer with Cochlear Americas as Director of Volunteer Advocates.

 

Introduction of New Board Members

 

Debbie Vives, Secretary/Treasurer

   

 

Hello, my name is Debbie Vives and I am the new Secretary/Treasurer for GPCIA. I am honored to be appointed on the board and enjoyed my first meeting last month. I have a degree in Business Administration and have 15 years of secretarial and accounting experience. I have been married for 25 years to a wonderful husband, Steve who is the Department Chair of Biology at Georgia Southern University. We have two boys, Stephen and Joseph, ages 16 and 12 who were both born profoundly deaf and have cochlear implants. Stephen was born in 1989 when implants on children were just beginning to be popular. We enrolled him in the Auditory Education Center in Atlanta to help him learn sounds and speech without signing, but even with the most powerful hearing aids he just wasn’t progressing enough for it to be successful. So after many hours of phone calls, research and prayers we decided to have him implanted at the age of six. He is currently mainstreamed in a charter high school with some special education support and is on the honor roll. He enjoys movies and video games and is learning how to drive. Our second son, Joseph was born with a similar hearing deficit and was implanted at the age of three. He is in 6th grade with no special education support and makes excellent grades. He enjoys sports, scouts and reading. He plays the clarinet in band and wants to learn how to play the guitar. All four of us are black belts in Tae Kwon Do. I am excited about serving as the Secretary/Treasurer. The retreats have been a rewarding experience for our family for a number of years. I look forward to giving back to an organization that has given so much to us.

 

Dora Sweigart first noticed a hearing loss after the birth of her oldest daughter, probably the result of the medication she was given in childbirth.  With age, the hearing got progressively worse, and she wore hearing aids for 20 years.  She received  the Freedom cochlear implant in May of 2005 and still wears a hearing aid in the other ear.


A graduate of Mercer University, Dora has worked for BellSouth Corporation for 20 years, first as a legal secretary but primarily as an accounts payable coordinator for the Legal Department.  She has been a member of SHHH for many years, having served the Atlanta Chapter as President, Vice President, and Secretary.

 

Jim Shippy has volunteered as the new editor of the Newsletter.  He wore hearing aids for 30 years until surgery for a cochlear implant approximately 3 years ago.   

 

Jim is originally from Milwaukee, but Georgia has been his home for nearly 50 years. He retired as a Visual Information Specialist from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah, in 1994, and moved to Marietta 8 years ago.   He and his wife, Catherine, have been married 47 years; they have a son and daughter and four grandchildren, with another due in May.

 

 

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Welcome to Orlando! Hearing Loss Association of America 2006 Convention!

 

 

A personal invitation to join the us . . . June 29th in Orlando, Florida, as we celebrate the Annual 2006 Convention and new name change for the Hearing Loss Association of America! This will be an exciting, educational and fun event for all ages. Check out information on the Coronado Springs Disney Resort Hotel where buses run all day and night within the Disney Resort free! Go visit Disney Downtown, visit different theme parks or just hang out by the pool at the relaxing Coronado Springs Disney Resort.  See famous shows and meet people from all over the world. It's all here!

 

Plans for roundtable discussions and an exhibition hall full of new technology, plus events outside the hard of hearing world . . . golf, get-togethers of "Message Room Chatters" are all being readied for your pleasure.  Don't forget to bid on your favorite item at the raffle!  Meet Lou Ferrigno ( Former Mr. Universe and The Hulk!) in person an hour before the keynote speech.  And at the Get Acquainted Party, celebrate the flavor of the tropics in air-conditioned comfort as the Polynesian Revue entertains us. Then dance the night away till midnight!  The banquet will be special too, with surprises galore!

 

Contact Lydia Sampson, events coordinator, LSampson@hearingloss.org, for a colorful brochure about the resort and convention.  She will send you as many brochures as are needed to share the information with friends, family and chapter members!  Please share with other chapters in your home state!

 

We look forward to seeing you there in June! Perhaps even stay till the 4th of July and experience the extravagant fireworks display that only Disney can put on!  All "Ears" welcomed Here!

 

"See you soon! "

Lynn Rousseau, Co-chair, Orlando 2006 Convention, State Chapter Coordinator

 

 

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Lou Ferrigno to Speak at HLAA Opening General Session

 

Bethesda, MD Mar 20, 2006:  The Hearing Loss Association of America proudly announces that Lou Ferrigno will address the opening session at the HLAA 2006 Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida (June 29 – July 2, 2006) at the Coronado Spring Resort. The opening session is scheduled for Thursday, June 29th at 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. in Coronado (H) Ballroom.  Ferrigno is widely known for his portrayal of the Incredible Hulk, a television series that ran from 1978-1982.  His other acting credentials have been TV’s 1983 Trauma Center, along with several movies including Hercules, Sinbad and Cage.  In February of this year, Ferrigno completed an extensive physical and academic training program and was commissioned as a “Reserve Deputy” for Los Angeles Sherriff’s Department. Ferrigno also continues his recurring guest star role on King of Queens, airing Monday night at 8 P.M. on CBS.

