18January 2017

Hearing rehabilitation
A large percentage of hearing aids end up in the top drawer.
Stigma is one reason why people dont wear their aids. It
confirms people dont just need devices, they need the
professional rehabilitative services that go with them.

Hearing services under the NDIS

A national inquiry will be held into how hearing services are
transitioned to, and delivered by the National Disability
Insurance Scheme.

2017 Australasian Newborn

Screening Conference

Hearing

We invite you to submit an abstract for presentation at the 9th

Australasian Newborn Hearing Screening Conference, May 19
and 20 in Melbourne.

Stop sticking things in your ears

Earwax belongs inside your ears, and if you do end up with
earwax impaction, call your doctor who can remove the wax
manually.

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, community, sea, and waters where we live and work. We pay our respects to
elderspast,presentandfutureandvaluethecontributionsIndigenousAustraliansmakeinoursociety.Weacknowledgethechallengefor
IndigenousleadersandfamiliestoovercometheunacceptablyhighlevelsofearhealthissuesamongfirstAustralians.

National inquiry: hearing services under the NDIS

An inquiry will be held into how hearing services are transitioned to, and delivered by the National
Disability Insurance Scheme.
The Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme will take
evidence and accept submissions from the community and report its findings and
recommendations in March.
The due date for submissions is 30 January 2017.
Visit www.aph.gov.au/joint_ndis
The terms of reference for the inquiry are as follows:
a) the eligibility criteria for determining access to, and service needs of, deaf and hearing
impaired people under the NDIS
b) delays in receiving services, with particular emphasis on early intervention services
c) the adequacy of funding for hearing services under the NDIS
d) the accessibility of hearing services, including in rural and remote areas
e) the principle of choice of hearing service provider
f) the liaison with key stakeholders in the design of NDIS hearing services, particularly in the
development of reference packages
g) investment in research and innovation in hearing services
h) any other related matters.
Deafness Forum encourages its members and friends to make submissions. We would also value
your help in writing our submission. If you have issues and information we can consider for
inclusion, please drop us a line at info@deafnessforum.org.au

Doctors: Seriously, stop sticking cotton buds in your ears

By Ryan F. Mandelbaum
I tingle just thinking about the full-body sensation accompanying a cotton bud exploring the inside
of my ear canal. But the guilt-ridden pleasure is always followed by a nagging mother whisper:
"Don't put anything smaller than your elbow into your ear!" Well, scientists have decided to
amplify that whisper.

The American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Foundation published an
updated set of guidelines on managing ear gunk in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. The
recommendations don't contain many surprises, but they will definitely give you another reason to
worry screw around inside your ears too much and you might give yourself earwax impaction,
which is basically a stuffy nose for your ear.
Earwax, also known as cerumen, is essentially the snot that serves to grease up the inside of your
ears and trap any invading dirt particles. Your body normally deals with earwax buildups just fine,
by circulating old wax out of the ear where it crusts up on its own, and by growing more skin
cells, according to the report. If that process breaks down, though, earwax might build up in your
ears, making it difficult to hear or resulting in a feeling of stuffiness. Around 10 per cent of
children and five per cent of adults suffer from this problem, with numbers higher in older or
developmentally-delayed folks. New data on cerumen impaction motivated the release of new
recommendations for how to deal with it.
The report can be summarised as follows:
Don't clean your ears too much.
Don't put small things like cotton buds into your ear. Sorry, I know, but cotton buds can
push earwax further inside your head, making impaction worse or irritating the inside of
your ear.

Call a doctor if you have symptoms like ear pain, hearing loss or stuffy-headedness that
might not be from earwax.
If you're suffering from earwax buildup, ask your doctor about safe ways to treat it.

And don't even try ear candling, an alternative medicine procedure that involves lighting a candle
over your ear to try and draw the wax out. It doesn't make any sense and you'll probably just get
candle wax in your ears.
Your biggest takeaway should be that the earwax belongs inside your ears, and if you do end up
with earwax impaction, call your doctor who can remove the wax manually.
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2017/01/doctors-seriously-stop-sticking-cotton-buds-in-your-ears/

