An advisory panel to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Coverage (CMS) has concluded its findings as to the effectiveness of cochlear implants in improving health outcomes for individuals with a hearing loss.  CMS, who is the
administrative organization that oversees the approval and distribution
of Medicare funds, will be reviewing these findings to consider expanding Medicare’s coverage of cochlear implantation.  The current Medicare coverage for cochlear implants is limited to unilateral implantation for “individuals who demonstrate limited benefit from amplification” as stipulated by Medicare protocols.  However, some of the panel’s findings are encouraging more consideration be given for CMS to grant Medicare coverage of bilateral implants as well.

Link: http://www.asha.org/Publications/leader/2011/110705/Advisory-Panel-Examines-Cochlear-Implant-Coverage.htm

Governor Haslam has signed a new law to take effect on January 1, 2012 that will require insurance companies in Tennessee to provide coverage for hearing aids for children under the age of 18. The new law mandates hearing aid coverage for children up to $1,000 per hearing aid, every three years.

Link: http://www.wbir.com/news/article/175537/2/Insurance-companies-required-to-cover-chidrens-hearing-aids

Read this month’s edition of AAP’s EHDI E-mail Express!  This is a
monthly electronic newsletter sent out for the purpose of providing
resources and current clinical and other information to those interested
in current issues facing childhood hearing detection and intervention. 
Check out the helpful insights from this month’s edition!

Link: http://www.infanthearing.org/ncham_news/docs/EHDI_Email_Express_June2011.pdf

Southampton University researchers are exploring ways to help deaf people, who have received a cochlear implant, get more enjoyment out of music. Music professor David Nicholls and Dr. Rachel van Besouw from the University’s Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR) have secured funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council in England to work with patients from the South of England Cochlear Implant Centre in this effort to improve the technology.

Link: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20110624/Project-to-explore-aspects-of-music-for-cochlear-implant-users.aspx

The Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind currently runs under the state’s centralized computer network and Sen. Emmett W. Hanger Jr. has raised concerns about the network’s inability to meet the specialized needs of the school, and other frustrations about the expenses of the network system. He has introduced legislation to exempt the school from this network; the school serves about 115 deaf/blind students on a campus in Staunton.

Link: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/jul/01/tdmain01-lawmaker-may-seek-legislative-remedy-for--ar-1144954/

The New York Yankees stepped up to the plate to help the Starkey Hearing Foundation deliver the gift of hearing to more than 175 hearing-impaired children and adults from the New York City area. Pitcher CC Sabathia, Manager Joe Girardi,
and Former Yankees Pitcher and Coach Mel Stottlemyre were among those assisting in hearing aid distribution at the Yankees Stadium.

Link: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-york-yankees-help-starkey-hearing-foundation-deliver-the-gift-of-hearing-to-new-york-area-children-and-adults-in-need-124678958.html

NOWiHEAR.com has announced a partnership with talkTECH Communications (based in Los Angeles) to provide U.S. Audiologists with more affordable digital marketing opportunities to promote their local practices. The program will reach key consumer target groups online through
targeted Google AdWord campaigns, NowiHear.com’s recently launched mobile
application, SEO news releases, social media, and more.

Link: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110628005406/en/NOWiHEAR.com-Partners-talkTECH-Communications-Offer-U.S.-Audiologists

A painting exhibition featuring artwork by hearing impaired children
began last Saturday in Taipei, Taiwan. The exhibition is part of a
celebration for the 15th anniversary of the Children’s Hearing Foundation
and is scheduled to continue on through October. Using auditory-verbal
therapy (developed in Canada), the foundation has helped more than 3,000
children with hearing loss.

Link: http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201106250017

There are many concerns with the deaf community in international
development, among those concerns are the treatment of those who are
deaf, their access to education, employment, and health care. In Ghana
unfortunately, many of the deaf community are not protected, looked down upon, and often
are excluded socially. The Ghana National Association of
the Deaf (GNAD) have raised concerns that they face in their country and are making an effort to change the
general public’s view of the deaf community. The GNAD is pushing for more
legislation to provide common protection for the rights and protection of those with
hearing disabilities in Ghana.

Link: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=212170

A federal lawsuit has been filed against Netflix by the National
Association of the Deaf (NAD) for violating the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) due to failure in providing closed captioning for
its “Watch Instantly” movies and television shows as streamed on the
internet. The ADA requires that all “places of entertainment” provide
“full and equal enjoyment” for people with disabilities.

Link: http://www.prweb.com/releases/NAD/Netflix/prweb8576773.htm