# data[].attributes.body
benefits those with conduction, mixed hearing loss, and single-sided deafness
- conventional hearing aids can be used to treat CHL, but amount of power needed to overcome blockage requires tight fitting ear mold, which can make the sound distorted and cause feedback with power required

- bone conduction devices often are used for individuals with outer and middle ear abnormalities with draining ears that preclude hearing aid use - e.g atresia, microtia, middle ear pathologies

# data[].attributes.body
1. noise
2. distance
3. reverberation
4. reduced signal to noise ratio
5. amplification limitations

HAT assists when hearing aids are not enough, designed to solve problems of noise, distance and reverberation. Delivers targeted sound source directly to listener by capturing speaker's voice in microphone and transmitting it to the receiver directly.

# data[].attributes.headline
Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)

# data[].attributes.subject
Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)

# data[].attributes.body
The Mission of HLAA is to open the world of communication to people with hearing loss by providing information, education, support and advocacy.

# data[].attributes.body
- mutation in the connexin 26 gene on chromosome 13 that causes miscommunication between cells
- connexin 26 uses proteins during potassium exchange in the organ of corti between cells, but the mutation eliminates this process, affecting inner ear functionality
- autosomal recessive non-syndromic congenital hearing loss disorder
characteristics:
- often found at birth or in early childhood
- can be gradual or progressive
- mild, moderate, severe, or profound
- non-syndromic
- no identified cause (often diagnosis when a child's deafness was thought originally to be from non-hereditary factors: infection, exposure to ototoxic medication, other environmental factors)
- often have no family history of hearing loss

Treatment:
- genetic testing useful for management and treatment
- hearing aids or cochlear implants useful to gain access to sound and language

# data[].attributes.body
- malformation of the pinna in the outer ear
- occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy
- can vary in grade (normal/grade 1 to severe/grade 4)
- severe Microtia can present is a complete absence of a pinna (also called anotia)
- can be unilateral or bilateral, but more common unilateral
- more common in males
- occurs in every 6,000-12,000 births
- Treatment:
may be surgical to rebuild the ear for cosmetic purposes
may be audiologic to try to open up and get to the ear canal and improve hearing
if surgery is not an option, bone conduction hearing aids can be considered

# data[].attributes.body
causes:
- trauma from a pointed object (pencil or q-tip)
- excessive pressure that causes eardrum to burst
- sudden pressure in ear (slap or kiss)
- pressure building up in middle ear (cold, scuba diving, flying)

results in conductive hearing loss
- depends on location and size of perforation
- the larger the perforation, the greater the hearing loss

Treatment:
some eardrums heal on their own, but some may require surgical placement of a skin graft
tympanic membrane can heal but sometimes it can heal without a middle layer which makes it more flaccid or mobile, however it doesn't affect hearing

# data[].attributes.body
symptoms/appearance:
- benign
- encapsulated
- slow growing
- highly vascular mass of cells

causes significant hearing loss in the middle ear
- distinct symptom: constant pulsing sound - pulsatile tinnitus in the ear

# data[].attributes.body
bacterial or viral infection of the meninges - infections of the meninges spreads to the membrane of the cochlea causing inflammation and hearing loss
symptoms: fever, neck stiffness, altered mental state
sensorineural hearing loss occurs in 30% of cases of bacterial meningitis
bacterial meningitis accounts for 3-10% of cases of severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss
hearing loss can be progressive
- usually presents as bilateral, permanent, severe sensorineural hearing loss

can result in ossification of cochlea
- cochlear osteogenesis
- hardening or transformation of cartilage into bone
- creates a bony growth with less permeable cochlea
- impacts the effectiveness of cochlear implants as the ossified cochlea impacts the electrodes of the implants

# data[].attributes.body
1. The audiogram
- hearing level/intensity on y axis
- frequency on x axis
- frequency:
low-pitched frequencies from 250-1000 Hz
high-pitched frequencies from 2000-8000 Hz
- intensity:
soft sounds 0-35 dB
moderate sounds 35-70 dB
loud sounds 70-110 dB
2. Degree/severity of hearing loss
- determined by air conduction thresholds
- lower down the threshold on the audiogram, the more severe the hearing loss

# data[].attributes.body
- loss in outer or middle ear that prevents sound from being properly conducted (e.g atresia, Me fluid/infection)
- clarity of speech maintained
- abnormal tympanogram with absent reflexes
- likely absent otoacoustic emissions
- normal bone conduction threshold levels
- significant difference in air conduction threshold and bone conduction threshold
- difference usually greater than 10 dB in air-bone gap
- air conduction thresholds poorer due to a blockage of the sound when listening through the headphone or insert

# data[].attributes.body
- abnormal air conduction and bone conduction thresholds
- no significant air bone gaps
- due to a damage of the sensorineural mechanism: missing or damaged hair cells in the cochlea, abnormality of the auditory nerve
- likely impaired speech recognition discrimination score:
. even when speech is loud enough to hear, it may still be unclear or sound muffled
. can have loss of both clarity and loudness
. damaged inner ear results in distortion of the signals
- tympanogram usually not affected
- acoustic reflexes elevated or absent
- otoacoustic emissions absent if more than a mild case

# data[].attributes.body
- sound being delivered to impaired cochlea attenuated by disordered outer or middle ear
- bone conduction outside of usual limits (not between 0-15 dB)
- BOTH air conduction and bone conduction thresholds are abnormal
- air bone gaps present
- combination both conductive and sensorineural components
- speech recognition score could be depressed
- tympanogram usually abnormal
-otoacoustic emissions usually absent

# data[].attributes.headline
Mild conductive hearing loss in the right ear (sample)

# data[].attributes.subject
Mild conductive hearing loss in the right ear (sample)

# data[].attributes.headline
Symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss (sample)

# data[].attributes.subject
Symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss (sample)

# data[].attributes.headline
Bilateral conductive hearing loss (sample)

# data[].attributes.subject
Bilateral conductive hearing loss (sample)

# data[].attributes.body
FM systems
- wireless
- mini radio station: transmitter/receiver
- improves SNR for a child
- channel specific
- dynamic benefit
- datalogging in transmitter
- connection of transmitter to computer

infrared
induction loop

DM systems
- adaptive FM system
- can transmit to hundreds of receivers
- audio signals are digitized and sent as bursts of code broadcasted repeatedly at different channels
- allows for flexible and easy creation of networks

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Global Coalition of Parents of Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (GPODHH)

# data[].attributes.subject
Global Coalition of Parents of Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (GPODHH)

# data[].attributes.body
GPODHH is an international collaboration of parent groups dedicated to promoting improved systemic protocols and practices which encourage informed choice and the empowerment of families with a deaf or hard of hearing child throughout the world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Global Coalition of Parents of Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (GPODHH) is an international collaboration of parent-led groups and parent leaders dedicated to promoting improved systemic protocols and practices which encourage informed choice and the empowerment of families with a deaf or hard of hearing child throughout the world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Global Coalition of Parents of Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (GPODHH)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Global Coalition of Parents of Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (GPODHH)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
GPODHH is an international collaboration of parent groups dedicated to promoting improved systemic protocols and practices which encourage informed choice and the empowerment of families with a deaf or hard of hearing child throughout the world.

# data[].attributes.body
to make sure microphone is functioning properl
- Use the Test Rod (free from Cochlear)
- Snap processor in
- Plug your ears as best as possible
- Ask someone to speak
- Can test the FM / Roger the same way

# data[].attributes.body
1. microphone - picks up sound from the environment. vibrator moves in response to pressure waves of sound. as it moves, it converts acoustical energy from the environment into an electrical signal which is then manipulated by the
2. amplifier - acts as a power supply through a battery and boosts the sound from the microphone and delivers it to the
3. loudspeaker - converts electrical signal back into an acoustical signal to then be delivered to the ear.

# data[].attributes.body
Daily listening check
- ling 6 test/ling sound check: adult/child should respond with each sound accurately and report no sound when there is no sound administered, pictures can be used to aid in the understanding of sounds at early stages of listening, ling sounds represent sounds that occur along the spectrum of speech frequencies
- additional phonemes: "k", "f", "p"
- spondee words: cowboy, ice cream, upstairs
- connected speech questions: What color is your shirt? How many ears do you have?
**important to get a baseline and patients to have access to all sounds first, before testing**
**test should be done with each hearing aid/each ear**

# data[].attributes.body
- visual inspection of the hearing aids and earmolds, check for any cracks or broken spots, check that the tubing is soft and there's no build up of moisture or cerumen, inspect microphone ports for dirt
- make sure each hearing aid feeds back when cupped in your hand as a guideline to where a problem might be
- check the battery
- listening check of student's hearing aid

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Tips:
Clean hearing aid casing daily with a dry cloth or tissue
Clean earmolds daily with brush and wax loop
Brush microphone ports (hold upside down)
Change microphone covers every 3 months

Open battery door every night
Keep hearing aids dry and away from moisture

Tools:
dry microfiber cloth
hearing aid dehumidifying kit
waterproof storage box
hearing aid syringe
wax removal tools
listening stethescope
battery tester

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A - Completely In Canal (CIC)
B - In The Canal (ITC)
C - In The Ear (ITE)
D - Behind The Ear (BTE) with earmold
E - Receiver In Canal (RIC)
F - Behind The Ear (BTE) with slim tube

# data[].attributes.body
1. Hearing aids for children: (sky marvel)
https://www.phonak.com/us/en/hearing-aids/phonak-sky-marvel.html

2. Marvel technology: https://www.phonak.com/us/en/about-us/marvel.html

3. Phonak lyric (invisible in canal): https://www.phonak.com/us/en/hearing-aids/lyric-invisible-hearing-aids.html

4. Phonak virto marvel (ITE): https://www.phonakpro.com/com/en/products/hearing-aids/virto-marvel/overview-virto-marvel.html#:~:text=Phonak%20Virto%20M%2D312%20featuring,loud%20noise%20and%20over%20distance.

