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21September2016

Feelings about aging


hearing and memory

can

affect

Knowing that changing how older adults feel about themselves


could improve their abilities to hear and remember will enable
the development of interventions to improve their quality of
life.

War on ear diseases


indigenous kids

affecting

Poor hearing and poor school performance set up a cycle of


poor skills, unemployment, substance abuse, violence, high
incarceration rates and suicide.

Zika virus: hearing loss in babies


Medical experts say that if Zika virus followed the similar
pattern of causing hearing loss as it is in the case of other
viruses, the hearing loss could be permanent in babies.

TV emergency broadcasts
Auslan interpreters have told me that they want more
understanding of the wording used by emergency services
personnel, so that they can interpret it accurately, including a
copy of the statement before it is televised. We also need to
increase our use of captions not only for people who may
not hear now but for people who will develop hearing loss with
age.

Weacknowledgethetraditionalcustodiansoftheland,community,sea,andwaterswhereweliveandwork. Wepayour
respects to elders past, present and future and value the contributions Indigenous Australians make in our society. We
acknowledgethechallengeforIndigenousleadersandfamiliestoovercometheunacceptablyhighlevelsofearhealthissues
amongfirstAustralians.

Specialists declare war on ear diseases affecting


indigenous kids

Tess Livingstone, The Australian

Ear, nose and throat specialists have declared war on one of the most preventable and treatable
conditions undermining the wellbeing and learning of Aboriginal children serious ear disease.
Brisbane-based ENT surgeon Chris Perry, president of the Australian Society of Otolaryngology
Head and Neck Surgery, said the chronic problem was not factored into Closing the Gap
practical reconciliation metrics and even the Australian Medical Association ignored the problem,
but it should be part of gap closure, because as many as 90 per cent of Aboriginal children
have deafness more than three months of the year.
The incidence is seasonal, Dr Perry said.
In the Northern Territory, about 25 per
cent have perforated eardrums and in the
APY lands of South Australia it is 35 per
cent, many times the incidence in
caucasian children. Its responsible for
delayed language development, difficulty
with
comprehension,
boredom
and
inattention at school and is a major
contributing factor to truancy.
In turn, poor hearing and poor school performance set up a cycle of poor skills, unemployment,
substance abuse, violence, high incarceration rates and suicide.
Dr Perry and more than 20 other Queensland ENT surgeons regularly spend several weeks a year
in indigenous communities, performing up to 10 operations a day to clear childrens ears and
remove adenoids to reduce reinfections. They work as part of Queenslands Deadly Ears program,
which visits people in remote communities regularly.
Dr Perry cited a Senate committee report released in May 2010 that concluded indigenous
Australians suffered deafness and ear problems at 10 times the rate of non-indigenous
Australians.
Little has been done since then, Dr Perry said. He believed Queenslands Deadly Ears program
would serve as an ideal model to start from, but Aboriginal communities needed a program
specifically designed for their circumstances.
Visit Deadly Ears at https://www.health.qld.gov.au/deadly_ears/

