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Manhattan Chapter News & Views October 2008
www.hearingloss-nyc.org
E-mail: [email protected]
Hearing Loss Association of America exists to open the world of communication to people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy, and support. .
NEW MEETING LOCATION! MUHLENBERG LIBRARY BRANCH
209 West 23rd St. (between 7th and 8th Ave., closer to 7th), 3rd floor—elevator available
Editor’s Corner – Elizabeth Stump Welcome to the October 2008 issue of the HLAA‐ Manhattan News & Views! This is an extraordinary month for our chapter—two momentous “first‐ever” events will be occurring in October. You already know about one—our inaugural HLAA NYC Walk4Hearing, on October 19, in Riverside Park! But what may be news to you is: Starting this month, we’ll be holding our chapter meetings in a new location, the Muhlenberg Library! See more details on page 8. Time is ticking, but have you started or joined a team to walk? (See the Walk4Hearing Web site, Walk4Hearing.org, and click on New York, NY.) We will be starting the walk at W. 83rd St. and making a loop through the park. You can also come be a cheerleader or contribute a donation (send a check — made payable to Walk4Hearing — to Ellen Semel at 290 Ninth Avenue, Apt. 19G, NYC, NY 10001). Keep spreading the word among your family and friends about our mission to remove the stigma of hearing loss. This will be one momentous occasion, so don’t miss out! In concert with this month’s Walk4Hearing, the October N&V is profiling not just one chapter member, but three Walk team captains instead — a few of our top fundraisers! Please turn to page 4 to read more about these go‐getters. Speaking of go‐getters, this month’s chapter meeting focuses on how we can catalyze our frustrations into positive action and boost our capacity to deal with hearing loss challenges. Sometimes people with
Tuesday, October 21, 2008 5:30 – 7:30 PM (Socializing at 5:30; program begins at 6:00.) Living With the Frustration of Hearing Loss: Emotional Traps and How to Deal with Them SPEAKER: Dr. David Balderston MEETING LEADER: Barbara Dagen Dr. Balderston, a psychologist and licensed marriage and family therapist, will present a psychological approach to the difficult situations we sometimes encounter as persons with hearing loss: how they make us feel and what we can do to cope better. NOTE: Assistive listening help is provided at our meetings through live CART captioning and a room loop for those whose hearing aids have a T‐coil. FM headsets are also available.
NYC
NYC WALK4HEARING Riverside Park, Manhattan Sunday, October 19, 2008
Walk as far as you wish, up to 5K (3.1 miles) Enter at W. 83rd St.!
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hearing loss have trouble with assertiveness, for example, but the Walk4Hearing itself is testament to our chapter’s drive and ability to overcome obstacles; it wouldn’t be happening if not for the unified and determined mentality of our chapter. Hearing loss can be difficult—but how do you react? Speaker Dr. Balderston’s message of coping with hearing loss coincides precisely with the Walk4Hearing’s goal of educating and effecting change for the hearing‐ impaired. So this month in particular, demonstrate assertiveness by reaching out to your family and acquaintances and asking them to attend our Walk and also our chapter meeting — you may be surprised to discover that your work colleague has a hearing disability, or that your friend’s elderly parent is hearing‐impaired. Your personal testimony is priceless; you have nothing to lose but a good deal to gain! I look forward to seeing you at the Walk4Hearing on October 19 and at the chapter meeting — note the NEW LOCATION! — on October 21!
CHAPTER PLANNING COMMITTEE Join us on the first Tuesday of each month to help plan programs & events. HLAA Manhattan Chapter Phone Number: (voice) (212) 769‐HEAR (4327) Ellen Semel, Planning Committee Chair and NYC Walk4Hearing Coordinator (212) 989‐0624 [email protected] Barbara Bryan [email protected] Barbara Dagen, Newsletter Committee [email protected] Mary Fredericks, Secretary (212) 674‐9128 [email protected] Joe Gordon, NYS Chapter Coordinator [email protected] Toni Iacolucci
[email protected] Shera Katz, Web Site Coordinator [email protected] Anne Pope, Immediate Past President, HLAA Board of Trustees [email protected] Susan Shapiro, Treasurer [email protected] Dana Simon [email protected] Elizabeth Stump, Newsletter Editor [email protected] Diane Sussman [email protected] Advisory Members Amy McCarthy Lois O’Neill Robin Sacharoff Professional Advisors: Laurie Hanin, PhD, CCC‐A Exec. Director, League for the Hard of Hearing Joseph Montano, Ed.D. Director, Hearing & Speech, Weill Cornell Medical College
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Manhattan Chapter Annual Dues Reminder: You should have renewed your chapter dues last month — in September! Mail or hand the completed form on the back of the N&V, along with your check for $15 payable to HLAA‐ Manhattan, to Susan Shapiro (Treasurer). It covers your one‐year membership for the period September 1, 2008, to August 31, 2009.
National Dues Reminder We hope you will also join or renew your membership in our national organization. Your separate $35 check for annual dues (see back page) is vitally needed to help support the educational and advocacy work we do at the national level. Your membership also includes a subscription to Hearing Loss Magazine.
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no satisfactory response, submit a formal complaint to the FCC.
WHAT YOU MISSED IN SEPTEMBER Mary Fredericks
A converter box was shown to us; it was smaller than this page, about 1” high. It comes with an antenna cable; connect one end to the TV and the other to the antenna.
DTV is coming – and sooner than you think! So we invited representatives of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to speak to us about the digital television transition — scheduled for February 17, 2009 – to help us understand the reasons for it, what we as consumers need to do, and what problems might arise. Dan Noel and Gary Barker provided some basic information.
A comment from the audience asked what we could “do proactively as a deaf community to get the government or whoever is changing this, to make sure that the deaf are included” by way of complete and appropriate captioning. Joe Gordon responded that we have been very successful in resolving complaints; if you have continuing problems, contact him by e‐mail.
Federal law requires the switch which will free up airwaves for emergency communications; allow broadcasters to provide programming of better quality and increased quantity; and allow advanced wireless services for consumers.
It is the station’s responsibility to create captions on most programming. *If you have “over the air” (antenna) reception, the captions will pass through to you from the channel.
*If you have an old TV (say, more than five years old) it is probably an analog receiver. *If you have a newer set, the instruction manual should tell you if it is a digital or analog receiver.
*If you have cable reception, the cable provider (Time Warner, RCN, Verizon FIOS) must “pass through the captions that come in” from the stations.
*If you are receiving programming on either an analog or digital set through a cable provider (e.g., RCN, Time Warner), that provider will probably replace your old cable box with a new digital cable box — if you don’t already have that.
For problems, complain to the station in writing with date, time, and other relevant details. If no answer is received in 45 days, contact the FCC with a copy of your letter and they will follow up. The type of programming you get with a converter box will depend a lot on how good the signal is that you currently receive; you might need to adjust your antenna.
*If your analog set is receiving programming “over the air” (by way of a rooftop antenna or ‘rabbit‐ears’), then you must obtain a digital‐to‐analog converter box.
