Cicada.org.au

Young Australian
of the Year 2015
Drisana Levitzke-Gray - Deaf advocate
The fifth generation in her family to be born deaf, Drisana Levitzke-Gray, is dedicated to helping other deaf people and advocating their human rights. Born with moderate hearing loss into a family with deaf parents, a deaf brother and a deaf extended family, Drisana cherishes her first language, Auslan. She promotes the deaf community as one without borders and one of rich language, culture, history and traditions.
As the only Australian selected to attend the Frontrunners international deaf youth leadership course in 2012 and 2013, Drisana worked with communities in Europe and Samoa to expand leadership capacity and human rights understanding of deaf youth. In 2014, Drisana became the first deaf Auslan AUSTRALIA DAY
the commercial development of the Cochlear user to fulfil her civic duty as a juror. Drisana Implant project commenced. is the embodiment of the concept of ‘deaf Today, as Cochlear Limited Chief Scientist, gain', not ‘hearing loss', inspiring the deaf Jim has oversight of Cochlear's global research community, encouraging others to accept Associate Professor Jim Patrick AO
portfolio. He has held a number of senior diversity and promoting a positive image of MSc DEng(hc) FTSE FIE Aust CPE
management positions at Cochlear since deafness which says loudly and proudly: "it is 1981, and is also an Associate Professor at OK to be deaf".
the department of Otolaryngology at the Associate Professor Patrick was awarded The University of Melbourne and Adjunct Professor Order of Australia for Distinguished Service to at both the La Trobe and Macquarie Universities. Science through the development of cochlear He is a member of several Advisory Boards.
Implant technology; to biomedical research and engineering; and to education and professional Jim Patrick has supported and encouraged the development of CICADA since our incorporation in 1984. We thank him for his Jim is Senior Vice President and Chief Scientist ongoing support and congratulate him on his at Cochlear Limited and has played a leading Australia Day Honour.
role in the development of the COCHLEAR IMPLANT since joining Professor Graeme Clark Young Australian of the Year Drisana Levitzke-Gray. (AAP) as a development engineer in 1975.
Jim worked closely with Professor Clark and his team, contributing to the design and construction of the implantable stimulation and electrode array, later becoming Project Manager. Jim moved to Sydney in 1981 to be a founding member of Cochlear Limited (then a division of Nucleus Limited) when Jim Patrick and Alan Jones CICADA Australia www.cicada.org.au

State CICADA
From the President clients that lived outside of Sydney and had
difficulty getting to appointments. Shirley CICADA AGM 2014
pushed consistently for this and Max and Isobel Lindsay started up a Newcastle support group and actively raised funds to help. In 2002, New South Wales
SCIC provided their first "Outreach" visit to CICADA AUSTRALIA INC.
Newcastle. CICADA later provided funds for 2 Secretary: Judy Cassell laptop computers to assist with the expansion of the Outreach service. SCIC still provides South Turramurra NSW 2074 regular Outreach to regional areas that do not have their own clinic. In more recent times, CICADA contributed to the audiobook library that is used for listening practice and rehabilitation, particularly by new recipients. Secretary: Shirley Edwards85 Crotona Rd This year, Kath Westbrook brought up the Capalaba QLD 4157 issue of safer access to the Conference Room Ph/Fax: (07) 3824 5003 and made a personal donation to this effect. Email: [email protected] CICADA liaised with SCIC management and contributed to the installation of the railings that are now in place at the entranceways and As you know, CICADA celebrates 30 years this CICADA SOUTH AUSTRALIA
year, since our inaugural meeting in 1984. We have been officially incorporated since 1993. In 2008, Alan Jones proposed that CICADA Our main activities as a group are to advocate commission a biography of Professor Gibson, for implant recipients and to inform people to detail the great contribution he has made to about all aspects of living with a CI. By having CI's in Australia. Tina Allen has been researching social gatherings we can share our experiences and writing this book and we hope to launch CICADA CLUB W.A. INC.
and each other's company! We also do try the book for Hearing Awareness Week 2015 as Coordinator: Lynette Fleming to provide interesting guest speakers and CICADA's tribute to Bill Gibson.
showcase new technology.
