As recently as the early 1990s, if you were born deaf, nobody would know for years. Parents were left to realize that something was amiss when their toddlers were not learning to talk or communicate at a normal pace. A diagnosis that late meant many deaf children never fully developed the ability to use language.

Link: http://www.npr.org/2014/12/28/371962273/remembering-the-pioneering-audiologist-who-tested-hearing-at-birth

Every year, more than 500 kids aged 9-14 try out for the Brooklyn Nets Kids, a dance team comprised of 15 young dancers that perform at Brooklyn Nets games at the Barclay’s Center throughout the season.

Vako Gvelesiani is heading into his second year with the team, making the cut of 15 dancers twice.

“When they told me I made it, it was the biggest moment of my life,” Vako told TODAY.

A feat that is even more amazing considering that Vako suffers from severe hearing loss, and can only hear the beats of the music he dances to.

Link: http://www.today.com/news/brooklyn-nets-kids-dancer-defies-odds-performs-despite-severe-hearing-1D80393097?cid=sm_fbn

Patient- and family-centered medical homes encourage a cooperative partnership between doctors, nurses, other medical staff and the patients’ families to provide the best possible care for children. One way to demonstrate family-centered care in a pediatric medical home is to invite families to assist with evaluating, planning and improving the practice. Family Health Partners can play an integral role in a practice’s transformation into a medical home and in its continuous quality improvement. 

Link: http://medicalhome.nichq.org/resources/family%20engagement%20guide

Deaf teenagers have better reading skills if they were identified as deaf by the time they were nine months old, research has shown. The research team has been studying the development of a group of children who were identified with permanent childhood hearing impairment (PCHI) at a very early age. Follow up assessments when the children were aged eight showed those who were screened at birth had better language skills than those children who were not screened.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141125205706.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fmind_brain%2Fhearing_loss+%28Hearing+Loss+News+--+ScienceDaily%29

State-of-the-art audio technology coming from brands like Bose, Samsung and Beats, headphones and speakers are on a lot of teens’ Christmas lists. While headphones and earbuds can be a useful gift, audiologist say technology that puts out a lot of sound should bemonitored when it comes to teens and kids.

Link: http://www.kfyrtv.com/news/headlines/Dangers-of-Earbuds-to-Hearing-286169001.html

Take a look at a gift giving guide that contains thoughtful ideas for every person on your holiday list – whether or not they have hearing loss.

Link: http://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52345-Christmas-gifts-to-promote-hearing-health-awareness

For most of us, cell phones are indispensable. But for the 70 million people with profound or severe hearing loss, it represents a crucial missed point of contact. TheRogerVoice app aims to change that. 

Link: http://www.fastcompany.com/3038518/rogervoice-wants-to-give-deaf-people-the-gift-of-gab

Link: http://www.fastcompany.com/3038518/rogervoice-wants-to-give-deaf-people-the-gift-of-gab

The purpose of this Webinar is to inform NCHAM professionals and colleagues how they can prevent, or at the very least observe, understand and respond to child maltreatment as experienced by children with disabilities. Professionals in the EHDI system can make a difference by incorporating what they learn into current projects and processes. The Webinar will also provide participants with the essential knowledge, resources and strategies needed to design and implement programs to enhance the safety and success of children with disabilities.

Learn more about this webinar and how to register at the link below.

Link: http://www.infanthearing.org/resources_home/events/starting-with-the-end-in-mind.html

‘Twas two weeks before Christmas, and at Waimea Elementary School, there was excitement and teacher Angela Nagata keeping her cool. From the North Pole, she had gotten a call and a message that would bring joy to all.

Inside her classroom, children read stories, explored a globe and were busy making art while patiently waiting for a special holiday program to start. Then suddenly at the doorway, he appeared like a flash, a man in a red suit and his gift-filled stash.

Several students turned to friends, and using their hands, indicated a big white beard. They announced “Santa!” in American sign language. With a twinkle in his eye and not a sound, their visitor let his hands do the talking. He came to hear their holiday requests.

Link: http://westhawaiitoday.com/news/santa-gets-students-holiday-wishes-sign-language

AG Bell is pleased to announce the release of a new webinar, which summarizes the findings of its groundbreaking Family Needs Assessment survey from 2013.

AG Bell commissioned the Family Needs Assessment survey in an effort to gain insight on the perceptions of families with children who are deaf and hard of hearing about the quality and availability of services received. The survey was developed to assess the core needs of families as they progress through the major phases of their child’s journey.

Link: http://www.listeningandspokenlanguage.org/FamilyNeedsAssessment/