Newer TV sets include many special features, e.g., ability to change caption font size and color. But you have to read the instruction manual, and if you don’t understand the settings, ask a salesperson or manufacturer rep to explain. For example, the “primary” setting is for the TV itself; “secondary” setting is for auxiliary equipment like a DVD player or computer using the TV as a monitor.
*If your digital set receives programs by antenna, no action is required on your part. *If you have satellite TV, the box they provide does the conversion. If you need a converter box, the government has arranged for each household to obtain two $40 coupons for the boxes, which retail around $40 ‐ $70. Most major appliance stores are selling them.
Packets of consumer information were distributed that cover all of the above in detail. Highlights:
There was a question about FIOS, Verizon’s fiber optics service. It is believed FIOS will do the conversion. Questions about problems with FIOS closed captions should be referred to Verizon personnel (manager/supervisor level), and if there is
*If you have a problem with captioning on one station, contact that station. *If the problem occurs on a number of stations (provided by cable), contact your cable provider. 3
*If the above fails, contact the FCC:
December 31, 2008, to get discounted rates and to enter a drawing for a Nintendo Wii™. Visit www.hearingloss.org for further information.
Web site: www.dtv.gov; E‐mail: [email protected]; Voice phone: 1‐888‐225‐5322; TTY: 1‐888‐835‐5322; Fax: 1‐866‐418‐0232; Write to: Federal Communications Commission, Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554 Next Month’s Meeting: Tues., Nov. 18, 5:30 PM CapTel Phone & Sprint Web CapTel Speaker: NY Relay representative
Walk4Hearing — Meet A Few of the Top Fundraisers For the First NYC Walk!
Metropolitan Calendar
As part of a feature on the NYC Walk4Hearing, we’re covering Danielle Nicosia, a 23‐year‐old Long Island resident and new member of the North Shore Long Island HLAA chapter; Daniel Susa, the baby behind Danny’s Team; and Eli Alexander Reiman, a five‐year‐old with hearing loss whose parents started Team E.A.R.
Sunday, Oct. 19: NYC Walk4Hearing, Riverside Park, Manhattan; Enter at W. 83rd St. Tuesday, Oct. 21: Chapter Meeting: new place!
Friday, Oct. 31: Trick‐or‐Treat! Happy
Danielle Nicosia: “I finally accepted myself for the way I am because I found people just like me.”
Thursday, Nov. 13: LHH Cochlear Implant
Danielle was born with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, due to an unknown cause. It worsened as she aged and it is now severe‐ profound, so she wears Siemens BTE Prisma aids in both ears. She also plans to get a hearing dog shortly for safety while she continues to do what she loves in New York, including visiting Times Square, shopping, and exploring the beautiful city.
Support Group at the League for the Hard of Hearing Where: 50 Broadway, 2nd Floor When: 5:30pm to 7pm *For more information, call (917) 305‐7751 or e‐mail [email protected]. Tuesday, Nov. 18: HLAA Chapter Meeting Saturday, Nov. 29: HLAA Founder’s Day *Please note that this month our chapter meeting will be in a brand new location, the Muhlenberg Library! Thanks to the determination of the Planning Committee, the room will be looped for us.
Considering how tough her own junior high and high school years were — she was constantly ridiculed for her hearing loss to the point of tears — it’s telling of Danielle’s maturity and determination that she hopes to one day set foot back in the halls of a junior high. Only this time, she’ll be an American Sign Language (ASL) teacher, and no longer the odd‐ girl out/only hearing‐impaired person there.
*Take advantage of the Early Bird Special for next year’s annual national convention — which is also the HLAA’s 30th birthday — occurring June 18‐21, 2009, in Nashville, Tennessee. Register for the Full Activity Package by
After struggling with hearing loss all her life, joining the HLAA has been like finally arriving home — she’s made some wonderful friends who “welcome me all the time. I love how we all can relate to each other.” The self‐confidence she’s developed 4
date of the W4H, he’ll have received his first cochlear implant, the Nucleus Freedom.
throughout college has pushed her to pursue deaf education and, along the way, even noticeably affected others: one of her college classmates is now becoming an interpreter after watching and speaking with Danielle.
Sheri found the HLAA while searching online, and started a team online for Danny on the W4H Web site and sent it to a few close friends and family members. Because of Daniel’s experience, the Susas are strong advocates for infant hearing screening, and are grateful to all their W4H supporters for helping raise awareness for this form of testing. As of Oct. 1, Danny’s Team had raised an incredible $3,310 in donations!
Once she found out about the NYC W4H from the HLAA national magazine, Danielle’s decision to walk was a no‐brainer, she said. “I always wanted to do something about my hearing loss, and I always wanted people to be aware how difficult it was for me.”
Daniel loves to play games and look at the pictures in books and turn the pages. And he’s one happy, social infant, his mother said; everything from tickles to playing hide‐and‐seek will elicit a “great big belly laugh out of him!”
Although this is the first HLAA Walk ever for Danielle, she jumped in with both feet: not only did she aim tremendously high with a fundraising goal of $2,000, but as of Oct. 1, she was on the brink of surpassing that amount, having raised an impressive $1,986!
Currently Daniel receives intensive speech therapy; he is not speaking yet, but continues to produce new sounds. Although he is doing well with hearing aids, his parents believe that cochlear implantation at such a young age will improve his hearing and speech, so that he is on par with his peers by the time he enters a mainstreamed kindergarten.
“It’s amazing how many people want to sponsor and help me,” she said. “I am so honored and I can’t wait to do this Walk in NYC for the first time.” As for her plans after the Walk, Danielle wants to encourage other young people with hearing loss to join the welcoming, supportive environment of her chapter/ the HLAA — after all, that’s where together they can tackle the frustration that comes with “being stuck in both worlds and not quite fitting into either,” she said.
As he grows up, his parents are adamant that he should have the same opportunities as other children. “The only difference is that he needs a little bit more assistance to hear,” Sheri said. “People do not need to feel sorry for Daniel or for us—he is doing great and will continue to grow into an amazing child.”
But she’s the first to admit that hearing loss will never change who she is. One thing is definitely for sure: not even middle‐schoolers can hold this vivacious young woman back from helping others and accomplishing her dreams.
(Profiles continued on the next page.)
Daniel Susa: “Daniel’s smile and laughter can light up a room.” Thank you to all our W4H sponsors, including The Central Park Boathouse, PLP Companies/Kleiman Family, the Pope Family, Children’s Hearing Institute, The Mill Neck Family of Organizations, The Ruth Becker Foundation, Sound Associates, NY Relay Service, Pat & Bob Young, Joe Gordon, Otterbox, Richter+Ratner, Theater Development Fund, J&R Music and Computer World, Chelsea Moving & Storage, Total Caption, The League for the Hard of Hearing, VanB Enterprises, Harris Communications, Ear Gear, Northeastern Technologies Group, Inc., Chelsea Square Restaurant, Chelsea Cottage/Viet Grill, HLAA
Daniel turned 1 year old at the end of September, just a few weeks before he’ll be attending the W4H with his parents, Sheri and Emilio Susa, and family friends. Daniel, by the way, is the baby whose adorable face graces the homepage of the NYC Walk site. Hence, another reason to show up at the Walk— you will get to meet this famous infant in person! Diagnosed with severe bilateral hearing loss at birth, due to an unknown cause (there is also no family history of hearing loss), Daniel received his first pair of hearing aids at three months old. However, by the 5
Huntington chapter, Donna Lee/Joe Desmond, Jessica and Steven Spector (to the MZG team, Jeff Greenstein, team captain), and Stephen J. Hansbrough (Chairman of the Board of HearUSA). We appreciate an especially generous contribution made by William Hanks to sponsor one of our walkers, Roberta Alterman. Eli Alexander Reiman: “Hearing aids tranformed him into an outgoing, friendly, and confident kid.”
