League Buzz

Issue 15

You’re reading the League Buzz, July, 2006. Issue 15.

Go ahead…Spread the Buzz.

SUMMER IS NOT SILENT: What to know about recreational noise
As we spend more and more time outdoors, it is important to remember that some recreational activities are dangerously loud and can cause to damage to our hearing. But, 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. Experts agree that continued exposure to noise above 85 dBA will eventually harm your hearing. Here are some examples of dangerously loud recreational activities:

Noise levels at video arcades can be as high as 110 dBA
Firecrackers create sound levels from 125 - 155 dBA at an average distance of 10 feet.
Sound levels at live music concerts can be measured at 120 dBA and beyond.
Noise levels at movie theaters have been measured up to 118 dBA.
Sound levels in health clubs and aerobic studios can be as high as 120 dBA.
Sound levels at a sporting event can be measured up to 127 dBA.
Motorboats emit sound levels ranging from 85 - 115 dBA.

As you prepare for July 4th fireworks, outdoor concerts, carnival games and motor boat rides – don’t forget to protect your hearing. Whenever possible, turn down the volume. Limit exposure time to noisy activities and wear adequate hearing protection. A rule of thumb: If you have to shout in order to be heard three feet away, then the noise is probably too loud and could be damaging to your hearing. For more information on noise and hearing, visit the League’s Noise Center at www.lhh.org/noise

AS SEEN ON TV
According to NBC’s Today Show on Saturday, June 24th, “over half of baby boomers will turn 50 this year, and many are looking for high-tech gadgets to make their lives easier.” Among other gizmos and gadgets, Alexis Abramson, a lifestyle gerontologist, shared some information about the following gadget for baby boomers with hearing loss: Plantronics Cell Phone Amplifier. This device is a compact amplifier that plugs into the headset jack of a cell phone and amplifies incoming sound up to 24 dB (with tone control). It is voice activated and easily plugs into any cell phone.The price is $39.95, and it is available at SoundBytes, located in the League’s Manhattan and Florida offices and online at www.soundbytes.com. If you would like to sign up for SoundBytes monthly notification of sales and new products please send your email address to info@soundbytes.com . SoundBytes values your privacy and will not distribute information to another company.

BACK TO SCHOOL: TIPS FOR A QUIETER CLASSROOM
The days are long, sunny and warm and the kids are in the pool or on the playground, but school is just around the corner. For parents of children with hearing loss, now is the time to start thinking about classroom strategies for your children. Whether your child is getting ready to go to a new school, or heading back to the same school, remember that all classrooms can get noisy and that a noisy environment makes it more difficult for a child with a hearing loss to communicate. All children with hearing loss should use an FM system in the classroom. Talk to your child’s audiologist about the benefits of an FM system.

Here are some more tips that can help to create a quieter classroom: use carpet remnants on the floor to absorb noise; cut and place tennis balls on the bottom of chairs to reduce noise when children move chairs around the classroom; use corkboards and artwork on the walls to reduce reverberation.

TAKE OUR ADVICE, COME AND CHECK OUT AN ASSISTIVE DEVICE!
Free Device Demonstration
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.

STIR IT UP!
Feast for Famous Faces moves to Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers!
On Monday, October 23, 2006 over 35 of New York’s most celebrated chefs, newscasters and daytime television stars will join forces at Pier Sixty for the 14th Annual Feast With Famous Faces, Manhattan’s most exciting and glamorous culinary gala. Some of the 2006 participating restaurants include Metro Bis, Beacon, Fresco by Scotto, Riingo, Butter, Zoe, Jovia and many more! All proceeds from the Feast benefit the League’s programs and Services. For more information, please contact Susan King, Director of Special Events, at (917) 305-7804 or events@lhh.org.

BECAUSE BETTER HEARING IS BETTER BUSINESS
Are you having trouble hearing on the phone at work? Are business dinners hard because of all of the background noise?
FREE Hearing Screenings
Every Tuesday, noon-2pm
Every Thursday, 4pm-6pm
Location: 50 Broadway, 6th Floor
Call (917) 305-7766 or email appointments@lhh.org to reserve a screening time.

IMPORTANT INFO FOR EXPECTING MOTHERS

The League is proud to announce its new Family Resource Center, made possible by a grant from J.C. Kellogg Foundation. Through the resource center, the League will be able to educate parents and families about hearing loss. The League has also developed a new Parent Resource Guide for parents of babies and young children outlining the auditory/oral approach to managing hearing loss. According to Dr. Laurie Hanin, Executive Director, “At the League, we provide an auditory/oral program for infants and children with hearing loss. Many parents come to the League with no information about this option. We hope that with our new Family Resource Center, we will help educate new parents and families to help them make the right decisions for their children.” According to a survey released on June 24th by AG Bell, “Hearing loss affects 12,000 children born in the United States each year - 33 babies a day - making it the most common birth defect. Thanks to recent advances, however, most children with hearing loss can learn to listen and talk. The majority of new and expectant mothers (56 percent) reported being “not too familiar" or "not at all familiar" with the issue of hearing loss in infants and children. As many as 63 percent of new mothers and 72 percent of expectant mothers said that before the survey, they had not been provided with sufficient information about spoken language as an option for children with hearing loss.” For more information about the League’s Family Resource Center, please call (917) 305-7809.

