AudiologyOnline Takes You Around the Web in 60 Seconds! - Vol.4, No. 7

AudiologyOnline uses the latest in internet scanning and retrieval technology to find hearing health-related news and web sites from around the world. This information is then compiled and summarized by our President & Editor-in-Chief, Paul Dybala, Ph.D., and Associate Editor, Kristi Albers, M.A., so that you can take a virtual trip around the "hearing health world wide web" in 60 seconds!

This edition of "Around the Web" (ATW) includes: Microwave noises in head, a headphone review, bone-conducting headset goes wireless, update on Grace's Law in NJ and much more. Read about these and other stories below.

If you have an item to add to this list, please send it to the Editor via the Contact Us section of the web site.

How to Buy the Right Headphones - 07/07/2008
pcmag.com
PC Magazine reviews some of the latest in headphones...one set claims to protect hearing and another requires "a visit to an audiologist" for custom earmold fitting.

High-tech hearing aids improve life - 07/07/2008
theolympian.com
Dr. Natalie Fernandez-Roque, an audiologist, thinks the stigma surrounding hearing aids is fading as baby boomers "work longer into their older years. ... Boomers should have no problem wearing something on their ear because people wear Bluetooth, iPod, etc."

Deaf children find rewarding work at Six Flags - 07/07/2008
star-telegram.com
Six Flags guests can hear six international languages spoken by All American Cafe employees this summer — and see one signed. There are 11 deaf employees on staff this year and they are enjoying communicating with park visitors and other staff members.

A Look at Noise Pollution - 07/06/2008
healthnewsdigest.com
While most of us can readily agree on what would constitute air and water pollution, many aspects of so-called noise pollution are another matter entirely.

The Microwave Scream Inside Your Skull - 07/06/2008
wired.com
The U.S. military bankrolled early development of a non-lethal microwave weapon that creates sound inside your head. But in the end, the gadget may be just as likely to wind up in shopping malls as on battlefields.

Tinnitus patients have a friend in zebrafish - 07/06/2008
chicagotribune.com
With the help of zebrafish, Professor Ernest Moore from Northwestern University is one step closer to helping tinnitus sufferers with a drug.

Scientists looking to help those with hearing loss - 07/06/2008
kswo.com
Two Oklahoma City scientists are trying to develop a drug that would help reduce hearing loss for those who have suffered exposure to traumatic noise.

Mexican children receive gift of hearing - 07/05/2008
web.dailytimes.com
A group of impoverished children in Mexico are hearing for the first time, thanks to a group from the Hill Country's NewSound Hearing Aid Centers and Starkey Hearing Foundation.

Making travel more pleasant for your pet - 07/04/2008
thepost.ca
Pets have vestibular systems too and can also get motion sickness.

Nokia Intros Phone Device for the Hearing Impaired - 07/04/2008
nokiamobilefun.com
Nokia announced the release of a new cell-phone accessory designed for users with hearing aids: The Nokia Wireless Loopset works with T-coil equipped hearing aids or cochlear implants.

Program provides gift of hearing - 07/03/2008
chronicle.augusta.com
Since Georgia dropped hearing aid coverage via state medicaid, the Donor Hearing Aid Program has dispensed hearing aids to many needy adults.

Children's Hospital lays off workers, cuts programs - 07/03/2008
sfgate.com
Children's Hospital in Oakdale, CA announced major layoffs which will affect the outpatient Audiology dept. Dr. Katrina Stidham, head of the cochlear implant program at the hospital, said that children with hearing loss are being left in the lurch.

Website plays white noise. And that's it - 07/03/2008
musicradar.com
You can listen to streamed music all over the internet, but a new website is offering a rather different aural experience - white noise. The site claims to aid in relaxation and tinnitus to name a few.

Your Health: Tinnitus Treatment - 07/02/2008
wtvq.com
A new tinnitus device is making it's way in all the local newspapers and media for it's success.

Holiday entertainment could hurt hearing - 07/02/2008
newslinkindiana.com
Did firecrackers send any patients into see you?