This lack of awareness and assistance in schools is the major reason the Reiman family formed Team E.A.R. — and they will enthusiastically walk to support Eli and all other children with hearing loss. “Even with the most sophisticated hearing aids and sound systems, hearing impaired children still miss 15% of what is said in their classrooms,” Meredith says. “They will always struggle to keep up. They will always strain to understand.” She’s amazed at the general public ignorance about hearing loss and its effect on both individuals and families. “Many people believe that once you are aided you can hear just like everyone else. Not true!”
The name Team E.A.R. has double significance — it’s not just an obvious reference to hearing, but also the initials of Elijah Alexander Reiman, a five‐year‐old with bilateral, moderately‐severe sensorineural hearing loss who will be participating in the Walk.
As of late September, Team E.A.R. has raised over $2,800! Both of Eli’s parents work in New York City and felt they would gain more support by walking in NY, and asked that all of their team’s donations go to the national HLAA. Eli’s mother credits the team’s fundraising success to their wonderful friends and family, “most of whom have never encountered a young child with a hearing loss, at least not someone they knew well.” Meredith’s proudest moment as a parent is “listening to Eli explain to his best friend why he wears hearing aids — the reasons are that he doesn’t hear that well, and that when it is raining and thundering outside, he can just turn his aids off and not have to hear the thunder.” Proof that even in the face of large obstacles, small blessings can be found. ~Elizabeth Stump Special thanks to Margaret Paine, Ingrid
It was not until two months prior to his fourth birthday that Eli’s hearing loss was discovered, although doctors believe it had been present since birth. Still, Eli had already developed strong language skills by the age of three, having spoken his first words at 9 months and full sentences at age two. But ever since receiving hearing aids in both ears (July 2007), “his personality has changed drastically,” his mother, Meredith, says — for the better, of course. He’s “transformed from a shy, uncomfortable, and quiet child to an outgoing, friendly, and confident kid,” she says, and he can now enjoy music, which has become a favorite pastime. Not that his parents still don’t worry about him. “I think of little things, like how will he hear his own children crying at night if he sleeps without his hearing aids in,” Meredith says. And with the exception of a 3rd‐grade friend who wears hearing aids at his public school, Eli has not yet met any peers with hearing loss. Thankfully he has his family as constant support, and they are very interested in expanding their network by joining either the Manhattan HLAA chapter or a NJ HLAA chapter.
Eli, a NJ resident, is currently attending a private kindergarten for one year as a gift from his parents, and will be going to public kindergarten the next year. Meredith noted that it was extremely difficult at the private school to secure hearing assistance services, such as a classroom setting with an FM system and a speech therapist, and she is still pursuing securing a teacher of the deaf to meet with Eli twice a week.
Haseloff, Barbara Bryan, and Lois Beadle for their kind donations to the Manhattan Chapter.
*We Still Need Walk Day Volunteers! Please contact Ellen Semel at [email protected]. 6
Access to the Arts in New York City
OPEN‐CAPTIONED THEATER ‐ Find captioned theater listings nationwide on www.c2net.org Theater Access Project (TAP) captions Broadway and Off‐Broadway productions each month. Tickets are discounted. For listings & application www.tdf.org/tap or 212‐221‐1103, 212‐719‐45377 (TTY) *Upcoming OPEN‐CAPTIONED Shows: [See TAP for tickets]
The Little Mermaid (10/22, 2 PM); Mary Poppins (10/22, 8 PM); Young Frankenstein (11/12, 8 PM); To Be Or Not To Be (11/15, 2 PM); The Lion King (11/19, 2 PM; 12/03, 2 PM)
OPEN‐CAPTIONED MOVIES – For updated listings, go to www.insightcinema.org or www.regalcinemas.com/movies/open_cap.html REGAL BATTERY PARK STADIUM 11,102 N. End Avenue–Vesey & West Streets (212) 945‐4370. REGAL–UA KAUFMAN STUDIOS CINEMA 14, 35th Ave. & 38th St., Long Island City (718) 786‐1722 REGAL–UA SHEEPSHEAD BAY‐BROOKLYN, Knapp St & Harkness Ave (718) 615‐1053. REAR‐WINDOW CAPTIONED MOVIES ‐ For listings go to www.FOMDI.com. Ask for a special window when buying your ticket. The window reflects the text that’s shown on the rear of the theater AMC Empire on 42nd Street. (212) 398‐2597, call Tues afternoon for next week’s schedule Clearview Chelsea Cinemas, 260 W. 23rd St., Auditorium 4, 212‐691‐5519. www.clearviewcinemas.com/tripod.shtml The Bronx: AMC Cinema Bay Plaza, 718‐320‐1659. MUSEUMS WITH CAPTIONED EVENTS & ASSISTIVE DEVICES ‐ The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave. 212‐879‐5500 Ext. 3561 (V), 212‐570‐3828 (TTY) Real‐Time Captioning of lectures upon request – This service requires at least three weeks notice. Gallery Talk with ALDs (meet at gallery talk station, Great Hall) The Museum of Modern Art, 1 East 53rd St., Access Programs 212‐708‐9864, 212‐247‐1230 (TTY) ALDs are available for lectures, gallery talks, & Family Programs. Infrared is available in Titus Theaters. HLAA E‐news: Do you subscribe? It provides HLAA latest news every other week electronically. To sign up go to: www.hearingloss.org/membership/Sen.asp.
Calling All Cochlear Implant Recipients…
On Capitol Hill: Legislative Update
The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 was passed by Congress! On Sept. 17, the bill was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives (after earlier passing the Senate), and was then sent to President Bush for signature. This legislation expands the protections for people with disabilities, especially in the workplace, and also overturns recent Supreme Court rulings that have denied disabled people their rights. To learn more, visit the American Association of People with Disabilities blogspot: http://adarestoration.blogspot.com.
The University of Iowa created an online survey for people with one or two cochlear implants in an effort to collect data on the benefits of bilateral implants. Participants must be at least 18 years old to complete the 15‐minute survey. Names will not be collected to protect privacy. If you have any questions about the survey, contact Camille at Camille‐[email protected] or call 319‐353‐8776. The survey can be accessed at https://survey.uiowa.edu/wsb.dll/127/cochlearimpl 7 ant.htm.
