League Buzz

Issue 7

You’re reading the League Buzz, November, 2005. Issue 7.
The League for the Hard of Hearing’s mission is to improve the quality of life for infants, children and adults with all degrees of hearing loss.

We accomplish our mission by providing hearing rehabilitation and human service programs for people who are hard of hearing or deaf, and their families, regardless of age, ability to pay, or mode of communication, and by striving to empower consumers to achieve their potential. We hope that you enjoy the League Buzz, our premier email newsletter!

To be added to the League Buzz mailing list, please email us at LeagueBuzz@lhh.org and write “add” in the subject of the email.

Go ahead…spread the buzz.

TOO MUCH TURKEY? THE GYM MAY HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT, BUT IT ALSO MAY BE DAMAGING YOUR HEARING

Is your Gym Too Loud?
Continued exposure to noise above 85 decibels (dBA), about the level of city traffic, over time, will eventually harm hearing. In general, the louder the sound, the less time required before hearing damage will occur. A study by Raymond H. Hull, Ph.D. (1991) found that 80% of the health clubs and spas consistently played music which exceeded 105 dBA over one hour periods and the intensity of the instructor's voice using an FM head-mounted transmitter averaged 5 dBA above this level. 60% of the health clubs and spas studied used music and FM-transmitted voice which exceeded 110 dBA. Sound levels in a few health clubs exceeded 120 dBA for 30-minute classes. These levels pose a serious risk to hearing.

Pump up Your Muscles, Not the Volume
To ensure safe listening levels at your health club, the International Association of Fitness Professionals recommends that music intensity during group exercise classes should measure no more than 90 dBA. Additionally, they recommend that the instructor's voice should measure no more than 100 dBA.

What You Can Do
While you're working out, take these simple steps to make sure that you're not damaging your hearing:

Pay attention to the volume in your exercise classes - if it sounds too loud, it probably is and don’t be afraid to ask the instructor to turn down the volume.
Request the Opinion Statement on Recommendations for Music Volume in Fitness Classes from the International Association of Fitness Professionals at 800-999-4332 and bring the League Buzz and the Opinion Statement to the manager of your health club.
When possible, move away from speakers.
If using a personal stereo system with headphones, play the music at safe listening levels. Rule of thumb: If you cannot hear other people talking when you are wearing the headphones or if other people have to shout to you to be heard at three feet away while the headphones are on, it is too loud.
Wear adequate hearing protection, such as foam ear plugs or a variety of other types of ear plugs.
Pay attention to the warning signs of a noise-induced hearing loss (a ringing or buzzing in the ears, a slight muffling of sounds or difficulty understanding speech immediately after exposure to noise) and have your hearing tested by a licensed audiologist.

LEFT TO YOUR OWN DEVICES
Free Devices Demonstration
Learn about assistive listening devices, alerting devices and new technology
for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
You don’t have to be a League client to attend.
Offered Every Tuesday from 1pm to 2pm
Located at the League's office at 50 Broadway, New York City
Please call 917-305-7700 or email info@lhh.org for more information.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Have you ever been to a captioned movie or theater performance? Have you used an FM System at your favorite Broadway Show? Have you stayed at a hotel and requested a room that is accessible for a person with a hearing loss? Do you like to go to museums and take the hearing accessible guided tour? Do you use captioning while watching television? These and many other accessible experiences are largely due to the meaningful work of a group of volunteers…it’s not as easy as a.b.c. (advocates for better communication), but with hard work and dedication, they get the job done. a.b.c. is looking for volunteers to donate time to further their mission of education and advocacy for people with all degrees of hearing loss to fully participate in “all that life has to offer”. For more information or to sign up, contact abc@lhh.org or call 917-305-7809. If you are interested in coming to an a.b.c. meeting to learn more, please join the group on Monday, December 5th at 1PM at the League’s offices at 50 Broadway.