5. Phonak Audeo Paradise (RIC): https://www.phonak.com/us/en/hearing-aids/phonak-audeo-paradise.html

6. Phonak Naida Paradise (BTE): https://www.phonak.com/nz/en/hearing-aids/phonak-naida-p.html

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Phonak Sky Marvel - Combining world's first technological innovations and child-specific design to support children of all ages.

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Established in 1880, The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is the nation’s premier civil rights organization of, by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America.

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The NAD is the nation's premier civil rights organization of, by, and for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in the United States of America.

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Global network of stakeholders promoting ear and hearing care worldwide.

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The World Hearing Forum is a global network of stakeholders promoting ear and hearing care worldwide. Members of this advocacy network will commit to facilitating implementation of World Health Assembly resolution WHA70.13 on "Prevention of deafness and hearing loss" and supporting Member States in this regard.

Over 430 million people require rehabilitation to address their hearing loss, of these, 34 million are children. In addition, 1.1 billion young people are at risk of hearing loss due to exposure to noise in recreational settings and through personal audio devices. It is expected that these numbers will rise considerably in the coming decades, unless action is taken to prevent and treat hearing loss.

The World Hearing Forum (2018-2025) is filling a critical gap by bringing a collective vision to advocacy and collaboration in this field. Through networking and by sharing knowledge, skills and experiences from the field, the World Hearing Forum is galvanizing action towards a world in which no person experiences hearing loss due to preventable causes and those with hearing loss can achieve their full potential through early identification and appropriate management of their condition.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The World Hearing Forum is a global network of stakeholders promoting ear and hearing care worldwide. Members of this advocacy network will commit to facilitating implementation of World Health Assembly resolution WHA70.13 on "Prevention of deafness and hearing loss" and supporting Member States in this regard.Over 430 million people require rehabilitation to address their hearing loss, of these, 34 million are children.

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National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM)

# data[].attributes.subject
National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM)

# data[].attributes.body
Provides support to EHDI (early hearing detection and intervention) programs in states and territories also funded by HRSA (health resources and services administration).

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The National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM) at Utah State University serves as the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, National Technical Resource Center (EHDI NTRC) funded by Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) at the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of the EHDI NTRC is to provide support to EHDI programs in states and territories also funded by HRSA. The EHDI NTRC helps EHDI programs ensure that children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) are identified through newborn, infant, and early childhood hearing screening and receive the diagnostic and early intervention services they need. To achieve these aims, the EHDI NTRC provides programs and professionals with:

Technical assistance

Training

Access to information about evidence-based practices

Partnership opportunities with national EHDI systems of care organizations and other key stakeholders, including those that represent and/ or serve families with children who are DHH.

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NCHAM: Newborn Hearing & Infant Hearing-Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Resources and Information

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM) at Utah State University serves as the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, National Technical Resource Center (EHDI NTRC) funded by Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) at the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

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Center for Early Intervention on Deafness (CEID)

# data[].attributes.subject
Center for Early Intervention on Deafness (CEID)

# data[].attributes.body
A model early intervention program for babies and young children who have hearing impairments and severe speech and language delays.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Center For Early Intervention On Deafness

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Center For Early Intervention On Deafness

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Maximizing communication potential through early education, family support, and community audiology services for children & adults who are deaf or hard of hearing.

# data[].attributes.body
Roger technology
- the first to use adaptive digital wireless transmission at 2.4 GHz
- low acoustic delay
- no interference
- no noticeable distortion
- clean, clear signal with minimal internal noise
- compatible with most hearing instruments

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Experience the hearing performance. Roger On is a microphone dedicated for all conversations that occur in background noise and over distance.

Focus on the conversations that truly matters...

Experience the benefit

Run this sound demo and discover the difference in speech understanding with and without Roger.

Roger On in real life

In this video you can see a variety of conversations and situations where Roger On is being used. See how you have the flexibility to hold the microphone in your hand, place it on a table or ask the person talking to wear it.

In group conversations

In small meetings or at family dinners, place the Roger On microphone on the table to pick up the voices from everyone.

In social gatherings

When music is playing and people are talking and laughing, the pointing mode makes it possible to zoom in on the person talking.

From a distance

In a larger auditorium, the speaker often stands at a distance. When presenters wear a Roger On, their speech is transmitted to you.

In large meetings

Use Roger On as a presenter microphone together with table microphones in a MultiTalker Network to hear all participants.

Select the color that suits you best

myRogerMic app

With the myRogerMic app you can control your Roger On from your smartphone. It allows you to customize your microphone settings according to environment and personal preferences.

Steer the direction of the beam(s) towards the speaker(s) you want to listen to

Change microphone mode

Mute / unmute

Check current device status such as battery level and actual microphone mode.

Roger Table Mic II

Designed for group discussions; several microphones can be connected in a MultiTalker Network to cover large groups.

Roger Select™

A versatile microphone that can be worn by a presenter or placed on a table. When multiple conversations take place, the listener can manually select whom to listen to.

Enhance hearing performance

Everything you need to know about why using Roger.

Find an expert near you

Take the next step and be evaluated by a hearing-care specialist
Find an expert

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Experience the hearing performance. Roger On is a microphone dedicated for all conversations that occur in background noise and over distance. Focus on the conversations that truly matters... Run this sound demo and discover the difference in speech understanding with and without Roger.

# data[].attributes.body
- used for discreet control in larger, noisy conversations
- speech covered in a 360 degree listening radius
- transmit sounds of multimedia devices
- clip-on mic

# data[].attributes.body
- wireless teacher microphone
- core component of any roger system
- multi-modal
- on/off button
- mute, connect button
- battery life
- multiple networks avaliable

# data[].attributes.body
- compatible with roger touchscreen mic
- enhances classroom discussions
- fully automatic
- can be handheld or in stand

# data[].attributes.body
- used to understand speech and noise over a distance
- pointing mode
- conference mode
- blue-tooth enabled and can be linked to other roger pens

# data[].attributes.body
at home/personal use

# data[].attributes.body
1. Universal Roger X: https://www.phonakpro.com/content/dam/phonakpro/gc_hq/en/products_solutions/wireless_accessories/roger_receivers/documents/Datasheet_Phonak_Roger_X_210x297_EN_V1.10.pdf
- compatible with most manufacturers
- fully compatible
- sends speech signal through hearing aid, where it is processed
- compatible with mini mic 2+ streamer with a baha 5

2. Design-integrated for cochlear implants
- Roger 17: Nadia https://www.phonakpro.com/content/dam/phonakpro/gc_hq/en/products_solutions/wireless_accessories/roger_receivers/documents/datasheet_roger_17_(02).pdf
- Roger 14: cochlear N5 and N6
https://www.phonakpro.com/content/dam/phonakpro/gc_hq/en/products_solutions/wireless_accessories/roger_receivers/documents/datasheet_roger_14_(02)_for_cochlear_implant.pdf
- Roger 20: Cochlear N7
https://www.phonakpro.com/content/dam/phonakpro/gc_hq/en/products_solutions/wireless_accessories/roger_receivers/documents/datasheet_roger_20.pdf
- Roger 21: Med el sonnet 2
https://blog.medel.pro/sonnet-wireless-connectivity/

3. Roger MyLink: https://www.phonak.com/content/dam/phonak/HQ/en/solution/accessories/roger_my_link/documents/User_Guide_Roger_MyLink_029-0265.pdf
- used with T-coil for HA or CI
- volume control
- can be used with headphones

4. Roger Focus: https://www.phonak.com/com/en/hearing-aids/accessories/roger-focus.html
- for unilateral HL/single-sided deafness
- BTE receiver

5. Roger DigiMaster 5000: https://www.phonakpro.com/content/dam/phonakpro/gc_hq/en/products_solutions/wireless_accessories/roger_dynamic_soundfield/documents/datasheet_roger_dynamic_soundfield_digimaster_5000.pdf
- 12-loudspeaker array
- beneficial to teachers

# data[].attributes.body
transmitter - Microphone plugged into belt-clip
receiver

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Adding FM to the classroom is about collaboration: making it easy to use for the teacher while ensuring students benefit from improved listening conditions.

