Deafness/HOH @ About.com

We Still Want Analogs, Readers Cry
Jamie Berke (About.com) Some About.com Deafness blog posts continue to draw comments over the years.  A reader who is a musician with hearing loss, recently posted on the blog post "Desperately Seeking...Analog Hearing Aids." This musician said digital hearing aids simply don't work when he is making music. Plus, he mentions a blind study of digital versus analog hearing aids (I am not aware...
Wed, Sep 01 2010 · 16 hours ago

Sign Language and Lip Movements Unrelated?
Jamie Berke (About.com) British researchers have found that when people sign and move their lips at the same time, the signs apparently are mentally processed separately from the lip movements. How did the researchers find this out? They showed test subjects pictures and had them sign what was in the pictures; then they  had them interpret print words into signs. The mistakes made by the peo...
Mon, Aug 30 2010

Deaf Employees Always Entitled to Interpreters?
Jamie Berke (About.com) A federal appeals court just overturned a district court's decision against a deaf UPS employee. This employee claimed UPS did not provide him with interpreters for less important (weekly) meetings, and instead only provided "summaries"  (UPS stated they provided notetakers) for the less important meetings. Obviously, he could not participate in the less important mee...
Sun, Aug 29 2010

Getting Benefit of Two Implants for Price of One
Jamie Berke (About.com) This week's big cochlear implant story is the development of a new surgical technique that allows  people to get the benefit of two cochlear implants with only one surgery and one implant. It works by having two wires and two microphones. This type of implant has been around for a while (40 other implants like it have been done in Europe). However, it is big news in t...
Sat, Aug 28 2010

Career Plans Threatened by Deafness
Jamie Berke (About.com) Just as she was about to finish up her studies at college for a human services degree, "New Jersey Mom"  on the forum lost more hearing in addition to already being hard of hearing. She had planned to get a job in social services and then study sign language because her goal was to work with deaf and hard of hearing people. At this time, her sign language skills are t...
Fri, Aug 27 2010

Your IEP Experience
Jamie Berke (About.com) Kids may dread  homework and tests, but  parents of deaf and hard of hearing children often dread the  Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meeting. I've never liked IEP meetings myself. It is not easy hearing the truth about your child's  capabilities, and  parents and teachers can sometimes argue over what should be on the IEP. Now About.com readers can share their I...
Thu, Aug 26 2010

Rare, Signed Deaf Book on Ebay
Jamie Berke (About.com) A rare, deaf-related book for sale on eBay was posted on the About.com deafness forum. When I checked out the ebay number, I found the first sale had ended with no bidders, but it has been relisted, with item number 170531133614. I rarely blog about things for sale on eBay but this definitely merits blogging about. This is Sounds from Secret Chambers, an 1873 book ...
Tue, Aug 24 2010

ASL Songs, Welcome, Indeed
Jamie Berke (About.com) Today a new blog announced itself: the ASL Songs blog.  While they are just getting started, I hope to see this blog grow exponentially. One of the most frequent questions I get at About.com is "How do I sign this song," so having a central resource for ASL interpretations of songs is going to be very helpful. I have just one request for the bloggers at ASL Songs: co...
Sun, Aug 22 2010

Hearing Aid Choices - How to Decide?
Jamie Berke (About.com) While updating the article on Hearing Aid Manufacturers, I became overwhelmed by the seemingly infinite number of choices available from manufacturers. How does anyone decide? All those various price levels, styles, colors, and especially the features? I no longer use hearing aids myself, but I wanted to hear from About.com readers who have bought hearing aids. What f...
Sat, Aug 21 2010

Update on Deaf Shoplifter Choking Case
Jamie Berke (About.com) The security guard who choked the suspected deaf shoplifter has been suspended from his job.  The shoplifter, Alejandro Rea, and his brother, are threatening a lawsuit (no surprise)  although there is a possibility of settling out of court. The news reports reveal that the guard did more than just choke Rea; he also threw Rea against the wall twice. In the meantime,  ...
Thu, Aug 19 2010

