Life is Bliss - Lily's Cochlear Implant Journey

ClearVoice and T-Comm - Advanced Bionics Cochlear Implant Innovations

ClearVoice

Last week Lily received ClearVoice, Advanced Bionics' new sound processing innovation that enhances speech understanding. ClearVoice is also the industry's only sound processing technology that has been clinically proven to deliver superior hearing performance in noise.  

Within seconds of having ClearVoice activated, LIly tested 77% in noise and 100% without noise.  This test was done with sentences that were pretty complicated.  As the test progressed, it seemed her hearing improved.  Lily had a test in noise a year ago and averaged somewhere between 50-70% accurate.  We return in six weeks to do a comparison test.  During this visit we also had her maps slightly adjusted for some of the higher pitches. We like her to hear around 20db or less on all pitches.  

Lily's comments about ClearVoice thus far have been that the car seems quieter and the conversations are easier to hear.  She's also been picking up the words to songs more easily.  We've been using ClearVoice on the Medium setting and are now waiting for a noisy activity to try the high setting.  So very very cool and it was free (except for the cost of our visit of course).  I've had a number of people with "ordinary hearing" ask if they can use ClearVoice. 

T-Comm

The FDA on April 2, 2012 approved the "T-Comm"  T-Mic /Telecoil for Advanced Bionics Neptune CI processor.   See Advanced Bionics website under T-Comm Accessory - Coming to the U.S and Canada in Summer 2012 for more information.  There is even a picture.  Benefits include: 

• Lightweight accessory—compatible with the Neptune™ sound processor 
• Delivers the natural microphone placement of the patented T-Mic™ 
• Offers easy connectivity with the T-Mic that lets you wirelessly use earbuds, headphones, cell phones, and other popular audio devices 
• Features a built-in T-coil, which picks up sound if you have a compatible telephone, neckloop, or other accessory
• Availability in the United States and Canada is planned for summer 2012 at a special introductory offer

 

FM classroom simulation for kids with hearing loss - Video

Excellent "how to" and "why" video on using an FM in the classroom.  Teachers take note!

 

Another advantage of AB's Neptunes - Hula hooping

There is another little known advantage to Lily's Advanced Bionics Neptunes...the ability to Hula hoop.

With Lily's body worns, the hulahoop would clank into the processors each time it would go around.  The hula hoop would also have to be above or below the processors to work effectively.   Now with her new Neptunes, you can see Lily's hula hooping has improved greatly.  The processors are small and streamlined and sit much better on her waist.  

Let the hula hooping commence!

 

Lily wears her Advanced Bionics Neptunes in the pool for the first time

We've started swimming lessons again now that Lily has her new Neptunes.  What a difference.  The swimming teacher is able to talk with her in the pool and even when she is underwater.  

The headpieces stay on fairly well, however for next week we've added a second magnet in each headpiece to make them a little more secure.  Lily wore the processors on her sleeves with the clip and we ran the cord through her shirt and up her back. The goggles went over the cords.  

There are so many pieces and parts.  I'm sure we'll get the hang of it soon.   

In the video below, Lily is playing on the step while she waits for her lesson.  

 

Advanced Bionics Launches ClearVoice in the US

More great news.  Advanced Bionics' ClearVoice has been approved by the FDA!!!!  

Built on AB’s proprietary HiRes Fidelity 120™* technology for high-performance hearing, ClearVoice has been designed to automatically analyze and adapt to each listening situation encountered throughout the day, separating the distracting noises from speech so that communication can be a truly effortless experience. The technology was developed to help recipients communicate clearly and confidently in a variety of challenging listening situations, including restaurants, cars and classrooms—without ever needing to change a program or make an adjustment to their sound processor. MORE

Lily should receive ClearVoice in early to mid-April.  Then bring on the challenging listening environments. 

Advanced Bionics Neptune Cochlear Implants - A Dream Come True!