I'd like to thank those of our members who have Phone: (08) 9349 7712 Our strengths are, I think, that we provide a donated prizes for our raffles. Sally Elks, Lorna
Fax: (08) 9349 9763 friendly meeting place where all are welcome. Collins, Annette Biddlecombe and Kerry Van For people who are considering a CI, we can Der Heyden. Also to those who donate books provide first hand information from various for our fantastic second hand book store. This
implant users. With the benefit of our own was Judy Cassell's idea and is a great resource Coordinator Chris Blackham-Davison experience, we can help recipients make the for all our bibliophiles. It also generates funds most of their hearing with tips for using the to help us do our job! SMS: 0427 897 170 phone or hearing loops etc.
Our WEBSITE needs input from members
At Gladesville, CICADA is very fortunate to to augment the information available on it. CICADA ACT INC
have the use of the SCIC Facilities, for which I Your personal stories, good or bad, are always am grateful. In return, CICADA supports SCIC Secretary: Renuka Raghuraman welcome and you can remain anonymous if you in whatever ways we can. SCIC moved into the choose. We also would welcome ANY feedback Gladesville buildings in 1996-7. Prior to this, on the look and functionality of the website, Hook Up Online And
we held CICADA BBQ's all over Sydney, from so please do provide relevant comments. Share Your News
Scotland Island to Lugarno, at different public THE CALENDAR is a very useful tool on the parks and held several Christmas Parties at St Please visit us at www.cicada.org.au
website. WE encourage anyone to contact the Joseph's college Hunters Hill.
Or our Facebook page Cicada Australia Inc.
webmistress, or myself, if they are having a Darwin friends now have their own gathering for implant recipients anywhere in Alan Jones first proposed the idea of a club
Facebook page Cicada Northern Territory
Australia. In this way, if you are travelling, you room in 1998. Permission to use our existing
might want to join in and meet recipients from Club Room was granted in 2005 after many other towns or states If you would prefer to receive this
discussions with the Gladesville hospital site newsletter by email, please send your
manager for a suitable space that we could ILLAWARRA CICADA, under the careful
details to [email protected]
use. During this time, Chrissy Boyce secured guidance of Bob Ross, continues to attract a generous donation from entrepreneur Dick Donations over $2 to CICADA are
new visitors. Bob and his helpers hold BBQ's Smith, who reportedly said on radio that the CI every 2 months and they are a good solid was one of the most exciting inventions of our group, supporting each other in the South time!! (We agree!!). With these funds Chrissy Coast region. I was introduced to the Illawarra CICADA Australia Inc. thanks Cochlear Ltd.
and John purchased our furniture, BBQ and Live Steamers at their BBQ in October 2014. A for supporting the design, printing and kitchen equipment that we use for our events.
beautiful setting at North Wollongong, where distribution of this newsletter.
volunteer steam train enthusiasts have set up Shirley Hanke, in the year 2000, proposed that their own scale-model railway, complete with SCIC provide a "mobile" audiology service to a station and ride-on trains. It is great fun, not just for the kids, as adults can ride on the CHRIS REHN
and vision services. SCIC and RIDBC now utilize trains too. Many thanks to Bob and friends for shared premises at Nepean, Gosford, Lismore, creating that great sense of belonging amongst Historical Perspectives and the
Macquarie Hearing Hub and Darwin. Both Future of Hearing Services in
organisations have developed technological resources to deliver their services to remote WESTERN SYDNEY CICADA has about 3
and rural clients e.g. RIDBC Teleschool across Sunday BBQ's each year and a great core Australia and SCIC Remote mapping to Samoa bunch of helpers. Our thanks go to Judy and and rural Australia. The integration of SCIC Kel Tutty, Geoff Letford, Marg and Sean Sewell services within RIBDC combines the best of for their consistent efforts in Western Sydney. both organisations and will increase the length They started regular morning teas in March this and breath of hearing loss service for people of year, first Tuesday of the month, using the new Penrith SCIC as the venue. This works well for the audiologists at the Penrith centre, who can The Commonwealth government is looking recommend to clients that they pop in to meet into selling its Australian Hearing (AH) and greet some experienced recipients.