NOTES FROM THE NEWS
Ever wonder what happened to the Long Island Artinian family from the movie “Sound and Fury”? Check out this interesting article:
http://www.handsandvoices.org/articles/misc/V8-4_soundfury.htm

NEWS FLASH
On October 18th, SoundBytes, the catalog, web and retail-based company that specializes in providing assistive equipment for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals and the agencies that serve them, announced that in continued partnership with the League for the Hard of Hearing, it will open a new store at the League’s office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The store is scheduled to open on November 1st, 2005 and is located at 2800 Oakland Park Blvd., Suite 306 in Oakland Park. SoundBytes also has a store at the League’s NYC office at 50 Broadway. For more information, visit www.soundbytes.com

CURTAIN UP, LIGHT THE LIGHTS

Open-Captioned performance of Miss Witherspoon
The New York premiere of an Off-Broadway play by Christopher Durang and Directed by Emily Mann. Sunday, November 13 at 2:30pm at Playwrights Horizons Mainstage Theater located at 416 West 42nd Street between 9th & 10th Avenues.

Special Discount Tickets Price of $30 per ticket (reg. $60). Limit 2 tickets per order. (Subject to availability.)

To Order Tickets (mention code “MWOC” to receive discount) visit www.playwrightshorizons.org. Voice: call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 (Noon-8pm daily). TTY: call Ticket Central via relay service (800) 662-1220 (Noon-8pm daily).

Sign-Interpreted & Open-Captioned Performances of Cinderella
Paper Mill Playhouse Brookside Drive Milburn, NJ
Sunday, November 20 at 7:30pm
Friday, November 25 at 8pm
To order tickets, call the box office at 973-376-4242.
This fresh and exciting adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s 1957 made-for-television musical (which starred Julie Andrews) brings adventure, romance, and a miraculous kingdom to the stage. As the timeless fairy tale unfolds, a pumpkin turns into a golden coach, mice turn into horses, a dove becomes a footman, and a famously shabby maid sees her wildest dreams come true. Even if you know the ending, this quintessential classic will still have you asking, "Will the slipper fit?"

ROCK ON
Sign language interpreted performances of The Rolling Stones
Madison Square Garden
Friday, January 20, 2006 at 8:00 p.m.
Tickets are priced at $179.50 each and the seats are located in Section 311. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by calling (212) 465-6034 any weekday between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. You may also fax your request to (212) 465-6649 or e-mail to disabledservices@thegarden.com. Please include the following information in a legible manner on your faxed ticket requests: Event Name, Event Date, Event Time, Number of Tickets, Ticket Price, Name of Disabled Person, Day and Evening Telephone Number, Credit Card Number and Expiration Date. You will be contacted regarding the status of your order within a week.

SOUND CHECK
FREE Hearing Screenings
Every Tuesday, noon-2pm
Every Thursday, 4pm-6pm
Location: 50 Broadway, 6th Floor
When was the last time that you had your hearing screened? Not since elementary school? Chances are, your hearing has changed.
Call 917.305.7766 or email appointments@lhh.org to reserve a screening time.

CALLING ALL 5th THROUGH 8th GRADERS - NOVEMBER 6 EVENT!
Are you Street Smart Savvy? Find out at The League's Adolescent Workshop on Sunday November 6, 2005 from 9:30am-3:30pm. Mainstreamed 5th-8th graders with hearing loss and their parents are invited. We have an exciting day planned including a creative workshop, a panel of high school students and a pizza lunch! The Adolescent Workshop provides a great opportunity to meet new friends and renew bonds with old friends. Registration materials will be mailed in the coming weeks. HOLD THE DATE! For information or to sign up for the event, please call Dorene Watkins at 917-305-7881 or Josephine Massab at 917-305-7840.

NO PITY
By Ellen Lubin-Sherman, Prepared for the "League Buzz"

I was standing in line at the neighborhood bagel store a couple of weeks ago. It was a weekday morning, very early and admittedly, I wasn't feeling my personal best. The line was long. As I waited, I noticed that the gentleman standing in front of me appeared to be angry. For a minute I wondered if I had cut him off in the parking lot. I paid my bill, turned around and found the gentleman blocking my way. He looked me in the eye and said "I need to speak to you." "Oh boy", I thought. I guess I did take his parking space. Bracing myself for a tirade, I said "of course, what's wrong?" That's when the encounter got interesting.

