Bigger is not always better, especially when it comes to structures in the inner ear. Enlargement of the vestibular aqueduct (EVA) has long been associated with hearing loss. A new study using a mouse model finally reveals the root cause of how this structure becomes enlarged, and could lead to new approaches to preventing and treating hearing loss associated with EVA and similar disorders.

Link: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/news/2017/childhood-deafness-research

Register at the link below for – A Statewide Professional Development Initiative for Early Intervention Providers

Link: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3721230/A-Statewide-Professional-Development-Initiative-for-Early-Intervention-Providers

Parents have a significant role in helping their child with hearing loss develop this important skill. Reading aloud to your child is a great tool for teaching your child to listen and talk.

http://heartolearn.org/tutorials/listening-language/read-to-me.html

As technology improves and early diagnosis and interventions for infants are more available, it may be easy to lose sight of the fact that despite all the progress being made in audiology, families are still “rocked” when they learn that their baby has significant hearing loss. For many parents, any information shared about “how far audiology has come” is lost, because they often don’t hear anything beyond these words: “Your child has hearing loss.” But in their journey of raising a child with hearing loss, parents develop a certain level of expertise and offer unique insights that would be useful to hearing professionals.

Link: http://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/Fulltext/2017/10000/What_Parents_Want_From_Hearing_Professionals.9.aspx

Greater Chicago Area Rocks OAE Screening!!

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection continues to be a public health problem because of its frequency (one in 200 live births) and its role in sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in infants and young children.

Link: http://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/Fulltext/2017/10000/Targeted_Screening_for_Cytomegalovirus_and_Hearing.4.aspx

Hearing First is offering a learning experience entitled, “Research to Practice: Digging into the Evidence”. In this learning experience, designed as a journal club, you’ll be guided to review, discuss and act upon research related to typical infant development and language acquisition. This learning opportunity consists of 6 sessions from October 2017 through May 2018.

For more information and to sign up for the first session, visit

http://bit.ly/HFResearch

Universal screening of newborns for hearing loss before they leave the hospital is not enough to improve language skills of children who are deaf and hard of hearing, according to a new study.

Link: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-09-language-skills-deaf-hard-of-hearing.html

The 8^th Annual Conference of the Coalition for Global Hearing Health will be held October 12-14 at the University of Miami Coral Gables campus. Some people have asked if the aftermath of Hurricane Irma is causing any problems with the Conference. The answer is that University of Miami has now resumed normal operations, there was no significant damage to the conference venue, and all conference activities will be held as planned. We are looking forward to welcoming you to Miami and participating with you in another great meeting!

People from all over the world will be presenting and doing posters about how to improve hearing health services in low resource countries. Register by September 26^th and save money with the early registration rate. More information, including the complete agenda, is available at https://cghh.usu.edu/. Discounted rates are still available for conference participants at Miami Marriott Dadeland Hotel, but you should hurry and make your reservation before all the rooms are gone.

Prior to the conference, a number of pre-sessions will be offered by internationally acclaimed experts. You can reserve a space for one of the presessions and save money on the conference registration rate if you register by September 26^th. More information, including the complete agenda, is available at https://cghh.usu.edu/

Link: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3721163/Broadening-Perspectives-A-Collaboration-Between-Traditionally-Divisive-Ideological-Camps-on-Deaf-Education