No handicap: Deaf swimmer on cusp of qualifying for Olympics

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – When Marcus Titus is gliding through the water, his head bobbing up and down, he doesn’t hear the roar of the crowd.

Or anything else, for that matter.

Deaf since birth, Titus swims in a quiet isolation that he believes actually gives him an edge over those in the other lanes, who can hear everything going on around them.

Link: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jun/27/no-handicap-deaf-swimmer-on-cusp-of-qualifying-for/

Deaf and Hard of Hearing students at LISD learning life skills

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) –

Though it’s summer, many kids are in school.

The same holds true here in the Hub City.

But, for one summer program with Lubbock ISD, in particular, the kiddos are learning a special set of skills.

“The end goal for our summer enrichment program for our deaf ed kids are to promote literacy and writing, and give them a chance to communicate with their peers and work on language development,” Amanda Sellers, a teacher with the program, explains.

Link: http://www.kcbd.com/story/32295938/deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-students-at-lisd-learning-life-skills

Children’s Aid Wins Major Grant to Support Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Teens

Children’s Aid is thrilled to receive a three-year grant of more than $300,000 from New York City Department of Youth and Community Development in support of its Saturday Program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Teens. The program is free to participants, and the only one of its kind in New York City. It offers enriching recreational and social activities while also empowering these young people to advocate for themselves.

Link: http://www.childrensaidsociety.org/news/2016/children’s-aid-wins-major-grant-support-deaf-hard-hearing-children-teens

Genetic Newborn Screen IDs Children With Progressive Hearing Loss That Conventional Screen Missed

A Taiwanese team has found that many newborns testing positive for deafness-related variants in the GJB2 gene but passing a conventional newborn hearing test developed progressive hearing loss in childhood, suggesting that genetic screening might be able to detect them earlier.

Link: https://www.genomeweb.com/sequencing/genetic-newborn-screen-ids-children-progressive-hearing-loss-conventional-screen-missed

Why you should let your child choose their hearing aid color

Roses can be red and violets can be blue. Did you know hearing aids come in rainbow colors too?

If you’re a parent of a child with hearing loss, you know choosing the right hearing aid isn’t always black or white. Technical aspects aside, you’ve probably had the color discussion about your child’s hearing devices with your family audiologist. Should you try to blend in with hair/skin tones so people don’t see their hearing aids, or do you go bold and bright?

Link: http://www.hearinglikeme.com/choosing-your-childs-hearing-aid-color/?fb_ref=30iGam6ezq-Facebook