Hearing Loss: More Common, Mind the Risk Factors Hearing loss is more prevalent in adults than previously recognized, according to a July study in Archives of Internal Medicine. 29 million (16.1%) adults ages 20 to 69 had speech‐frequency hearing loss, and 55 million (31%) had high‐frequency hearing loss. (Because the study did not include children or the very elderly, it can be safely assumed that the total number of Americans with hearing loss is much higher.) That hearing loss is associated with aging is not new — and as the proportion of older Americans grows, experts have already predicted large rises in hearing loss. The growing use of personal listening devices has also contributed to the increasing prevalence of hearing loss.
We’re Moving! New Chapter Location! Starting this month, our chapter meetings will be taking place in a new location: the New York Public Library, Muhlenberg Branch, 209 W. 23rd St. (between 7th and 8th Ave., closer to 7th) on the 3rd floor (elevator is available). The Manhattan Chapter is thrilled to announce that we have installed an induction loop and PA system in the Muhlenberg’s community room on the 3rd floor — and it is the very first NYC Library branch to be looped! The loop and PA system is our gift to the library, and will be available to the community at large so that others can enjoy our gift, as well. Our chapter should be especially proud because this exceptional new resource for NYC is made possible by proceeds of previous Walks4Hearing. (CART, provided at our meetings, is also courtesy of our Walks.) When you attend our Oct. 21st meeting, only two days after our Walk, you’ll see first‐hand how Walk funds support such wonderful initiatives as looping a library room. We hope this project will be an incentive to those of you who have not yet contributed to this year’s Walk to do so. And let’s think about all the good projects we can do with the 2008 proceeds!
Other demographic disparities are of concern: hearing loss was substantially more common in men than women, in whites than blacks, and in people without a high school diploma compared to those better educated. In addition to recommending intensified screening for young adults and the other demographic groups at greater risk, the study points out that many factors associated with hearing loss are not beyond an individual’s control. Quitting smoking, reducing exposure to loud noise, and effective treatment of other strong risk factors like diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) will go a long way toward delaying the onset of hearing loss associated with age.
We Want You! The HLAA Manhattan Chapter is always looking for members who want to put their eagerness and talents to good use! Would you like to become more involved with our Web site? Do you have accounting skills? Or maybe you’d like to volunteer as a greeter or occasionally provide refreshments for our meetings? If interested, please contact the Manhattan Chapter at (212) 769‐HEAR (4327) or [email protected].
WALK4HEARING FACTS: *We’ve raised over $81,000 to date! The original goal was $50,000, but it’s since been increased to $100,000. Help us meet this 6‐ figure goal! *As of Oct. 1, we have 48 teams registered online!
Mention of suppliers or devices in this newsletter does not mean HLAA‐Manhattan endorsement, nor does exclusion suggest disapproval.
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News Flash From the FCC:
HLAA Social Network: Make new friends without leaving the house! Check out the new online community from the HLAA at http://myhearingloss.org. Find hearing loss resources, post messages for other members, and join in the chat room as guest speakers share their story. Marcia Dugan, author of Living with Hearing Loss, will be the guest on October 17, at 7 PM. Visit the site to read about Marcia and submit questions for her to answer.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has prepared a Consumer Advisory on selected features in 32 digital‐to‐analog converter boxes that it has purchased. Converter boxes are to be used with your analog television to receive digital signals broadcast for free over‐the‐air to your antenna after the digital transition in February. All the boxes listed are certified under the converter box coupon program and are eligible for purchase using the $40 coupon. www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/converterboxfeatures. pdf.
Member Query: From Ellen Werblow— I have already bought the digital converter for my TV (made prior to 1993). I do get better color and more stations with CC. However, their closed captions are too small for my low vision, and Iʹve been unable to program it to change the size and style of the type. What can I do?
For Kids and Teens… *Hearing aids just got cooler. Tube Riders is a new line of products that allow aid wearers to decorate and individualize their devices. They were created by Stacie Pierce as a way to raise kids’ self‐esteem and destigmatize hearing assistance. Individuals can choose from among an assortment of soccer balls, flowers, guitars, turtles, and more, online at www.otocool.com. *Even if your children aren’t hearing impaired, it’s never too early to teach them about hearing damage. Direct them to www.earbud.org for a hearing simulator that mimics changes in hearing due to aging, tinnitus, and noise‐induced hearing damage. The House Ear Institute’s campaign will make them think twice about blasting music night and day on their iPods!
Answer: Refer to the user manual that came with the converter box for instructions on how to change the caption size, font style, caption color, and background color. If you are able to get captions for only some stations, most likely this is not a problem with your converter box, and you should contact the TV station airing the program that does not have captions. See the following FCC Web site for help: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/CC_con verters.html. If you still have trouble, you can file a complaint with the FCC: go to esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm. Or e‐mail [email protected]; call 1‐888‐225‐5322 voice, 1‐888‐ 835‐5322 TTY; or fax 1‐866‐418‐0232.
Cochlear Americas, maker of the Freedom™ cochlear implant system and the Baha® system of direct bone conduction, will be presenting detailed information on these two innovative products on Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 5:30‐8:30 at Stony Brook University Medical Center (Long Island). Those who no longer benefit from hearing aids are strongly encouraged to attend. Register and get directions at www.regonline.com/644956.
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Manhattan Chapter c/o Barbara Dagen, 141 E. 33rd St. (3B) New York, NY 10016
FIRST CLASS MAIL (DATED MATERIAL)
Please check your address label for the date of your last dues payment and, if you are a National member, there will be an “NM” after the date. Report any discrepancies to Mary Fredericks. Thanks! HLAA Membership Application Please complete and return this form, with your dues payment of $35 for a one-year membership (including subscription to Hearing Loss Magazine) To: HLAA Membership, 7910 Woodmont Ave. Suite 1200, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Manhattan Chapter Annual Fee Application Please complete and return this form, with your chapter fee of $15 (payable to HLAA-Manhattan) for the period September 1, 2008, to August 31, 2009 Send to: Susan Shapiro, 26910 Grand Central Parkway, Ste. 21D, Floral Park, NY 11005-1021
NAME (please print)
ADDRESS/APT_____________________________ CITY/STATE/ZIP________________________ PHONE (Home or Work?)_________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS_______________________ SEND A NEWSLETTER BY EMAIL YES NO MEMBER OF HLAA NATIONAL? YES NO HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT US? ________________________
ADDRESS/APT_____________________________ ____________ CITY/STATE/ZIP________________________ PHONE (Home or Work)__________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS_______________________ ARE YOU NOW A MEMBER OF HLAA NATIONAL? YES NO (receiving the Hearing Loss Magazine)?______ IF YES, I.D. No.________________
ADDITIONAL DONATION_$_______________ TOTAL ENCLOSED_$____________________
ADDITIONAL DONATION_$_______________ TOTAL ENCLOSED_$____________________
NAME (please print)_____________________
Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. We are a 501(c)(3) organization.
HLAA is a volunteer association of hard of hearing people, their relatives and friends. It is a nonprofit, non-sectarian educational organization devoted to the welfare and interests of those who cannot hear well.
