League Buzz

Issue 8

You’re reading the League Buzz, December, 2005. Issue 8.
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.

HOLIDAYS OF LIGHT

‘Tis the season. Christmas trees are luminous, Hanukkah menorahs are glowing and holiday candles are on the table and lit. How are your smoke detectors doing? How about those carbon monoxide detectors? Are they all fully accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing? Remember - many detectors emit a warning sound that can be inaudible to those with hearing loss, especially in the middle of the night when their hearing aids have been turned off.
Solutions:

One solution is a sound monitoring device that can be mounted close to the detector. When the smoke or carbon monoxide detector goes off, the monitor “hears” the sound and responds by turning on flashing lights and/or a bed-shaker.
The other solution is to replace the existing system with one that transmits an alarm signal that will turn on a bright light or bed-shaker.

For additional information, visit the SoundBytes store, located at the League’s New York and Florida offices, or visit www.soundbytes.com, and click on “resources & info on hearing loss” or call (917) 305-7924 (voice or TTY).

Ho Ho Home for the Holidays?
Free Devices Demonstration.
To all you college students home on break, come in and learn about new assistive listening and alerting devices.
Tuesdays 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.

NOISY TOYS! HOW LOUD IS TOO LOUD?
It’s that time of year again, toy time! With the holidays comes festive cheer, family togetherness and of course, presents! Children can’t wait to open their gifts and start playing with new toys. Some toys, however, are not as much fun as they look. Did you know that many toys can be dangerously loud?

How Loud is Too Loud?
To know if a sound is loud enough to cause damage to your ears, it is important to know both the level of intensity (measured in decibels, dBA) and the length of exposure to the sound. In general, the louder the sound, the less time required before hearing will be affected. Standards set by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) indicate that continued exposure to noise over 85 dBA will eventually harm your hearing. For example, 15 minutes of exposure at 115 dBA is considered dangerous to hearing and even an exposure of less than 2 minutes at 130 dBA may be hazardous to hearing. Although OSHA protects a person in the workplace, the same protection is not available for children.

Some Examples of Noisy Toys

Certain rattles and squeaky toys are measured at sound levels as high as 110 dBA.
Musical toys, such as electric guitars, drums and horns, emit sounds as loud as 120 dBA.
Toy phones for small children are measured between 123 and 129 dBA.
Toys which are designed to amplify the voice are measured at up to 135 dBA.
Toys producing firearm sounds emit volumes as loud as 150 dBA one foot away from the noise source.

Consumer Responsibility
Protect your children. Be aware that noise can and does cause hearing loss. Listen to a toy before buying it. If it sounds loud, hurts your ears or causes ringing, do not buy it. Report the toy to the Consumer Products Safety Commission at 800-638-2772.

COMMUNICATION TIPS
Getting together around holiday turkey or egg nog? Click the link below to find some helpful communication tips to use during the noisy holiday season! http://www.stopgettingsick.com/template.cfm-2131

FLY SOUTH IN THE WINTERTIME?
Did you know that the League for the Hard of Hearing has an office in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida? For all of you snowbirds (or any relatives or friends), the League for the Hard of Hearing- Florida provides hearing testing, hearing aid dispensing and mental health services. There is no need to miss a Cochlear Implant Support Group meeting, join the League for the Hard of Hearing –Florida for the next meeting on January 22. Lastly, a reminder for any resident of Broward County that needs a specialized telephone at no cost, contact the Florida offices for more info at (954) 731-7200 (voice or TTY)

DO YOU KNOW WHAT “CHCA” STANDS FOR?
Center for Health Care Access
The Center for Health Care Access is a service of the League for the Hard of Hearing, established in 1995 under a grant from the New York State Department. CHCA ensures that health and mental health care facilities and services are accessible to people who are hard of hearing, deaf or deaf-blind. If you or a family member has a hospital stay coming up, make sure that you know what questions to ask and how to advocate for accessibility. Don't get caught off guard, contact CHCA at the League for information and support at chca@lhh.org.

FAMILY FUN
Save the date – 2006 Winter Carnival!
Children of all ages are invited to an afternoon of fun and games at The League's Winter Carnival on Sunday, February 12th from 1-4pm. The event includes live entertainment, carnival games and activities, super raffle, refreshments and more! For ticket information, please contact Susan King at sking@lhh.org or (917)305-7804.

PERFECT PRESENTS, ALL WRAPPED UP!

