Hearing Loss Association of Houston (Formerly SHHH Houston Chapter) PO Box 572091 Houston TX 77257-2091 Website!: www.hearingloss-houston.org (Be sure to type the dash between loss and Houston)
We are an affiliate of Hearing Loss Association of America based in Bethesda, Maryland.Website: http:// www.hearingloss.org
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope everyone had a great holiday season and is ready for 2011, which promises to be another big year for the Hearing Loss Association of America! There are already several special events scheduled in the next several months in the Houston area alone! Continue reading for details about these events. _____________________________________________
HELP NEEDED The HLA-Houston Chapter is now in a search of a new Walk4Hearing Chair for 2011. The 2010 Chair, Karen Davin, did an excellent job organizing and executing the 2010 Walk. If you would like to volunteer for the 2011 Walk Chair position, or if you have any questions about what this position entails, please contact the President of HLA-Houston, Paula Holzhand. _____________________________________________
REMINDER! Check out the Seven Tips to Better Communication on page 4, written by Arlene Romoff and published in the November/December 2008 issue of the Hearing Loss Magazine.
New Officer Announcement from Teri Wathen: At the HLA of Houston meeting on Saturday, October 9, your chapter elected new officers. Please welcome them and offer your assistance wherever you feel comfortable. I know these people will do a fine job, but could always use your support and encouragement!
CHAPTER OFFICERS **NEW** President: Paula Holzband - paulamoh@gmail.com Vice President: David Amezcua - cda_tx_2010@yahoo.com Secretary: Kerri Clark - kerriandcharles@yahoo.com Treasurer: Victor Prechtel - vprechtel@gmail.com Newsletter Editor: Nabeel Keblawi - kebnab@gmail.com Past President: Teri Wathen - teriwathen@sbcglobal.net
January 2011 -- Volume 12, Number 1 The Hearing Loss Association of America is the largest consumer organization dedicated to the well being of people with hearing loss. We believe people can help one another, be helped, and participate successfully in society. Our primary purpose is to educate ourselves and those around us about the causes, nature and complications of hearing loss and what can be done to help. To join the local chapter, please write us at the above address or come to one of our monthly meetings. Our meetings have the following facilities available to attendees: Real Time Captioner and Induction Loop System.
We meet at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, in The Parlor Room. The address is 3471 Westheimer at Edloe, Houston, TX 77027. The Parlor Room has an in-place induction loop system! 1
HLA-Houston Program Meetings
Hearing Loss Workshop (continued from left The HLA-Houston Chapter is already off to a great start column) in 2011! In the next two regular chapter meetings, there Miller who will talk about cochlear implants, how they work, who is a candidate, and where to go for will be a panel of three adults who will share their life more information. Ray Wathen will talk about the experience in dealing with their hearing loss. Each state’s phone voucher program for people with chapter meeting will be at the usual location - St. disabilities who have trouble with the phone and how Luke’s Church at 9:30 am. Details are as follows: they can qualify to get a free phone. Topics that will be covered in this FREE workshop are psychosocial February 12, 2011: Young Adult Officer Panel issues of hearing loss, communication strategies in the Panelists: Victor Pretchel, David Amezcua, Nabeel workplace and at home, the latest on cochlear Keblawi implants, assistive communication devices, and Moderator: Paula Holzband resources. Up to six hours of continuing education Topic: Living with hearing loss, best and worst credits have already been approved for audiologists, moments, and accommodations speech-language pathologists, hearing aid dispensers, early childhood interventionists, vocational rehab March 12, 2011: Cued Speech Panel counselors, sign language interpreters, nurses, social Panelists: Julie Reese, Jane Knight, Nabeel Keblawi workers, and occupational therapists. Live captioning Moderator: Teri Wathen Topic: What is Cued Speech? How Cued Speech works will be provided at the workshop. Anyone who would like to attend or obtain more information can RSVP to and how it compares to American Sign Language. 866-353-7268, or 713 807 1176, or send an email to HLRS6A@dars.state.tx.us. Don’t miss these panels! These are incredible ___________________________________________ opportunities to learn more about how young adults of the X- and Y-Generations managed their lives with SAVE THE DATE - Hearing Loss Conference hearing loss, as well as learning about the cutting edge March 26, 2011 method of Cued Speech and how it works! _____________________________________________ The third annual Hearing Loss Conference has been set for Saturday, March 26, 2011 on the St. Luke's campus. The time of the workshop is tentatively set HEARING LOSS WORKSHOP SLATED for 9 a.m. to noon, with registration beginning at 8:30 FEBRUARY 4, 2011 AT GEORGE MEMORIAL a.m. Feedback from the previous conferences shows LIBRARY, RICHMOND, TX: a clear and continuing need for current information A workshop on hearing loss will be held at the George and support from industry leaders and providers Memorial Library, 1001 Golfview Drive, Richmond, within the hearing impaired community. If