Hearing aid bill must wait for fall session - 07/02/2008
southjerseylocalnews.com
Grace's Law has been sitting in the New Jersey legislation system for seven years, and has not yet passed. Supporters are hopeful it will pass this upcoming Fall.

Making It to Kindergarten - 07/01/2008
voiceofsandiego.org
One father shares his story to demonstrate the importance of early identification and the referral process among health professionals.

Ameritas Adds Hearing Coverage to its Healthcare Plans - 06/30/2008
usinsurancenews.com
Ameritas Group, well known for its dental and vision health plans, has recently announced the addition of hearing health coverage. SoundCareSM, the new hearing health plan, will cover hearing exams, hearing aids, and hearing aid maintenance.

In a flash, deaf UA swimmer hits stride - 06/30/2008
azstarnet.com
Deaf swimmer competes in Olympic trials.

UA program helps deaf children hear - 06/30/2008
kvoa.com
Three-year old Samantha Soto is profoundly deaf in her left ear and wears a cochlear implant on her right ear. She can hear, interpret and communicate because of therapy like the REACH program through the University of Arizona.

Cover Your Ears - 06/30/2008
farmindustrynews.com
Farmers have a risk of incurring hearing loss due to frequent and continuous exposure to loud noise. Tractors, combines, choppers and grain dryers all can cause permanent hearing loss.

Deaf teacher finds connection with ESL students - 06/30/2008
citizen-times.com
Thirty-five years ago, while a professor at a University one man lost his hearing. A cochlear implant, lip reading and sheer dedication now allow to teach 15 immigrants how to read, write and speak in English.

Scramble is on for drivers to comply with California's hands-free phone law - 06/28/2008
sacbee.com
Hearing aid manufacturers with wireless capability may see increase in sales for hearing impaired in California due to new "hands free" driving law.

Titus sets sights on Beijing berth - 06/27/2008
azcentral.com
One Olympic hopeful happens to be deaf. He doesn't see himself as a deaf swimmer, just a passionate man with goals like every other elite swimmer in the world.

Extended rights for the disabled gets key House vote - 06/27/2008
ydr.inyork.com
People who take medicine to control epilepsy, diabetes or cancer or use prosthetic limbs or hearing aids could use the Americans With Disabilities Act to fight workplace discrimination under legislation the House passed Wednesday.

UT raises tuition, delays program cuts - 06/27/2008
dailybeacon.utk.edu
UT's Audiology and Speech Pathology's future has been delayed until Ocotober. For now UT has decided to raise tuition to help with financial issues.

FDA clears Vesticon Corp.'s medical device for vertigo - 06/26/2008
bizjournals.com
The FDA has cleared Vesticon Corp.'s Omniax device to market in the United States. The device is the first ever cleared nationally to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of balance disorders and vertigo, including benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

House votes to expand disabilities law - 06/26/2008
ap.google.com
People who take medicine to control epilepsy, diabetes or cancer or use prosthetic limbs or hearing aids could use the Americans With Disabilities Act to fight workplace discrimination under legislation the House passed recently.

Technology links hearing aids to digital devices - 06/26/2008
pasadenastarnews.com
In what experts say is a huge leap for people with hearing difficulties, audiologists now can link hearing aids to cell phones and digital music players through wireless technologies.

New Devices Keep Hearing Impaired Connected - 06/25/2008
kesq.com
Starting July 1,it'll be illegal to drive in California and talk on your cell phone without a hands-free device. Supporters of that law say it'll make our roads safer, but could make life difficult for people with hearing problems.

AG Bell and deaf coalition conferences differ on cochlear implants - 06/25/2008
jsonline.com
The two groups brought their competing agendas to Milwaukee in separate national conferences: one that views cochlear implants and auditory-based therapies as a way to give children access to the wider world;and the other that sees them as unnecessary and an affront to who deaf people are as individuals.

Mescal veteran hopes his experience will help others - 06/24/2008
bensonnews-sun.com
When one vet realized his hearing was failing, he made an appointment at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System. But instead of getting fitted for hearing aids, doctors discovered Curtis had a lung tumor and is likely suffering effects of Agent Orange exposure.