Zika virus: hearing loss in babies


Medical experts have confirmed that newborns infected with Zika virus suffer from hearing loss,
which is yet another health issue being linked to the disease in babies.
Seventy babies whose mothers suffered from the infection were chosen for a Brazilian study that
aimed at confirming other symptoms the virus shows. After the study was conducted, it was
found that around 6 percent of them suffered from hearing loss, which added to the list of
symptoms the baby showed due to their mothers infection contracted during pregnancy.
The study was published in the US
Centers for Disease Control and
Preventions on Tuesday that comprised
the weekly report on death and disease.
The scientists confirmed the reports of
declined audibility among infants when
they are born to Zika-infected mothers.
The babies on whom the study was
conducted
were
born
between
November and May.
They were
attended and treated by experts at the
Hospital Agamenon Magalhaes in Recife,
Brazil. The city is the epicenter of the
infection outbreak in the nation.
Earlier, the conditions of microcephaly and arthrogryposis were reported as symptoms seen in
infants. However, now another condition has come into existence, which is the loss of hearing
ability in babies. Microcephaly is a condition where babies suffer from deteriorated head size and
declined brain abilities, while arthrogryposis is a condition where babies have joint issues.
According to USA Today, there are a number of viruses that cause hearing losses in babies. Some
of them include German measles or rubella, cytomegalovirus and syphilis. University of Utah
School of Medicines pediatric neurology professor James Bale claimed that if Zika virus followed
the similar pattern of causing hearing loss as it is in the case of other viruses, the hearing loss
could be permanent in babies.
Scientists said that though other viruses show delayed hearing loss symptoms in babies gradually,
they might get worse with time. Hence, it has been suggested in the new study that babies
expected to have Zika virus infection must undergo hearing tests, regardless of the fact that the
symptoms would be instantly detected.
http://www.australianetworknews.com/zika-virus-symptoms-hearing-loss-babies-confirmed/

Negative feelings about aging can affect hearing


and memory in older people

Catharine Paddock PhD, Medical News Today http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

Older adults who have negative feelings about aging also perform less well in tests of hearing and
memory when the negative feelings appear to undermine confidence in their ability to hear and
remember things.
This was the finding of the first study to look at associations among three variables in the same
group of older adults: views on aging, self-perceptions about one's hearing and memory ability,
and one's actual performance in those skills.
The study, led by the University of Toronto in Canada, is published in the journal Psychology and
Aging.

Changing how older adults feel about themselves could improve their ability to hear and remember.

First author Alison Chasteen explained there is a need to understand more about the factors that
influence the daily lives of older people.
"People's feelings about getting older influence their sensory and cognitive functions. Those
feelings are often rooted in stereotypes about getting older and comments made by those around
them that their hearing and memory are failing."
When they analysed the results from the study, the team found that participants who had
negative views about aging - and who believed they had problems with their hearing and memory
- also performed less well on tests of those abilities.

"That's not to say all older adults who demonstrate poor capacities for hearing and memory have
negative views of aging.
It's not that negative views on aging cause poor performance in some functions, there is simply a
strong correlation between the two when a negative view impacts an individual's confidence in the
ability to function," Prof. Chasteen said.
This indicates a need to appreciate these broader and wider factors when assessing older people's
cognitive and sensory health, she explains. The perceptions they have about their abilities and
functioning and how they feel about getting older should be considered.
"Knowing that changing how older adults feel about themselves could improve their abilities to
hear and remember will enable the development of interventions to improve their quality of life,"
Prof. Chasteen said.

Medical News Today reported a study that found home-delivered meals reduce feelings of
loneliness in older people who are homebound. The randomly controlled trial concluded that
Meals on Wheels goes beyond ensuring nutritional health; it also has a positive impact on the
emotional health of older people in need. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/303690.php

Conexu is a finalist in Dreams for a Better World, with a project which aims to support sports
participation for deaf kids. Using Conexus Auslan to English app, and in partnership with Deaf
Sports Australia, the project is through the first round with the dream of breaking down
communication barriers between deaf and hearing kids.
Watch at https://dreamsforabetterworld.com.au/finalist/conexu-foundation
Watch the Auslan version at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5s1QvDlPDs&feature=youtu.be

One in six Australians has a hearing health and well-being issue. People with a hearing
loss or who communicate in Auslan are not recognised within the public consciousness as having a
serious disability that impacts on almost every aspect of a persons life. We need you to share our
campaign with your friends, colleagues and family members to encourage them to sign up.