 

About HLAA

The Hearing Loss Association of America (formerly Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH) is the nations’ largest membership and advocacy organization for people with hearing loss. Founded in 1979 by Howard E. “Rocky” Stone, HLAA opens the world of communication to people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy and support.  It publishes a bimonthly magazine, Hearing Loss, and its website is www.hearingloss.org.  The national support network includes the Washington, D.C. area office, 13 state organizations, and 250 local chapters.  The Hearing Loss Association of America’s straightforward message has changed the lives of thousands of people:  Hearing loss is a daily challenge you can overcome.

 

Website: http://www.hearingloss.org

 

For convention registration and information:

2006 Hearing Loss Association Convention

 

Hearing Loss Associaiton of America

Convention

email:  convention@hearinglossorg

phone:  301-657-2248

 

 

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Cochlear Celebration

 

 

The Cochlear Celebration was held February 16, 17 & 18, 2006 in Orlando, Florida, at the Coronado Springs Resort Convention Center.  A wonderful time was had by the over 1500 attendees.

 

Seen here having fun at the "We Scream for Ice Cream" Social are:

 Jim and Medrith Hold, Sugar Hill, GA, Connie Stratigos, Roswell, GA, Fred Pryor, Atlanta, GA and Richard M. Bowman of Rocky Face, GA.

The Georgia Peach Cochlear Implant Association was represented by a number of other members as well.

 

 

 

 

Tara O'Neill doing what she does best for Cochlear - talk about the Cochlear implant

 

 

 

Linn Terney at her best!!

 

 

Heather Whitestone McCallum, Miss America 1995, shares her crown

 

 

 

GPCIA President Richard Bowman with his wife, Nina, and two-year old granddaughter, Lauren

 

 

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Ask Linn: Bilateral Accessories

(Reprinted from Cochlear Newsletter, “Ask Linn,“ with permission)

 

Ask Linn: Bilateral Accessories

 

It’s not unusual for Nucleus recipients to have usable hearing in the opposite ear from the implant.  While some can use a hearing aid in the opposite ear, there are many others who are now choosing to receive cochlear implants bilaterally. The topic for this issue of Ask Linn is: how to use accessories bilaterally to provide better hearing with both “ears” as nature intended. There are several ways to connect two hearing devices to one audio component, whether it is a hearing aid or another cochlear implant processor. 

 

Tips for Bilateral Hearing

 

For those of us who have just one cochlear implant but would like to pick up sound on both sides, Phonak has introduced CROSLink.   CROSLink consists of a bilateral microphone that is worn on the ear opposite the cochlear implant processor (or hearing aid).   CROSLink is compatible with the ESPrit 3G processor and couples to the 3G via the MicroLink adapter.  The microphone picks up the sound and uses radio frequency signals to send the sound wirelessly to the implant.  Imagine being able to hear conversation on both sides without having to constantly turn your head!    Phonak products are sold through hearing professionals, so if you are interested in learning more about Phonak CROSLink, ask your audiologist to contact the Phonak representative for more details.

 

If you use a hearing aid in the opposite ear, you may be able to connect a patch cable directly to both the hearing aid and your Nucleus sound processor. If your hearing aid offers the option of direct audio input (DAI) you will need two audio cables and a non-powered splitter.  A splitter is used to “split” the signal from the audio component to two hearing devices. Radio Shack has two split plug adapter options (and a less expensive version) online.

 

Non-powered splitters, as described above, can weaken the signal and the output might not be satisfactory.  However they tend to cost less and may be an option for some individuals.  Another option is a battery-powered splitter. This allows you to connect at least two headphones or patch cables to one audio component without any signal degradation. More information about powered splitters is available from Radio Shack and boostaroo.com.

 

An audio patch cable routes the sound from an audio player directly into the sound processor.  You can control the level of background noise by adjusting the processor microphone sensitivity.  Unlike telecoils, patch cables are not affected by electromagnetic signals that cause buzzing noises when you are too close to devices like computer monitors or TV screens.  With the direct-connect option, you will connect the audio cable to both hearing devices and then plug the cables into the "signal splitter."  The cable on the splitter is then connected to the audio components headphone jack.

