December 2001/January 2002
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New Press
AARP
WISE EARS!® was listed as a resource in the American Society on Aging summer 2001 issue of Max, "Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Elders: Practical Tips for Healthcare Providers."
News From the NIDCD
WISE EARS!® Featured in My Generation
A special thanks to WISE EARS!® coalition partner Tricia Selby, of AARP, for her efforts to get the WISE EARS!® public service announcement in the January-February 2002 issue of My Generation.
Many Boomers Facing 'Premature' Hearing Loss
Featured on MSNBC Health News: baby boomers who are suffering from "premature" hearing loss as a result of growing up amid loud music, noisy souped-up cars, and deafening electronic equipment.
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New Partners
WISE EARS!® Welcomes New Partner
Dangerous DecibelsTM
A public health partnership for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss through exhibits, educational outreach, and research. The WISE EARS!® contact is Linda Howarth. www.dangerousdecibels.org.
Remember to send us news on your WISE EARS!® activities for our next newsletter.
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News From You
Shure Musical Roots Concert to Benefit Hearing Conservation
As a follow-up to its successful online contest, Shure Incorporated announced the Shure Musical Roots Concert, a benefit for hearing conservation charities being held during this year's Winter NAMM. The concert, which will feature Shure endorsing artists Living Colour and several special guest appearances, marks Shure's commitment to the cause of hearing conservation. All proceeds will be donated to three hearing conservation charities--H.E.A.R., the House Ear Institute's Sound Partners Program, and the Hearing Aid Musical Foundation. The concert is scheduled for Saturday, January 19, 2002, from 7-10 pm at the House of Blues Anaheim.
Updates From House Ear Institute
In June, the MIX L.A. Open Golf Tournament in Malibu benefiting HEI's Sound Partners program and targeting the pro-audio and music industries with a hearing conversation message raised significant funds for continued hearing conservation activities.
In July, HEI staff co-wrote a feature targeted to the pro-audio readers of the Sound & Video Contractor trade publication. The article advises audio manufacturers and distributors on how to avoid liability and protect the hearing health of their customers by following strict sound-level guidelines for equipment use.
Also in July, Systems Contractor News covered HEI's "Sound Partners" hearing conservation program. The Orange County News Channel (OCN) interviewed John W. House, M.D., at the Chapman Center in Orange County for a short news report on high levels of noise in movie theatres.
In August, HEI's new Sound Partners Outreach brochure on "Hearing Conservation Tips" was distributed to pro-audio professionals and trade associations.
In October, KIWANIS magazine printed a 4-page feature article interviewing two of the House Ear Clinic's audiologists on hearing conservation. The article is titled "Listen up! (if you can)".
On October 18, Dilys Jones gave a hearing conservation presentation to 200 Polytech Middle School students.
On October 21, representatives from the House Ear Institute provided hearing screenings and educational hearing health information at the NARAS MusiCares Health Fair.
There have been a total of 2,245 requests for earplugs in the past five months.
November 30-December 3, the House Ear Institute staff provided hearing conservation information and distributed free earplugs to attendees of the Audio Engineering Society Convention in New York City. Over 300 audio professionals received free hearing screenings at this event.
The MIX Foundation honored HEI at the 2001 Technical Excellence and Creativity Awards in December.
January 26, 2002, HEI staff will present a workshop on hearing health for musicians through University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Extension Program.
February 22, 2002, staff will present a similar workshop to the students enrolled in the University of Southern California (USC) Music Program.
Oregon Health & Science University and Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Dangerous DecibelsTM, a public health partnership for prevention of noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus based in Portland, Oregon, has received funding for development and implementation of teacher education and classroom programs for first, fourth, and seventh grades in rural Oregon. Funding comes from Ford Family Foundation and Crane Creek Foundation and will enable the program to show teachers and students how to prevent noise-induced hearing loss during fun and entertaining hands-on classroom demonstrations in Douglas County in the winter and spring of 2002. This will lead to a progressive implementation of a similar statewide program.
May 2002--OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) will open a Dangerous DecibelsTM exhibition consisting of 11 interrelated, instructional, and entertaining exhibits that will use state-of-the-art technology, creative ingenuity, and current hearing research information to address three educational goals:
- What are the sources of noise that produce hearing loss (dangerous decibels)?
- What are the consequences of dangerous decibels?
- How do I protect myself from dangerous decibels?
A review of hearing conservation programs in the U.S. is slated for publication in February 2002:
Folmer, RL, Griest, SE, and Martin, W.H. Hearing Conservation Education Programs for Children: A Review. Journal of School Health, 72, in press.
For more information, contact the NIDCD Information Clearinghouse.
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