Airport aids travelers dealing with hearing loss - 06/23/2008
mlive.com
In a move hearing assistance advocates are calling "a world of difference," the Gerald R. Ford International Airport recently became the first United States airport to install a hearing loop system.

Mesa hearing-aid maker takes off nationwide - 06/23/2008
azcentral.com
A father's quest to improve his daughter's hearing is making waves nationally.

Clear Calls. Audience markets noise-canceling chip for cell phones. - 06/23/2008
technologyreview.com
New cell phone chip based on algorithms modeled from the structure of the cochlea to assist in reduction of background noise while listening on the phone.

SONIC INNOVATIONS ANNOUNCES PRE-EARNING REVENUE PROJECTIONS FOR SECOND QUARTER 2008 - 06/23/2008
sonici.com
Sonic Innovations, Inc., the only U.S.-based publicly traded manufacturer of digital hearing aids, announced the Company projects second quarter revenue to be approximately $34 million, an increase from record first quarter 2008 sales that were reported at $31.9 million and second quarter 2007 revenue of $30.4 million.

What's with hugs and kisses? - 06/23/2008
stuff.co.nz
Should "kissing etiquette" be reviewed in countries where it is customary to greet by a "kiss"? This is a question brought up following the story of a woman who lost her hearing from her daughter kissing her ear.

No need to suffer with untreated hearing loss;hearing aids work - 06/22/2008
recordnet.com
Living with a hearing problem isn't a health issue solely for people in their retirement years. It's bad for business and can have serious economic consequences for the millions of sufferers in the nation's work force.

Hearing impairment can't stop Sox's Gillies - 06/22/2008
heraldnet.com
For all you baseball fans...AquaSox outfielder Tyson Gillies hasn't let a severe hearing impairment stand in the way of becoming a pro baseball player.

Her dreams are dancing with delight - 06/22/2008
charlotte.com
Early intervention for one young girl's hearing loss allows her to dance with delight.

Firm's phone innovation will aid deaf individuals - 06/22/2008
deseretnews.com
Sorenson Communications has began supplying its Video Relay Service users with DirectVP numbers for Sorenson videophones. The goal of the new feature is to make it easier for hearing callers to use a single phone number to contact deaf individuals who use Sorenson

Advocates for hard-of-hearing push for assistance - 06/21/2008
theolympian.com
Group discusses ways to improve service for deaf in the South Sound area.

Mrs. Arkansas receives vehicle - 06/20/2008
malvern-online.com
Mrs. Arkansas 2008 is an audiologist practicing in Conway, AK.

Exelia Won't Let Hearing Loss Stand Between You and Your iPod - 06/19/2008
gearlog.com
The need for hearing aid no longer means that you have to eschew the same devices that no doubt helped contribute to your hearing loss in the first place.

New Study Reveals Cost of iPod Usage - 06/19/2008
infopackets.com
Australian researchers are blaming tech for a rather unpleasant trend: hearing loss.

Colwill Turns Hearing Loss Into An Edge - 06/19/2008
tbo.com
Chris Colwill admits he might have a slight advantage over his competition at this week's U.S. Olympic Diving Trials in Indianapolis. The odd thing is, most people would call his "edge" a physical challenge.

HearUSA Teams With Future Sonics to Expand Audiologist Network for Leading Custom-Fit Earphone Products - 06/19/2008
money.cnn.com
HearUSA and Future Sonics, creator of the Ear Monitors® brand he first custom professional earphones for the top music performers ave announced HearUSA will join the Future Sonics preferred provider audiologist network.

Why Does My Voice Sound Different? - 06/18/2008
wcco.com
Have you ever heard your voice on an answering machine and thought you sound different? One Minnesota Audiologist explains that bone conduction versus air conduction hearing is the answer.

Ear-relevant: Hearing aids pack more technology - 06/17/2008
miamiherald.com
In the 17th century, hearing aids came in the form of ear trumpets -- large, horn-shaped devices with an ear tube attached. Now, more than 300 years later, hearing aids are of course much more technologically advanced.

Bone-conducting headset goes wireless - 06/17/2008
cnet.com
A mobile phone handset that uses bone conduction technology to deliver sound.