 

If your sound processor and/or hearing aid have the telecoil feature, there are several good options for “surround sound.”   Products that work by magnetic induction deliver the sound to the hearing device by way of the telecoil.  One product that delivers sound through magnetic induction is a silhouette.  Hatis® is one company that offers several models of silhouette for use with audio components and telephones.  Visit our support center for more information.  For more information about available silhouettes visit: hatis.com and harc.com

 

Another option for telecoil users is an audio neckloop.  Neckloops are great for use with two hearing devices because if you switch them to the T setting, the telecoil will deliver the signal through the neckloop to both of your hearing devices. The plug on the end of the audio neckloop connects to the audio players headphone jack.   A versatile product recently introduced by Clear Sounds is a powered neckloop that works with both cell/cordless phones and also has an adapter for use with audio players.   For more details about this product, please see the Clear Sounds Website.

 

Closed headphones work very well for many cochlear implant users.  The term "closed headphone" means that the earpiece has a hollow area with a soft cushion around the earpiece.  The hollow earpiece allows the headphone to sit comfortably over the hearing device.  Headphones may cause feedback when placed over some hearing aids but reducing the volume on the hearing aid may help.

 

I get great results listening through my processor microphone but some headphones are also telecoil compatible.  The cushioned earpiece keeps a lot of background noise out but if it's really noisy, I can switch to the T setting and eliminate all of the background noise.  In most cases, you will need to test the headphones yourself to determine whether they are telecoil compatible.

 

 

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New Information on Meningitis Risk in Children with Cochlear Implants

(Source: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/medicaldevicesafety/atp/020606-cochlear.html)

 

 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health

Advice for Patients With Cochlear Implants: New Information on Meningitis Risk

 

February 6, 2006

 

This advice for patients gives the latest information on the risk of bacterial meningitis in children with cochlear implants and recommends steps to reduce the risk.

 

Previous Information

 

A study published in 2003 (NewEngJMed, 349.5: 435-445) ttp://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/349/5/435) by FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) followed children with cochlear implants for two years after the device was implanted. The study showed that children whose implants have a positioner get bacterial meningitis more often than children with implants that don’t have positioners or children without implants. A positioner is a small rubber wedge that helps the physician position the implant during surgery. Bacterial meningitis, a serious infection in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) around the brain and spinal cord, can be fatal. Only Advanced Bionics Corporation sold an implant that had a positioner, and none were implanted after July 2002.

 

New Information

 

Now a new study (Pediatrics February 2006), which followed the children for two more years, has found that the increased risk for meningitis persists beyond two years after implantation. This study highlights the importance of continuing to monitor children with cochlear implants for signs of middle ear infection and meningitis. Children need to be monitored for as long as the implant is in place.

 

Recommendations

 

• high fever

• discomfort looking into bright lights

• headache

• sleepiness or tiredness

• stiff neck

• confusion

• nausea

• ear pain

• vomiting

• hearing loss

• irritability

• appetite loss

 

Additional Background Information

 

The original CDC/FDA study reviewed the medical records of 4,264 children under the age of six at the time of implantation. The study was undertaken because of increased concern about the risk of meningitis associated with cochlear implants. The study focused on young children because they account for most known meningitis cases, and they represent the population that now receives a large proportion of cochlear implants.

 

In the original study, 26 of the 4,264 children developed meningitis during the first 24 months after implantation. Children who had cochlear implants with electrode positioners developed meningitis more often than children who had implants without positioners. The study was unable to determine how the positioner increased the risk for developing meningitis. Because the number of meningitis cases in the original study was small, it is hard to predict the risk of developing meningitis with various cochlear implant models.

 

The new study followed children from the original study for an additional two years. Six children with positioners developed meningitis after two years. Of these six, three developed meningitis between three and four years after implantation. Children in the study without a positioner did not develop meningitis, but this group of children was so small it is hard to predict the risk of their developing meningitis. The study also concluded there is not enough information now to recommend surgical removal of devices with a positioner.

Information for health care providers appears on the web at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/020606-cochlear.html.

 

For general information on cochlear implants visit:
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/cochlear/

Updated February 6, 2006

 

 

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Most Teens Experiencing Hearing Loss, Poll Finds

 

 

By LEE BOWMAN
Scripps Howard News Service
14-MAR-06

 

WASHINGTON -- Life is too loud for most high-school students. A poll released Tuesday suggests that more than half are experiencing at least one symptom of hearing loss, and experts are looking at ways to turn up warnings to turn down those iPods.

 

The survey of 301 teens and 1,000 adults nationwide, which was done for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, also found that 47 percent of adults reported at least one symptom of hearing loss.

 

Although it's not clear from the poll what's causing the symptoms, researchers from Zogby International found that the listening habits of both students and adults are potentially harmful to hearing health.