Forget Senior Citizens. The Money is in the Teens.
Jamie Berke (About.com) This week's hot hearing loss news media story is about the fact one in five teens has sustained at least some hearing loss. Possibly from too much noise exposure from music players such as iPods and MP3 players. While the news reports that much of this hearing loss is mild, even a mild hearing loss is known to cause difficulties.  Maybe hearing aid manufacturers wil...
Wed, Aug 18 2010

Video Interpreters United
Jamie Berke (About.com) There are so many video relay service providers that I do not know about all of them. None of these services would exist without the labor of sign language interpreters working as video relay service interpreters. So, it is not surprising that they have their own organization, the Video Interpreters United.Video Interpreters United originally appeared on About.com Dea...
Tue, Aug 17 2010

Analog to Digital Switch Not Always Easy
Jamie Berke (About.com) "Old Analog User" posted about his frustration with the sudden forced switch to digital from analog: "I am having a horrible experience.  First, I am not hearing as well as I did with analog.  I am hearing signficantly less than with my analog and with my analog I heard everything - the tv, radio, cars, etc..  Now I need to turn the tv and radio up louder than I n...
Sun, Aug 15 2010

Interpreted Storybooks for iPad
Jamie Berke (About.com) CNet reports that an award-winning children's book is available as an iPad app, with a sign language interpreter added. The app was developed by the company iStoryTime, which said  it has been so well received they may develop it for the iPhone too. The article is accompanied by a video. Can a sign language interpreted comic book be far behind?Interpreted Storybooks f...
Fri, Aug 13 2010

Shopping While Deaf - Dangerous?
Jamie Berke (About.com) I wasn't sure if I should blog this, because the only "facts" come from the YouTube Video that is making the news. This YouTube video shows a security guard choking a suspected shoplifter, who is deaf. I watched part of the video, and was horrified to see how red the man's face was becoming! I feared for the guy's life. Shopping While Deaf - Dangerous? originally ...
Thu, Aug 12 2010

Fire the Performer. Hire the Interpreter.
Jamie Berke (About.com) Someone blogged about this video of a sign language interpreter at a performance. The blogger said it was "sexy," and possibly better than the performance. After watching the video - laughing at the interpreter's very expressive body language - I have to agree! Fire the Performer. Hire the Interpreter. originally appeared on About.com Deafness on Wednesday, Aug...
Wed, Aug 11 2010

Mitochondrial Disease Affecting Communication
Jamie Berke (About.com) Christina is a parent of a daughter with a mitochondrial disease that  takes away her daughter's ability to communicate verbally at times.  She is investigating sign language as an option, plus she lives in Canada and needs to know how to get help from Canadian government  entities or the local deaf community. Some people have already responded to Christina, but if yo...
Mon, Aug 09 2010

Efforts to Preserve Indian Sign Language
Jamie Berke (About.com) Next week there is a conference on Indian Sign Language. That's as in American Indian, not the country of India. Both deaf and hearing sign language users will be attending this conference.   Conference organizers are trying to preserve American Indian Sign Language for the next generation, as part of their culture.  Very few native Americans continue to use their own...
Sat, Aug 07 2010

Sorry Kids, You're Deaf. Deal with It.
Jamie Berke (About.com) It seems more cochlear implant speech processors are getting stolen from kids these days. In the latest case, a kid left the implant in a sneaker while going swimming. After the theft, the Cochlear company replaced the stolen implant. While Cochlear is to be commended for stepping up to the plate, my criticism is reserved for the children and their parents. In my opi...
Thu, Aug 05 2010

Eat Your Tuna, Don't Go Deaf
Jamie Berke (About.com) Could avoiding worsening hearing loss (or losing any hearing in the first place) be avoided by something as simple as buying a can of tuna fish? Maybe, if the results of the Blue Mountains Hearing Study in Australia can be proven.  That study found that eating fish at least twice a week substantially reduced the risk of hearing loss in older people.Eat Your Tuna, Don'...
Tue, Aug 03 2010