Amigo FM is designed to work with almost any behind-the-ear hearing aid to help students overcome the effects of distance and noise, so they can put less effort into hearing and concentrate on understanding what is being said.

And now, the popular and versatile Opn BTE13 PP style is FM compatible with a variety of ear-level receivers: the new integrated Amigo R12G2 as well as the universal Amigo R2 or Roger X receivers, via an FM audioshoe.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Amigo FM | FM receiver for classrooms | Kids with hearing Loss

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Adding FM to the classroom is about collaboration: making it easy to use for the teacher while ensuring students benefit from improved listening conditions. Amigo FM is designed to work with almost any behind-the-ear hearing aid to help students overcome the effects of distance and noise, so they can put less effort into hearing and concentrate on understanding what is being said.

# data[].attributes.body
1. Daily listening check
2. look at HA, earmolds, and FM/roger
- broken or cracked casing
- blockage
- build-up of moisture
- corrosion
- inspect DAI
3. Check battery
- FM/roger will drain battery faster than HA alone
- HA may work, but FM may not - not enough battery to drive FM
4. Check audio shoe and DAI contacts
- inspect casing of audio shoe
- inspect gold contacts of audio shoe
- clean contacts

# data[].attributes.body
1. Transmitter
- is it charged? outlet working? charger working?
- microphone (roger inspiro)
- connection (if FM)

2. receiver
- visual inspection of receiver (is casing cracked?)
- visual inspection of audio shoe (are DAI contacts clean?)
- battery in HA/CI fresh and charged?
- if bilateral devices... use one device to troubleshoot the other
- turned it on and off?
- connection

# data[].attributes.headline
Tips for FM / Roger use in the classroom

# data[].attributes.subject
Tips for FM / Roger use in the classroom

# data[].attributes.body
- transmitters/microphones needs to be worn in proper position
- hair can make unwanted noise
- put microphone right under the mouth, clipped to lanyard or clothing at midline, 6 inches from speaker’s mouth
- frequency of transmitter and receiver should be set the same
- individuals allowed to move around as long as they stay within 3-60 ft of each other

- placed close to primary sound source

# data[].attributes.body
1. Oticon Opn S: https://www.oticon.com/solutions/opn-s-hearing-aids
- mild to severe HL

2. Oticon Xceed: https://www.oticon.com/solutions/xceed
- severe to profound HL

3. Oticon More: https://www.oticon.com/solutions/more-hearing-aids
- AI/bluetooth

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.handsandvoices.org/resources/links.htm

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NOTE: Hands & Voices receives information and requests to post links from other sponsoring organizations that we feel might be of interest to our constituency. These links may not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of Hands & Voices and we rely on our membership to deem what is of value to their own interests.

Organizations

AG Bell: A National organization around since 1890

AG Bell Colorado: The Colorado chapters site

Aspen Camp of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Babyhearing.org : A boystown site for parents devoted to newborn hearing screening

CEID - Center for the Education of the Infant Deaf is a model early intervention program for babies and young children who have hearing impairments and severe speech and language delays

CID - Central Institute for the Deaf - Missouri School offeringcontinuing education for professionals who work with children who are deaf and hard of hearing. They offer online courses as well. more info..

Captioned Media Program (CMP): Free-loan captioned media; Video/CD_ROM/Internet Streaming

The Colorado Commission For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Deaf counseling services: Comprehensive psychological and consulting services for Deaf people and their families. (both in person and via VP)

Deaf Education Graduate Program: Graduates receive a master of science degree and New York State certification (all grades) to teach students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The National Cued Speech Association: The National Cued Speech Association champions effective communication, language development and literacy through the use of Cued Speech.

Gallaudet University - Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center : Working for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children Throughout the United States

The Global Coalition of Parents of Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (GPOD) is an international collaboration of parent groups dedicated to promoting improved systemic protocols and practices which encourage informed choice and the empowerment of families with a deaf or hard of hearing child throughout the world.

Hearing Loss Association of America: The Mission of HLAA is to open the world of communication to people with hearing loss by providing information, education, support and advocacy. Of special interest is their Academy Program which is focused on disseminating a wide range of general knowledge.

John Tracy Clinic: John Tracy Clinic provides, worldwide and without charge, parent-centered services to young children with a hearing loss offering families hope, guidance and encouragement. *Aqui En Espanol

The Leadership Institute: for Interpreters (LII), while founded to provide support to leaders in the field of sign language interpreting, is an organization dedicated to promoting understanding and compassion for the variety of perspectives that dominate the field and impact our consumers. For more info please visit www.leadershipinstitute.biz

Listen Foundation: Since 1969, the LISTEN Foundation has been dedicated to teaching children who are hearing-impaired to Listen and Speak.

The Marion Downs Hearing Center is recognized worldwide for its unique leadership and progressive innovations in the realm of hearing and deafness.

Meadowood Springs Speech and Hearing Camp offers intensive programming o enhance the communication skills of children with speech and/or hearing limitations in a fun and supportive environment.

National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology: Providing technical and professional degree programs as well as specialized access and support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students since 1968.

http://www.nicaraguansignlanguageprojects.org/
Nicaraguan Sign Language Projects - VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: NSLP has openings from time to time for qualified volunteers wishing to work for us both in Nicaragua and in Maine, USA. We prefer volunteers who are sign language fluent (in any sign language) and/or have formal linguistic training. Fluency in either Spanish or English is also desirable.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: NIDCD is one of the Institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the federal focal point for biomedical research.

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Library's comprehensive list Deaf and Hard of Hearing Internet Resources

SEE Center The Signing Exact English Center for the Advancement of Deaf Children is a nonprofit center that promotes the use of SEE and its principles. Parents and professionals will find information on courses, a bulletin board to ask questions, and resources for books and video training materials through its publishing company, Modern Signs Press.

The American Society for Deaf Children - www.deafchildren.org

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) site

The Boystown National Research Hospital

Tools for today - Tools for Today and Tomorrow is a program of the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland. The Tools program provides information and support to families of children with chronic illnesses and disabilities. Although geared towards folks in Ohio, there are valuable resources on the site for all.

Deafness and Hard of Hearing Websites

Baby Hearing .org a free resource to assist parents with promoting optimal development for their children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

About.com Links page for Deafness and Hard of Hearing issues

Another Path: A parent site on homeschooling your deaf hard of hearing child.

ASLdeafined.com An video based resource for learning ASL.

The Center for Accessible Technology in Sign (CATS) goal is to enhance language, literacy and general world knowledge by providing tools which make text, captions, video, web pages, and multimedia accessible to deaf users, particularly children.

Cochlear Implant Online - Cochlear Implant Online is an online resource that provides readers with the latest news and commentary on issues related to hearing loss, cochlear implants, and rehabilitation.

Cuedspeech.org Nice Cued Speech site for parents. Great background and introduction to cued speech. Has links to other sites that provide training and other languages.

DeafLinx.com A page with lots of links to more resources.

Deaf Resources.com: An online store .

Family Friendly Fun Offers family fun, family life, family health & special needs resources to promote a fun and healthy family life.

Healthy Hearing: Up-to-the-minute news, information and resources for those interested in hearing, causes and treatment of hearing loss, as well as hearing amplification systems.

Hearing Pocket: Need a better way for your child to wear a Cochlear Implant Speech Processor? Check out this site.

Label & Learn: Their goal is to inspire communication between parents, teachers, therapists and children by providing inovative and accessible products that express style, fun and function.

Language-matters.com A useful site since it provides interpreters ( cued and sign ) nationwide. They have a media center for ASL and Cued Speech materials and other links.

The Listen Up web page: Lots of great links and information

My Deaf Child - Provides free access to Sign It ASL to parents of deaf and hard-of-hearing children under age three.

PEPNet: PEPNet provides resources and expertise that enhance educational opportunities for people who are deaf or hard of hearing--including those with co-occurring disabilities. Information such as tipsheets, hearing aid primers, college transition information etc. is available.

www.throughyourchildseyes.com A video for hearing parents with information about teaching Sign Language to young children.

Raisingdeafkids.org - This website has a lot of information about children who are deaf and hard of hearing. Most of the information is about helping parents understand their child's deafness and showing them how to help their child succeed. There is a large section on children who are deaf and have other disabilities. The site is also translated into Spanish - www.raisingdeafkids.org/spanish/.

Rule At The School (rule-the-school.com) - Our unique games, apps and Book Boosters are developed as fun and engaging ways to teach and practice a wide range of self-advocacy skills

Sign It ASL - New online ASL course taught primarily by well-known Deaf and CODA adults.