network; this has raised important issues. AH has a community service obligation to provide With the merging of SCIC and RIDBC, there is free hearing tests and aids, also parts and scope for events to be held at the North Rocks Chris Rehn, Chief Executive of the Royal repairs and upgrades to cochlear implants to school or some of their other locations. We will Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, presented those under 26 and those on aged pensions. be discussing this with Chris Rehn and possibly at the CICADA AGM November 2014, some AH also operates the National Acoustic in 2015 may hold some events at North Rocks.
facts and opinions on the state of play and the Laboratory which runs extensive research future of the hearing environment in Australia.
programs and develops new products to the LISMORE District have initiated a support
benefit of all Australians. The integrity of this group after the first gathering in 2014 after Chris began his career as a nurse, moving into network is at risk.
Easter. The Lismore SCIC proposed the event, Public Health administration, then into the but locals are keen to establish support groups Private Hospital sector and accounting before Options to split up AH into its various business in the area. They are all spread out over some starting as General Manager of the Children's components and sell them off may maximize hundreds of kilometres, so may end up with a Cochlear Implant Centre (CCIC) in 1996. 17 the sale price to the government, but who few small groups rather than one large one. So implant surgeries were performed that year would buy these "fragments" and would they we will do what we can to support them in their with the CCIC established as a joint venture serve us as well as the current government- between the Children's Hospital Westmead and owned model? PriceWaterhouseCooper are Sydney University. Chris worked closely with currently doing a scoping study on the issues Our YOUNG ADULTS GROUP held a few Professor Bill Gibson to build on Bill's vision for involved and RIDBC made representations
gatherings this year. We are hoping that we can the future of paediatric cochlear implants, of to them in August 2014, arguing that if AH is grow this group to be good support for each equitable care and clients-before-profit.
to be privatized, the primary consideration other and other young adults who come into should be preservation of the intention of the the CI program.
In 1999, the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital adult Hearing Services Act ensuring quality services cochlear implant program relocated to the for those in need, rather than profit. Also that Sydney CICADA will continue our BBQ and Gladesville site. Over the next few years the accreditation criteria for providers need to be
Morning Teas next year. We always have a good 2 programs were integrated and Outreach strong.
time and are on the lookout for interesting services were provided to both children and presentations. We have come a long way since adults in regional areas. This was the start of In research, Australia currently leads the way the early days and enjoy the strong friendships Australia's most comprehensive CI program, and the new Australian Hearing Hub brings that have developed from working together.
which in 2001 became the Sydney Cochlear together AH with other researchers, educators Implant Centre. and a host of professionals to extend this leadership. The National Disability Insurance In 2003 SCIC services were provided at the Scheme was proposed to ensure that people RIDBC Tingira Centre in Newcastle, then as with a disability have the support they need to numbers grew, an SCIC clinic was established participate as best they can in the community. at The Junction. Canberra SCIC was officially So will the NDIS fund hearing services if AH is launched in 2007, Gosford and Lismore in not there to provide? 2010. Rob McLeod took on the position of General Manager at SCIC in 2010 and worked There are many issues to consider, but the final words from Chris to ALL of us are: Chris Rehn, Sue Walters and Alex Phillips to establish the Penrith centre that opened in 2013. Also in 2003 the Matilda Rose Early * Let's put Hearing Health on the agenda as a Intervention Centre was established for National Prioritychildren with cochlear implants and other * Build community awareness and special needs. This was a joint venture initiated understanding of the impact of hearing loss.
by SCIC with financial assistance from the * Improve access to services across AustraliaCarnegie family, but in 2010 was transitioned * Government should reduce duplication, to an RIDBC/SCIC integrated service.
competitiveness and spend money wisely* We need to ACT to drive change and not be RIDBC was established in 1860 and is Australia's passive to the journey; write to local, state and Some members of the Young Adults Group largest non-government provider of hearing national MP's to voice your opinions An Article by
hearing impairment, a chronic disorder of the yet people who use hearing aids are provided ear, are Deaf or deafblind, and the families with replacements and upgrades as required.