Disability services privatised and targeted for more cuts

in Australias public schools
By Susan Allan
The public education system in Australia is beset by myriad funding cuts, all of which compromise
the ability of teachers and schools to provide the best possible education to their students.
One of the most egregiously under-funded areas is the provision of services to students with
disabilities.
Across the countrys six states there is a patchwork of different funding models for such students.
Everywhere, however, the trend is the same governments are moving to cut funding for
disability services, providing more profit-making opportunities to various corporate interests, and
placing mounting pressure on under-trained and under-resourced teachers to individually address
an array of complex physical, psychological, intellectual and other disabilities.
The situation is most advanced in the state of Victoria. Victorias Program for Students with
Disabilities (PSD), first established in 1995, provides schools with targeted funding for students
who qualify under one of seven categories: physical disability, visual impairment, hearing
impairment, severe behaviour disorder, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, and
severe language disorder.
All students who qualify for the PSD are allocated annual funding of between $6,000 and $51,000
each, depending on the assessed severity of their disability. The largest proportion of eligible
students (approximately 40 percent) receives $15,000 a year, while another 25 percent receive
$24,000. The majority of this money is usually allocated to Education Support staff, who support
the student in the classroom and schoolyard for a part of the school week, though can also be
spent on equipment and teacher training.

The governments own figures make clear the inadequacy of the PSD. Just 4 percent of the public
school population qualify, while another 11 percent are estimated to have a disability, yet receive
no targeted funding.
School administrators and teachers are nevertheless legally obligated, under disability and equal
opportunity legislation, to provide reasonable adjustments to allow all those with disabilities to
fully participate in school life. According to one government document, reasonable adjustments
may include, but not be limited to, infrastructure adjustments, the use of ES [Education Support]
staff, or adjustments in teaching approaches or styles to adapt to the strengths and needs of
particular students.
The vagueness of these formulations is undoubtedly deliberate. It has worked to divert parent
frustration and anger away from the government, and led to a situation where, in some public
schools, parents of disabled children who do not qualify for PSD funding have bitterly clashed with
overworked teachers and school administrators over rival assessments of what constitutes a
reasonable adjustment within the classroom and the school.
Such angry reactions on the part of parents are not confined to those whose children fail to
qualify. Many parents of children who do qualify, complain that their funding is inadequate and
blame schools and teachers for failing to provide enough services and support. Parent complaints
to regional and higher educational authorities, beyond the local school, including threats of legal
action, are becoming more prevalent, and these place immense pressure on under-resourced
schools, principals and teachers to meet ever-increasing demands.
World Socialist Website, https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/01/05/disa-j05.html

National Disability Insurance Scheme

People in a number of new areas and age groups across six states and territories became eligible
to access the NDIS in January. The new rollout areas and age groups include:
East Arnhem and eligible people in supported accommodation in Darwin Urban in the
Northern Territory
Toowoomba and west to the borders in Queensland
Central Highlands in Victoria
Expansion of the Perth Hills trial site to Bayswater, Bassendean, Chittering, Toodyay, York
and Northam in Western Australia
Young people aged between 15 and 17 years in South Australia
Adults aged 25 to 28 years in Tasmania
Visit https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/our-sites.html for more information on the roll out of
NDIS, and https://www.ndis.gov.au/ndis-ready.html for resources to help prepare for the Scheme.

NDIS Workshops
Over three days from February 20, 2017, people with disability and their families in Bendigo will
be able to get detailed information on the NDIS in a series of six free half-day workshops. These
workshops will also be available in the coming months in Horsham and Wodonga.
Free entry for people with disability and their families
Complimentary food and drinks
Regular breaks
Accessible environments
Accessible materials
Excellent quality resources to take home
Find out more at http://www.disabilityloop.org.au/news/bendigo_ndis_workshops.html

NDIS concepts now explained in Auslan

Information about the NDIS in Auslan is now available in a series of videos. These new videos
explain what the NDIS is, the way people and providers will interact with the Scheme and
introduce some key concepts regarding how the NDIS works. Many of these concepts have not
previously been translated into Auslan so new ways of signing them have been developed. Each
new sign is contained in one of the new videos. Watch them today on the NDIS YouTube channel
and share with your networks. https://www.youtube.com/user/DisabilityCare

Sweeney Interpreting: Providing quality Auslan/English interpreting services

Enabling clear communication

Auslan/ English interpreting

VRI (Video Remote Interpreting)
Deaf Interpreters
Emergency After Hours Interpreting
Training for Workplaces
Auslan Classes
Mentoring Opportunities for Interpreters

sweeneyinterpreting@gmail.com

24 26 February 2017
Waters Edge
1 Buller Road
Port Macquarie, NSW
Bring family & friends to Port Macquarie has the best
climate in Australia, a beautiful coastline & great
restaurants.
Join academics, policy makers, parents, clinicians,
educators and community representatives for a thought
provoking and cutting edge seminar convened by Mel
Gray-Thompson.