Hearing loss inevitable after age 50,says expert - 06/17/2008
bradenton.com
Truth is, hearing loss is inevitable after age 50,says Tom Powers, audiologist and vice president of Siemens Hearing Instruments.

mplant could buzz sufferers to beat epileptic seizures - 06/17/2008
news.com.au
The Melbourne team that invented the Cochlear implant is now developing an implant to fire electrical pulses through the brains of epileptics to rid them of seizures.

Garth Brooks, Jon McLaughlin, and Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo Raise Their Voices to Help Starkey Hearing Foundation Raise More Than $5 Million at Annual Fundraiser - 06/16/2008
sunherald.com
Through emotional and energetic performances, Garth Brooks, Jon McLaughlin, and Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo helped the Starkey Hearing Foundation, a world leader in promoting hearing health awareness, raise a record $5,045,000 at its annual "So the World May Hear" Awards Gala.

National toy tests show dangerous decibel levels - 06/16/2008
canada.com
A "significant" number of sound-emitting toys tested by Health Canada exceeded the 100-decibel limit set to protect children's hearing when they were played close to the ear, according to test results obtained by Canwest News Service.

ERAU Scientist Explores Link Between Spaceflight, Fatigue - 06/13/2008
aero-news.net
Dr. Jon French, a professor of Human Factors at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, believes the "vestibular disorientation" experienced by some astronauts can result in acute fatigue, a condition known as Sopite Syndrome.

Tot's Kiss Leaves Mom At Hearing Loss - 06/13/2008
cbsnews.com
It's wasn't the kiss, but the suction that caused damage to one woman's stapedial muscle, according to Dr. Levi Reiter.

Hearing loss can have big effect on daily life - 06/13/2008
tahoedailytribune.com
One woman writes into her local newspaper bringing awareness to hearing loss.

BlackBerry Smartphones Receive Calling Solution for the Deaf from Sorenson - 06/12/2008
tmcnet.com
Sorenson Communications announced the launch of SIPRelay Mobile for BlackBerry smartphones. SIPRelay Mobile is designed to streamline calling and helps deaf and hard-of-hearing users to place free calls while on the go to any hearing telephone user in the United States and its territories.

Brooke Shinaberry's Point of View - 06/12/2008
cstv.com
An inspiring story written by a college student athlete about how she went from having a mild hearing loss to three months later being deaf.

UT To Keep Hearing and Speech Clinic Open Based On More Than 40-Year-Old Agreement, But Budget Cut Plans Proceed - 06/11/2008
utk.edu
The University of Tennessee announced it discovered in its real estate archives a more than 40-year-old agreement that obligates it to operate a Hearing and Speech Center through 2057.

Study: How does the brain separate audio signals from noise? - 06/11/2008
embedded.com
Some recent research may shed new light on how the human brain extracts meaningful signals from noisy acoustic environments.

Smoking, obesity linked to hearing loss - 06/10/2008
thetechherald.com
Live healthy, hear healthy. Smoke and become overweight...and you might experience hearing loss.

Headphones blamed for permanent hearing damage - 06/10/2008
abc.net.au
The Australian Hearing report shows 70 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds have suffered from tinnitus - or ringing in the ear - and 25 per cent of them believe hearing loss repairs itself.

Early help eases impact on hearing loss in children - 06/10/2008
mlive.com
Since 2000,every newborn in Michigan is screened for hearing loss through a simple, painless test that can be performed while the baby is asleep. That's how one little girl's hearing loss was detected.

Hearing aids seen as ugly, old: report - 06/10/2008
abc.net.au
The Australian Federal Government-commissioned survey found one in five Australians associate hearing aids with the terms "ugly" and "old".

Hearing Loss a Revolution in Technology - 06/10/2008
mlive.com
The world of hearing aids and other hearing technology has undergone more change in the past five years than it had in the preceding 30 years.

Student overcame disability to graduate early - 06/10/2008
the-dispatch.com
One young man who was born with a sensorineural hearing loss, which went undiagnosed for 2 years, has succeeded and will graduate from highschool.