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www.hearingloss-nyc.org
E-mail: [email protected]
Hearing Loss Association of America exists to open the world of communication to people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy, and support. .
NEW MEETING LOCATION! MUHLENBERG LIBRARY BRANCH
209 West 23rd St. (between 7th and 8th Ave., closer to 7th), 3rd floor—elevator available
Editor’s Corner – Elizabeth Stump Welcome to the October 2008 issue of the HLAA‐ Manhattan News & Views! This is an extraordinary month for our chapter—two momentous “first‐ever” events will be occurring in October. You already know about one—our inaugural HLAA NYC Walk4Hearing, on October 19, in Riverside Park! But what may be news to you is: Starting this month, we’ll be holding our chapter meetings in a new location, the Muhlenberg Library! See more details on page 8. Time is ticking, but have you started or joined a team to walk? (See the Walk4Hearing Web site, Walk4Hearing.org, and click on New York, NY.) We will be starting the walk at W. 83rd St. and making a loop through the park. You can also come be a cheerleader or contribute a donation (send a check — made payable to Walk4Hearing — to Ellen Semel at 290 Ninth Avenue, Apt. 19G, NYC, NY 10001). Keep spreading the word among your family and friends about our mission to remove the stigma of hearing loss. This will be one momentous occasion, so don’t miss out! In concert with this month’s Walk4Hearing, the October N&V is profiling not just one chapter member, but three Walk team captains instead — a few of our top fundraisers! Please turn to page 4 to read more about these go‐getters. Speaking of go‐getters, this month’s chapter meeting focuses on how we can catalyze our frustrations into positive action and boost our capacity to deal with hearing loss challenges. Sometimes people with
Tuesday, October 21, 2008 5:30 – 7:30 PM (Socializing at 5:30; program begins at 6:00.) Living With the Frustration of Hearing Loss: Emotional Traps and How to Deal with Them SPEAKER: Dr. David Balderston MEETING LEADER: Barbara Dagen Dr. Balderston, a psychologist and licensed marriage and family therapist, will present a psychological approach to the difficult situations we sometimes encounter as persons with hearing loss: how they make us feel and what we can do to cope better. NOTE: Assistive listening help is provided at our meetings through live CART captioning and a room loop for those whose hearing aids have a T‐coil. FM headsets are also available.
NYC
NYC WALK4HEARING Riverside Park, Manhattan Sunday, October 19, 2008
Walk as far as you wish, up to 5K (3.1 miles) Enter at W. 83rd St.!
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hearing loss have trouble with assertiveness, for example, but the Walk4Hearing itself is testament to our chapter’s drive and ability to overcome obstacles; it wouldn’t be happening if not for the unified and determined mentality of our chapter. Hearing loss can be difficult—but how do you react? Speaker Dr. Balderston’s message of coping with hearing loss coincides precisely with the Walk4Hearing’s goal of educating and effecting change for the hearing‐ impaired. So this month in particular, demonstrate assertiveness by reaching out to your family and acquaintances and asking them to attend our Walk and also our chapter meeting — you may be surprised to discover that your work colleague has a hearing disability, or that your friend’s elderly parent is hearing‐impaired. Your personal testimony is priceless; you have nothing to lose but a good deal to gain! I look forward to seeing you at the Walk4Hearing on October 19 and at the chapter meeting — note the NEW LOCATION! — on October 21!
CHAPTER PLANNING COMMITTEE Join us on the first Tuesday of each month to help plan programs & events. HLAA Manhattan Chapter Phone Number: (voice) (212) 769‐HEAR (4327) Ellen Semel, Planning Committee Chair and NYC Walk4Hearing Coordinator (212) 989‐0624 [email protected] Barbara Bryan [email protected] Barbara Dagen, Newsletter Committee [email protected] Mary Fredericks, Secretary (212) 674‐9128 [email protected] Joe Gordon, NYS Chapter Coordinator [email protected] Toni Iacolucci
[email protected] Shera Katz, Web Site Coordinator [email protected] Anne Pope, Immediate Past President, HLAA Board of Trustees [email protected] Susan Shapiro, Treasurer [email protected] Dana Simon [email protected] Elizabeth Stump, Newsletter Editor [email protected] Diane Sussman [email protected] Advisory Members Amy McCarthy Lois O’Neill Robin Sacharoff Professional Advisors: Laurie Hanin, PhD, CCC‐A Exec. Director, League for the Hard of Hearing Joseph Montano, Ed.D. Director, Hearing & Speech, Weill Cornell Medical College
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Manhattan Chapter Annual Dues Reminder: You should have renewed your chapter dues last month — in September! Mail or hand the completed form on the back of the N&V, along with your check for $15 payable to HLAA‐ Manhattan, to Susan Shapiro (Treasurer). It covers your one‐year membership for the period September 1, 2008, to August 31, 2009.
National Dues Reminder We hope you will also join or renew your membership in our national organization. Your separate $35 check for annual dues (see back page) is vitally needed to help support the educational and advocacy work we do at the national level. Your membership also includes a subscription to Hearing Loss Magazine.
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no satisfactory response, submit a formal complaint to the FCC.
WHAT YOU MISSED IN SEPTEMBER Mary Fredericks
A converter box was shown to us; it was smaller than this page, about 1” high. It comes with an antenna cable; connect one end to the TV and the other to the antenna.
DTV is coming – and sooner than you think! So we invited representatives of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to speak to us about the digital television transition — scheduled for February 17, 2009 – to help us understand the reasons for it, what we as consumers need to do, and what problems might arise. Dan Noel and Gary Barker provided some basic information.
A comment from the audience asked what we could “do proactively as a deaf community to get the government or whoever is changing this, to make sure that the deaf are included” by way of complete and appropriate captioning. Joe Gordon responded that we have been very successful in resolving complaints; if you have continuing problems, contact him by e‐mail.
Federal law requires the switch which will free up airwaves for emergency communications; allow broadcasters to provide programming of better quality and increased quantity; and allow advanced wireless services for consumers.
It is the station’s responsibility to create captions on most programming. *If you have “over the air” (antenna) reception, the captions will pass through to you from the channel.
*If you have an old TV (say, more than five years old) it is probably an analog receiver. *If you have a newer set, the instruction manual should tell you if it is a digital or analog receiver.
*If you have cable reception, the cable provider (Time Warner, RCN, Verizon FIOS) must “pass through the captions that come in” from the stations.
*If you are receiving programming on either an analog or digital set through a cable provider (e.g., RCN, Time Warner), that provider will probably replace your old cable box with a new digital cable box — if you don’t already have that.
For problems, complain to the station in writing with date, time, and other relevant details. If no answer is received in 45 days, contact the FCC with a copy of your letter and they will follow up. The type of programming you get with a converter box will depend a lot on how good the signal is that you currently receive; you might need to adjust your antenna.
*If your analog set is receiving programming “over the air” (by way of a rooftop antenna or ‘rabbit‐ears’), then you must obtain a digital‐to‐analog converter box.