you know TX on Friday, February 4, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. to of other vendors who might be interested in 4:45 p.m. The public is invited to this free event. participating, please let me know so I can contact Sponsoring groups are the Texas Department of them. For further information or to register for a Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Office vendor booth, please do not hesitate to contact Karen for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, and Smith at ksmith@stlukes-hou.org or (713) 402-5086. Communication Axess Ability Group (CAAG), and __________________________________________ UTMB Health. The main presenter is Teri Wathen. To event planners and/or sponsors: Ms. Wathen is the Hearing Loss Resource Specialist at If you are planning a workshop, conference, seminar, or a CAAG and has been giving presentations on hearing fun activity for people with hearing loss, and need help in loss for many years. The other speakers are Christy getting the word out, you may contact the editor and (continued on right column) 2
request that the event be advertised in this newsletter within one or two editions. The editor, at his discretion, may accommodate these requests.
SPECIAL EVENT: COCHLEAR AMERICAS HOSTS FREE HEARING HEALTH FAIR FOR GREATER HOUSTON AREA RESIDENTS WITH SEVERE TO PROFOUND HEARING LOSS WHAT: Did you know hearing is the one sense that can be restored? The Hearing Heath Fair will provide a free, informative and fun opportunity for people who struggle with hearing aids to learn more about the latest hearing treatment options. The fair will include captioned informational sessions with experienced medical professionals from the greater Houston area who will explain why hearing loss occurs and why hearing aids may not be enough for some. Attendees will also learn about the latest available treatment options, including cochlear implants and bone anchored hearing solutions (Baha system), as well as insurance reimbursement discussions. Beyond the science, attendees will have a unique opportunity to meet real cochlear implant users and hear their stories firsthand, and share their own challenges and experiences. Refreshments will be served. WHEN: SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Program Schedule: 8:30 – 9:45 am: Struggling with your hearing aids? When hearing aids may no longer be enough • How to know and what other solutions may be available • Insurance and Reimbursement overview 10:15 – 11:15am: Life With a Cochlear Implant • Learn about living with cochlear implants and hear inspirational stories of others who have successfully had their hearing restored with a cochlear implant 11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m: Surgeon and Cochlear Implant User Panel • Panel discussion with cochlear implant surgeons and cochlear implant users 1:30 – 2:00 p.m: Meet and greet WHERE: Crowne Plaza Houston Northwest / Brookhollow Hotel (free admission & free parking) 12801 Northwest Freeway Houston, TX 77040 RSVP: FREE TO THE PUBLIC. For more information on the Hearing Health Fair or to register, go to www.hearinghealthfair.com or call 877-HEAR-THIS (432-7844). WHY: • Meet cochlear implant users • Attend education and information sessions • Meet with doctors and audiologists HELP NEEDED: CI users may volunteer. To volunteer, contact Paula Moore at PMoore@cochlear.com, or call 866-477-0899 or 281-851-9066. About Cochlear Americas Cochlear Ltd. and its subsidiaries, including Cochlear Americas, are the world's leader in advanced hearing technologies. Since launching the first multichannel cochlear implant system more than 28 years ago, Cochlear Limited and its subsidiaries have brought the miracle of sound to more than 200,000 hearing-impaired individuals across the globe. Cochlear Americas markets the Baha® implantable bone-anchored hearing system for treatment of conductive and mixed hearing loss, as well as single-sided sensorineural deafness. Cochlear’s state-of-the-art cochlear implant technology, based on extensive research and development at preeminent academic institutions, provides the ability to hear sound and to better understand speech, enhancing both learning capabilities and quality of life for those with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. For more information about Cochlear’s products, call the Cochlear Hotline at 800/458-4999 (Voice) or 800/483-3123 (TTY) or visit www.cochlearamericas.com. 3
HLAA Convention 2011
Seven Tips to Better Communication
Mark your calendars! The next annual convention is fast approaching and will take place in our nation’s capitol: Washington, DC. Visit http:// www.hearingloss.org/convention for more information. The convention will be held on June 16-19 at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City, VA. Crystal City is minutes from Washington, DC and accessible via car, bus, and metrorail. Crystal City is centered along a stretch of Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. 1) in Arlington, VA, just south of The Pentagon, just east of Pentagon City, and within walking distance to the west of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Characterized as one of many "urban villages" by Arlington County, Crystal City is almost exclusively populated by high-rise apartment buildings, corporate offices, hotels, and numerous shops and restaurants. There is also an extensive network of underground shopping areas and connecting corridors beneath Crystal City. For a visual, see the map of the D.C. Metro area.