Attitudes Get Worse When Telling Truth
Jamie Berke (About.com) McBeader is a hard of hearing About.com reader who posted on the forum about his communication frustrations.    He writes about the attitudes of hearing people when he does not understand. Writes McBeader: "...it is also very frustrating when I have to constantly have people repeat what they are saying 4/5 times before I actually know what they are saying.  By that ...
Sun, Aug 01 2010

Sometimes You Lose Some...
Jamie Berke (About.com) The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has just lost a lawsuit on behalf of a deaf man who claimed employment discrimination. A U.S. District Court just ruled that a mining company did not discriminate when they would not hire a deaf man as a truck driver or heavy equipment operator. The deaf man may have sunk his own case when, according to the company, h...
Sat, Jul 31 2010

Video: Captions on the Radio
Jamie Berke (About.com) Just saw this video from  National Public Radio about captioned radio. It shows how it works in prototypes (but does not explain how the captions are created.)  I don't know if I would want one in the car, but I would love to have one I could take to the pool.Video: Captions on the Radio originally appeared on About.com Deafness on Thursday, July 29th, 2010 at 21:19:3...
Thu, Jul 29 2010

Different Approach to No Interpreters
Jamie Berke (About.com) Not the best title, but it is late and I'm tired.  I just have to blog about this - it is an innovative, different approach to the problem of doctors not providing interpreters! Briefly: a center for independent living, tired of frequent complaints from deaf people about medical facilities and service providers not providing interpreters, sometimes with serious conseq...
Tue, Jul 27 2010

Update: Federal Register Posts Movie Captioning Notice
Jamie Berke (About.com) Today the Federal Register published the advance notice of proposed rulemaking, "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability; Movie Captioning and Video Description." This notice, which solicits comments up until January 24, 2011, asks 26 questions related to movie theater captioning. A sample question from the notice: Question 8. Should the Department adopt a requ...
Mon, Jul 26 2010

Mandatory Captioning in Movie Theaters Coming?
Jamie Berke (About.com) Tomorrow the Department of Justice will publish four advance notices of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register to solicit comments. The one that has perhaps the most potential impact for the American deaf community is the one on Movie Captioning and Video Description.  According to this notice, the DOJ is "considering whether to propose revising the title III re...
Sun, Jul 25 2010

The ADA at 20 - Reflections and Thoughts for Future
Jamie Berke (About.com) What stage of life were you at in 1990, when the Americans with Disabilities Act became reality? How did it change your life as a deaf person? Over the years I have seen, as an About.com guide, how the ADA has protected - and sometimes, failed to protect - the rights of deaf and hard of hearing people. On Monday, there will be a lot of media attention and celebration...
Fri, Jul 23 2010

Yet Another Deaf Medical Victory
Jamie Berke (About.com) Another hospital has agreed to make itself more accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing. This time, it is a hospital in New Hampshire. The hospital agreed to pay a few thousand dollars to a deaf patient who claimed the hospital tried to get his partner to act as an interpreter.  More importantly, the hospital agreed to improve its communication services for deaf an...
Thu, Jul 22 2010

Poorer Kids Get Implants, But Have More Problems
Jamie Berke (About.com) Researchers have found that  poorer children do get cochlear implants, but they also have more problems following surgery. Plus, poorer children miss more follow-up appointments. Not surprising, since it can be difficult for low income people to get to doctor's appointments.Poorer Kids Get Implants, But Have More Problems originally appeared on About.com Deafness on T...
Tue, Jul 20 2010

Update: Milan 1880 No Longer in Effect Due to Apology?
Jamie Berke (About.com) On my way home today I saw on Twitter the news the deaf and hard of hearing community has been waiting for, for only over a hundred years: Today the International Congress on the Education of the Deaf booted the Milan 1880 resolutions. The Deaf World As Eye See It blog has all the juicy details!Update: Milan 1880 No Longer in Effect! originally appeared on About.com D...
Mon, Jul 19 2010

