The
Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE)
has developed a Dispute Resolution Resource Showcase – a collection and
systematic organization of resources relating
to the IDEA’s dispute resolution procedural safeguards provisions (Part
C and Part B) that may be useful to states and districts as they pursue
improvements in their special education dispute resolution systems and
processes.

Link: http://www.directionservice.org/cadre/exemplar/matrix.cfm

Many types of hearing aids exist. So which is best for you? Find out what the Mayo Clinic suggests for consideration when choosing a hearing aid.

Link: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hearing-aids/HQ00812

A European team of researchers has discovered that people with a
specific form of inherited hearing loss are more sensitive to low
frequency vibration. Presented in the journal Nature Neuroscience, the
findings provide insight on the association between hearing loss and
touch sensitivity. Specialised skin cells must be tuned to enable a
person to ‘feel’.

A mutation affecting the function of many hair cells in the inner ear is responsible for this hearing impairment.

Link: http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=EN_NEWS&ACTION=D&SESSION=&RCN=34272

A report published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that
Irish children born with hearing problems can wait up to five years to
have hearing aids fitted because of serious shortages in audiology
services.

Link: http://www.hear-it.org/Children-wait-for-years-to-get-help-for-their-hearing-loss

Again this year we have incredible
nominations for the Antonia Brancia Maxon Award for EDHI Excellence! Read about
their many accomplishments at Maxon Award.

While you are being amazed at what these
people have done to strengthen EHDI programs across the country and around the
world, be sure to register for the National EHDI meeting to be held in St.
Louis March 4-6, 2012. This promises to be the biggest and best EHDI Meeting
ever.

Early Registration ends today, so don’t delay.  Register today and save $50!

Link: http://www.ehdimeeting.org/

The February Edition of Probes and Tips is now available: Check that Hearing Aids are Working. This edition includes such items as:

• Common maintenance issues for hearing aids including checking/changing the battery, cleaning blockage, etc.
• Learn more Hear and Now: Introduction to OAE Screening; Registration
• Information about an ECHO Initiative Exhibit in Washington DC, Feb. 11-14, 2012

Link: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs073/1102782899287/archive/1109125723861.html

Deaf children who already had one cochlear implant had improvements in speech, hearing and related quality of life measures after a second was implanted in the other ear, according to researchers from the Netherlands. And the degree of improvement didn’t depend on
how old kids were when they got their second implant, according to the
study, published in the Archives of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck
Surgery.

Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/18/us-cochlear-implants-idUSTRE80H25P20120118

HB218 “A Deaf Child’s Bill of Rights” was referred from the House
Education Committee to Appropriations where it may languish and die unless concerned citizens for an appropriate education for all
Virginia’s children get involved. This is an important and timely bill given the state of education of deaf and hard-of-hearing children in the Virginia.

Link: http://www.newsleader.com/article/20120131/OPINION03/201310319/Bill-would-help-assure-deaf-students-best-education-Virginia-s-schools?odyssey=nav|head

Rajan Speech & Hearing Centre (RSHC) is now on an aggressive drive
to test children for early deafness. Since hearing loss is a hidden
disability, the Institute is keen to test the baby early because
the first year of life is critical to the development of normal speech
and language. Annually India reports over 4,000 babies born with
hearing loss. Most babies born with hearing problems are otherwise
healthy and have no family history of hearing loss. To ensure that the
baby has normal hearing, it would be vital to test as early as possible,
stated Krishna Kumar, audiologist and director, RSHC.

Link: http://pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=67005&sid=2

Babies and toddlers enrolled in the YWCA Greater Baton Rouge Early
Head Start program have access to new, technologically advanced hearing
screenings. The children can have their hearing tested via a
quick, painless and reliable technology known as Otoacoustic Emissions,
according to a YWCA news release. The Baton Rouge program is one
of two pilot programs in Louisiana.

Link: http://theadvocate.com/home/1685555-125/program-tests-toddlers-hearing.html