Triad HITCH-UP Meeting Highlights 9/25/07

Guest Speaker: Patricia Roush, AuD, Dept. of Otolaryngology
University of North Carolina School of Medicine

This week Pat Roush graciously joined us to share a glimpse of her 
uncommon pediatric audiologic expertise. We had a wonderful, informal
discussion; it is hard to recount all we talked about!  Here are some of the
discussion points: Pat began by reviewing the genetics of hearing loss,
referring to a lecture given by Walter 
Nance at a recent Audiology meeting. Of hearing impaired children of 
hearing parents, 55% have a genetic etiology, and, of these, 25% are caused by
mutations in  the Conexin 26 gene.  There are upwards of 100 other known genetic 
mutations that make up the remaining genetic cases. Among cases of congential
hearing loss, 50% are syndromic and  50% are non-syndromic. Prenatal CMV is 
another common cause of congenital hearing loss.  Pat also discussed 
the audiogram, including degrees of hearing loss, complexities of the 
audiogram, and the effects of various types of loss on speech 
development. Finally, she briefly discussed appropriate use of 
cochlear implants, such as at what point children are candidates, and how the 
processing is different for each child.

Parents Present:
Leslie Wolfe
Sandy Burnette
Marty and Leigh Reeves
Jenny Ball
Arthur & Tracy Tastet
Loretta & Matthew Slozer
Pam Bensimhon
Chris & Crystal Rierson
Joey and Lisa, UNCG Deaf Ed students

Children Present: (A big thank you to Katherine Breeze and Adam 
Bensimhon)
Collin and Hannah Tastet
Eli, Zack, Allie and Jake Bensimhon
The Slozer quads and McKenna
Angeleah Reeves

Thanks to Leigh and Marty Reeves for bringing refreshments for the 
parents and children to this week’s meeting. Pamela Bensimhon is 
signed up to bring snacks to the next meeting.

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, October 30, 2007. Our speaker will 
be Beth Whitfield, M. Ed, Certified AVT, CASTLE Program Coordinator.  
We hope that all can attend.

ANNOUNCEMENT:  Don't forget our FALL FESTIVAL will be Saturday, Oct. 
20 from 4-7pm @ Fourth of July Park in Kernersville in Shelter #3.  
Located at 702 W. Mountain Street.  We will be celebrating the fall 
with pumpkin painting and a cookout.  Please RSVP to Crystal at 
crierson24@triad.rr.com or 449-9948.  THIS IS A LOCATION CHANGE FROM OUR
PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT

Pam Bensimhon, Crystal Rierson, Rhonda Shronts
Co-leaders, Triad Area HITCH-UP

Triad HITCH-UP Meeting Highlights 7/31/07

Presentation: Language and Reading: How Does it all connect?
Guest Speaker: Sharon Moore, CED, Cert AVT, NBCT

Resources Support Program

Sharon Moore discussed normal auditory development, from birth through preschool age. She discussed 4 major areas in which all hearing impaired children should be evaluated and supported:

1) Speech and articulation

2) Vocabulary (expressive and receptive)

3) Language structure (ie sentence structure, tense, etc), expressive and receptive.

4) Auditory comprehension

All of these are key areas for the development of normal language and for optimal literacy. Vocabulary is a key area which can be supported by extensive reading exposure. The vocabulary in books tends to be more complex than that that we use in everyday speech. Vocabulary should include verbs, adjectives, prepositions, nouns, etc. Expressive language should include first words by 1 year, 20-100 by 18 months, 300 by 2 years (and this should include words of all types, including prepositions, etc), 900 by 3 years, 1500 by 4 years, and 2500 by 5 years. For higher education, a vocabulary of 100,000 words is required. Sharon Moore emphasizes that you cannot read what you cannot speak; complex vocabulary and reading structure/ language are required for real reading. There area 5 key areas in teaching people to read:

1) Phonemic awareness

2) Phonics

3) Fluency

4) Vocabulary

5) Text comprehension

Many hearing impaired children who were previously managing, fall off in 4^th grade because they do not know phonics. At this point, they are meant to read to learn, and therefore pick up new words as read along, and they cannot keep up with this.

Sharon gave many helpful recommendations. Among them were the following:

1) Read 10 books/ day with your child to stimulate vocabulary

2) Even if your child can read, still read to him just above his level to continue to teach new vocabulary.

3) Do an activity, take pictures, and then put together your own books (for younger children), so that they can tell and re-tell the story. Include high frequency words. Cooking is a good thing to do this with, for example.