Mother Worried About Son's Job Prospects
Jamie Berke (About.com) A mother who saw her well educated son with a hearing loss be unable to get a job, wrote to a local newspaper. In her letter, she described how her son has had multiple job interviews, but not one offer. The country? Malaysia.Mother Worried About Son's Job Prospects originally appeared on About.com Deafness on Sunday, July 18th, 2010 at 21:21:52.Permalink | Comment | ...
Sun, Jul 18 2010

Milan 1880 Still in Effect?
Jamie Berke (About.com) Way back in 1880, deaf education suffered a major blow when the International Congress on  Education of the Deaf voted to ban sign language from deaf education.  As we know, sign language survived, and even thrived. Then in an article about the use of cell phones to help  mainstreamed deaf children in Africa,  I spotted this paragraph: This summer in Vancouver, the ...
Sat, Jul 17 2010

Was Justice Denied Deaf Inmate?
Jamie Berke (About.com) Right now all eyes are on the case of a deaf inmate in Texas, who may or may not be guilty of sexually assaulting a child. Among other facts in the case, the inmate was questioned for 18 hours, about half of which was without an interpreter.  Stressed and under pressure, he confessed to the crime, while simultaneously denying he had done it.  Plus, there is no physica...
Thu, Jul 15 2010

A Mother's Guilt Feelings
Jamie Berke (About.com) On the "Parents ' Reaction to Hearing Loss" page, a mother who clearly is suffering from guilt feelings, tells how after her daughter passed and failed infant/baby hearing tests, she did not take the child back for a follow up after the last failure. Now the child is two years old and barely speaks. How often does this happen?  I don't have any handy statistics on ho...
Mon, Jul 12 2010

NAD Honors Long-Time Leader
Jamie Berke (About.com) As the 50th Biennial National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Conference winds down, I wondered what from the conference would be appropriate for me to blog about tonight, and that would have meaning for  people regardless of whether they attended the conference. Then I thought about the conference "theme," which is in part, "invest in our future." When the conference s...
Fri, Jul 09 2010

New Freedom for Deaf Community?
Jamie Berke (About.com) Tonight at a special by-invitation function at the NAD Conference, hosted by ZVRS, the company introduced the invitees to a new technological advance that they said would mean "freedom!" What they introduced was a new ZVRS service just for the iPhone 4...the IZ (a play on the words "I See"). Why "freedom?" According to the presenters, with current VRS technology you ...
Wed, Jul 07 2010

One of the Next Generation of Deaf Leaders
Jamie Berke (About.com) The deaf leaders of the next generation are now in their 20s. Wfcourier.com has a profile of one such young man, who is heading to Gallaudet University. His profile is that of a typical high-achieving deaf young person. Athletic prowess, leadership skill, homecoming king - it is all there in the profile of Mic Dolan.One of the Next Generation of Deaf Leaders originall...
Tue, Jul 06 2010

A Deaf and Blind Theatre Company
Jamie Berke (About.com) Deaf theatre companies are nothing new. A deaf AND blind theatre company? Now that's something different, as Sky News reports. The theatre company is from Israel.A Deaf and Blind Theatre Company originally appeared on About.com Deafness on Sunday, July 4th, 2010 at 14:51:44.Permalink | Comment | Email this
Sun, Jul 04 2010

Hearing Aids for Infants
Jamie Berke (About.com) "Bewildered Mother" wrote on the forum that when her six month old was fitted for hearing aids, they were given just one option - the Phonak Naida.  She wants to know if there are any other hearing aids for infants that would work well for a moderate to severe hearing loss.  Reply to Bewildered Mother on the forum if you know of any other hearing aids for infants suit...
Fri, Jul 02 2010

Two Cases of Discrimination: One Settled. One Getting...
Jamie Berke (About.com) Remember the deaf pet groomer who claimed clients were being stolen from her? Now she has gotten a settlement from the pet store chain, PetCo. PetCo is paying $145,000 but still denies any illegal or discriminatory behavior.  The settlement is actually with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Next, in a case that has just started, a Northern Virginia ...
Wed, Jun 30 2010