 

Students were more likely than adults to report such problems as needing to turn up the volume on their TV or radio to be able to hear, experiencing ringing in their ears, and having to ask a conversation partner to repeat something because they didn't hear it.

 

Two-fifths of teens and adults set the volume at "loud" on their Apple iPods, with students twice as likely to play it "very loud" - 13 percent versus 6 percent of adults.  But 71 percent of the students said they crank up the volume when they listen to sound from a laptop computer with earphones, compared to just 15 percent of adults.

 

Adults tend to use iPods and MP3 players for longer periods of time than teens, perhaps reflecting commuting habits, while more than half of teens say their typical session on a laptop lasts one to four hours.

 

"Louder and longer is definitely not the way to use these products," said Brenda Lonsbury-Martin, chief of science and research for the association, during a forum to discuss the threat of hearing loss from portable devices. "Eventually, that becomes a recipe for noise-induced hearing loss, which is permanent."

 

More than 30 million Americans have significant hearing loss, and at least a third have hearing loss as a result of exposure to noise.

 

Experts say that music and other sound at volumes of 85 decibels and higher are sufficient to cause permanent hearing loss. A recent test of nine devices, including music players, laptops and pocket computers, by the ASHA found that every one topped 105 decibels at full volume, and all but one exceeded 85 decibels at half volume.

 

Of particular concern to researchers is the growing use of small earpieces or earbuds with audio devices that are able to store many hours' worth of music.

 

"The combination of high-signal intensity and long listening duration is a proven formula for permanent, irreversible hearing loss," said Dean Garstecki, an audiologist and professor at Northwestern University.  He is particularly concerned about the effect of the earbuds, since they are less efficient at blocking outside noise and tend to encourage users to crank up the volume than headphones that cover the entire ear.

 

The survey found that only about 1 in 5 students and adults uses the earmuff-style phones. Brian Fligor, a hearing researcher at Children's Hospital in Boston, said his research on CD players suggests that listening at no more than 60 percent of top volume for one hour a day or less would probably be safe with traditional earphones, but said sound should be set lower if earbuds are used.

 

He and colleague Terri Ives of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry have been studying listening habits to determine if some people are naturally disposed to listen at high volume.

 

"So far, we've found that when it's very quiet, the majority of people listen at safe levels," although they may turn up the volume if there's a lot of noise around them. "But even in the quietest room, some people (between 5 and 25 percent) set their music to high levels that might be risky if they listened for too long."

 

The association is already working with government officials and manufacturers about setting standards or guidelines for use of audio devices. "We need to develop ways for consumers to know when they are putting their hearing at risk when they are using these devices,'' said ASHA President Alex Johnson, a professor of audiology at Wayne State University in Detroit.

 

On the Net: http://www.asha.org

(Contact Lee Bowman at BowmanL(at)SHNS.com.)

 

 

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Three Cheers for the Red Roof

By Albert G. Laframboise

 

On November 18th, 2005; we checked into the Red Roof Inn’s room 129 in Johnson City, Tenn. Having been a frequent traveler before I retired, I knew enough to check out how everything functioned. As to be expected, most things did work properly. You can imagine my surprise when the captioning did not appear to have a way to work.

 

What Happened

 

When I pressed the button saying ‘MENU’, what appeared was a menu that was associated with the (cable or other type) system that delivered the television channels. This was simply a choice of what channel I could watch. What was missing was the choice about captioning. The choice about color etc. You know, the things that are normally visible when you press ‘Menu’.  So the question came up: ‘How do I access the television menu which controls whether the captioning is on or not?’. I looked at the television for a ‘MENU’ button. There was none. Then I decided that now was the best time to go back to the desk to resolve this.

 

After all, I do not want to watch television without captioning. Furthurmore, it is my belief that if I cannot resolve this issue, then members of my organization should be alerted to this fact. Furthur, should there be a unique solution, I am bound to share that solution also.

 

At the Desk

 

The first person I approached simply stated that they did not provide captioning on their television and it was her belief that they were not bound to do provide it. Then I talked to the assistant general manager, Megan Heronemus.

 

Megan came down to the room to confirm what I already knew. She said that she would pursue it until she found a way to get it to work. Well, it took a while, but she came up with a solution. But not only did she resolve the situation, but made sure that there was instructions at the desk in the event that others booked in to her Red Roof would be able to use captioning. She also said that she would notify Red Roof itself so that the situation would be resolved on a national basis.

 

Yes, we had captioning all while we were there.  Three Cheers for Red Roof.

 

 

 

 

 

Georgia Peach Cochlear Implant Association, P. O. Box 1172, Tucker, GA 3085-1172, www.gpcia.org, Rbowman@alltel.net