Newer TV sets include many special features, e.g., ability to change caption font size and color. But you have to read the instruction manual, and if you don’t understand the settings, ask a salesperson or manufacturer rep to explain. For example, the “primary” setting is for the TV itself; “secondary” setting is for auxiliary equipment like a DVD player or computer using the TV as a monitor.
*If your digital set receives programs by antenna, no action is required on your part. *If you have satellite TV, the box they provide does the conversion. If you need a converter box, the government has arranged for each household to obtain two $40 coupons for the boxes, which retail around $40 ‐ $70. Most major appliance stores are selling them.
Packets of consumer information were distributed that cover all of the above in detail. Highlights:
There was a question about FIOS, Verizon’s fiber optics service. It is believed FIOS will do the conversion. Questions about problems with FIOS closed captions should be referred to Verizon personnel (manager/supervisor level), and if there is
*If you have a problem with captioning on one station, contact that station. *If the problem occurs on a number of stations (provided by cable), contact your cable provider. 3
*If the above fails, contact the FCC:
December 31, 2008, to get discounted rates and to enter a drawing for a Nintendo Wii™. Visit www.hearingloss.org for further information.
Web site: www.dtv.gov; E‐mail: [email protected]; Voice phone: 1‐888‐225‐5322; TTY: 1‐888‐835‐5322; Fax: 1‐866‐418‐0232; Write to: Federal Communications Commission, Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554 Next Month’s Meeting: Tues., Nov. 18, 5:30 PM CapTel Phone & Sprint Web CapTel Speaker: NY Relay representative
Walk4Hearing — Meet A Few of the Top Fundraisers For the First NYC Walk!
Metropolitan Calendar
As part of a feature on the NYC Walk4Hearing, we’re covering Danielle Nicosia, a 23‐year‐old Long Island resident and new member of the North Shore Long Island HLAA chapter; Daniel Susa, the baby behind Danny’s Team; and Eli Alexander Reiman, a five‐year‐old with hearing loss whose parents started Team E.A.R.
Sunday, Oct. 19: NYC Walk4Hearing, Riverside Park, Manhattan; Enter at W. 83rd St. Tuesday, Oct. 21: Chapter Meeting: new place!
Friday, Oct. 31: Trick‐or‐Treat! Happy
Danielle Nicosia: “I finally accepted myself for the way I am because I found people just like me.”
Thursday, Nov. 13: LHH Cochlear Implant
Danielle was born with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, due to an unknown cause. It worsened as she aged and it is now severe‐ profound, so she wears Siemens BTE Prisma aids in both ears. She also plans to get a hearing dog shortly for safety while she continues to do what she loves in New York, including visiting Times Square, shopping, and exploring the beautiful city.
Support Group at the League for the Hard of Hearing Where: 50 Broadway, 2nd Floor When: 5:30pm to 7pm *For more information, call (917) 305‐7751 or e‐mail [email protected]. Tuesday, Nov. 18: HLAA Chapter Meeting Saturday, Nov. 29: HLAA Founder’s Day *Please note that this month our chapter meeting will be in a brand new location, the Muhlenberg Library! Thanks to the determination of the Planning Committee, the room will be looped for us.
Considering how tough her own junior high and high school years were — she was constantly ridiculed for her hearing loss to the point of tears — it’s telling of Danielle’s maturity and determination that she hopes to one day set foot back in the halls of a junior high. Only this time, she’ll be an American Sign Language (ASL) teacher, and no longer the odd‐ girl out/only hearing‐impaired person there.
*Take advantage of the Early Bird Special for next year’s annual national convention — which is also the HLAA’s 30th birthday — occurring June 18‐21, 2009, in Nashville, Tennessee. Register for the Full Activity Package by
After struggling with hearing loss all her life, joining the HLAA has been like finally arriving home — she’s made some wonderful friends who “welcome me all the time. I love how we all can relate to each other.” The self‐confidence she’s developed 4
date of the W4H, he’ll have received his first cochlear implant, the Nucleus Freedom.
throughout college has pushed her to pursue deaf education and, along the way, even noticeably affected others: one of her college classmates is now becoming an interpreter after watching and speaking with Danielle.
Sheri found the HLAA while searching online, and started a team online for Danny on the W4H Web site and sent it to a few close friends and family members. Because of Daniel’s experience, the Susas are strong advocates for infant hearing screening, and are grateful to all their W4H supporters for helping raise awareness for this form of testing. As of Oct. 1, Danny’s Team had raised an incredible $3,310 in donations!
Once she found out about the NYC W4H from the HLAA national magazine, Danielle’s decision to walk was a no‐brainer, she said. “I always wanted to do something about my hearing loss, and I always wanted people to be aware how difficult it was for me.”
Daniel loves to play games and look at the pictures in books and turn the pages. And he’s one happy, social infant, his mother said; everything from tickles to playing hide‐and‐seek will elicit a “great big belly laugh out of him!”
Although this is the first HLAA Walk ever for Danielle, she jumped in with both feet: not only did she aim tremendously high with a fundraising goal of $2,000, but as of Oct. 1, she was on the brink of surpassing that amount, having raised an impressive $1,986!
Currently Daniel receives intensive speech therapy; he is not speaking yet, but continues to produce new sounds. Although he is doing well with hearing aids, his parents believe that cochlear implantation at such a young age will improve his hearing and speech, so that he is on par with his peers by the time he enters a mainstreamed kindergarten.
“It’s amazing how many people want to sponsor and help me,” she said. “I am so honored and I can’t wait to do this Walk in NYC for the first time.” As for her plans after the Walk, Danielle wants to encourage other young people with hearing loss to join the welcoming, supportive environment of her chapter/ the HLAA — after all, that’s where together they can tackle the frustration that comes with “being stuck in both worlds and not quite fitting into either,” she said.
As he grows up, his parents are adamant that he should have the same opportunities as other children. “The only difference is that he needs a little bit more assistance to hear,” Sheri said. “People do not need to feel sorry for Daniel or for us—he is doing great and will continue to grow into an amazing child.”
But she’s the first to admit that hearing loss will never change who she is. One thing is definitely for sure: not even middle‐schoolers can hold this vivacious young woman back from helping others and accomplishing her dreams.
(Profiles continued on the next page.)
Daniel Susa: “Daniel’s smile and laughter can light up a room.” Thank you to all our W4H sponsors, including The Central Park Boathouse, PLP Companies/Kleiman Family, the Pope Family, Children’s Hearing Institute, The Mill Neck Family of Organizations, The Ruth Becker Foundation, Sound Associates, NY Relay Service, Pat & Bob Young, Joe Gordon, Otterbox, Richter+Ratner, Theater Development Fund, J&R Music and Computer World, Chelsea Moving & Storage, Total Caption, The League for the Hard of Hearing, VanB Enterprises, Harris Communications, Ear Gear, Northeastern Technologies Group, Inc., Chelsea Square Restaurant, Chelsea Cottage/Viet Grill, HLAA
Daniel turned 1 year old at the end of September, just a few weeks before he’ll be attending the W4H with his parents, Sheri and Emilio Susa, and family friends. Daniel, by the way, is the baby whose adorable face graces the homepage of the NYC Walk site. Hence, another reason to show up at the Walk— you will get to meet this famous infant in person! Diagnosed with severe bilateral hearing loss at birth, due to an unknown cause (there is also no family history of hearing loss), Daniel received his first pair of hearing aids at three months old. However, by the 5
Huntington chapter, Donna Lee/Joe Desmond, Jessica and Steven Spector (to the MZG team, Jeff Greenstein, team captain), and Stephen J. Hansbrough (Chairman of the Board of HearUSA). We appreciate an especially generous contribution made by William Hanks to sponsor one of our walkers, Roberta Alterman. Eli Alexander Reiman: “Hearing aids tranformed him into an outgoing, friendly, and confident kid.”