Signing Time Dictionary - Free online dictionary for basic ASL vocabulary for using with babies and children

Supporting Success for Children with Hearing Loss is a 'go-to' site
for professionals and family members seeking more information about the learning and social issues of children with hearing loss and how to
support the future success of these children. Resources are at no cost,
designed to be easy to understand quickly, and practical to use

Social Security Disability Secrets: This web site provides information about getting through the red tape of the Social Security process for children with special needs. http://www.disabilitysecrets.com

We Connect Now: We Connect Now is dedicated to uniting people interested in rights and issues affecting people with disabilities, with particular emphasis on college students and access to higher education and employment issues.

Why Sign? Exploring the Benefits of Sign Language.

Articles on Deafness Issues

Article: New Standards Should Help Children in Noisy Classrooms

Article: Teaching-Exceptional-Children This article describes many concrete and specific actions teachers can take to promote the learning of their students who are deaf or hard of hearing. In addition, the article provides strategies for enhancing the social skills of both hearing students and those with hearing losses as they work together in inclusive classrooms.

Advocacy / Legal web sites

If you have any links that you think people could use, please submit them to us and we will publish them on this site.

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AG Bell: A National organization around since 1890 AG Bell Colorado: The Colorado chapters site Aspen Camp of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Babyhearing.org : A boystown site for parents devoted to newborn hearing screening CEID - Center for the Education of the Infant Deaf is a model early intervention program for babies and young children who have hearing impairments and severe speech and language delays CID - Central Institute for the Deaf - Missouri School offeringcontinuing education for professionals who work with children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

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1. Apps - speech-to-text (ios, windows, andriod)
- Ava
- Connect
- google live transcribe
- microsoft translator
https://mn.gov/deaf-hard-of-hearing/assistive-technology/apps/

2. Alerting devices
- door bell visual alert
- fire alarm visual alert

3. Telecommunications
- amplified telephones
- real-time text (RTT)
- captioned telephones
- video chat
- text and video relay services
4. Assistive listening/enhanced

Issues:
1. Inaccurate captions
2. captions that are not synchronized properly
3. lack of transcripts
4. phone-only customer support
5. low-quality audio

https://www.levelaccess.com/understanding-assistive-technology-how-does-a-deaf-or-hard-of-hearing-person-use-technology/#:~:text=Many%20different%20options%20are%20available,text%20and%20video%20relay%20services.

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"deaf" - refers to a hearing loss that has little or no functional hearing

"Deaf" - refers to a particular group of deaf people who share a language (ASL) and a culture

"Deafened" - refers to an individual who becomes deaf as an adult

"Hard of Hearing" - refers to a hearing loss where there may be enough residual hearing that an auditory device provides assistance to produce speech

"Hearing impaired" - used to describe people with any degree of hearing loss, inclusive of those who are deaf and hard of hearing [outdated and more of a negative term]

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The deaf and hard of hearing community is diverse. There are variations in how a person becomes deaf or hard of hearing, level of hearing, age of onset, educational background, communication methods, and cultural identity. How people "label" or identify themselves is personal and may reflect identification with the deaf and hard of hearing community, the degree to which they can hear, or the relative age of onset. For example, some people identify themselves as "late-deafened," indicating that they became deaf later in life. Other people identify themselves as "deaf-blind," which usually indicates that they are deaf or hard of hearing and also have some degree of vision loss. Some people believe that the term "people with hearing loss" is inclusive and efficient. However, some people who were born deaf or hard of hearing do not think of themselves as having lost their hearing. Over the years, the most commonly accepted terms have come to be "deaf," "Deaf," and "hard of hearing."
"Deaf" and "deaf"
According to Carol Padden and Tom Humphries, in Deaf in America: Voices from a Culture (1988):

We use the lowercase deaf when referring to the audiological condition of not hearing, and the uppercase Deaf when referring to a particular group of deaf people who share a language - American Sign Language (ASL) - and a culture. The members of this group have inherited their sign language, use it as a primary means of communication among themselves, and hold a set of beliefs about themselves and their connection to the larger society. We distinguish them from, for example, those who find themselves losing their hearing because of illness, trauma or age; although these people share the condition of not hearing, they do not have access to the knowledge, beliefs, and practices that make up the culture of Deaf people.

Padden and Humphries comment, "this knowledge of Deaf people is not simply a camaraderie with others who have a similar physical condition, but is, like many other cultures in the traditional sense of the term, historically created and actively transmitted across generations." The authors also add that Deaf people "have found ways to define and express themselves through their rituals, tales, performances, and everyday social encounters. The richness of their sign language affords them the possibilities of insight, invention, and irony." The relationship Deaf people have with their sign language is a strong one, and "the mistaken belief that ASL is a set of simple gestures with no internal structure has led to the tragic misconception that the relationship of Deaf people to their sign language is a casual one that can be easily severed and replaced." (Padden & Humphries)
"Hard of Hearing"

"Hard-of-hearing" can denote a person with a mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Or it can denote a deaf person who doesn't have/want any cultural affiliation with the Deaf community. Or both. The HOH dilemma: in some ways hearing, in some ways deaf, in others, neither.

Can one be hard-of-hearing and ASL-Deaf? That's possible, too. Can one be hard-of-hearing and function as hearing? Of course. What about being hard-of-hearing and functioning as a member of both the hearing and Deaf communities? That's a delicate tightrope-balancing act, but it too is possible.

As for the political dimension: HOH people can be allies of the Deaf community. They can choose to join or to ignore it. They can participate in the social, cultural, political, and legal life of the community along with culturally-Deaf or live their lives completely within the parameters of the "Hearing world." But they may have a more difficult time establishing a satisfying cultural/social identity.

Deaf Life, "For Hearing People Only" (October 1997).

Individuals can choose an audiological or cultural perspective. It's all about choices, comfort level, mode of communication, and acceptance. Whatever the decision, the NAD welcomes all Deaf, deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, and deaf-blind Americans, and the advocacy work that the NAD does is available to and intended to benefit everyone.
Question - What is wrong with the use of these terms "deaf-mute," "deaf and dumb," or "hearing-impaired"?
Deaf and hard of hearing people have the right to choose what they wish to be called, either as a group or on an individual basis. Overwhelmingly, deaf and hard of hearing people prefer to be called "deaf" or "hard of hearing." Nearly all organizations of the deaf use the term "deaf and hard of hearing," and the NAD is no exception.

Yet there are many people who persist in using terms other than "deaf" and "hard of hearing." The alternative terms are often seen in print, heard on radio and television, and picked up in casual conversations all over. Let's take a look at the three most-used alternative terms.

Deaf and Dumb - A relic from the medieval English era, this is the granddaddy of all negative labels pinned on deaf and hard of hearing people. The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, pronounced us "deaf and dumb," because he felt that deaf people were incapable of being taught, of learning, and of reasoned thinking. To his way of thinking, if a person could not use his/her voice in the same way as hearing people, then there was no way that this person could develop cognitive abilities. (Source: Deaf Heritage, by Jack Gannon, 1980)

In later years, "dumb" came to mean "silent." This definition still persists, because that is how people see deaf people. The term is offensive to deaf and hard of hearing people for a number of reasons. One, deaf and hard of hearing people are by no means "silent" at all. They use sign language, lip-reading, vocalizations, and so on to communicate. Communication is not reserved for hearing people alone, and using one's voice is not the only way to communicate. Two, "dumb" also has a second meaning: stupid. Deaf and hard of hearing people have encountered plenty of people who subscribe to the philosophy that if you cannot use your voice well, you don't have much else "upstairs," and have nothing going for you. Obviously, this is incorrect, ill-informed, and false. Deaf and hard of hearing people have repeatedly proved that they have much to contribute to the society at large.

Deaf-Mute - Another offensive term from the 18th-19th century, "mute" also means silent and without voice. This label is technically inaccurate, since deaf and hard of hearing people generally have functioning vocal chords. The challenge lies with the fact that to successfully modulate your voice, you generally need to be able to hear your own voice. Again, because deaf and hard of hearing people use various methods of communication other than or in addition to using their voices, they are not truly mute. True communication occurs when one's message is understood by others, and they can respond in kind.

Hearing-impaired - This term is no longer accepted by most in the community but was at one time preferred, largely because it was viewed as politically correct. To declare oneself or another person as deaf or blind, for example, was considered somewhat bold, rude, or impolite. At that time, it was thought better to use the word "impaired" along with "visually," "hearing," "mobility," and so on. "Hearing-impaired" was a well-meaning term that is not accepted or used by many deaf and hard of hearing people.

For many people, the words "deaf" and "hard of hearing" are not negative. Instead, the term "hearing-impaired" is viewed as negative. The term focuses on what people can't do. It establishes the standard as "hearing" and anything different as "impaired," or substandard, hindered, or damaged. It implies that something is not as it should be and ought to be fixed if possible. To be fair, this is probably not what people intended to convey by the term "hearing impaired."

Every individual is unique, but there is one thing we all have in common: we all want to be treated with respect. To the best of our own unique abilities, we have families, friends, communities, and lives that are just as fulfilling as anyone else. We may be different, but we are not less.