It's official!  Lily is the newest kid to wear Advanced Bionics Neptune Cochlear Implants.   They truly are a dream come true.  The implants are very light, sleek, small, and most importantly waterproof.  They will also support the new ClearVoice software which is weeks away from being approved in the US by the FDA (we hope!).

The following five videos show Lily trying out her Neptunes in the bathtub for the first time.  While she is apprehensive to actually get in the tub with her CIs on, she quickly adapts and then plays and talks non-stop.  

There are so many wearing options with the Neptune, we didn't know what to try first.  While Lily is always a bilateral CI wearer, in the video we tried one Neptune attached to the armband.  If she went swimming, we might sew little pockets on the inside of her suit.  Lots of wearing gadgets are included in the Neptune kit to experiment with like a headband, swimcap, armband, lanyard, and clip.

Make sure to watch all the videos and you will see the evolution of Lily's first water exploration.  Expecially facinating is Lily playing with her own voice.  She asks, "Why does my voice sound different?"  She also discovers the sounds of the bath like the faucet and blowing bubbles in the water.   Swimming lessons start tomorrow.  

We're filled with joy.   One more sound barrier busted!  Tears!

 

  

  

 

 

 

Kids 18m - 36m with Cochlear Implants needed for research study at UW Madison

We've participated in a few Cochlear Implant research studies over the last four years.  Every time has been a fabulous learning experience for us and for Lily.  We've also felt a great deal of satisfaction in helping to advance the study of Cochlear Implants.   

A new research opportunity for kids 18m to 36m with at least one Cochlear Implant is starting at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.  This study looks at how toddlers with cochlear implants hear in noisy environments and localize sounds.  We're in a similar study which we've blogged about before.  

The researchers play games with the kids, take lots of breaks, give prizes (Lily took home 20 bouncy balls and her very first Barbie) and there is enough time to have a bit of fun in Madison.  The researchers go to great lenghts to make it a wonderful experience for the whole family.  

If you have any interest in particpating in this or similar research, I'd encourage you to contact the lab.  Let us know if you have any questions. 

DOWNLOAD UW Cochlear Implant Research Flyer for kids 18m-36m

Deafening Affects Vocal Nerve Cells Within Hours

Interesting article showing that portions of a songbird's brain that control how it sings have been shown to decay within 24 hours of the animal losing its hearing.  Sceintist predict something similar likely to happen in human brains as well.

3 1/2 month old receives Cochlear Implant

A 3 1/2 month old baby has received a Cochlear Implant in Oman, Middle East.   As an advocate of early implantation, this is incredible.   What an opportunity for this child to gain all the listening and learning that comes as an infant.  I've heard of one other child being implanted around 4 months in California. As early becomes "standard,"  I hope it causes U.S. doctors and the FDA to look closely at the 1 year recommended implant date.    

20 iPad Apps for hearing loss

Here is site highlighting 20 iPad Apps for Hearing Loss.  They range from apps that check your hearing and will find captioned movies, to apps that teach you about hearing loss and provide tools for augmented communication.  

Lily's Dad and I proposed giving a session about this very subject and more at the 2012 AG Bell conference. Hope someone speaks to this incredibly valuable and rapidly growing resource this summer. 

Classroom Acoustics - 40%+ say they can't hear

Always interested in understanding the importance of hearing in classrooms.  Here is a new Swedish study that says four out of ten students experience problems with their sound environment during their education.

 

 

New cochlear Implant being developed in India

The Hindustan Times, India - February 5, 2012
Editors note: 1 lakh = $US 2,057
-----------------
DRDO develops low cost hearing device

The DRDO has developed an affordable cochlear implant which can help millions of deaf people to hear again...In India, there are nearly one million people who need cochlear implants. Every year 9-10 thousand deaf children are born...The imported cochlear implant is very expensive, priced at Rs 7-10 lakh. The indigenously developed cochlear implant will cost a just around Rs One Lakh.