• Realize that large social groups, especially around a large dining room table, are one of the most difficult environments for a person with a hearing loss. Be kind to yourself. Focus on the positive things that you can do, and not on the negatives of what you have difficulty doing. Think glass half full, not half empty. • It’s easier to talk with people one-on-one in a quiet environment than in a noisy living room. • Find a favorite friend or relative, and move the conversation into a quiet room, or a quieter corner. Or play a game or read a story to a child, if that’s an option. • Help out in the kitchen where there are usually less people gathered. And if you help with some preparations, you'll be doing something besides trying to hear. • When sitting down for dinner, make sure you choose a seat that is best for you! Here are some suggestions: • If you have a “better side,” seat yourself so that most people are on that side. • Seat yourself next to a person you usually have the least difficulty hearing or lipreading. • Seat yourself next to someone who usually has the patience to clue you in on what the conversation is about or the punch lines you miss. • Try not to seat yourself facing a window because the glare makes it difficult to see people's faces. • Ask your host to turn off any background music during dinner. And if a football game is blaring from a TV, turn it off or if that’s not an option, set it on mute or turn down the volume. • Remember to be assertive about your needs! Pleasant and polite, but assertive!
Registration is now open, and there are two ways to register. You may register online at https:// www.regonline.com/convention_2011, or you may print the form from http://www.hearingloss.org/convention/ 2011Convention/docs/RegistrationForm_2011.pdf and fax it to 301-913-9413. You may also mail in the form along with your payment to the National HLAA office at: 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1200 Bethesda, MD 20814 Convention 2011 Keynote Speaker: Chris Artinian The Hearing Loss Association is delighted to announce that Christopher J. Artinian, Chief Executive Officer and President of Morton’s Restaurant Group, Inc., will be the keynote speaker during the Opening Session at Convention 2011, June 16 – 19, 2011. The Artinian family is the subject of the Oscar-nominated film Sound and Fury, which tells the story of brothers: Chris, who was born with hearing, and his older brother Peter, who was born deaf. Both brothers married and both had children who were born deaf. The difficult decision to provide cochlear implants for their children ripped the (continued on the bottom right column) 4
by Arlene Romoff
(continued on page 6) ____________________________________________ HLAA Convention (continued from left column) family apart. Chris and his wife Mari chose to have a cochlear implant for their son, while Chris’s brother and his wife Nita, decided they weren’t quite ready for such a medical procedure for their three deaf children. The families finally came full circle and have put the period of “fury” behind them.
STAP The Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program (STAP) was devised to assist individuals with disabilities to obtain a specialized telecommunications device or services to facilitate access to the telephone system. STAP provides a voucher to eligible individuals that may be ex- changed for specialized telephone equipment or services. Communication Axess Ability Group provides an equipment demonstration room conveniently located at our North Loop office. You may schedule an appointment by calling 713.807.1176 or you may e-mail the STAP Specialist, Ray Wathen, at ray.wathen@caag4.com
HOH Communication Axess Ability Group proudly offers Hard of Hearing Services (HOH) through a grant from the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) - - Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services. The basis for HOH is to eliminate communication barriers and to facilitate communication access through projects to expand or otherwise improve the provision of service to individuals who are hard of hearing, late deafened or oral deaf. To schedule a speaking engagement, seminar or conference, call 713.807.1176 or e-mail the Houston coordinator, Teri Wathen, at HLRS6A@dars.state.tx.us .