What's in a name? Plenty! Words and labels can have a profound effect on people. Show your respect for people by refusing to use outdated or offensive terms. When in doubt, ask the individual how they identify themselves.

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The deaf and hard of hearing community is diverse. There are variations in how a person becomes deaf or hard of hearing, level of hearing, age of onset, educational background, communication methods, and cultural identity.

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Each system has a battery, microphone, sound processor, transmitting cable and a coil
Internal components
- receiver stimulator
- electrode array
- implant
External components
- microphone
- speech processor
- headpiece/coil
- cable
- battery pack

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If a child does not respond to sounds during listening checks (e.g ling 6 test)...
- check if batteries are fresh or charged
- check if the unit is turned on
- turn the processor off and back on
- check the visual display/indicator lights on the processor
- make sure processor is set to the correct program and settings
- Are all the cables and cords plugged into the processor?
- Are any cables twisted, frayed or broken?
- Use device specific monitor earphones or listening check device to verify microphone function
- If child is wearing bilateral processors, use the other cable, battery pack to trouble shoot
- communication with the patient and audiologist is important

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The implant receives auditory information from external microphone of the speech processor which transmits the information to the circuitry inside. The sound information is then converted to a digital code transmitted through the processing cable to the coil. The coil uses radio-frequencies to transmit the information across the skin to the internal receiver. Using this information, the receiver stimulates individual electrodes threaded into the cochlea. The electrode array inserted into the cochlea is designed to bypass damaged hair cell functioning. The electrodes in the cochlea are arranged so that high frequency sounds that are coming in result in stimulation of the electrodes near the basal region of the cochlea and low frequency sounds stimulate the apical region of the cochlea. The array applies electrical current to the cochlea, stimulating auditory nerve directly, sending message to the brain for interpretation.

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Children (12-24 Months)
- Profound sensorineural hearing loss
- Limited benefit from binaural amplification
Children (2-17 Years)
- Severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss
- Limited benefit from binaural amplification
- Speech scores ≤ 30%
Adults
- Moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss
- Sentence Score no better than 50% in the ear to be implanted and no better than 60% in the best aided condition

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1. Cochlear Americas
- nucleus 5, 6, 7
https://www.cochlear.com/us/en/home/ongoing-care-and-support/device-help-and-support/device-basics/cochlear-nucleus-portfolio/nucleus-5
https://store.mycochlear.com/store/index.php/ieb2c/cochlear-implants/nucleus-6.html
https://www.cochlear.com/us/en/home/products-and-accessories/cochlear-nucleus-system/nucleus-sound-processors/nucleus-7#:~:text=The%20Nucleus%C2%AE%207%20Sound,2

2. Advanced Bionics
- Sky CI (children): https://www.advancedbionics.com/us/en/home/solutions/marvel/kids.html
- Naida CI (adults): https://www.advancedbionics.com/us/en/home/solutions/marvel/adult.html

3. Med-El (more popular in Europe and Asia)
- sonnet 2: https://www.medel.com/hearing-solutions/cochlear-implants/sonnet2
- rondo/rondo 2: https://www.medel.com/hearing-solutions/cochlear-implants/rondo
- opus 2: https://www.medel.com/hearing-solutions/cochlear-implants/opus2

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- surgical: bonebridge
https://www.medel.com/hearing-solutions/bonebridge
. vibratory mechnism is implanted into the bone
. allows for direct stimulation without abutment sticking out of the skin
. used for conductive or mixed HL, single-sided deafness
. PTA must be better than 45 db HL
. bilateral implants must not have a difference in BCT of greater than 10 db and same for single-sided deafness
. feedback never a problem due to separation of the microphone and processor

- non-surgical: adhear
https://www.medel.com/hearing-solutions/bone-conduction-system
. no exertion of pressure onto the skin
. audio processor with adhesive adapter
. used with unilateral or bilateral CHL or single-sided deafness
. used more for mild cases, BCT should not exceed 20 db HL
. not good for mixed hearing loss
- devices work by bypassing the middle and outer ear and sends messages to the inner ear
- works independently of ear canal
- external processor and connection between processor and implant

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Cochlear Baha 5: both systems use a sound processor, sound vibrations are transferred through a magnet, both use titanium implants behind the skull
- attract system: external magnet attracts to another internal magnet, invisible link between implant and sound processor, skin is sealed
- connect system: sound processor comes out of the skin

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Vary based on individual and situation, but types fo accommodations are listed but not limited to:
1. interpreters
2. speech-to-text services
3. assistive listening systems
4. note-takers
5. captioned media
6. testing accommodations
7. remote services

https://www.nationaldeafcenter.org/accommodations-101

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There is no one-size-fits-all for each student or each class, and this applies especially when moving to online classes. NDC's Equitable Access Guide, Section 3 states, "The choice of the auxiliary aid is made on a case-by-case basis...Institutions are to consult with the person and take into account his or her usual or preferred method of communication." What worked for in-person classrooms may not be equally effective in online classes.

It is important to be flexible, consider a trial-and-error approach to identify what works best for the student, and investigate options depending on the method of instruction (e.g., live online video lecture, pre-recorded video lectures, group discussion using video vs. text chat, etc.).

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There is no one-size-fits-all for each student or each class, and this applies especially when moving to online classes. NDC's Equitable Access Guide, Section 3 states, "The choice of the auxiliary aid is made on a case-by-case basis...Institutions are to consult with the person and take into account his or her usual or preferred method of communication."

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https://bookshop.org/lists/books-about-deafness-with-deaf-characters-or-by-a-deaf-author

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Hearing Loss Community - Hearing Like Me

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Welcome to HearingLikeMe.com. A hearing loss community brought to you by Phonak for better living, raising, supporting and learning.

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I have spent a lifetime trying to figure out where I fit in as a hard of hearing person in [...]

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This site celebrates the achievements of deaf people in history, and those who are still active in their careers. Each month, we'll highlight a contemporary newsmaker.

We also honor the achievements of hearing people whose commitment and dedication enhanced the quality of life in the Deaf community. Along with biographical information on notable deaf people of the past and present, we hope to make this site a "Deaf Who's Who" by listing leaders of organizations, agencies, and institutions serving the Deaf community.

You can nominate someone (such as a Deaf mentor, professor, or businessperson whom you admire) for "Deaf Person of the Month." for the nomination form.

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This site celebrates the achievements of deaf people in history, and those who are still active in their careers. Each month, we'll highlight a contemporary newsmaker. We also honor the achievements of hearing people whose commitment and dedication enhanced the quality of life in the Deaf community.

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Deaf News, Top Stories, and Deaf cultural humor delivered in daily news videos in American Sign Language

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Summary of websites that include news articles, blog posts, historical information, databases:

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US HearingLikeMe.com is an online community for people whose lives are affected by hearing loss. We bring together people from all around the world to share stories that inspire hope in almost any hearing loss situation. Sharing our hearing loss stories with each other is a powerful thing. Together, we can learn to live with hearing loss more successfully and advocate in a more meaningful way. Frequency 6 posts / week hearinglikeme.com
Facebook 266.5K ⋅ Twitter 18.3K ⋅ Instagram 6.7K

Austin, Texas, US Compare hearing aids and read hearing aid reviews submitted by authenticated patients. Locate high-quality hearing aid professionals in your area. Frequency 5 posts / month hearingtracker.com/news
Facebook 6K ⋅ Twitter 3.4K

UK Want clear honest advice on hearing aids? We offer no-nonsense, easy to understand advice on hearing aids, hearing loss, tinnitus, and other hearing issues. Frequency 2 posts / month hearingaidknow.com
Facebook 1.3K ⋅ Twitter 550 ⋅ Instagram 518

New York City, New York, US Living With Hearing Loss, a blog for people living with hearing loss. She is active as a hearing health advocate and write frequently on related topics on this blog and elsewhere. Frequency 1 post / week Also in Disability Blogs livingwithhearingloss.com
Facebook 8.4K ⋅ Twitter 4.3K

New York City, New York, US Katherine is a frequent speaker on hearing loss issues, and speaks to both professional groups and hearing loss groups. Her blog on hearing loss appears weekly at AARP online and also appears on this web site. Katherine Bouton is the author of 'Shouting Won't Help' and 'Living Better With Hearing Loss'. Frequency 6 posts / quarter katherinebouton.com
Twitter 628

New York, US The Mill Neck Family of Organizations' mission is to enhance the quality of life for people who are Deaf, or who have other special communication needs. Frequency 2 posts / year millneck.org/whats-happening..
Facebook 3.2K ⋅ Twitter 644 ⋅ Instagram 2.7K

Human rights for deaf people including recognition of sign language in all aspects of life. The WFD works for the realisation of deaf people's human rights in partnership with the United Nations and its agencies, national organisations of deaf people, and relevant stakeholders. Frequency 1 post / quarter wfdeaf.org
Facebook 109.4K