Inside of the ear video

An interesting 7-minute video that takes viewers through the inside of the ear, to the acoustic accompaniment of classical music.  A narrator describes how the sound waves travel through each portion of the ear, and how hair cells translate the vibrations they induce into nerve impulses.  

For anyone trying to understand how the ear works, this is the video to watch.

 

Babies learn language by lipreading from 6-12 months

Facinating research about normally hearing babies learning language by lipreading.  This type of research supports the early implantation argument for cochlear implants and emphasizes the value of getting in the child's face and talking even when there is minimal hearing.  The research also makes me wonder if this process is similar when hearing comes later or does it move faster when there is more cognitive development.  

"Florida scientists discovered that starting around age 6 months, babies begin shifting from the intent eye gaze of early infancy to studying mouths when people talk to them....They found a dramatic shift in attention: When the speaker used English, the 4-month-olds gazed mostly into her eyes. The 6-month-olds spent equal amounts of time looking at the eyes and the mouth. The 8- and 10-month-olds studied mostly the mouth. At 12 months, attention started shifting back toward the speaker's eyes."

New Baby Bodie Graeme

We are excited to introduce our son Bodie Graeme.  He's a perfect little sweet pickle (as Lily calls him) and we couldn't be more thrilled.  The details...

What about the Name?

Bodie is a name we love.  It's happy, sounds good with Lily and doesn't come with a lot of stereotypes or rhyming words.  It's also not in the Top 10 most popular names.   Of course when we picked LIly, the name was not very popular and now it's likely in the Top 20.  We were going to call him Bodin, with Bodie for short, but why not just go with the nickname.  Bodin can be used for the serious situations.

Graeme (sounds like Graham) is a nod to Graeme Clark, one of the first inventors of the multi-channel cochlear implant, and Alexander Graham Bell.  Two people who changed the course of history for our family.  

In my reading about Professor Graeme Clark of Australia, they said he was called Crazy Clark, because his goal since the 60s was to help deaf people hear.  His colleagues doubted him and thought the goal was unreachable.  This story is a good daily reminder to me to believe and reach for the impossible. Never be detered if that is your goal and always say YES, even though it's much easier to say NO.  

I hope this name will give that determination to Bodie.  I know Lily's already got it.  Yesterday she was determined to go outside in 50 MPH winds and snow and fly her kite.  I said NO, it won't work.  She did it anyway, and wouldn't you know...the kite flew...twice.

Birth Story

The Birth Story is quite uneventful, in a positive way, compared to Lily's birth.  With a scheduled C-Section it was peaceful, planned, no drama, no NICU, and no tears.  Well, maybe a few tears of joy.  Everything was calm and quick.   Loved it.  

When Lily first met her new brother, she came in, climbed up on a chair to see him in the bassinet and introduced herself.  "Hi Bodie, I'm your big sister Lily."  So sweet.

Having another child

For years we never thought of having another child, because we didn't want to take our focus off helping LIly succeed.  At some point, as Lily's abilities have skyrocketed, we felt that adding another child to our family would only enrich our experience and Lily's life.  Hearing or not, we were prepared to take the hearing journey again, if need be, and we would meet every need of this child as we have for Lily.  

Nebraska's Newborn Hearing Screen

In Nebraska, the Newborn Hearing Screen is a state mandate (with no enforcement).  Today, approximately 99% of all babies born in Nebraska are given the hearing screen, with about 50 babies annually having some sort of hearing loss.  

About 50% of the hospitals, including ours, are using ABRs for their initial screens.  ABRs have a much lower refer rate (4%-5%) than a tradition OAE (8%-9%).  A refer rate means "failing" the test.  Failing could be for other reasons, besides hearing loss, like fluid in the ears.  A reduced referal rate means a lot fewer parents have to go through the emotional journey of understanding if their baby can hear, reduced cost and reduced use of limited resources.  Bodie passed.  