that support them. While our resources have historically been restricted, we continue to A crucial public asset, Australian Hearing may Guest Speaker at the AGM
work hard advising the government on strategic be sold. The government must be persuaded to policy development on behalf of the 1 in 6 ensure that services to vulnerable Australians I'm Alexander Phillips from Adelaide, South Australians who have a hearing impairment. are maintained or enhanced, and that the Australia and I'm a proud member of CICADA. We also run well-attended events including research undertaken by the National Acoustic I was born profoundly deaf in both ears and the biennial National Deafness Sector Summit, Laboratories continues.
received a cochlear implant at 3.5 years of Captioning Awards, Hearing Awareness Week age. Fortunately, I was able to obtain enough and Libby Harricks Memorial Oration. Until this We face a formidable challenge to ensure there language to attend a mainstream school at year we have been mostly funded by a Federal is a national voice for the 4 million Australians 5 years of age. I was able to complete high Government grant. Sadly, we received the Deafness Forum represents and we remain school and attend university where I completed news from the Department of Social Services passionate to continue with our mission to Bachelor and Masters degrees in Economics, just before Christmas that Deafness Forum foster change for Australians who are hearing Accounting and Finance. On completion of my and a number of other national advocacy impaired, Deaf, deafblind, have an ear disorder, studies, I was able to secure a job in a national organisations would not be funded in 2015. and the families that support them. accounting firm specialising in insolvency.
We will seek other sources of funding and find ways to make further savings to maintain our Despite being able to finish mainstream advocacy activities for as long as possible.
schooling and university with a profound hearing loss, all along something still bothered During Hearing Awareness Week last year, we me. Discrimination of people with hearing launched the Make it Number 10 campaign. impairment was still rife even though we are Currently, there are 9 areas that have received one of the most fortunate countries in the National Health Priority status. We want world. Discrimination is everywhere, in social Hearing to be the 10th National Health Priority. situations, education and in the workplace. The campaign will help us bring hearing to Until our policy makers understand the true the attention of our policy makers, a growing impacts of hearing impairment they will truly problem that can no longer be ignored. As you not be able to respond appropriately and until would be aware those with cochlear implants they do so discrimination will remain. I felt the are affected by a lack of support in numerous need to do something! Luckily an opportunity areas of their lives. came up to join the Board of Deafness Forum of Australia and with CICADA's support I was able One example of inequity is Age and Disability to secure a position on the Board.
Pensioners who have cochlear implants and are eligible for the Australian Government Hearing Deafness Forum of Australia is the national Services Program. These people are not representative of all Australians who have provided with replacement speech processors, 24th Annual General Meeting of Cicada Australia Inc.
November's AGM followed the usual pattern, The main guest speaker Chris Rehn, CE of Thanks to Chris and John Boyce who organize
of the AGM meeting followed by guest RIBDC, spoke on The Future of Hearing Services
the raffle each year, to those who support speakers and BBQ. in Australia. An overview of his presentation is Cicada by purchasing tickets and those who in this copy of the Buzz.
make a donation in lieu of buying tickets. Your The Presidents Report given by Sue Walters
support is greatly appreciated.
can be seen on page 2 of this issue. Chris Boyce The supporting guest speaker Alex Phillips,
followed with the Treasurers Report, with visiting from Adelaide, was born profoundly copies of the audited financial report available deaf in both ears and had his CI 23 years ago. to the members present.
He is a Cicada member as well as being on the board of Deafness Forum. He is passionate Office Bearers for 2015
about raising awareness of issues relating to hearing issues and in particular advocating the Make it No 10 campaign. Alex has kindly Sonny Bennet and Tina Allen written an article for this issue of the Buzz.
Helper Maria Keegan The Cicada Annual Raffle was drawn after the
AGM. Congratulations to the winners Alan JonesAnne Cecilia Kramar Allen Stewart - First Prize $500 Dorothy Johnston - Second Prize $200 Kath Westbrook - Third Prize $100 Workers, Alan Jones, John Boyce and Jim Booth Cicada Functions
NSW Support Groups
Cicada Illawarra
BBQ's will be held on
Current dates set for Picnics in the Park for 2015 6th September, 1st November – AGM.