Auslan-English interpreters and live captioning

will be available throughout the seminar.

Blue Beach Girl. Lino-print. Art work

by Donna McDonald; Printed by
Wim deVos, Studio West End.
2016.

Presenters

Click HERE
to
Register

Dr Donna McDonald (Griffith University)

All registrations close on
Prof Greg Leigh (RIDBC)
5 February 2017
Ann Porter (Aussie Deaf Kids)
Dr Wayne Wilson (University of Queensland)
Full Fee $890/Single Day $300
Alex Jones (Deaf Society NSW)
Leonie Jackson (Deaf Society NSW)
Students and parents contact IAA
Dr Dunay Schmulian (Consultant)
for subsidised rates
Dr Judith Boswell (NT Health)
Grant Collins (Clarity Hearing Solutions)
Emma van Wanrooy (Independent Audiologist)
Dr Chyrisse Heine (La Trobe University)
Mark Thurston (Port Macquarie Acoustics)
at
Ashleigh Donald (Hearing Excellence)

Details and register

www.independentaudiologists.net.au

Contact
0424 720 915
exec@independentaudiologists.net.au

With contributions from:

Deafness Forum, Parents of Deaf Children and
the National Disability Insurance Agency.

Limited places available - reserve your place TODAY

Excellence in Education

Hearing rehab helps adjust to living with hearing aids

A large percentage of hearing aids, and sometimes very expensive hearing aids, end up in
cupboards and drawers rather than ears. This non-use of hearing aids is a worldwide problem.
According to research, stigma is one reason why
people dont wear their aids, the majority of their
research revealed people were disappointed and
dissatisfied because they had been overpromised on how much hearing aids would help.
This research simply confirms people dont just
need hearing aids, they need the professional
rehabilitative services that go with them.
Hearing help is more than buying a gadget to put
in your ear and there are many factors to consider
when adjusting to living with hearing loss.
Understanding your hearing loss
You can lose your hearing for many reasons. It could be the result of an infection, a problem with
the inner or outer ear, or it may be a neural problem or even genetic. By talking to a specialist,
you can find out more about your type of hearing loss. You can then discover where the
problems are, such as why you have difficulty in hearing female voices, or why you hear sounds
but dont understand them, and can give you strategies to help.
Hearing aids
One size does not fit all. Although there are many different hearing aid advertisements, and
family members and friends may inform you of better hearing aids, they may not be suitable for
your type of hearing loss. Counseling and information prior to the fitting of devices is imperative
if you are to get the best from your hearing aid. An explanation of the benefits, and limitations, of
hearing aids will give you realistic expectations and help you adjust to wearing it.
Take the time to sit with your specialist and read the information. A good audiologist will also
give you information about care for your aid, how to troubleshoot problems and encourage you to
ask questions.
Hearing rehabilitation
When a person injures a leg or arm, they often have rehabilitation to help them use it again.
Hearing loss is no different. You need to learn new strategies to help you with hearing and
communication. You may find when you start wearing your aid, you are bombarded with sounds
remember, youve been living in a very quiet world and suddenly hearing a lot of sounds will
take some adjusting to. A specialist will help you work through this and give you techniques and
tips to help you learn new listening habits. For instance, you may find it easier to wear the
hearing aid for just a couple of hours a day at home before you venture out into a more social
environment.

Other devices
There are some situations where a hearing aid isnt the best device, but there are other aids
available. These include Bluetooth, telecoils, TV listening devices, microphones and telephone
amplifiers. When you are fitted with hearing aids, you should be made aware of these other
options which will help enhance your hearing experience.
Support groups
Support groups are an ideal way to share experiences, learn how to handle situations and to
generally have mutual support from other people experiencing hearing loss.
This article was created with support from Better Hearing Australia (VIC).
https://www.agedcareguide.com.au/talking-aged-care/hearing-rehabilitation-to-adjust-to-living-with-hearing-loss