This lack of awareness and assistance in schools is the major reason the Reiman family formed Team E.A.R. — and they will enthusiastically walk to support Eli and all other children with hearing loss. “Even with the most sophisticated hearing aids and sound systems, hearing impaired children still miss 15% of what is said in their classrooms,” Meredith says. “They will always struggle to keep up. They will always strain to understand.” She’s amazed at the general public ignorance about hearing loss and its effect on both individuals and families. “Many people believe that once you are aided you can hear just like everyone else. Not true!”
The name Team E.A.R. has double significance — it’s not just an obvious reference to hearing, but also the initials of Elijah Alexander Reiman, a five‐year‐old with bilateral, moderately‐severe sensorineural hearing loss who will be participating in the Walk.
As of late September, Team E.A.R. has raised over $2,800! Both of Eli’s parents work in New York City and felt they would gain more support by walking in NY, and asked that all of their team’s donations go to the national HLAA. Eli’s mother credits the team’s fundraising success to their wonderful friends and family, “most of whom have never encountered a young child with a hearing loss, at least not someone they knew well.” Meredith’s proudest moment as a parent is “listening to Eli explain to his best friend why he wears hearing aids — the reasons are that he doesn’t hear that well, and that when it is raining and thundering outside, he can just turn his aids off and not have to hear the thunder.” Proof that even in the face of large obstacles, small blessings can be found. ~Elizabeth Stump Special thanks to Margaret Paine, Ingrid
It was not until two months prior to his fourth birthday that Eli’s hearing loss was discovered, although doctors believe it had been present since birth. Still, Eli had already developed strong language skills by the age of three, having spoken his first words at 9 months and full sentences at age two. But ever since receiving hearing aids in both ears (July 2007), “his personality has changed drastically,” his mother, Meredith, says — for the better, of course. He’s “transformed from a shy, uncomfortable, and quiet child to an outgoing, friendly, and confident kid,” she says, and he can now enjoy music, which has become a favorite pastime. Not that his parents still don’t worry about him. “I think of little things, like how will he hear his own children crying at night if he sleeps without his hearing aids in,” Meredith says. And with the exception of a 3rd‐grade friend who wears hearing aids at his public school, Eli has not yet met any peers with hearing loss. Thankfully he has his family as constant support, and they are very interested in expanding their network by joining either the Manhattan HLAA chapter or a NJ HLAA chapter.
Eli, a NJ resident, is currently attending a private kindergarten for one year as a gift from his parents, and will be going to public kindergarten the next year. Meredith noted that it was extremely difficult at the private school to secure hearing assistance services, such as a classroom setting with an FM system and a speech therapist, and she is still pursuing securing a teacher of the deaf to meet with Eli twice a week.
Haseloff, Barbara Bryan, and Lois Beadle for their kind donations to the Manhattan Chapter.
*We Still Need Walk Day Volunteers! Please contact Ellen Semel at [email protected]. 6
Access to the Arts in New York City
OPEN‐CAPTIONED THEATER ‐ Find captioned theater listings nationwide on www.c2net.org Theater Access Project (TAP) captions Broadway and Off‐Broadway productions each month. Tickets are discounted. For listings & application www.tdf.org/tap or 212‐221‐1103, 212‐719‐45377 (TTY) *Upcoming OPEN‐CAPTIONED Shows: [See TAP for tickets]
The Little Mermaid (10/22, 2 PM); Mary Poppins (10/22, 8 PM); Young Frankenstein (11/12, 8 PM); To Be Or Not To Be (11/15, 2 PM); The Lion King (11/19, 2 PM; 12/03, 2 PM)
OPEN‐CAPTIONED MOVIES – For updated listings, go to www.insightcinema.org or www.regalcinemas.com/movies/open_cap.html REGAL BATTERY PARK STADIUM 11,102 N. End Avenue–Vesey & West Streets (212) 945‐4370. REGAL–UA KAUFMAN STUDIOS CINEMA 14, 35th Ave. & 38th St., Long Island City (718) 786‐1722 REGAL–UA SHEEPSHEAD BAY‐BROOKLYN, Knapp St & Harkness Ave (718) 615‐1053. REAR‐WINDOW CAPTIONED MOVIES ‐ For listings go to www.FOMDI.com. Ask for a special window when buying your ticket. The window reflects the text that’s shown on the rear of the theater AMC Empire on 42nd Street. (212) 398‐2597, call Tues afternoon for next week’s schedule Clearview Chelsea Cinemas, 260 W. 23rd St., Auditorium 4, 212‐691‐5519. www.clearviewcinemas.com/tripod.shtml The Bronx: AMC Cinema Bay Plaza, 718‐320‐1659. MUSEUMS WITH CAPTIONED EVENTS & ASSISTIVE DEVICES ‐ The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave. 212‐879‐5500 Ext. 3561 (V), 212‐570‐3828 (TTY) Real‐Time Captioning of lectures upon request – This service requires at least three weeks notice. Gallery Talk with ALDs (meet at gallery talk station, Great Hall) The Museum of Modern Art, 1 East 53rd St., Access Programs 212‐708‐9864, 212‐247‐1230 (TTY) ALDs are available for lectures, gallery talks, & Family Programs. Infrared is available in Titus Theaters. HLAA E‐news: Do you subscribe? It provides HLAA latest news every other week electronically. To sign up go to: www.hearingloss.org/membership/Sen.asp.
Calling All Cochlear Implant Recipients…
On Capitol Hill: Legislative Update
The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 was passed by Congress! On Sept. 17, the bill was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives (after earlier passing the Senate), and was then sent to President Bush for signature. This legislation expands the protections for people with disabilities, especially in the workplace, and also overturns recent Supreme Court rulings that have denied disabled people their rights. To learn more, visit the American Association of People with Disabilities blogspot: http://adarestoration.blogspot.com.
The University of Iowa created an online survey for people with one or two cochlear implants in an effort to collect data on the benefits of bilateral implants. Participants must be at least 18 years old to complete the 15‐minute survey. Names will not be collected to protect privacy. If you have any questions about the survey, contact Camille at Camille‐[email protected] or call 319‐353‐8776. The survey can be accessed at https://survey.uiowa.edu/wsb.dll/127/cochlearimpl 7 ant.htm.