Sunday 22nd February Illawarra Live Steamers Sunday 26th April Shellharbour Pool Details for each of the gatherings will be sent Sunday 28th June Illawarra Live Steamers prior to the event. A flyer, detailing our first Sunday 30th August Shellharbour Pool BBQ of the year on the 15th March, will be Sunday 25th October
Illawarra Live Steamers included with this issue of the Buzz.
Sunday 6th December Shellharbour Pool Xmas Party These days continue to be very popular with From 10:30am till 3.00pm our members, and the committee works hard to find a selection of interesting and relevant Bob Ross, after a number of years coordinating the Illawarra group is stepping down. Bob writes
speakers for each occasion. If you have any … "Well, its with enormous joy that I wish to inform you all, that David Romanowski has ‘stepped
suggestions of a suitable guest speaker, please
up' and intends to carry on the Coordinators duties with the Illawarra Cicada CI Support Group, let one of the committee members know. starting with the 2nd event in April at Shellharbour. After he assists me with the BBQ in February, a decision will be made in regards to it (BBQ) being used into the future." A great vote of thanks to Bob for his tireless work and good humour over the last few years as he has grown the Illawarra group. Please contact Bob Ross for further information
Mobile: 0418 630 466
Email: [email protected]
Morning Tea goodies Morning Teas and Birthdays
The following are the dates for morning teas
for 2015.
The Gals at the last Illawarra 5th February
5th March
6th August
Lismore Support
3rd September
1st October
Please note there will be no morning tea in For information about this group contact April 2015 as it coincides with the beginning of
the Easter period.
Sheliya Van Buggenum is in the throes of MaryAnn [email protected] developing a support group in the Lismore OR Mobile 0438 461 659 Information can also be checked on the Cicada region. If you would like to find out more about Website www.cicada.org.au or by contacting this contact details are below.
Karen [email protected] the secretary, Judy Cassell Mobile 0402 072 074 Sheliya Van Buggenum [email protected] Co-coordinator: Judy TuttyMobile: 0437049452Email: [email protected]: facebook.com/westsydneycicada Faye Yarroll, Karen Cooper and Anne Davis at the last 2014 morning tea Sheliya Van Buggenum Books to Read
Cochlear Institute
with Middle East
Programming
focus opens
Cochlear Implants
Nov 2014 sbs.com.au
is Back in a Revised
Second Edition
At home, she uses Auslan – Australian sign language – to communicate with her deaf husband Simon and her three young hearing Nov 2014 Audiology Online
children. "We are happy with our language and don't feel disabled." If her children had been deaf, she wouldn't have chosen a cochlear implant for them, either. "If I have an operation it will make me feel I'm not normal and I need to be fixed. I wouldn't want my ‘deaf' children Surgeons from around the world have started to feel this way. "She's in a minority – SCIC traveling to Australia for training at a new chief executive Robert McLeod estimates institute specialising in restoring hearing with "possibly in excess of 90 per cent" of Australian cochlear implants. The Cochlear Clinical Skills children born profoundly deaf are implanted. Institute (CCSI) opened its doors, hosting About 98 per cent of Australian newborns are surgeons from the Middle East, including Egypt tested for hearing difficulties. And there is a and Saudi Arabia. Dr Ibrahim Shami from the vaccine for rubella, a disease which caused a King Fahad Medical Centre in Saudi Arabia is one significant rise in the number of deaf people of three Saudi specialists starting the training. in the epidemics of 1944-48 and 1965-70. In Saudi Arabia 13 centres are currently doing Plus IVF technology means foetuses can be about 1,000 operations a year but with 3000 screened for "deaf genes". new cases of deafness every year, doctors can't keep up. Cochlear implant technology was Professor Trevor Johnston helped compile the developed in Australia more than 30 years ago; Auslan dictionary; he believes Auslan could be Plural Publishing has just published the second innovations in the surgical procedure means it facing a demographic crisis. Improved hearing edition of this book – a volume in the Core
now only takes about two hours to complete. aid technology and cochlear implants mean Clinical Concepts in Audiology Series. With
"This is in important training hub for doctors more people who would have once used Auslan current information on cochlear implant all over the world because you come close the are able to function effectively using speech technology, Programming Cochlear Implants device itself and you learn how to insert the and hearing alone. Tablets and apps, which can is a valuable guide for clinicians providing different types of electrode in the ear, "Egypt's help with vocabulary, sentence building and services to cochlear implant users or as a Ain Shams University Ear Specialist Professor social interaction, are becoming more popular. teaching tool for graduate-level students. The Hassan Wahba said. He says the new lab at Predictions are very difficult . but it looks as book introduces the basics of cochlear implant Macquarie University has much-needed cutting if the population of deaf people who use sign hardware and programming and continues edge equipment that uses video scopes, which language will continue to decrease, so there through advanced programming techniques, means that while visiting surgeons practice will be a time in the next 50 years where the with manufacturer-specific information and their technique in Sydney, their colleagues at deaf community may not exist," Johnston case studies. More details will be available on hospitals around the world can watch it live.