Deaf Community - Philadelphia
Jamie Berke (About.com) In honor of the upcoming 50th biennial National Association of the Deaf conference, a profile of the deaf community of Philadelphia has been published. Don't know if I will have any time to see a movie or take in a play while at the conference next week. I would love a chance to visit The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf though.Deaf Community - Philadelphia originally...
Mon, Jun 28 2010

Another Deaf First?
Jamie Berke (About.com) A deaf Hawaiian teenager has won the title of "Miss Hawaii Outstanding Teen," and now she is going to go on to compete for "Miss America's Outstanding Teen." Lena Merrill will be the first deaf teenager to compete in that competition.  We won't be getting a repeat of  Heather Whitestone's win as Miss America way back in the 1990s - Lena is only 14. Another Deaf First...
Sun, Jun 27 2010

Weekend Deaf News Roundup
Jamie Berke (About.com) There were several good stories in the media this week about deafness that  I can't let the week end without a mention. There's something for everyone! Remember the deaf Mexican slaves from many years ago? One of them was a teenager at the time. The New York Times followed up on his life since then. And here is another one  about another new deaf citizen from Cal...
Sat, Jun 26 2010

AB 2072 - Did Both Sides Win?
Jamie Berke (About.com) It is finally over - I think.    For some time now, the deaf community has been debating and battling over California bill AB 2072. Unless you are not an active member of the deaf community, you know that this is the bill that would require information to be given to  parents of newly identified deaf babies.  The deaf blogosphere exploded, to put it mildly. It even go...
Thu, Jun 24 2010

Low Functioning Deaf Killer to Be Freed?
Jamie Berke (About.com) In just a few months, a judge will decide if a deaf killer has learned enough sign language to be able to stand trial for the murder of a teenager. For the past five years, authorities have been working to teach the killer, who is an illegal immigrant, sign language.  If  the judge feels he has not acquired enough language to be able to communicate with lawyers, he wi...
Tue, Jun 22 2010

Deaf Man on Path to Being a Certified Deaf Interpreter
Jamie Berke (About.com) I almost never come across news stories about certified deaf interpreters, or deaf people planning to become certified deaf interpreters. Today I came across this one about a deaf man who just completed an interpreter preparation program. What is a certified deaf interpreter? It basically means a deaf interpreter who often works with a hearing interpreter to translate...
Sun, Jun 20 2010

Should Deaf Man Be Allowed to Be a Cop?
Jamie Berke (About.com) Normally I am a firm believer in "deaf people can do anything except hear," but this story about a deaf man who wants to become a local police officer is causing mixed feelings for me. On the one hand, the disability rights advocate in me says he should have the right to become a police officer. On the other hand, the part of me that is concerned about safety wonders ...
Thu, Jun 17 2010

Will World Cup Kick Off Hearing Loss?
Jamie Berke (About.com) Much has been said about the  terrible noises made by the culturally popular vuvuzela horn in South Africa  during the World Cup.   However, not much has been said about the risk of hearing loss for the  World Cup attendees! A sports writer in Australia has  pointed out that the vuvuzela noise registers at 127 decibels, more than enough to risk permanent hearing loss....
Sun, Jun 13 2010

You Want an Interpreter? Have a Monkey.
Jamie Berke (About.com) Seven deaf people in Jacksonville, Florida have sued a local hospital for you guessed it, failure to provide interpreters. But what is scary about this one is that the failure to provide interpreters happened in the emergency room! If you have ever been to the emergency room you know it is a highly stressful experience and having to unfairly wait several hours for an ...
Fri, Jun 11 2010

Cochlear Pays Settlement for Kickbacks
Jamie Berke (About.com) I'm afraid what bad news I might read next about my implant manufacturer. Now Cochlear has settled with the U.S. Department of Justice over allegations of having paid kickbacks to doctors to get them to prescribe their cochlear implant for Medicare and Medicaid patients. It is costing Cochlear $880,000. When I was getting my implant, I was offered a choice of implant...
Wed, Jun 09 2010