US Hands & Voices is dedicated to supporting families with children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing without a bias around communication modes or methodology. We're a parent-driven, non-profit organization providing families with the resources, networks, and information they need to improve communication access and educational outcomes for their children. Frequency 1 post / week handsandvoices.org/deafhardo..
Facebook 12.8K ⋅ Twitter 4.8K

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Selina Wing, Deaf geek shares the experience to increase the awareness of Deaf Malaysia Frequency 5 posts / year selinawing.com
Facebook 761 ⋅ Twitter 212 ⋅ Instagram 976

San Diego, California, US Network Interpreting Service coordinates American Sign Language interpreting and related services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. (Since 1988) Frequency 1 post / week Also in Sign Language Blogs, ASL Blogs networkinterpretingservice.c..
Facebook 910 ⋅ Twitter 88

US Most popular, free public forum for the deaf and hard of hearing. Come share your thoughts and opinions on deaf related topics and issues. Frequency 1 post / day alldeaf.com
Twitter 487

UK Hearing Link is delighted to host a number of guest bloggers, chronicling their hearing loss journeys. We sincerely hope that you find comfort, hope and above all kindred spirits in them. Frequency 2 posts / quarter hearinglink.org/news/hearing..
Facebook 3.3K ⋅ Twitter 5.1K

York, England, UK The Limping Chicken will help you find the most interesting, informative and thought-provoking deaf blogs, news and entertainment on the web. Frequency 7 posts / week Since Feb 2012 Also in UK Deaf Blogs limpingchicken.com
Facebook 10K ⋅ Twitter 11.5K

Auburn Hills, Michigan, US ASL Deafined is an interactive website for anyone to learn American Sign Language. This site was developed to help deaf students improve their English grammar, for parents to improve their sign language skill and for the community at large to learn to sign. It is a subscription based website for ASL utilizing video lessons. All lessons are taught by Deaf experts of ASL. Frequency 5 posts / quarter blog.asldeafined.com
Facebook 2.9K ⋅ Twitter 4.6K

London, England, UK The 121 Captions blog has news, thought-provoking articles, useful tips and advice from the captioning experts. Run by deaf people for deaf people. Their mission is to bridge communication gaps between deaf and hearing people with a customised one-to-one service. Frequency 1 post / week 121captions.com/blog
Facebook 1.4K ⋅ Twitter 5.8K

US Audio Accessibility was founded by Svetlana Kouznetsova (Sveta), an independent consultant and accessibility trailblazer. She has been deaf since age 2 and has had to use various alternative solutions to effectively navigate communication and information barriers throughout her life. Most posts would focus on news related to captioning, but occasionally there would be posts related to deafness, hearing loss, communication methods, and more. Frequency 1 post / quarter Since Jan 2012 audio-accessibility.com/news
Twitter 615

Kentucky, US I am Deaf, and my primary language would be American Sign Language or more so what they call it PSE. As goes for my hobbies or things that I love doing would be blogging, reading comic books, four-wheeling (ATV), fishing, hunting, watching movies, and traveling. In JoshiesWorld where he reports, investigates, shares his opinions, and reviews on everything! Frequency 2 posts / month joshiesworld.com
Facebook 163 ⋅ Twitter 159

South Carolina, US Inspiring hope through empowerment, education and engagement. To provide emotional, informational, and technical support to parents with children who are deaf or hard of hearing, parents who are deaf and hard of hearing, and the professionals with whom they work so that all of their children develop commensurate with their SC peers. Frequency 1 post / week beginningssc.org
Facebook 1.8K ⋅ Twitter 977 ⋅ Instagram 419

UK Find daily insights, observations, challenges, and frustrations faced by families with both hearing and deaf family members. Posts also focus on current events, and news from all over the world. Frequency 6 posts / week Since May 2017 attherimmm.blogspot.com
Twitter 5

London, England, UK The Deaf community's leading online news portal, brought to you by the British Deaf Association. Frequency 4 posts / year Since Jun 2014 britishdeafnews.co.uk
Facebook 16K ⋅ Twitter 11.9K

UK Liam O'Dell is a freelance journalist specialising in deafness, disability and social media. Alongside writing, Liam produces content for his own YouTube channel and is a public speaker, having moderated panels at Summer in the City, the Almeida Theatre's Shifting Tides festival and the UK Asexuality Conference. Check out his posts now. Frequency 1 post / day Since Aug 2012 liamodell.com
Facebook 393 ⋅ Twitter 6.1K ⋅ Instagram 589

Charlotte, North Carolina, US Rikki Poynter is a 25-year-old Deaf vlogger on YouTube. After four years of being a beauty blogger and vlogger, she took a hiatus in October 2014 to focus on more lifestyle blogs and vlogs about deafness and Deaf culture. Frequency 1 post / week Since Jun 2013 Also in Deaf Youtube Channels, Disability Youtube Channels youtube.com/user/rikkipoynte..
Twitter 10.8K

Whitfield, England, UK Hello! I'm James, a Deaf vlogger, born in 1988. youtube.com/c/JCameronMorris..
Facebook 129.6K ⋅ Twitter 36.2K

Participants picture for the Deaf in Thailand. Around the world in the future. youtube.com/channel/UCBCS..
Facebook 8.8K

Preston, England, UK The Institute for Sign Languages and Deaf Studies (iSLanDS) is a unique hub for the study of sign linguistics & deaf communities on a global scale. This blog aims to give an insider's perspective on the day-to-day reality of our research. Articles feature live reports from the International Institute for Sign Languages & Deaf Studies (iSLanDS). Frequency 1 post / quarter Since Sep 2010 islandscentre.wordpress.com
Twitter 565

Brenham, Texas, US A blog by Shawn Richardson featuring illustration & design embraces the Deaf community and culture. This is just for fun with arts, awareness, education, entertainment, diversity, et cetera. Frequency 1 post / month srid4fun.blogspot.com

London, England, UK The BDA is the UK's leading membership organisation and registered charity led by Deaf people, for Deaf people. Our Mission is to ensure a world in which the language, culture, community, diversity and heritage of Deaf people in the UK is respected and fully protected, ensuring that Deaf people can participate and contribute as equal and valued citizens in the wider society. Frequency 2 posts / week bda.org.uk
Facebook 23.8K ⋅ Twitter 17K ⋅ Instagram 4.6K

News for the deaf and hard of hearing since 2001. Frequency 1 post / quarter deafnewstoday.blogspot.com
Facebook 11.1K ⋅ Twitter 20.3K

Silent Grapevine's aim is to serve their viewers by providing reliable, valuable, and important Deaf community oriented information in every newcast. Frequency 22 posts / week silentgrapevine.com
Twitter 1.3K ⋅ Instagram 148

Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid This is my story about my experience of sudden sensorineural hearing loss and how it affects my life. Frequency 1 post / month myhearinglossstory.com
Facebook 199 ⋅ Twitter 388

London, England, UK Award winning support for people who are deaf in London and the South East region. We offer British Sign Language Courses and Deaf Awareness Training. Our Mission is to facilitate the communication process between Deaf and hearing people by providing highly trained Language Service Professionals. Frequency 3 posts / month deafumbrella.com/blog-youtube
Facebook 10.1K ⋅ Twitter 6.7K ⋅ Instagram 2.8K

Papillion, Nebraska, US Reaching out to deaf children in poverty conditions around the world with hope by partnering with Christian missions and ministries. Frequency 1 post / quarter deafchildhope.org/blog
Twitter 212

US A blog resource for people with hearing loss and Cochlear Implants. Share your story online. Cochlear Implant Life is a website for people interested in the world of Cochlear Implants. Reviews by Aidan Toomey. cochlearimplantlife.com
Facebook 1.3K ⋅ Twitter 1.2K ⋅ Instagram 2.3K

London, England, UK She's deaf and she's girly! Follow Deafinitely Girly as she tackles a spinning class, spends time in the mountains and hears a baby cry. She's funny, clever, positive and ready to tell you what being deaf and having fun in London is all about! Frequency 1 post / year Since Apr 2008 deafinitelygirly.com
Twitter 3.9K

Bohol, Philippines IDEA envisions a society in which the Deaf in the Philippines enjoy social and economic equality, exchanging isolation for community, servitude for self-reliance. Our mission is to foster self-reliance by providing academic, vocational, physical, spiritual, and economic opportunities for deaf children, adults, and families. Frequency 1 post / month ideadeaf.org/blog
Twitter 208

Cambridge, England, UK Services for Deaf people in Cambridgeshire. Deaf and Hearing people are equal and should receive the same levels of opportunity, access and respect. Deaf people are only 'disabled' by the effects of discrimination and exclusion. The Deaf community and Deaf culture are important to the sense of identity of individual Deaf people. Frequency 4 posts / year cambsdeaf.org/latest-news
Facebook 6.9K

New York City, New York, US My name is Lydia Callis, and I am a RID nationally certified American Sign Language Interpreter. I am also an advocate for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. I founded LC Interpreting Services with the goal of consistently providing high quality, culturally-competent sign language interpreters. American sign language is my passion and connecting people is my purpose! signlanguagenyc.com/blog-3
Facebook 837 ⋅ Twitter 3.6K