Hearing Loss: More Common, Mind the Risk Factors Hearing loss is more prevalent in adults than previously recognized, according to a July study in Archives of Internal Medicine. 29 million (16.1%) adults ages 20 to 69 had speech‐frequency hearing loss, and 55 million (31%) had high‐frequency hearing loss. (Because the study did not include children or the very elderly, it can be safely assumed that the total number of Americans with hearing loss is much higher.) That hearing loss is associated with aging is not new — and as the proportion of older Americans grows, experts have already predicted large rises in hearing loss. The growing use of personal listening devices has also contributed to the increasing prevalence of hearing loss.
We’re Moving! New Chapter Location! Starting this month, our chapter meetings will be taking place in a new location: the New York Public Library, Muhlenberg Branch, 209 W. 23rd St. (between 7th and 8th Ave., closer to 7th) on the 3rd floor (elevator is available). The Manhattan Chapter is thrilled to announce that we have installed an induction loop and PA system in the Muhlenberg’s community room on the 3rd floor — and it is the very first NYC Library branch to be looped! The loop and PA system is our gift to the library, and will be available to the community at large so that others can enjoy our gift, as well. Our chapter should be especially proud because this exceptional new resource for NYC is made possible by proceeds of previous Walks4Hearing. (CART, provided at our meetings, is also courtesy of our Walks.) When you attend our Oct. 21st meeting, only two days after our Walk, you’ll see first‐hand how Walk funds support such wonderful initiatives as looping a library room. We hope this project will be an incentive to those of you who have not yet contributed to this year’s Walk to do so. And let’s think about all the good projects we can do with the 2008 proceeds!
Other demographic disparities are of concern: hearing loss was substantially more common in men than women, in whites than blacks, and in people without a high school diploma compared to those better educated. In addition to recommending intensified screening for young adults and the other demographic groups at greater risk, the study points out that many factors associated with hearing loss are not beyond an individual’s control. Quitting smoking, reducing exposure to loud noise, and effective treatment of other strong risk factors like diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) will go a long way toward delaying the onset of hearing loss associated with age.
We Want You! The HLAA Manhattan Chapter is always looking for members who want to put their eagerness and talents to good use! Would you like to become more involved with our Web site? Do you have accounting skills? Or maybe you’d like to volunteer as a greeter or occasionally provide refreshments for our meetings? If interested, please contact the Manhattan Chapter at (212) 769‐HEAR (4327) or [email protected].
WALK4HEARING FACTS: *We’ve raised over $81,000 to date! The original goal was $50,000, but it’s since been increased to $100,000. Help us meet this 6‐ figure goal! *As of Oct. 1, we have 48 teams registered online!
Mention of suppliers or devices in this newsletter does not mean HLAA‐Manhattan endorsement, nor does exclusion suggest disapproval.
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News Flash From the FCC:
HLAA Social Network: Make new friends without leaving the house! Check out the new online community from the HLAA at http://myhearingloss.org. Find hearing loss resources, post messages for other members, and join in the chat room as guest speakers share their story. Marcia Dugan, author of Living with Hearing Loss, will be the guest on October 17, at 7 PM. Visit the site to read about Marcia and submit questions for her to answer.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has prepared a Consumer Advisory on selected features in 32 digital‐to‐analog converter boxes that it has purchased. Converter boxes are to be used with your analog television to receive digital signals broadcast for free over‐the‐air to your antenna after the digital transition in February. All the boxes listed are certified under the converter box coupon program and are eligible for purchase using the $40 coupon. www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/converterboxfeatures. pdf.
Member Query: From Ellen Werblow— I have already bought the digital converter for my TV (made prior to 1993). I do get better color and more stations with CC. However, their closed captions are too small for my low vision, and Iʹve been unable to program it to change the size and style of the type. What can I do?
For Kids and Teens… *Hearing aids just got cooler. Tube Riders is a new line of products that allow aid wearers to decorate and individualize their devices. They were created by Stacie Pierce as a way to raise kids’ self‐esteem and destigmatize hearing assistance. Individuals can choose from among an assortment of soccer balls, flowers, guitars, turtles, and more, online at www.otocool.com. *Even if your children aren’t hearing impaired, it’s never too early to teach them about hearing damage. Direct them to www.earbud.org for a hearing simulator that mimics changes in hearing due to aging, tinnitus, and noise‐induced hearing damage. The House Ear Institute’s campaign will make them think twice about blasting music night and day on their iPods!
Answer: Refer to the user manual that came with the converter box for instructions on how to change the caption size, font style, caption color, and background color. If you are able to get captions for only some stations, most likely this is not a problem with your converter box, and you should contact the TV station airing the program that does not have captions. See the following FCC Web site for help: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/CC_con verters.html. If you still have trouble, you can file a complaint with the FCC: go to esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm. Or e‐mail [email protected]; call 1‐888‐225‐5322 voice, 1‐888‐ 835‐5322 TTY; or fax 1‐866‐418‐0232.
Cochlear Americas, maker of the Freedom™ cochlear implant system and the Baha® system of direct bone conduction, will be presenting detailed information on these two innovative products on Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 5:30‐8:30 at Stony Brook University Medical Center (Long Island). Those who no longer benefit from hearing aids are strongly encouraged to attend. Register and get directions at www.regonline.com/644956.
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Manhattan Chapter c/o Barbara Dagen, 141 E. 33rd St. (3B) New York, NY 10016
FIRST CLASS MAIL (DATED MATERIAL)
Please check your address label for the date of your last dues payment and, if you are a National member, there will be an “NM” after the date. Report any discrepancies to Mary Fredericks. Thanks! HLAA Membership Application Please complete and return this form, with your dues payment of $35 for a one-year membership (including subscription to Hearing Loss Magazine) To: HLAA Membership, 7910 Woodmont Ave. Suite 1200, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Manhattan Chapter Annual Fee Application Please complete and return this form, with your chapter fee of $15 (payable to HLAA-Manhattan) for the period September 1, 2008, to August 31, 2009 Send to: Susan Shapiro, 26910 Grand Central Parkway, Ste. 21D, Floral Park, NY 11005-1021
NAME (please print)
ADDRESS/APT_____________________________ CITY/STATE/ZIP________________________ PHONE (Home or Work?)_________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS_______________________ SEND A NEWSLETTER BY EMAIL YES NO MEMBER OF HLAA NATIONAL? YES NO HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT US? ________________________
ADDRESS/APT_____________________________ ____________ CITY/STATE/ZIP________________________ PHONE (Home or Work)__________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS_______________________ ARE YOU NOW A MEMBER OF HLAA NATIONAL? YES NO (receiving the Hearing Loss Magazine)?______ IF YES, I.D. No.________________
ADDITIONAL DONATION_$_______________ TOTAL ENCLOSED_$____________________
ADDITIONAL DONATION_$_______________ TOTAL ENCLOSED_$____________________
NAME (please print)_____________________
Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. We are a 501(c)(3) organization.
HLAA is a volunteer association of hard of hearing people, their relatives and friends. It is a nonprofit, non-sectarian educational organization devoted to the welfare and interests of those who cannot hear well.
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