He motioned me aside and told me that his seven year old daughter was going to be fitted for hearing aids. He and his wife were "devastated" and frightened that their daughter's life was going to be changed forever. I guess he saw my hearing aids, and he wanted to know if I had lost my hearing as a child. When I told him it was when I was a teenager, he wanted to know if it had stopped me or held me back? Did I do everything I wanted to do?

"Okay," I said, "I'm going to say something to you and I want you to listen to every word. Your daughter's hearing is impaired but not her mind and certainly not her spirit or enthusiasm. You and your wife need to accept your daughter's hearing loss but not let it determine who she is and what she can reach for. You must never tell her that she's limited because she's not. Her future is as bright and as filled with possibilities as every other seven year old child."

And then I told him what he needed to hear before he went on with his day. "And stop feeling sorry for yourself. Stop feeling sorry that things aren't perfect and that your little girl is different than other little girls. She doesn't need your pity and neither do you."

Before I left, I wanted the last word: "As for your question, nothing has stopped me and nothing ever will. Make sure your daughter feels the same way."

According to Dorene Watkins, Coordinator of Parent Programs, dealing with the diagnosis and going beyond the audiogram presents a challenge for parents of children with hearing loss. The League offers counseling/support for parents and others interested. Please contact Dorene Watkins at 917-305-7881 or at dwatkins@lhh.org for more information.

SAVE THE DATE

Cochlear Implant Support Group for individuals who have a cochlear implant, those who are contemplating a cochlear implant or those who desire information about cochlear implants. All are invited to share, listen, learn, teach…and support. This group has no affiliation with any particular implant center. Next Meeting: December 8, 2005, 50 Broadway, 2nd Floor from 5:30pm to 7pm. Light refreshments will be served. Please bring your questions, comments and personal experiences. A New York State Licensed Audiologist with expertise in cochlear implants will serve as the facilitator. For more information, call or email the Audiology Department at 917.305.7751.

The League’s NF2 Support Group
Next meeting: December 7, 2005 at 50 Broadway, 6pm, room TBA. Individuals with Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and their families continue to meet every two or three months. Meetings are captioned, light refreshments are served, and all are welcome! Please join us. For more information, call or email Ilene Miner at Voice/TTY 917-305-7730 or iminer@lhh.org.

MAIL CALL
Dear League Buzz,
I am almost 80 years old and taking a class in English literature. The classroom is large with an echo, there is a constant hum from an outdated air conditioner, and the professor speaks softly. I have to tell you that with my new hearing aid with an FM loop (all fitted carefully in your Audiology Department) and my speech reading therapy – I am able to comprehend as much as 75%. Wow! This gives me the confidence to acknowledge that communication therapy works. Intensive audiological assistance works. My ability to cope and communicate has improved immeasurably as has my quality of life. My sincere thanks to everyone at the League.
Gratefully,
Alex Vanderborg

TRIVIA

Who invented the hand signals for strikes and balls in baseball?
What is the only mammal that can’t jump?
How do scuba divers communicate under water?

THANK YOU FOR READING THE LEAGUE BUZZ
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To be added to or removed from the League Buzz mailing list, please email us at LeagueBuzz@lhh.org. In the subject of the email, please write “add” or “remove.”

Tell us what kinds of tips and thoughts you'd like to see in the next League Buzz. Email us at LeagueBuzz@lhh.org and write “tips” in the subject line.

For more information on the League for the Hard of Hearing, visit www.lhh.org or call 917-305-7700.

DID YOU GET THEM RIGHT? TRIVIA ANSWERS:

A deaf center-fielder for the Cincinnati Reds, William Hoy
An elephant
They often use sign language under water.