says. He has called that possibility of Auslan's disappearance "an unambiguous and linguistic the CICADA website.
Cochlear implants, tragedy."
Emerging Issues in
technology and
However, apps such as Skype and Facetime are offering a path for Auslan to continue in a way that looked unlikely even a decade ago. Younger deaf people or their parents and diminish use of
friends tell Johnston they're using YouTube and Skype a lot. So signing could continue in Oct 2014 Hearing Loss Association Australian sign
a global virtual community. "You may have very few people in Australia but in the rest of of America

language
the world there's going to be tens or hundreds of thousands of people using another sign The American Cochlear Implant Alliance has just published their proceedings from its first November 2014 Sydney Morning
language which deaf people will slot into." symposium. The proceedings are intended to Herald Technology
That's already happening with American Sign Language, which Johnston says is becoming a be a general resource for anyone in hearing health care—not just cochlear implant Karli Dettman, a deaf yoga teacher and second language for some Australian signers, clinicians. Consumers and parents will find it therapist in her late 40s, could have a cochlear just as English is a worldwide lingua franca.
to be accessible and interesting reading. More implant but doesn't want one.
details will be available on the CICADA website.
debut was a nice feeling. "Also my second place Awareness of
at the Geneva European Cup was a surprise bonus, as I had a bike accident during the race, cochlear implants
but got back on to finish and run through the remains low
field. I didn't know I was coming second until I MRIs and cochlear
was 500m from the finish!" Jan 2015 EnidNews.com Oklahoma
implants
Melinda had to end her season early after a An estimated 5 percent of those who would painful Achilles forced her to pull out of the Nov 2014 Reuters Health, New York
benefit from a cochlear implant actually World Cup. "I will be out for a while but I am are getting implants, according to Cochlear taking the time to treat it properly so it can More than 300,000 people worldwide now have Americas Clinical Territory Manager Jessica be prevented for the future," she said. Being a a cochlear implant. "There have been several Ballard. "A lot of that is because of the fact cochlear implant recipient, Melinda is an active reports of adverse events, such as magnet that people just don't know about it, they member of the Cochlear Awareness Network. displacement and polarity changes, following don't understand who's a candidate and who's Cochlear is also one of her major sponsors, MRI in patients with cochlear implants," said not, but also access," she said. There are many which has assisted her greatly with funding for Dr. Jae Young Choi at Yonsei University in Seoul, adults out there who have had progressive overseas travel, competing costs and training South Korea. Some implants have removable magnets, in which case it should be removed. hearing loss, possibly for many years, who equipment. Other patients should use head dressings while have reached a point where they no longer are in the magnetic machine.
benefiting from traditional hearing aids."Yet,
they don't know about some of the other
options that are available to them," Ballard A little Darwin
Her team reviewed the medical records of said, adding they also often do not know the girl will be able to
18 patients with cochlear implants who had MRIs between 2003 and 2014, including implant procedure is covered by insurance.
hear through new
12 brain scans and 18 body scans. Some patients had multiple scans. Thirteen of the 18 technology after
patients made it through their MRIs without complications. Five people could not complete Melinda Vernon is
being born deaf
their scans due to pain, one experiencing magnet displacement and another requiring rolling up the world
surgery for magnet removal and reinsertion. Nov 2014 NT News
"If the magnet is displaced, it can be easily replaced by surgery under local anesthesia," Choi said. Even with protective bandages, Nov 2014 Penrith Press
some patients felt significant pain. The three patients with the most serious side effects of the scan did not appear to have damaged hearing performance afterwards.