Important development in text communication in USA

The Federal Communications Commission amended its rules to allow phone companies to replace
support for an outdated form of text telephone communications, known as TTY, with support for
real-time text, to provide reliable telephone communications for Americans who are deaf, hard of
hearing, deaf-blind, or who have a speech disability.
As the nations communications networks migrate to IP-based environments, real-time text
technology will allow Americans with disabilities to use the same wireless communications devices
as their friends, relatives and colleagues, and more seamlessly integrate into tomorrows
communications networks. Under FCC rules, phone companies and manufacturers are required to
support accessible text communications services, which for years have taken the form of TTY
services. Under the new rules, carriers and manufacturers will be allowed to use the more
advanced and interoperable real-time text technology to meet this obligation.
Real-Time Text is text transmitted while it is being typed or created, with the characters being
sent immediately (within a fraction of a second) once typed, and also displayed immediately to the
receiving person(s). This means that the receiving person(s) can read the newly created text
while the sender is still typing it. In this way Real-Time Text has the same conversational
directness and interactivity as voice.
Real-time text enables the full integration of people with disabilities into IP communications
networks as they become widely available. It allows consumers using text communications to
interact directly with consumers on voice phones, and vice versa. This technology will also be
able to function in off-the-shelf devices like common smartphones. This will eliminate the need
for consumers with disabilities to purchase expensive and often hard-to-find specialised text
devices.

Isabella ready to start big school thanks to cochlear implant

Rebecca Franks, Southern Courier
FIVE year old Isabella Walsh was diagnosed with hearing
loss at birth but thanks to the Royal Institute for Deaf and
Blind Children and great Aussie invention the cochlear
implant she is ready to start big school.
The Canadian-born Randwick resident was diagnosed with
mild to moderate hearing loss following the newborn
screening test and eventually it emerged she had Pendreds
Syndrome, a disorder that causes deafness.
When Mel and I heard the news our first born had hearing loss we were devastated, Isabellas
father Simon Walsh said.
There is no history of hearing loss in our family so it was a total shock.
We had no family support nearby as we were living in Toronto at the time, so this made it harder
again.
At nine months, Isabella was fitted with hearing aids and in 2014 she received a cochlear implant
in her left ear.
Mr Walsh said his eldest daughter, who has a little sister Elodie, was experiencing a new world of
sound thanks to the SCIC Cochlear Implant Program run by the RIDBC.
The next big step for Isabella is starting at Waverley Public School later this month.
I think for us, and probably like most parents, we were concerned about when or if she would be
emotionally ready to start school given what she has been through.
This all fell into place during the year, and she is now more than ready.
The support we have received from everyone at RIDBC has made a huge difference and we now
feel confident that Isabella has a bright future ahead of her.
The SCIC Cochlear Implant Program supports close to 4000 children and adults across Australia.
Details: ridbc.org.au/scic or call 1300 658 981.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/southern-courier/isabella-ready-to-start-big-schoolthanks-to-cochlear-implant/news-story/11bb2b633f0739319cb28eb1725d84d2

2017 Australasian Newborn Hearing Screening Conference

Melbourne, May 19 and 20
We invite you to submit an abstract for presentation at the 9th Australasian Newborn Hearing
Screening Conference. Themes include:

The two sides of care: clinician well-being when working with infants and their families
Utilising the systems and infrastructure of screening programs for innovation, research and
efficiency
Quality improvement along the newborn hearing screening pathway
Improving outcomes for children through early detection and intervention
Innovation and frontier advances for children with hearing loss

More at http://www.anhsconference.com/

Ross Joyce has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Australian Federation of
Disability Organisations (AFDO).
AFDO is the primary national organisation that advocates to Government for the interests of all
people with disability in Australia. Deafness Forum of Australia is a foundation member of AFDO.
We are delighted to appoint Ross as the Chief Executive Officer of AFDO following an extensive
national executive search & interview process said President, Trevor Carroll. We have been very
fortunate in having Ross in the Interim CEO role and believe that his appointment will cement
AFDOs position as the leader in the peak disability consumer advocacy sector.
Ross brings to the role a wealth of not-for-profit experience, representation of disadvantaged
communities and business acumen.
I feel honoured to be able to lead such a significant and well respected organisation and I am
passionately committed to working towards a truly inclusive society, Ross said.
I believe AFDO has the capacity to extend and build on its great work to ensure an inclusive
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), improve employment outcomes for people with
disability in Australia and increase the representation of people with disability and family
organisations at all levels.

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