4) Children should be tested using STANDARDIZED TESTING in ALL of the following areas mentioned near the top of the page.

5) She and her cohorts are available to provide this testing free of charge to all children in the public system, but her services must be requested by the school (ECA director)

6) Children should have 1 hour a day of intensive language therapy for each year that they are delayed.

Parents Present:
Leslie Wolfe (and sister in law!)

Jenny Ball

Arthur & Tracy Tastet
Loretta & Matthew Slozer

Pam Bensimhon
Rhonda Shronts
Chris & Crystal Rierson

Children Present: (A big thank you to Bizi Kidz!!!!!)
Collin and Hannah Tastet
Eli and Zack Bensimhon

The Slozer quads and McKenna

Thanks to Loretta and Matthew Slozer for bringing the snacks for children and adults to the meeting. Leigh and Marty Reeves are signed up to bring snacks to the next meeting.

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, September 25, 2007. Our speaker will be Pat Roush, AuD, from UNC Chapel Hill. It is always productive to talk to Pat! We hope that all can attend.

Pam Bensimhon, Crystal Rierson, Rhonda Shronts
Co-leaders, Triad Area HITCH-UP

Making the Connections: A Conference About Childhood Hearing Loss

October 5 and 6, 2007
At the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center
Greensboro, North Carolina

The agenda is now posted at www.sph.unc.edu/oce.

Designed for families and service providers working with early hearing screening or children with hearing loss.

North Carolina Institute for Public Health
Office of Continuing Education

UPCOMING EVENTS:

7/31/07: Monthly meeting, usual place and time (Tuesday 6:30-8:30pm Greensboro AHEC)
Guest Speaker: Sharon Moore, CED, AVT. Speaking about: Reading & Language: How do they connect?

8/4/07: POOL PARTY! @ 4pm.
We are planning a cookout with hamburgers and hot dogs to be
provided. If everyone who attends could bring a side dish or dessert, we will
have a wonderful summer dinner.

Upcoming Conferences and Events:

*AG Bell Talk for a Lifetime Summer Conference - Research and Application in
Neurodevelopmental Research at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA
on July 27 & 28, 2007. Please see the web link below for more details.
http://www.agbell.org:80/DesktopDefault.aspx?p=Talk_for_a_Lifetime_Conference ttp://www.agbell.org:80/DesktopDefault.aspx?p=Talk_for_a_Lifetime_Conference>

*NC EHDI (Early Hearing Detection & Intervention) Conference on October 5 & 6,
2007 at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, NC – details to follow soon

Triad HITCH-UP Meeting Highlights 6/27/07

Topic: Presentation: Childhood Hearing Loss: The Importance of Early
Intervention

Guest Speaker: Debra L. Tucci, M.D.; Director Otology/Neurotology and Cochlear
Implant Program
Division of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Duke University Medical
Center.

Dr. Tucci started her discussion with points regarding auditory system
development in utero and through the first 12 months of life and beyond. There
was further discussion on the effects of deprivation (conductive hearing loss)
on early development of auditory function. We discussed ways for helping
children with chronic otitis media with middle ear effusion to develop normal
speech, language, cognition and behavior. Other causes of conductive loss and
tests of auditory function were discussed. The effects of chronic conductive
hearing loss are as follows: Articulation of speech and understanding speech in
noise, grammatical skills less developed and poorer performance on tasks
requiring sustained attention to language (paraphrasing a story), less likely to
attend to book reading, more often play alone, more easily distracted and less
independent by school age. We also briefly discussed the effects of minimal and
unilateral sensory neural hearing loss.

Practical guidelines for use with hearing impaired children: Speak simply and
clearly, promote one-on-one interaction with adults, enhance child's sustained
attention to language in small groups with reinforced listening and promote
active listening and eye contact, reduce ambient noise and promote good signal
to noise ratio.

Medical and Audiological Management should include: Advocate for hearing
assessment during episodes of Otitis Media Effusion, use to help determine
nature and timing of intervention, and treat aggressively; Don't underestimate
effects of mild, fluctuating or unilateral hearing loss; Develop parent and
teacher guidelines to minimize impact of hearing loss; Consider surgical
treatment or amplification even for young children with unilateral loss.