Many doctors think that as long as the patient is not injured, the MRI can be performed safely and is acceptable, according to Dr. Emanuel 16-week old Abigail Kanal of the department of radiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, who Abigail Loganathan was born profoundly wrote an editorial accompanying the study.
deaf – but thanks to modern technology she
"The problem is that the physician may not has been given the gift of hearing. HearLab
recognize or be aware of pain issues, Kanal is a tool developed by Australian Hearing's said, because 99.9 percent of MRIs involve no research department and measures changes pain". Sometimes, even if it is painful, it is still appropriate for the patient to be scanned, but in brainwave patterns to more precisely read doctors and patients should still be aware of a baby's response to sound. At Australian the possibility, he said. Hearing Darwin, Abigail was the first to use the (See also Faye Yarroll's MRI notes on CICADA new HearLab test procedure. Deaf Athlete Melinda Vernon has risen from
a rank in the 300s to 92nd in the world after
Australian Hearing Darwin boss John Anderson a stellar triathlon season overseas. This was
said HearLab was an exciting step in the early Cochlear
the 29-year-old from Springwood's first season intervention of children with hearing loss. as a pro triathlete. "It's been a challenging first implantation in
"In Abigail's case, HearLab allowed us to gain year being away from home for a long period a more accurate and objective measure of because I am a family-oriented person, said patients with
Abigail's hearing, without the need for her Vernon, but the travelling and racing was a to take part in any behavioural testing. We great and valuable learning experience." Meniere's disease
discovered that she is profoundly deaf and the best form of treatment for her hearing loss is Vernon previously competed in marathons Jan 2015 Maney Online Abstract
the cochlear implant." and other long distance running events before for 10th European Symposium April
making the switch to triathlons. "I was excited 2015 State of the Art Cochlear
when I achieved my first podium (third) in Devonport in March. It was my first real outing Few studies have addressed the benefits of as a pro triathlete and to achieve that on official cochlear implantation for the small group of patients with bilateral, end-stage Meniere's after hearing loss. Professor Helmy Mulders of It was as if a supporting actor couldn't perform, disease, or unilateral disease with contralateral UWA's Auditory Laboratory investigated the and his young understudy stepped in suddenly hearing loss from another cause. This efficacy of treating tinnitus in animals using to carry on the performance and support the retrospective study evaluates the effectiveness furosemide, a diuretic drug usually prescribed lead actor. The finding not only shows that and post-operative performance in these to reduce swelling and water retention. She deafness can result from loss of supporting Meniere's disease patients and discusses found that single as well as repetitive use cells, but also a previously unknown ability these findings relative to other post-lingually of furosemide reduced hyperactivity in the to regenerate supporting cells that's present deafened adults. Among 456 adults who auditory nerve and midbrain, interfering only for a few days after birth in the mice. If received cochlear implants, eight (1.7%) patients with neurotransmitter release from the scientists can determine what's going on inside were identified with Meniere's disease who ear's inner hair cells to the auditory nerves. these cells, they might be able to harness it to met clinical indications for implantation along "It strengthens our argument that the find new approaches to regenerating auditory with a control group of seven non-Meniere's hyperactivity is somehow involved in the cells and restoring hearing in humans.
patients of comparable age and deafness. Data generation of tinnitus." The research suggests gathered included demographics, auditory and furosemide is only therapeutically effective vestibular symptoms pre-implantation, and in the first six weeks after hearing loss, when Hearing Loss Linked
clinical course after implantation, including auditory neurons appear hyper-excitable. Prof audiometric scores and audiologic evaluations. Mulders will soon start a proof-of-principle to Accelerated
A strong likelihood was found that CIs did trial with Prof Peter Friedland from UWA's Ear benefit the subset of Meniere's patients with Sciences Centre to test the furosemide effect in Brain Tissue Loss
severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. volunteer patients with tinnitus.