Give the Gift of Hearing – it’s a gift that is truly priceless. Do you know someone who turns on the television to the highest volume? Someone who removes themselves during a noisy family dinner? Someone who attends lots of loud rock concerts or plays in a band? (Daughter? Dad? Grandma? Uncle Bob? Cousin Pat?)
Give this loved one a special and important gift. The League is now offering Gift Certificates that can be put toward the purchase of any League Dispensary product, including hearing aids, custom ear plugs, musician ear plugs and custom ear molds for use with an MP3 Player or cell phone “hands free” headset. Gift Certificates can be purchased in any denomination from $25 and up. To find out more, or to purchase a League Gift Certificate, please call the Development Department at (917)305-7820 or email giftcertificate@lhh.org. (Please note that this gift certificate is not valid for use at the SoundBytes store)

Tired of giving “stuff” for the holidays? Give the gift of hearing by making a contribution to the League for the Hard of Hearing in someone’s name. All donations will go to further the League’s mission to improve the quality of life for infants, children, and adults with all degrees of hearing loss, regardless of age, ability to pay, or mode of communication. A tribute can be made in any denomination, and the recipient will receive a letter notifying them of the gift.
Give the gift of hearing and help the League assure a world without limits. To send a tribute to the League, please contact Brenda at 917-305-7702 or via email at tribute@lhh.org

Gift ideas from SoundBytes. SoundBytes store sells products for people with all degrees of hearing loss. Shop in-store or online to find a special gift for a special someone!
Hear the ball drop this New Years Eve with a pair of universal infrared TV listener headphones. Express your love with a plant - no kidding! Plant this bean in its special container, and the plant that grows will display a message of love on its first leaves. And, finally on the market, a cordless amplified phone with answering machine and caller ID!

Visit www.soundbytes.com to check out these gift items and many more (reference the League on the order form). Remember, SoundBytes has a store located right in the League’s offices at 50 Broadway! Test any of their products to see if they are
right for you or a loved one.

Drum Roll Please…A new regular League Buzz Addition:
HEAR MY STORY
December Column by Karin Mango

Probably my earliest memory is the bomb explosion that destroyed my home in London in World War II and may have been the trigger for destroying my hearing.

It didn’t happen immediately, but by my mid-teens, I had developed a fluctuating, downward-spiraling hearing loss. At school and university, I struggled every month when the hearing faded. Friends helped with class notes, and one suggested a hearing aid. That frightened me; it sounded like the knell of doom. I went ahead, but in the mid-1950s in England the hearing aid industry wasn’t exactly booming. I got a CROS-aid that I didn’t understand and hardly used.

In the mid-1960s, by now married, living in New York where my husband worked for the United Nations, and the mother of two small children, I was becoming ever deafer. I didn’t know anyone who had a hearing loss. I felt very much alone and there seemed no help for me anywhere. I managed to earn a library degree, (research librarians didn’t need to meet people much). I wrote books and edited them commercially (solitary occupations not requiring ears). My family was living with someone whose hearing had almost vanished. I was in despair.

Sheer, wonderful luck in the late 1970s in the shape of a randomly read magazine article, brought me first to the Speak-Up Institute, then to SHHH, lifelines I grabbed with both hands. I finally met people who knew how to help themselves and others in this situation. They told me about the League.

At last I found professional help for every aspect of hearing loss - and terrific moral support. I was fitted with hearing aids, my League audiologist taught me how to use them, and this made a huge impact on my life. I worked as the League Librarian for eight years and loved it, helping the helpers in a small way and at last able to reach out to others with the same difficulties as myself.

Eventually, my League audiologist pressed me to get a cochlear implant, cheerfully losing a hearing aid client to give me a chance for better hearing. This is how the League works: for the best interests of those who need it. I will always be grateful.

Calling all submissions for “Hear My Story”! Please send your story to leaguebuzz@lhh.org for consideration.

SOUND SOLUTION
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.

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.

NOTES FROM THE NEWS
SHHH Changes its Name to the Hearing Loss Association of America
The Board of Trustees of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH) voted to change the name of the organization to the Hearing Loss Association of America on November 6, 2005 during their fall meeting. Terry D. Portis, Ed. D., executive director of SHHH states, "SHHH needs to position itself to meet the needs of a new generation of people with hearing loss while continuing to serve the constituents who rely on us today. I believe that by updating our name and image we will be better able to communicate our message and fulfill our mission. SHHH expects to complete the transition to the Hearing Loss Association of America in March 2006."

TRIVIA

Which professional wrestler popped both of John Stossel's ear drums during a 20/20 interview
What US state had the greatest snowfall in one day?
Before the popular movie was titled "It's a Wonderful Life," what was the original name of the story when RKO Pictures purchased it?

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:

"Dr. D." David Schultz
Colorado, with 75.8 inches in Silver Lake, Colorado on April 14 and 15, 1921
Originally called "The Greatest Gift," RKO planned to have Cary Grant star in the film. But even before that, it was first told as a story on a Christmas card.