Parents Present:
Pam Bensimhon
Rhonda Shronts
Chris & Crystal Rierson
Leigh & Marty Reeves
Arthur & Tracy Tastet
Loretta & Matthew Slozer
Christy & Robert Burke
Ann McNally
Pam Bensimhom
Rhonda Shronts
Chris & Crystal Rierson

We neglected to include Wendy Katsiagianis on the attendee list last month.
Sorry Wendy! We love having you and looking forward to seeing you next month.

Children Present: (A big thank you to Rebecca & Laura Fleenor from Bizi
Kidz!!!!!)
Angeleah Reeves
Collin and Hannah Tastet
Eli and Zack Bensimhon

Thanks to Rhonda Shronts for bringing the snacks for children and adults to the
meeting. Thank you to everyone who signed up to bring snacks to future
meetings!

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, July 31, 2007. Our speaker will be Sharon
Moore, CED, AVT. The topic is: Reading & Language: How do they connect? We
hope that all can attend.

Pam Bensimhon, Crystal Rierson, Rhonda Shronts
Co-leaders, Triad Area HITCH-UP

Meeting Highlights 5/29/07

Triad HITCH-UP Meeting Highlights
May 29, 2007

Topic: Informal discussion: Growing up with hearing loss: What is it like from the other side of the hearing aids?

Guest Speaker: A small panel of people graciously agreed to discuss their experiences. Panel members included:
John Pendergraft, a 15 year old with a moderately-severe loss
Chase Chromer, a rising high school senior with a moderate hearing loss
Sarah Soltani, an 11 yo profound loss, using a CI and a hearing aid
Miriam Bradley, a 30 year old mother with severe to profound congenital hearing loss

Each member of the panel went through his/her personal story, discussing their hearing loss, age of diagnosis and devices used. We then had an informal group discussion. The panelists shared their social and academic experiences with school, what they felt were the most difficult times, using the FM system, and tutoring/ assistance in school. They discussed dealing with friends and sports, the cafeteria, swimming, and large group discussions. They discussed technology that they have found useful, such as vibrating bed alarms and wristwatch control of hearing aid settings. Sarah told us about what it was like when she first got her CI, and the differences she notices between her CI and HA (as she wears one of each). Each one described what they were able and not able to hear unaided and aided, given their various levels of loss. All panelists impressed us all with their impeccable speech! We also greatly appreciated the input of the moms, Terry Chromer, Martha Soltani, and Mary Pendergraft.

Parents Present:
Pam & Dan Bensimhon
Crystal & Chris Rierson
Rhonda and Kerry Shronts
Mary Pendergraft
Leigh & Marty Reeves
Loretta Slozer
Martha Soltani
Arthur Tastet

Children Present: (Thanks to Bizi Kidz, Rebecca & Laura Fleenor for childcare. Thank you!)
Eli & Zack Bensimhon
Chloe Rierson
Colin & Will Shronts
Angeleah Reeves


Thanks to Crystal Rierson for bringing the snacks for the children and adults to the May meeting. Rhonda Shronts is signed up to bring the snacks to the June 26, 2007 meeting.

Our next meeting is the usual time and place, Tuesday, June 26, 2007 from 6:30-8:30pm. Our speaker will be Debara Tucci, MD, MS, Director Duke Cochlear Implant Program. Dr. Tucci will present the impact of hearing loss on auditory processing and development in children. We hope that everyone can attend.


Upcoming Conferences and Events:

*AG Bell Talk for a Lifetime Summer Conference - Research and Application in Neurodevelopmental Research at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA
on July 27 & 28, 2007. Please see the web link below for more details.
http://www.agbell.org:80/DesktopDefault.aspx?p=Talk_for_a_Lifetime_Conference

*NC EHDI (Early Hearing Detection & Intervention) Conference on October 5 & 6, 2007 at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, NC – details to follow soon

Please also visit the NC AG Bell Website http://www.ncagbell.org/ , and the news section of triadhitchup.com, for a listing of conferences, articles, events, links and more great information.

Hope to see all of you June 26th!

Pam Bensimhon, Crystal Rierson, Rhonda Shronts
Co-leaders, Triad HITCH-UP

Local Events: Making the Connections: A Conference About Childhood Hearing Loss

Making the Connections: A Conference About Childhood Hearing Loss

October 5 and 6, 2007
At the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center
Greensboro, North Carolina

Register now at www.sph.unc.edu/oce or call 919-966-4032.

Kid playingDesigned for families and service providers working with children with hearing loss

The conference begins at 10:00 am on Friday, October 5 and ends at 1:30 pm on Saturday, October 6.