Is there a difference?

With a newborn baby, it's extremely difficult to tell if the baby is hearing.  Especially for first time parents, if you are not watching for a reaction to sound, you just might miss it.   We see Bodie and LIly with very similar baby behavior, but you can see that Bodie quiets to the Shhhhh sound and reacts to many noises.  

I have noticed that we've gotten used to making lots of noise while Lily sleeps.  Unfortunately or fortunately, gone are the days when we could turn up the TV or music, bang around, cough or vacuum. Restful sleep is a definite advantage for LIly, espcially when Bodie is wide awake in the middle of the night.  

Language

I am very interested to watch Bodie's language develop.  We've been trained by some of the best language pros in the country, and talking everyday all day and creating good listening environments is what we do.

A few Lily quotes

"It's great to be a big sister. "  And this morning, "It's hard to be a big sister.  I don't get any attention."  

The Auditory Brain - Carol Flexer - Speech transcript - So Good!

We are huge fans of Carol Flexer an Audiologist, professor, book author and presenter on The Auditory Brain: Conversations for Pediatric Audiologists.  This link is to a transcript of a presentation and Q&A Dr Flexer made on AudiologyOnline last spring.  So, so, so good!  Mandatory reading.  

What difference can an FM make?

I'm always interested in how things sound for LIly.  

This page contains recordings of speech through a Comtek FM system in quiet and in noise, through the FM (on the lapel of the speaker) and/or environmental (on the body of the listener) microphones, at a distance of three and twelve feet from the listener. Multi-talker babble speech noise was presented from behind the listener at a level of about 60 dBA.

It is not clear if these recordings are through an additional listening device like a hearing aid or cochlear implant, but the differences are still facinating.  

Apps for Kids and Adults with Hearing Loss

Great blog by Tina Childress on Apps for Kids and Adults with Hearing Loss.  These apps can be extremely helpful when teaching kids to talk and listen in ways they love to learn.  

Tina is a bilateral CI user and used to be with Advanced Bionics.  She gave a presentation at Boystown four years ago, which Lily's Dad loved.  She was one of the reasons we chose Advanced Bionics.

TEDMed Talk by CI Surgeon - CIs and Music

Very interesting TEDMed talk (16 mins) by cochlear implant (CI) surgeon and musician Charles Limb, associate professor, Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, at Johns Hopkins.  He explains the challenges of CI patients hearing music and the brain research that is being done to help restore the full range of human hearing abilities.  The talk even shows a video of a cat with a CI responding to a trumpet. 

Lily loves music and has recently figured out the phrase "That song is stuck in my head."  Her newest trick is dancing around the house singing "I got the mooooooooooooves like Jager" over and over again.  More focus and attention on music therapy would be an incredible addition to the speech therapy that now helps kids with CIs learn langauge. 

 

AB's Neptune Cochlear Implant Approved - WoooHoooo!!!

To say we're excited about Advanced Bionics's Neptune Cochlear Implant being approved by the FDA is an understatement!!!  Now how fast can Lily get one and get in the bathtub or the pool or the beach or get the next greatest thing - ClearVoice?  Let the the countdown begin. 

Advanced Bionics is thrilled to announce that the NEPTUNE™ sound processor has received FDA approval in the United States. Now AB recipients and candidates have the choice of a Neptune or Harmony sound processor for hearing their best with AB.

World’s First Waterproof Sound Processor
AB continues our history of innovation leadership with Neptune, the first and only SWIMMABLE sound processor in the world. Whether you or your child enjoy taking a dip in the pool on a warm day or bonding at baby bath time, Neptune delivers hearing during those important moments.
 
Industry’s First Freestyle Design
The lightweight Neptune processor features the industry’s first freestyle™ design, allowing you or your child to hear the world with the comfort and beauty of nothing on the ear. Neptune gives you the freedom to choose your wearing style—in your hair, on your arm, under your collar, or in your pocket—without compromising performance. Whether you want to show it off or tuck it away discreetly, the freestyle design lets you wear it just how you like.
 