Fluctuations in hearing sensitivity can often be August 2014 Audiology Online
resolved by subsequent reprogramming.
Although the brain becomes smaller with age, Ear Cells Hold
the shrinkage seems to be fast-tracked in older adults with hearing loss, according to researchers Vaccination to
Potential in
from Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging. The findings add to a growing list of Protect Cochlear
Hearing Loss
health consequences associated with hearing loss, including increased risk of dementia, Implant Patients
falls, hospitalizations, and diminished physical Nov 2014 Bioscience Technology
and mental health overall. Dr Frank Lin and his colleagues used information from the Jan 2015 American Academy of
ongoing Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging to compare brain changes over time between adults with normal hearing and adults with People with cochlear implants are at impaired hearing. increased risk for pneumococcal meningitis. Despite the highly respected US Centre for That overall study started in 1958 to track Disease Control (CDC) recommendations various health factors in thousands of men and that all cochlear implant patients receive women. As part of that study, 126 participants pneumococcal vaccination, many patients underwent yearly magnetic resonance imaging remain unvaccinated. The American Academy This microscopic view of cells deep within the (MRI) to track brain changes for up to 10 years. of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery ear of a newborn mouse show in red and blue Each also had complete physicals at the time (AAO-HNS), in coordination with the CDC the supporting cells that surround the hair cells of the first MRI in 1994, including hearing tests. and FDA, has now begun a campaign to help (green) that send sound signals to the brain. At the starting point, 75 had normal hearing, raise awareness about the importance of New research shows that the supporting cells and 51 had impaired hearing, with at least a pneumococcal vaccinations, and that the can regenerate if damaged in the first days of 25-decibel loss. After analyzing their MRIs over "Pneumo Shot" is recommended by CDC for life, allowing hearing to develop normally. This the following years, Lin says those participants all patients who have, or will receive cochlear gives new clues for potential ways to restore whose hearing was already impaired had accelerated rates of brain atrophy compared to those with normal hearing.
New but narrow
There's a cast of characters deep inside your ears- many kinds of tiny cells working together Overall, those with impaired hearing lost window to treat
to allow you to hear. The lead actors, called more than an additional cubic centimeter of hair cells, play the crucial role in carrying sound brain tissue each year. Those with impaired tinnitus
signals to the brain. But new research puts hearing also had significantly more shrinkage the spotlight on some of the ear's supporting in particular regions, including the superior, actors– and their understudies. Researchers middle and inferior temporal gyri, brain Nov 2014 Science Network Western
from the University of Michigan and their structures responsible for processing sound colleagues report on these cells, fittingly called and speech. The middle and inferior temporal supporting cells. They show that damage to the gyri also play roles in memory and sensory WA Neuroscientists have discovered that supporting cells in the mature mouse results in integration and have been shown to be tinnitus may be treatable with furosemide, the loss of hair cells and profound deafness. involved in the early stages of mild cognitive a drug that reduces cross-talk between the impairment and Alzheimer's disease. "Our cochlea and the brain. Tinnitus patients ‘hear' But the big surprise was that if supporting cells results suggest that hearing loss could be distinct tones in the absence of real sounds, a are lost in the newborn mouse, the ear rapidly another ‘hit' on the brain in many ways," Lin perceptual phenomenon that detrimentally regenerates new supporting cells– resulting in explains. The study also gives some urgency to affects their concentration, sleep and mental complete preservation of hearing. This resulted treating hearing loss rather than ignoring it. "If wellbeing. The experience of tinnitus has been from cells in an adjacent structure moving in you want to address hearing loss well, Lin says, linked to spontaneous firing of the auditory and transforming into full-fledged supporting "you want to do it sooner rather than later".
nerve cells, a hyperactivity in the brain observed

Source: http://www.cicada.org.au/downloads/BUZZ_Feb2015.pdf