MOVIE MADNESS
Want to know where you can watch the films that critics are raving about – with open captioning? Check out http://www.insightcinema.org/links.html for an updated list of open captioned movies in your area.

FLORIDA FACTS
League for the Hard of Hearing-Florida once again kicks off a summer camp program for children with hearing loss, ages 5-12. The camp is funded by the Children’s Service Council of Broward County. Program activities include reading, math, physical fitness, dance, martial arts, arts and crafts, cooking, swimming, and field trips. The campers are gearing up to perform in a “Hip Hop” show in early July, with parents, family, friends and League staff planning to attend.

CURTAIN UP – date change
Playwrights Horizons presents a special Open Captioned performance of The Busy World is Hushed, a new play by Keith Bunin, featuring Jill Clayburgh, Hamish Linklater, and Luke MacFarlane, Directed by Mark Brokow. Sunday, July 9 at 2:30pm at Playwrights Horizons Mainstage Theater located at 416 West 42nd Street between 9th & 10th Avenues. Visit www.playwrightshorizons.org or call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 (Noon-8pm daily) or TTY (800) 662-1220.

ADVOCACY ALERT
Everybody is Somebody
How often have you or someone you know with a hearing loss said, "Somebody should make this situation hearing accessible?" Members of advocates for better communication/a.b.c., the Volunteer Advocacy Committee of the League for the Hard of Hearing, believe "Everybody is Somebody." Each time "somebody" speaks up and explains their needs, they help other people who have a hearing loss. a.b.c.'s work has resulted in captioning on TV, at the movies and at theaters around the country, travel access and hearing access at museums and health care facilities.
We invite you to join a.b.c. and be a "somebody." You will be surprised how easy it is to advocate for improved access and how enjoyable it can be! For more information, email abc@lhh.org.

WANT TO GET RID OF AN OLD CAR?
Donate your car, truck, van, RV or boat to the League for the Hard of Hearing to help raise money for the League’s programs and services. Your donation is tax deductible to the full extent permitted. Vehicles nationwide are accepted for donation and are towed promptly at no cost. For more information, please call 800-868-6004 or visit www.milesaheadnetwork.com.

HEAR MY STORY
By Jerry Shikora
About 9 years ago, I suffered a blow to the head. Fortunately, I received no immediate injury. About 6 months after the accident, I started hearing this “hissing” noise in my left ear. The hissing was very low at first, which made it livable. It suddenly became louder…to the point where the hissing became intolerable, leaving me in a state of depression. In my agony, I tried chiropractic therapy, hoping to find some relief. That did not help, nor did acupuncture or biofeedback. In my desperation, I called my doctor, hoping he might have some clue as to how I might find some relief. He suggested the drug Klonipin (Clonozipam). He thought it might relax me and calm me down. The only problem was that once my body built up a tolerance to the drug, I was increasing the dosage up to 15 mg a day, which left me tipsy. After a while, the drug gave me no relief from the tinnitus at all.

I was then led to the Tinnitus Center at the League for the Hard of Hearing by Dr. Roland from the NYU Medical Center. The League’s Tinnitus Center offers Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT), which I eagerly signed up for. The TRT allowed me to focus away from my tinnitus and get on with my life. This program requires time, patience and commitment; however, it is not difficult. Once I started the program, within 6 months, I noticed an ability to focus on things other than my tinnitus. I stopped wearing my noise generators 4 years ago, approximately 2 years after I began the program. There might be times when my tinnitus seems loud enough for me to notice it; but the TRT program allows me to focus off of it without installing the noise generators in my ears. I might like to add, if I felt it necessary to wear the noise generators again for a short time, I would gladly wear them. There is help and I am sincerely grateful.

To submit your “Hear My Story” to the League Buzz, please email leaguebuzz@lhh.org for review.

SAVE THESE DATES

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 implant center. Next Meeting: July 27 at 50 Broadway, 2nd Floor, Classroom C from 5:30pm to 7pm. Please note: there will be no meeting in August; the following meeting will be September 28. 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 Adolescent Workshop
The Adolescent Workshop, for kids in mainstream classes, grades 5-8, will take place on Sunday, November 12, 2006 from 10am-3pm. Students and parents are invited to join us for a day of sharing, learning and making new connections.

Josh Swiller will be the guest speaker at the workshop. Click here to read a recent article in the Washington Post written by Josh: http://www.washingtonpost.com For more information or to put you name on the mailing list, please contact Dorene Watkins at 917-305-7881 or dwatkins@lhh.org

TRIVIA

On July 4th of what year was the Declaration of Independence approved by the Continental Congress?
How many places nationwide have “Liberty” in their name?
What US State has a city named “Patriot”?

THANK YOU FOR READING THE LEAGUE BUZZ

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!

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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:

July 4,1776
30 Places! To name a few: Liberty, Missouri; Libertyville, Iowa; New Liberty, Iowa; Liberty, North Carolina; Liberty, Texas…
Indiana. Patriot, Indiana has a population of 202