Hearing loss may be causing changes in the long-term brain structure of
the estimated 50 million people in the United States who suffer from it,
a new study shows. Researchers used two different imaging modalities in studies of people
with hearing loss, normal hearing, and those with hearing loss and
tinnitus (ringing in the ears). People in the hearing loss group showed
structural changes in their brains.

Link: http://www.futurity.org/health-medicine/hearing-loss-may-change-brain-structure/

Voting is now open for AG Bell’s “Why I Love Hearing Technology”
contest. Click to view the videos and vote, and please share this link
with your friends and family and encourage them to watch all the videos
and vote as well.

Link: http://www.listeningandspokenlanguage.org/Document.aspx?ekfrm=942

The Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss received a delivery
of Solar Ear hearing aids for their program in Vietnam. Check this out
and learn more about their efforts by following their Facebook page!

Link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Global-Foundation-for-Children-with-Hearing-Loss/98861433072

Hearing loss is a prevalent cause of poor language development and educational achievements in children. Neurotologist Dr Howard Francis of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine says one in every 500 children is born with a “significant” hearing loss. Francis said if this was not properly addressed, then children can be left in a precarious situation in society. He said, in addition, there were children who developed ear infections which were also quite prevalent. Ear infections have a significant impact on children’s behavior. Parents need to recognise whether a child is having frequent ear infections or seems not to be hearing as well as he/she should be most of the time. He said children should be taken to a doctor if hearing loss or ear infections are suspected. He said if a baby’s babbling is not progressing then there is a problem.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.tt/lifestyle/2012-06-16/parents-monitor-kids-hearing-loss

This is a very interesting article about an inexpensive Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) iPad app getting removed from the app store because it threatened the sales of an AAC hardware manufacturer’s expensive dedicated device. Many in the field of Communication Disorders use these types of apps and devices, so this article is particularly pertinent to those in COMD.

Link: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/06/app-store-enigma-the-patent-holder-the-developer-and-the-voiceless-child/

A
new international media campaign, “Don’t Leave Me Out!” is being
launched by the Collaborative for Communication Access via Captioning
(CCAC). The campaign’s mission
is to raise awareness for and ensure inclusion of quality captioning
throughout all mediums and formats. See the video and learn how you can
support the campaign at

www.ccacaptioning.org.

Link: http://ccacaptioning.org/

AG
Bell has compiled a list of summer activity tips to ensure your child
with hearing loss can make the most of the summer months. Tips include
educating summer camp
staff about your child’s hearing loss and tips for sleeping away from
home. Click here to access the full list of tips.

Link: http://www.listeningandspokenlanguage.org/Document.aspx?id=1043

A new study suggests, newborns delivered by cesarean section may be more likely to
“fail” their first hearing test, even if their hearing is perfectly
normal. The problem arises if hearing screening tests are done within a baby’s first
two days of life, researchers say. At that point, newborns delivered by
C-section have a higher failure rate than babies born by vaginal delivery.

Link: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/06/12/us-hearing-screening-fails-idUKBRE85B19120120612

Researchers have identified a portion of the brain responsible for
determining how far away a sound originates, a process that does not
rely solely on how loud the sound is. The investigators’ report, which will appear in the early edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is receiving early online release this week.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120611153104.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fhealth_medicine%2Fhearing_loss+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Health+%26+Medicine+News+--+Hearing+Loss%29

Many
people experience hearing loss as they get older. However, a new study
suggests that musical training from an early age could account for why
older musicians have better hearing than non-musicians.

Link: http://www.hear-it.org/Musical-training-may-delay-age-related-hearing-loss