Usability and Durability
Built Kid Tough™ for rugged use, Neptune is ideal for every age and every lifestyle whether you live in a humid area, love to swim, enjoy sports, connect in the classroom, or travel across the globe. Neptune carries an IP68 rating that offers maximum protection against solid particles and various forms of moisture, which means that you can hear your best in all weather, all sports, and all terrain.
 
Performance
To ensure you hear your best all of the time, Neptune is compatible with the industry’s most advanced hearing technology for the best possible hearing performance, including ClearVoice™, HiRes Fidelity 120™, and AutoSound™.

For more information

Quantity of Communication Matters

We've understood that quantity of communication REALLY matters since the beginning of Lily's hearing journey.  Now one of our favorite researchers, Mary Pat Moeller, has recently given a presentation on just that topic.

According to ASHA member Sophie Ambrose and her co-presenters Mark VanDam and Mary Pat Moeller, all from Boystown in Omaha, the research shows that quantity of communication matters for hard of hearing children. Children whose parents engaged them in more conversations were likely to have stronger language skills than toddlers whose parents engaged them in fewer conversations.

Previous research has indicated that to promote parent–child conversations and to otherwise facilitate the language development of toddlers with hearing loss, parents should use speech that is child-friendly, such as short, simple sentences, and talk about things of interest to the child.

Study: Significant language progress after two cochlear implants

Recent article about research at the University of Wisconsin shows significant language progress after two cochlear implants.  

During our recent trip to participate in the WI research, we got to meet Christi who is quoted in the article. (see picture below)  Very fun to meet the next generation of practitioners who are passionate about serving kids with CIs.   In this photo, Lily and Christi were teasing each other about who would win the Nebraska-Wisconsin Football game.

An ongoing study of 45 deaf children who had two cochlear implants finds that their language skills are within the normal range..."It's a huge success to see these children making such strides in language acquisition," says Christi Hess, a Ph.D. student in communicative disorders...Many, after as little as one or two years with the implant, have language scores within the normal range, especially those who got the implant before age two....It's known that implants made at a younger age deliver results more quickly, and that a second implant helps children both locate the source of a sound and understand speech in a noisy room. But until now, it was not clear if the second implant would improve understanding of spoken language.  "The most exciting finding is that having two implants does correlate with an improvement in receptive language," says Hess.

Hearing loops go mainstream

Hearing accomodations are becoming mainstream, not only because of ADA but also for good customer service.  Check out this recent article in the NYT about hearing loops.  

Videos: Lily's language development 9-48 months

Lily was a participant in a longitudinal study in the Language Development Lab at Boystown National Research Hospital, directed by Mary Pat Moeller, Ph.D. The visits occurred between 9 months and 48 months old. Lily received bilateral Advanced Bionics cochlear implants at 10 months old.

9 months old

 

12 months old

 

15 months old

 

18 months old

 

21 months old - (21 month report)  (22.5 month report)

 

24 months old - (24 month report)  (25.5 month report)

 

30 months old - (30 month report)  (32 month report)  (34 month report)

 

36 months old - Receptive language test  (36-38 month report)

 

42 months old - Language test

 

42 months old - Sounds

 

48 months old - Final Language Test

 

 

Apps - An Emerging Tool for SLPs

Excellent article on Useful Apps for SLPs and parents.  Now Lily will want her own IPad or IPhone.  

UW Madison's Binaural Hearing and Speech Lab - Research with CI kids

We spent the last few days at the University of Wisconsin's Binaural Hearing and Speech Lab.  This was our second visit and it's always eye-opening to understand how Lily is hearing. 

Over 2.5 days, Lily participated in a variety of hearing games including:  identifying words and sounds in noise and quiet from various directions, language comprehension, speech perception and production, and non-verbal IQ.  These games were broken up with lots of breaks, stickers, contests and prizes which were real drivers for Lily. 