England, UK Signly delivers smart British Sign Language (BSL) signed content directly to the user's mobile device. blog.signly.co
Facebook 595 ⋅ Twitter 664

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US Pittsburgh Association of the Deaf (PAD) became a charter club back in 1929 to 'encourage wholesome sports, pastime and recreation; exert a wholesome influence upon the conduct of its members; help the Deaf to secure employment, aid in educating the Deaf and maintain a club for the social enjoyment of its members.' Frequency 1 post / month pghdeafclub.org/news
Facebook 2.3K

Luquillo, Puerto Rico Nuturing Deaf children to live and think biblically. Frequency 1 post / quarter cscdluquillo.com/blog
Facebook 932

New York, US The Unguarded Quarter is about lots of things, with an obvious slant towards deafness. It covers being deaf, hearing impairment, disability at some stage, media, other things as well. The Unguarded Quarter continues my life-long exploration of deafness. TUQ stores much of the writing I've been doing for years. While I gradually add more content from the past, including material from before the Internet era, I also keep writing new material. tuq.pub/category/blog

Abby. 22 and I'm DeafBlind. This is my blog posting things about being Deaf Hufflepuff = Deaflepuff. Frequency 3 posts / quarter deaflepuff.tumblr.com
Facebook 87 ⋅ Twitter 14

This blog is for those who are hearing to ask any questions they may have about deafness and Deaf culture. Frequency 8 posts / day deafaq.tumblr.com

England, US A blog about real-life problems, achievements, and day to day struggles in a deaf person's world! deafieblogger.com
Facebook 2K ⋅ Twitter 4.2K ⋅ Instagram 3.6K

Wellington, New Zealand The Fiji Deaf Ministry is a Christian charity providing education and support for the Deaf of the South Pacific. The Ministry also works with those who provide the Deaf with post-schooling support. A long-term aim of the charity is to build on links with deaf individuals and communities throughout the South Pacific, promoting more local education options. Frequency 2 posts / quarter fijideaf.net/blog
Facebook 1.1K

US The Cork Deaf Association is committed to the empowerment of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in Cork city and county through the provision of information, advocacy and support services. We aim to achieve a more inclusive society, where Deaf and Hard of Hearing people enjoy equality of opportunity, independence and full citizenship. Frequency 2 posts / year corkdeaf.ie/blog
Facebook 2.2K ⋅ Twitter 115

North Highlands, CA We are a non-profit, community-based organization serving deaf and hard of hearing individuals in 24 northeastern counties of California. norcal-services-for-deaf-and..
Twitter 266 ⋅ Instagram 315

Deaf & autistic based in the United Kingdom. Frequency 2 posts / year deafdrop.tumblr.com
Twitter 195

Dallas, Texas, US DAC provides those who are deaf & hard of hearing the means to ensure advancement through education, communication, economic security and good health. Frequency 4 posts / quarter dactexas.org/blog
Facebook 4.8K ⋅ Twitter 181

Dedicated towards providing the MN Deaf Community with the information it needs to inform and empower. deafmn.com
Facebook 1.5K ⋅ Twitter 107

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia I'm Sherrie. A Deaf woman who is passionate about advocacy, Deaf rights and travelling. isigniwander.com/home
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Australia Latest news on sign language, deaf topics, accessibility, captioning and transcriptions. blog.ai-media.tv/blog
Facebook 1.2M ⋅ Twitter 8.1K ⋅ Instagram 28.2K

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Top 60 Deaf Blogs and Websites To Follow in 2021

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US HearingLikeMe.com is an online community for people whose lives are affected by hearing loss. We bring together people from all around the world to share stories that inspire hope in almost any hearing loss situation. Sharing our hearing loss stories with each other is a powerful thing.

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day-to-day experiences, challenges and accomplishments of a deaf individual

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A blog about day to day experiences, real life challenges and achievements in a deaf person's world!

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influencer with cochlear implants who has appeared on TV, often shares lived experiences through social media platforms

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Instagram

"The Bachelor" Season 25 star Abigail Heringer - who made history as the first deaf contestant to ever appear on the franchise - detailed her experience with hearing loss during a candid Instagram Story Q&A on Monday.

From the functionalities of her cochlear implant to how being deaf affects her dating life, Abigail shared more of herself with curious fans.

Asked by one follower if she is able to swim with her cochlear implant, Abigail replied, "No I take them off! They're water resistant but not waterproof."

Elsewhere, the stunning Oregon native - who now lives in New York City - posted photos of her cochlear implant from childhood and the current device she uses.

Instagram

Instagram

Abigail responded to another Instagram user's query about how she manages "listening fatigue."

"I've always had this feeling but never knew what to call it. Listening fatigue is such a real thing with CIs," she explained. "It can get so exhausting since we have to work harder to follow in conversations, pick up sounds etc. Taking off my CI is as equivalent to the feeling of taking my bra off at the end of a long day lol."

Later, Abigail revealed that she went to speech therapy throughout her adolescence. "Yes, speech therapy all the way through middle school!" she wrote. "I think I still have a slight 'deaf' accent and I can't always tell if I'm mispronouncing words so go easy on me if I slip up when talking in videos."

Speaking to how her hearing loss impacts her romantic pursuits, Abigail admitted, "It can be hard to flirt when I have to ask 'what' constantly."

She elaborated, "I haven't gotten a direct negative response from telling a guy [about my hearing loss] but there's been moments where I feel like a guy stops trying to make an effort in the moment (ex: in a loud bar or club)...ya know?"

Abigail - who shared her story with a notably receptive Matt James on "The Bachelor" - also explained how she handles telling men that she's deaf on dates.

"I'm still figuring this out y'all. What you guys saw on the first night on the show was the most forward I had ever been about telling a potential partner about my hearing loss!" she wrote, recounting her conversation with Matt.

"I was definitely faking it until I made it lol," Abigail added. "BUT I think just being up front and letting them know is the way to do it. It shows you're confident about what makes you different and if you just own it, it helps to get rid of any awkwardness you might be worried about! And if they're weird about it - not the person for you."

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Abigail Heringer Details Her Experience with Hearing Loss During Candid Q&A

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Instagram "The Bachelor" Season 25 star Abigail Heringer - who made history as the first deaf contestant to ever appear on the franchise - detailed her experience with hearing loss during a candid Instagram Story Q&A on Monday. From the functionalities of her cochlear implant to how being deaf affects her dating life, Abigail shared more of herself with curious fans.

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A vlogger couple, one individual is Deaf and one is Hearing. They often make videos about using sign language in their relationship, what their daily experiences are like.

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deaf asl "sign language" relationships vlogger couple

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Hi! We are Ryan and Ellen. We're a signing couple showing the world Deaf and Hearing relationships work! Together since 2011 ❤️ PO BOX: 4521 campus drive #251 Irvine, CA 92612

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American stuntwoman and speech racer in the 70s
Was taught lip-reading and speech at the age of 2, impacted by childhood illnesses (e.g spinal meningitis) that ultimately led to her hearing loss

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Disability rights lawyer
First DeafBlind person to graduate from Harvard Law School

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About Haben The first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, Haben Girma is a human rights lawyer advancing disability justice. President Obama named her a White House Champion of Change. She received the Helen Keller Achievement Award, a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and T…

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Deaf linguist and American Sign Language (ASL) poet
First person to identify ASL poetry as a literary genre

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https://www.ai-media.tv/ai-media-blog/famous-deaf-people-15-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-people-who-changed-the-world/#:~:text=Helen%20Keller%20was%20a%20remarkable,become%20deaf%2C%20blind%20and%20mute.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/famous-and-historic-deaf-and-hearing-people-1048372

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Comprehensive summary of ADA guidelines and regulations 

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Comprehensive summary of ADA guidelines and regulations 

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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
1. require employers with more than 15 employees to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, and not to discriminate based on ability
2. prohibit discrimination by public government entities and require accessibility to assistive listening systems (for example, wheelchair ramps or hearing loops in government buildings)
3. prohibit discrimination and improve accessibility at privately owned "places of public accommodation"

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Many laws protect people with hearing loss-but these days they all need to be interpreted in a world of changing technology. The preeminent law that protects the hearing impaired is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law in 1990. The three titles of the ADA:

require employers with more than 15 employees to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, and to not discriminate based on disability

prohibit discrimination by public government entities and require accessibility to assistive listening systems (for example, wheelchair ramps or hearing loops in government buildings)

prohibit discrimination and improve accessibility at privately owned "places of public accommodation"

Airports must accommodate people with
disabilities, including hearing loss.

Even if a cochlear implant or hearing aid largely addresses your limitations, you are still considered to have a legal disability under the ADA, which means you can expect certain protections and accommodations.

