Hearing Screening Associates (HSA), Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the Ohio Department of Health program and the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM) are partnering to offer a new training opportunity for audiologists. This instruction will be an intermediate level workshop on protocols for diagnostic audiological assessment and follow-up to Newborn Hearing.Four weeks of online preparation readings and weekly chats will prepare the student for this three-day onsite workshop at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

The dates of the onsite workshop are:
June 1,2 & 3, 2017
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio

Online Instruction is required before attending On-site training

Link: http://www.infanthearing.org/resources_home/events/diagnostics-2017.html

THINK ABOUT . . . Your child is learning to listen to new sounds and needs plenty of time to think about the information he or she is hearing. This extra time can often be mistaken for a child not paying attention or misunderstanding. When parents remember to use the strategy of “wait time”, it gives your child time to listen to and think about what you are saying before having to respond. Remind other members of the family to do the same!

Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/03/27/520966988/for-gideon-infection-with-a-common-virus-caused-rare-birth-defects

At the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center scientists are working on figuring out how young deaf kids adjust to their new cochlear implants and how they utilize the technology to study the world around them.

Link: http://www.medgadget.com/2017/03/cameras-eyetrackers-help-study-kids-cochlear-implants-learn.html

There is a new book being released from Hands & Voices! The official Press release and online ordering system will be unfolded in early April, but there have been some recent requests from individuals/agencies/orgs who would like to get their order in now before the official release.  H&V has created this opportunity for you today to submit your order now.  Please let them know if they can answer any questions and feel free to forward this order form to others. Look for the official Press Release coming in early April.

Thanks,

Your friends at Hands & Voices

www.handsandvoices.org

We are Hands & Voices

Stories for Families Raising Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

A new collection of stories and insights by and for parents raising children who are deaf or hard of hearing has been published by Hands & Voices.

Maria Renninger recalls seeing the word “refer” flash on the screen after her baby girl’s hearing screening hours after birth, and wondered what it meant. “Refer to what? The operating manual?” She found herself wishing for an operating manual many times during her early years as a new mom and on her unexpected journey raising a child who is deaf or hard of hearing. This is just one of the 26 personal reflections shared in the book, from moms and dads raising children who are deaf or hard of hearing, with a few insights from young people finding their way, and six gems from women who are Deaf or hard of hearing themselves.

“It wasn’t cheating, it was playing fair,” notes Stephanie Olson, when her sister and brother signaled her how to get to home base during nighttime games in her neighborhood, in the darkness only imaginable far from city lights. Over time, hearing parents learn much from their children and from adults who have hearing differences that begin to shed light on what daily life is like, and CAN be like, when we begin to experience the world as our children do. Playing fair means understanding access and appreciating differences. Knowing that there is no better way to connect than the art of story, four experienced moms put this book together to shed light on the journey and to celebrate our children, who teach us again and again that “the little things are not little at all,” just as author and mom Bianca Birdsey says about raising her daughters who are deaf in South Africa in her story.

Here is what others are saying about the book:

“I was overwhelmed when our daughter was diagnosed as deaf, and I searched for the stories of other parents who had helped their children navigate through a hearing world and lead productive, fulfilling lives.  It was these connections, like the ones detailed in “We Are Hands & Voices,” that allowed me to understand that I was part of a larger, welcoming community.  The powerful insights and wisdom you will find in this book will inspire you.  I wish it had been around 16 years ago!”   – Lee Woodruff, parent and best-selling author

“Positive parental supports is an integral part of a child’s life.  Having the support of other families who have walked a similar path, well, that’s priceless.”  – Andrea Marwah, parent and Illinois Hands & Voices, President

“One of the best outcomes of a book of stories is that it illustrates the varying experiences, individual characteristics, and often unpredictable paths taken by individuals and families. Stories break down walls. In this book you will find that it is not hearing status that defines who these people are; rather it is their life experiences that shape who they become.” – Cheryl Johnson, parent and advocate, Co-Founder of Hands & Voices

“These deaf kids may have a hearing loss, but their hearing loss doesn’t necessary mean that it has, controls, operates or owns them.  This book has great and incredible insight on how our hearing loss doesn’t necessarily define us, but that we define who we really are.”  Justin Osmond, member of the world-renowned Osmond Family, motivational speaker and author

Order your copies today!
We are Hands & Voices 2017 order form

Link: http://www.nichq.org/sitecore/content/newborn-hearing-screening/newborn-hearing-screening

Hear to Learn has learning resource for parents and professionals to help young children who are deaf or hard of hearing learn to listen and talk – in English and Spanish.

Come see our featured resource: Signs of Hearing Difficulty.

Link: http://heartolearn.org/tutorials/hearing-loss-management/signs-of-difficulty-hearing.html

Giphy recently released a collection of GIFs featuring words in American Sign Language, Mashable reports. The 2,000-GIF library is meant to serve as a resource for people who want to learn sign language and those who already rely on it to communicate.

Link: http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/17/14651686/giphy-american-sign-language-gifs

Scientists from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and MIT Eye & Ear have created a new method to create progenitor cells that can become hair cells to restore hearing loss.

Link: http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/36227/20170309/cell-reports-brigham-and-womens-hospital-mit-massachusetts-eye-ear-lgr5-jeff-karp-senses-hearing.htm

Hear to Learn will be hosting a webinar on March 22, 2017 at 5:30 (MST), Supporting Auditory and Language Development.  To register: http://heartolearn.org/communities/learning-together.html   

The same topic will be offered in Spanish on March 23, 2017 at 3:00 (MST) Apoyando el desarrollo auditivo y del lenguaje. To register: http://oirparaaprender.org/communities/learning-together.html