Researchers in The Netherlands and Belgium have developed a portable
audiological device for testing and calibrating cochlear implants in
deaf patients. Acoustiblok was used in the device’s design to provide
the level of noise barrier necessary for the device to function
properly, while remaining light and portable.

Link: http://www.timesunion.com/business/press-releases/article/Design-Breakthrough-Portable-Audio-Booth-for-3423564.php

A study of children in the western Arctic found 67% of
Inuit children had some degree of hearing loss. By some estimates 20 to 30% of
Inuit children with middle ear infections suffer hearing loss, compared
to 2-6% in the non-Aboriginal population. There are a host of causes for the poor hearing, many indicative of the
generally poor health and lowered life expectancy of Canada’s Arctic
Aboriginal people.  In children, the greatest cause is chronic ear infections, which often follow from respiratory infections.

Link: http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/03/28/hard-of-hearing/

Beginning in the fall 2012 semester, Gallaudet University will
offer a Master’s of Public Administration (MPA) degree for students who
are deaf or hard of hearing. Students who enroll in the 40-credit
program can expect to take courses such as ethics in management,
strategic leadership and management, and budgeting in public sector and
nonprofit organizations. Additionally, they will be able to take
evening, weekend and summer classes. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(BLS) reports that city managers, medical or healthcare
managers and senior advocacy, grantmaking and civic organization work
are the types of jobs in which an MPA degree is necessary. 

Link: http://www.gallaudet.edu/Administration_and_Supervision/Graduate_Programs/Master_of_Public_Administration.html

Educational Audiology Association’s First Online Conference to be held on May 16, 2012 from 11:00am-4:45 pm (Eastern). EAA is proud to host this innovative online event, which will bring together practitioners of all sorts who work together to support children with hearing loss and their families. If you are an audiologist, auditory-verbal therapist, parent of a child with hearing loss, physician, speech-language pathologist, teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing, or any other type of practitioner that works with children who have hearing loss, then this conference may be of interest to you. A group of six audiologists and researchers explore collaborative challenges, real life experiences, research evidence, and strategies. Read more to learn about this conference opportunity.

Link: http://www.infanthearing.org/resources_home/events/docs_events2012/EAA-Online-Conf-Announcement.pdf

The March e-newsletter for the American Society for Deaf Children describes the networking
opportunities offered at the recent EHDI meeting in St. Louis is available. Read more
about
the engaging, respectful interactions experienced by members.

Link: http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/306780/251b4972d8/1373001068/d71c68471d

This study highlights the need to increase the rate at which
pediatric Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) receive and request infant
hearing screening results, and it suggests that improved infrastructure
could facilitate pediatric PCPs’ ability
to report and coordinate follow-up services for infants identified with
hearing loss.

Link: http://jpc.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/03/09/2150131912440283

Noisy
toys and MP3 players may cause noise-induced hearing loss in children.
But you can do something to prevent noise-induced hearing loss.

Link: http://www.hear-it.org/index.dsp?page=19466

Link: http://blog.asha.org/2012/03/01/telehealth-regulatory-and-legal-considerations-frequently-asked-questions/

To date there are no licensure or certification requirements for
providers that are specific to TI. Some states have state provisions
regarding telehealth/telepractice. In general, these states require that
providers of TI have the same credentials as providers of traditional
home-based and center-based services. They also emphasize the importance
of adhering to privacy regulations. The ASHA website provides information on licensure trends, including the following:

• State Licensure Practice Provisions identified by state
• Licensure Trends by state [PDF]
• Telehealth Regulatory and Legal Considerations: Frequently Asked Questions

Link: http://infanthearing.org/ti-guide/licensing.html

Betty
R. Vohr, MD, of Barrington, director of Women & Infants Hospital’s
Neonatal Follow-Up Clinic and medical director of the Rhode Island
Hearing Assessment Program, has been presented with the national Antonia
Brancia Maxon Award for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)
Excellence. The award was presented at the National EHDI Meeting in St.
Louis on March 5, 2012.

Link: http://www.physorg.com/wire-news/93268039/dr-betty-vohr-honored-for-early-hearing-detection-and-interventi.html