However, as technology rapidly changes and more services move online, the definition of discrimination has been a moving target. For example, was it discrimination for the video chat service Zoom to charge more for closed-captioning on video calls? In December 2020, two hearing-impaired men sued over the issue, citing violations of ADA and California and New York law. In March 2021, Zoom made it possible to sign up for free live captioning (you can only turn it on as a meeting host) and the company promises to make it free for everyone in the fall.

Making the internet accessible for people with hearing loss

This debate arises mainly because the ADA, written in the very early days of the internet, doesn't specifically address websites. Judges have ruled differently on whether "places of public accommodation" includes websites or apps that don't have a physical location. The U.S. Department of Justice has said that it does, but hasn't issued regulations.

The DOJ is responsible for enforcing federal laws, seeking changes and civil penalties. But class-action discrimination suits, which have been increasing rapidly, are more common. Dominos, Netflix, and Target all changed their websites under pressure from private lawsuits.

While we all await more guidance, many states have instituted their own rules or adopted web accessibility guidelines published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Under those guidelines, people with impaired vision should be able to see and read a website, and it should be easy to integrate with tools used by people with disabilities. Closed captions and transcripts should be available for all prerecorded audio and video, for example. However, as anyone who has ever used YouTube knows, this is not a guarantee.

Telephone accessibility

The law is a bit more clear for telephone systems, which must be available to people with hearing and speech disabilities. Your options include captioned telephones and web-based captioning apps and services. The 1988 Hearing Aid Compatibility Act required that all telephones (including cell phones) be compatible with hearing aids.

The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), signed by President Obama and enacted in 2010, required text messaging, e-mail, instant messaging, and video call services to be accessible to people with disabilities. However, as mentioned above, free live captioning on private platforms like Zoom is still a legal gray area.

Other rights for the hearing-impaired

In 2012 the U.S. Federal Communications Commission ruled that all TV programs with closed captions must include those captions when published online.

The Air Carriers Access Act (ACAA) requires all airlines, including foreign airlines flying into the United States, to accommodate hearing loss, so airport televisions must be captioned.

And under the ADA, hospitals, schools, and courtrooms must make sign language interpreters available when needed.

What about movie theaters and similar venues?

Hearing accessibility at movie theaters is clearly defined. Theaters with fixed seating for more than 50 people must provide hearing assistive services for patrons with hearing loss.

This sign indicates a place of business
provides hearing loop technology to
accommodate people with hearing aids
or cochlear implants.

Museums are required to provide assistive listening systems for the hearing impaired, but not sign language interpretation or closed captioning - although some do as a courtesy to their Deaf patrons. Many times, these services can be provided free of charge or for a nominal fee with advance notice.

Examples of other public places that are required to provide assistive hearing systems for those with hearing loss include hospitals, concert/lecture halls, stadiums, court rooms, hotel conference rooms, convention centers and nursing homes. Telecoils in hearing aids can connect to hearing loops in facilities that have them.

What about face masks?

Also under the ADA, a California suit argued that shoe manufacturer Nike violated the law when it required employees to wear face masks during the pandemic: It's too hard for customers with deafness or hearing loss to understand them.

Without admitting liability, Nike agreed to make transparent face masks available to California store employees, explain its policy to employees, and post signs at the entrance to stores offering extra assistance.

(If this is an issue for you: Ask the people you need to hear regularly to wear a blue single-use surgical mask, which research suggests provide the best acoustics; you can also give them a mask with plastic over the mouth that will allow you to see their lips, but these tend to make the words harder to hear. More on face masks and hearing loss.)

Employment discrimination and hearing loss

The ADA and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission protect job applicants and employees. If you are applying for a job with a business that has at least 15 employees, you are not required to report your hearing loss and your employer can't ask you questions to determine whether you have a disability. The employer can ask specific questions about your ability to perform essential functions of the job, such as whether you have good communication skills, can perform in a fast-paced, noisy environment or can meet legally mandated safety standards.

If your deafness or hearing loss is obvious or you report it, a prospective employer can ask you whether you will need an accommodation to perform the job.

Is my employer required to provide any accommodations for my hearing loss?

Yes, as long as it is reasonable, meaning it isn't too difficult or expensive to make the adjustment. Accommodations might include providing a sign language interpreter for conferences or other meetings. It may also include providing assistive listening devices like captioned phones, computer software or strobe light emergency alerting systems.

If you require a workplace adjustment to accommodate your hearing loss, talk to your employer. Be prepared to provide more information about your condition and needs from either your physician or hearing healthcare provider.

If you believe your rights have been violated, file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180 days of the date of the incident. You may file a lawsuit in federal court after you have received a "right to sue" letter from the EEOC.

Accessibility rights for children with hearing loss

Under a federal program established in 1999, Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI), newborns are screened for deafness and hearing loss before leaving the hospital, and if they seem to have a problem, evaluated within three months. Babies with hearing loss should be enrolled in a state early intervention program within six months. In 2017, the program was expanded to include children who lose their hearing from infection, harmful noise exposure, or genetic causes.

As well, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides free services from birth to age three and covers school years until the age of 21. Schools are responsible for making sure eligible students have working hearing aids, any assistive technology needed and teachers who can operate it.

Children who qualify as disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are also entitled to participate in all non-academic and extracurricular activities of the school. This may include physical recreation classes, recreational activities and special interest groups and clubs sponsored by the school.

If you believe your school has violated your child's Section 504 rights, file a complaint with the school's Section 504 coordinator or the U.S. Department of Education.

For the most part, employers, business owners and educators are concerned about providing safe, accessible environments for the people they serve, so if you need assistance, just ask. If they are unwilling to provide services you believe you are entitled to, follow up by contacting the appropriate advocate. You can also file a complaint at the ADA's website.

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ADA guidelines for hearing impaired people

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Many laws protect people with hearing loss-but these days they all need to be interpreted in a world of changing technology. The preeminent law that protects the hearing impaired is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law in 1990.

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https://www.nad.org/resources/civil-rights-laws/americans-with-disabilities-act/

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>> Title I - Employment

This applies to private employers and state or local governments as employers. ADA Title I prohibits employers, employment agencies, labor unions, and joint labor-management committees from discriminating against people with disabilities. Title I applies to employers with 15 or more employees.

Filing a Complaint under ADA Title I (Employment)

Complaints must be filed with the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180 days of the date of discrimination, or 300 days if the complaint is filed with a State or local fair employment practice agency. People may file a lawsuit in court only after they receive a "right-to-sue" letter from the EEOC. For more information about filing employment-related disability discrimination complaints, explore through the EEOC's site.

>> Title II - State and Local Governments

This requires state and local governments to make their programs, services, and activities accessible to people with disabilities.

You may use this page to educate and advocate for equal access to state and local government programs, services, and activities. The page provides general information about Title II of the ADA that applies to all types of state and local agencies, including courts, schools, social service agencies, hospitals, legislatures, commissions and councils, recreational facilities, libraries, and state/county/city departments and other agencies.

Other resources:

Filing a Complaint under ADA Title II (State and Local Governments)

When you experience discrimination by state and local governments, you may file an ADA Title II complaint with the Department of Justice. he form will help you know the kind of information you should include in your complaint. You must file a complaint within 180 days of the discrimination. You may also file a lawsuit in state or federal court.

>> Title III - Places of Public Accommodation (Private Businesses)

This requires businesses that are open to the public to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to all that they offer. It covers a wide range of private businesses, including retail stores,hotels, theaters, restaurants, doctors' and lawyers' offices, optometrists, dentists, banks, insurance agencies, museums, parks, libraries, day care centers, recreational programs, social service agencies, and private schools. It covers both profit and non-profit organizations. Unlike the employment section of the ADA, which only applies to employers with 15 or more employees, ADA Title III applies to all businesses, regardless of size.

You may use this Public Accommodations page, which provides general information about ADA Title III, to inform and advocate for equal access to many different kinds of businesses. Other resources apply to specific businesses:

Filing a Complaint under ADA Title III (Public Accommodations)

When you experience discrimination by businesses that are open to the public, you can file a Title III complaint. There is no time limit for filing an ADA Title III complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, but you should file as soon as possible. You may also file a lawsuit in state or federal court.

>> Title IV - Telecommunications Relay Services

This mandates a nationwide system of telecommunications relay services to make the telephone network accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing or who have speech impairments.
>> Title V - Miscellaneous Provisions
This contains rules that are not covered in other parts of the ADA, includes:

States cannot claim immunity from ADA-related legal action. People with disabilities may sue any state agency for violations of the ADA, but may not recover money.

Protects people with disabilities from being punished for asserting their rights under the ADA.

Courts may award attorney's fees to the winning party in an ADA lawsuit.

Congress is covered by the ADA.

Other federal and state laws can be stronger and provide greater protections and rights than the ADA.

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Title I - Employment This applies to private employers and state or local governments as employers. ADA Title I prohibits employers, employment agencies, labor unions, and joint labor-management committees from discriminating against people with disabilities. Title I applies to employers with 15 or more employees.