The researchers that performed the tests were wonderful as well.  They were all  women working as professors at the University or on their undergrad, graduate and post doc degrees in speech or audiology.  And all were focused on careers with CI kids.  Wonderful to see the future of this emerging industry.  Thanks to Shelly, Christie, Kristie, Shelby, Yi, Sara and Sara for all your great work.   

Our observations of the research are that nosie significantly impacts kids' hearing, localization is hard for CI kids and Lily is doing fabulous with her speech, language and listening.  Lily's actual results will come in a month or so.

Here are some pictures of our experience. We also made stops at the Madison Children's Museum, the free Madison Zoo and State Street (downtown hotspots). 

For every family that can make a trip to participate in this research, we highly recommend it.  Check out the UW website for more information. 

Technology has changed the teaching of deaf students

Interesting article from the National Association of State Directors of Special Education concluding that Technology has changed the teaching of deaf students

Hearing Care in Developing Countries

Great article explains promise and challenges of bringing hearing care to developing countries.

Curtains that squelch noise

Interesting article about the use of modern sound absorbing cutains that squelch noise.  Think of all the possible uses.

An intro to FM - Terrific Phonak Seminar/Video

Here is a terrific seminar/video on FM technology from Phonak.  Well worth the time to watch.  It covers everything from SNR to how scores for "hearing in noise" improves as people get older. It also describes those who would benefit from an FM including children and adults with hearing loss (even unilateral hearing loss), people with MS, children with autism, non native learners, those with auditory processing disorders, etc.

 

Music may help ward of hearing loss

New research indicates music may help ward off hearing loss as we age.  

"Musicians were 40 percent better than non-musicians at tuning out background noise and hearing the sentences...The musicians were also better able to remember the sentences than the non-musicians — and that made it easier for them to follow a line of conversation." 

$1 in EI Services = $2 of Benefit

Social and economic benefits of early intervention for deaf children far outweigh investment cost says new report.

"Every dollar invested in early intervention services for deaf children produces almost two dollars worth of social, educational, vocational and economic benefit"

Early Intervention - Benefits of being proactive

Parents: Don't Hope Your Child Will Just Outgrow An Early Language Problem - Good article by ASHA suppporting early intervention and not taking a wait and see attitude.  Early diagnosis of hearing loss makes all the difference.

Video: Dr Roland of NYC on CIs and Hearing loss technology

Good video by Dr Thomas Roland of NYC on Cochlear Implants and Single Sided Hearing Loss. 

Clearvoice - Another software upgrade coming soon

We're also anxiously awaiting Clearvoice, new software from Advanced Bionics, already released and "approved" in the rest of the world.

Clearvoice helps CI users hear better in noise.  It seems 4-year olds are constantly in noise and so the software can't come too soon.  Here's an interesting article on Advanced Bionics' Clearvoice and its impact on music listening and enjoyment.  

Treating Hearing Loss with Stem Cells and Gene Therapy

Intersting article in the ASHA leader looking at current research and discussing what the future may hold - From High-Tech to Biotech Using Stem Cell and Gene Therapy to Treat Hearing Loss.

New CI Approach Uses Cell Phones to Improve Melody Perception

Interesting new research out of the American Insitute of Physics concerning cochlear implant research and melody perception

"a new system that adapts cellphone sound processing appears to bring cochlear implant technology closer to offering the best of both acoustical worlds: speech and music."

Cochlear Implant Surgery Video

Don't try this at home.  Two-part Cochlear implant Surgery Video out of India with an Advanced Bionics HiRes 90K.  Not for the squeamish.   Totally amazing.

