G Krishnakumar discusses a few basic things that parents should know about hearing aids for children. “It is important to understand how hearing aids work and how to select,
operate, and care for them. Working hearing aids and consistent use of
hearing aids will help your child hear and develop good speech and
language skills.”

Link: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/181640/devising-way-hear-better.html

The Utah Department of Health’s Hearing Aid
Recycling Program (HARP) is seeking used hearing aids for families who
cannot afford them and don’t qualify for Medicaid.

The recycling program reconditions used
devices that are in good shape. Those that can’t be used are sold for
salvage or sent to a manufacturer for credit toward the purchase of new
hearing aids.

To donate hearing aids, make a cash donation, or to see if your child qualifies for HARP, call 801-584-8215.

Link: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52318084-78/hearing-aids-program-utah.html.csp

Ryan Roberts, a resident of North Central Texas was selected to receive a scholarship that will allow him to visit the Grand Canyon this month and there he will collect sound data for an online campaign to educate the public about hearing and hearing loss. The Hear the World Sound Academy program brings 17 students of mixed
hearing abilities (most with varying degrees of hearing loss) together
to explore the role that sounds plays in our lives.

Link: http://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/local-news/1762-hiking-for-hearing.html

A task force formed by the State Board of Education has been examining the role and effectiveness of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind and has presented several recommendations, one of which includes that the agency relocate from Ogden to Salt Lake City and another that its advisory council have a stronger role. The State Board hasn’t taken any action on the report, but plans to further study the recommendations.

Link: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705388789/Task-force-proposes-changes-for-Utah-schools-for-deaf-blind.html

The August edition of the ECHO Initiative’s Probes and Tips newsletter is now available: Prepare for Screening and Get to Know Your Partners in Hearing Health Care

Link: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs073/1102782899287/archive/1106889052502.html

The Alabama Power Company has donated $500,000 to the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind as the lead commitment for the campaign to build a new health center that would provide services to deaf/blind children and adults. The goal is to raise the $2 Million needed for the project, but it is a helpful start.

Link: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20110804/BUSINESS/108040302/Alabama-Power-donates-500K?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|s

The Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind welcome its new Talladega Regional Center Director. Patrick Robinson, a graduate from the Alabama School for the Deaf and Gallaudet University has become a real community leader and a national award-winning coach and is becoming responsible for overseeing the operations of the center located in Talladega, which include early intervention services, assistive technology, sign language classes, and other such services that assist those who are deaf/HH or blind.

Link: http://www.dailyhome.com/view/full_story/14862661/article-Robinson-new-director-at-AIDB-Regional-Center?instance=home_lead_story

Indianapolis, IN – As budget discussions continue among state leaders, members of the deaf community speak out against new appointments to the board of directors over Indiana’s state school for the deaf.  Complaints have risen concerning the new board members and their backgrounds of supporting a listening and spoken language approach to educating deaf and hard of hearing children as opposed to maintaining a purely ASL focus.  Viewpoints from both sides of this argument are long stemming from debate over communication options for children with hearing loss, but have now reached a heated crossroads in Indiana.

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/us/27deaf.html?_r=1

Georgia Pathway to Language and Literacy is sponsoring a FREE conference for all educators, professionals, parents, lawmakers, and members who are involved with literacy for Deaf/Hard of Hearing children in Georgia. The Conference will be held on August 4, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with a luncheon to follow. National and state leaders will be speaking on the need for change and potential solutions, with a discussion also including the launching of a new online Community of Practice to advance D/HH literacy goals in Georgia.

Georgia Pathway to Literacy and Learning Community of Practice Conference: [PDF] Georgia Public Broadcasting Studios, Atlanta, Georgia. August 4th.

• • Georgia Pathway Agenda [PDF]

Link:

The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services has awarded the Guam Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research, and Service (CEDDERS) $139,735 in federal financial assistance which will benefit Guam CEDDERS through their Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program to provide much needed help to those infants diagnosed with hearing problems.

Link: http://www.guampdn.com/article/20110720/NEWS01/110720010