HEARING SYSTEMS INC.
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4654 Hwy 6 N, Ste. 201 Houston, TX 77084
Disclaimer: Mention of goods or services in articles or advertisements does not mean HLA Houston endorsement, nor should exclusion suggest disapproval. Please let our advertisers know that you appreciate their interest in our group. Mary Dopico Reporting Services 6142 Southwell Lane League City, Texas 77573
Mary C. Dopico, CSR, RPR, CRR TCRA LEVEL IV CART PROVIDER
Email: mdopico@sprynet.com O 713/520-0084 Fax 713/521-1118 H 281/316-0260 Fax 281/316-0261 C 713/829-2599
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CAPTIONED ENTERTAINMENT • Check http://www.amctheatres.com/Contact_Us/ Find_a_Theatre & input your zip code to find titles and dates of OC and CC movies at AMC theatres. • AMC Studio 30, Willowbrook AMC 24, Deerbrook 24, Katy Mills 20, Gulf Pointe 30, First Colony 24 also have Rear Window Captioning. Be sure to request the closed captioned show when you buy tickets.
• Note: AMC is no longer listing the upcoming captioned films on their main website. Now you have to check each theatre individually to locate the time of any films!
• Edwards Greenway Palace 24, 839 Weslayan, has also been showing OPEN captioned movies. They show the ‘OC’ in front of the movie that is captioned, so check www.REGmovies.com select Theatre Locations, and input your zip code in the search field. Or you may link to the open captioned movies in Texas at : http:// www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/ opencaptionedshowtimes.aspx#TX • You may also go to www.captionfish.com and click on ‘change Search” button. Then enter your city and state & click ‘Go’. • IMAX @ Museum of Natural History-Rear Window Captioning- Anytime –Ask for the device at the door. Not all films are captioned so please ask before you buy tickets. • Alley Theatre-615 Texas Avenue. For tickets to the Alley Theatre call the Box office at 713 228-8421 (voice) via relay. Or go to www.alleytheatre.org - Click on “Education” on top bar, then click on “Programs for the Audience” then on “Access Services”. Discounted tickets are available from Illuminations Arts: (713) 529-6910 Voice/FAX, or (713) 529-6909 TTY. • Toyota Center: For non-Rockets events, captioning requests should go through Guest Services @ 713-758-7230. They will make arrangements for seating and accommodations for the captioner. • Theatre Under the Stars - check www.tuts.com for details and ticket information. Single tickets are available at 713-558-8887 or online, or at the TUTS box office, M-F 9am-6 pm; Sat.-Sun 11am-4 pm. • A.D. Players -Captioned Plays: www.adplayers.org Call the box office at 713-526-2721. 2719 West Alabama. Be sure you request a seat with the best view of the captioning bar. • Houston Family Arts Center at Barker Cypress and 290 plans to caption all its plays. The center, also known as Berry Center, is located at 8877 Barker Cypress, Cypress, TX 77433 . The website and tickets can be found at: http:// tickets.houstonfac.com/ 6
Go Green! We have a number of members who receive our newsletter via email. If you would like to receive it in email instead of paper format, please email the editor at kebnab@gmail.com. **********************************************
Seven Tips to Better Communication (continued from page 4)
Conversation tips: • It’s inevitable that you will not be able to hear the conversation with many people talking and laughing at once. Content yourself with speaking with the people on either side of you. • If you start a conversation, then you’ll know what the topic is, so it will be easier to follow. • If you miss something, try to ask only for the part you missed, instead of just saying “what?” • Expect that there will be jokes that you will not hear, so you will find yourself sitting at a table where everyone is laughing except you. Stay calm—you have a few options: • Ask the person next to you to tell you what was so funny, or to remember to tell you later. • Say “excuse me” to everyone at the table, and ask for the joke to be repeated so you can get it too. • Remember that if you do this with a pleasant attitude, then people usually want to help you out. After–dinner strategies: • Volunteer to help out in the kitchen to get yourself away from that dining table with all the conversations and jokes you’re having trouble following. • Offer to wash the dishes if you want to take time out from trying to hear everyone. If you do this, be sure to position yourself in a way that you can lipread everyone. To drink or not to drink? • Some people's lipreading skills tend to get worse when they drink. Some people's lipreading skills tend to get better when they drink because they're more relaxed. However, alcohol impacts mood and energy levels. • Be aware of what works best for you. And remember, if you do drink, do so responsibly. Never drink and drive.