Part 1  (Preparation for the Cochlear Implant)

Part 2  (Cochlear Implant insertion)

Sonova announces the return of Advanced Bionic’s cochlear implant business to the European, Asia Pacific, and Latin American Markets

Sonova Holding AG, the world’s leading provider of hearing systems, is announcing today, that Advanced Bionics (AB), a global leader in developing advanced cochlear implant systems, has received CE mark approval from the European Notified Body (TÜV) for changes submitted for the manufacturing of the HiRes 90K™ implant. Advanced Bionics is in the process of resuming production and distribution of HiRes 90K implants in all markets that recognize the CE mark or do not require additional approval.

MORE

Hearing Loss Infographic

Great Hearing Loss infographic from Rachel at Cochlear Implant Online

Storing Sounds In The Inner Ear

Do we store sounds in the inner ear?  Interesting research article exploring this theory.

Microphone Array Embedded in Eyeglasses

Interesting research article on Microphone placement embedded in eyeglasses for CIs or hearing aids.

Is Noise Killing You?

A recent Fast Company article highlights a new study from the World Health Organization and the European Commission's Joint Research Centre.

"The report, Burden of Disease From Environmental Noise, claims that western Europeans lose up to 1.6 million years of healthy living annually from noise pollution, compared to 4.5 million years lost for air pollution (noise is only second to air pollution in environmental hazards, according to WHO)."

Click here for the WHO report (PDF download).

The Birth of a Word - TED Video

Here's a TED Video on the "Birth of a Word" by Deb Roy.  We referenced him in a previous post. He is the MIT scientist who captured his son's first 90,000 hours and first words.  The speech is 20 min, but worth the time to watch.  Take note as the word water is said over and over and how it evolves over time.  It is mind blowing.   

Infrared light can activate ear cells

Interesting article looking at infrared light and its use to impact hearing loss.

SALT LAKE CITY, March 28, 2011 – University of Utah scientists used invisible infrared light to make rat heart cells contract and toadfish inner-ear cells send signals to the brain. The discovery someday might improve cochlear implants for deafness and lead to devices to restore vision, maintain balance and treat movement disorders like Parkinson's.

"We're going to talk to the brain with optical infrared pulses instead of electrical pulses," which now are used in cochlear implants to provide deaf people with limited hearing, says Richard Rabbitt, a professor of bioengineering and senior author of the heart-cell and inner-ear-cell studies published this month in The Journal of Physiology.... MORE

The article says the technology is 5-10 years off, which really means 10-20 years away, but it's very exciting to imagine.  

Fun Hearing Test

Here is a fun hearing test to see what sounds you can hear.  What is the highest frequency you can hear?  

1-Sided hearing loss lowers language skills

Interesting article on the impact that even a unilateral hearing loss can have on kids.

“Now our study has shown that, on average, children with hearing loss in one ear have poorer oral language scores than children with hearing in both ears,” she says....“Parents, educators and pediatricians shouldn’t assume that having hearing in one ear means children won’t need additional assistance.”

3D Sound?

Here's a story about virtual reality with 3D Audio.  This professor has found the musical sweet spot for sound.  Think of the potential application in hearing aids or Cochlear Implants.  

"Surround-sound can give you a sense of an explosion happening at a distance, but it's not accurate," says Professor Choueiri, sitting in his custom-built acoustics lab on campus.  "With 3D audio, I can get a fly to go around your head… or if you want to really scare somebody, you can put a sound inside their head." 

 

Soundbite Dental Hearing Aids

Hearing Aids in your mouth?  Interesting!  

"With functions similar to a cochlear implant, this dental hearing aid receives audio signals from a transmitter in the ear and in turn resonates the cochlea, through the teeth. It is designed to deliver sound across a broad frequency range of 250 to more than 12,000 Hz."

Pediatric Audiology Free Online Conference - March 14-18

AudiologyOnline Virtual Conference starting tomorrow - Pediatric Audiology-Raising the Bar - Tremendous!!!   Worth signing up if you only listen to Carol Flexer.  A lot of other top notch pros as well.