(continued on page 7)
Hearing Loss Association of Houston
HLAA MEMBERSHIP Hearing Loss Association of America is a national organization headquartered in Bethesda, MD. You are invited to join the national organization. HLAA dues, payable annually in the month of joining, are $35 a year and include a subscription to the bi-monthly, award winning Hearing Loss Journal, which is always filled with interesting and pertinent articles on hearing loss. Renewals of National membership dues are billed directly by National HLAA.
HLA Houston Chapter is an affiliate of Hearing Loss Association of America. Please remember that making a donation to the Houston chapter does NOT automatically make you a member of HLAA. We encourage you to join both so you may receive maximum benefit from your membership. Membership donations for the Houston chapter are $12 per year for individuals, or $20 per year for a family, which includes a subscription to the monthly newsletter. Date____________________
Name_________________________________________
Name___________________________________
Address_______________________________________
Street_____________________________________
City___________________________________________
City__________________State________Zip______
State___________________Zip____________________
Home Phone: ( )________________________ Circle: V or TTY or both
Email:_________________________________________ Annual Dues: Individual $35.00 _________________________ Couple/Family $45.00 _________________________ Student $20.00 _________________________ Professional $60.00 _________________________ (Benefits include being in the online catalog) Non-Profit Org & Libraries $50.00 _____________ Corporate $300.00 ________________________ (with upgraded benefits) Check benefits for each level at www.hearingloss.org/ membership Make Check Payable to “HLAA” and Mail to: Hearing Loss Association of America 7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 1200 Bethesda, MD 20814 Or you may join online by credit card at : http://www.hearingloss.org .
Seven Tips to Better Communication (continued from page 4) Assistive listening devices: • There are assistive listening devices, such as personal amplifiers and auxiliary microphones that can help you hear in noisy environments. These can work either in conjunction with your hearing aid or cochlear implant, or directly into your ears. They have been particularly helpful for older relatives who are left out of the loop in large family gatherings. If you need more information about these devices, please ask us!
Business Phone: ( )______________________ Circle: V or TTY or both Fax: (
)_________________________________
E-Mail Address:________________________________ Would you like your Email address added to the chapter group list on Yahoo Groups? Yes or No Would you prefer an email newsletter in place of the paper copy? Yes or No Would you like to include your above personal information in the membership directory? Yes or No HLA Houston Membership – includes newsletter subscription: Individual ($12)
$______________
OR Family ($20)
$_____________
National’s Founder’s Day contribution (voluntary) $_________________ Additional Tax Deductible Local contribution – helps pay the newsletter and outreach expenses (voluntary) $_________________
Total enclosed
$________________
Make checks payable to: and mail to:
HLA Houston Chapter PO Box 572091 Houston, TX 77257-2091
Reminder: We welcome your donations in memory of , or in honor of, a loved one, or to commemorate any life event. 7
Calendar: Cochlear Health Fair (see page 3): January 29, 2011 - 8:00 am Next TWO HLAA Houston Chapter Meetings: February 12, 2011 - 9:30 am March 12, 2011 - 9:30 am Cochlear Support Group Meetings for 2011*: April 30, 2011 - 11:00 am July 23, 2011 - 11:00 am October 22, 2011 - 11:00 am * There is no support group meeting in January, as the Cochlear Health Fair will be held on the 29th. HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON CHAPTER MEETS ON SECOND SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH, except for June and December, at 9:30 AM., At ST. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer at Edloe, Houston, TX 77027. Now in the Parlor Room. Park behind the church and walk through the fenced garden. We will try to have a sign pointing the way.
HLA of HOUSTON CHAPTER PO BOX 572091 HOUSTON TX 77257-2091 VOLUME 12 NUMBER 1 January 2011
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