Deafness Forum director Alexander Phillips visited the National President of the Australian Labor
Party and Federal Member for Port Adelaide (SA) Mark Butler MP.
At right, David Brady met with Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Federal Member for Member for
Fenner (ACT) Dr Andrew Leigh.

http://breakthesoundbarrier.org.au/

AUSLAN interpreters needed in all TV emergency


broadcasts
Dignity for Disability is calling on the South Australian Government and Emergency Services
Minister, Peter Malinauskas, to ensure Australian sign language (AUSLAN) interpretation is part of
TV broadcasts in all emergency situations.
Last year, I worked with the state government to mandate an amendment to the State
Emergency Management Plan (SEMP) to ensure that there is an obligation to provide Auslan
(Australian Sign Language) interpretation is included in official televised announcements, says
Kelly Vincent.
Yet on Wednesday 14th September during the serious flooding events throughout metropolitan
Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsula, no Auslan interpreters were present. Many people were
driving through dangerous floodwaters, and Rapid Bay Primary School had to be evacuated
demonstrating there was a serious risk to public safety.
During this weeks emergency, the Deaf community were shocked that their communications
needs were not included in broadcasts.
Following the Sampson Flat and Pinery bushfires advocates told me they were worried that
interpreters were present at some of the media conferences held by the Government about the
fires, but not all.
Dignity for Disability says consistency is vital to make sure that everyone gets the information
they need to stay informed and safe during emergency situations and not just bushfires, but
extreme weather events and flooding. The State Government indicated its support for a policy
change in the SEMP, rather than legislation.
Ms Vincent said there is also a need for increased training of interpreters, emergency services
staff and minister, and camera operators.
Auslan interpreters have told me that they want more understanding of the wording used by
emergency services personnel, so that they can interpret it accurately, including a copy of the
statement before it is televised. We also need to train camera operators so that they know that
the interpreter has to be in the frame.
Ms Vincent said that it is clear from Dignity for Disabilitys consultation that Auslan is not the only
way to ensure equal access to emergency information. There are other examples. We also need
to increase our use of captions not only for people who may not hear now but for people who
will develop hearing loss with age, said Ms Vincent.

Inspiring Seniors of the Year


Jill and Peter Lindley were among those awarded as Inspiring Seniors of the Year, as part of the
2016 Seniors Week.
The award was given in recognition of the work that they both have provided over many years to
the community especially for those who suffer with a hearing disability.

Pictures with permission of Blue Care. From newsletter of the Redlands Hearing Impaired Support Group.

Peter explained that 1 in 6 people suffer from some form of hearing loss. Sadly this number is
growing and there is a need for education in the community to have people understand that
hearing loss is a growing concern that is not simply fixed by having a hearing aid or cochlear
implant as they do not give a person normal hearing.
Peter Lindley is an Honorary Life Member of Deafness Forum of Australia.

Vicdeaf partnered with the National Disability Insurance Agency to produce their five foundational
videos in Auslan. The videos can be seen at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLTwZ-K9vkmo5ZPcIIfsuYDIGQ4UX5bs6s&v=eUCY9j4JyG0

By providing our world-leading academics with a platform to showcase their research and teaching
expertise, Macquarie Minds will highlight the Macquarie Universitys key strategic priorities and
commitment to providing a culture of transformative learning in a research-enriched environment.
Select from the range of topics in the program at the public seminar in December at the Macquarie
University Sydney. Admission is free.

Tuning in: Understanding communication challenges over the lifespan


Tuesday, December 13, 2016 | Start Time: 1:00 PM | End Time: 3:00 PM
The Australian Hearing Hub unites researchers, educators, clinicians and innovators with expertise
in linguistics, audiology, speech pathology, cognitive and languages sciences, psychology,
nanofabrication and engineering sciences. This interactive session will provide an understanding
of communication challenges across the life course, with a series of brief talks that explore how
problems in hearing, speech, language and reading impact a persons everyday life.

Tuning in: Using technology to fight back against communication challenges


Tuesday, December 13, 2016 | Start Time: 3:00 PM | End Time: 5:00 PM
Researchers, educators, clinicians and hearing loss clients share their insights into the challenges
and benefits of technologies and interventions at this session. It will explore the ways different
technologies and interventions can improve communication over the life course, and the
importance of hearing loss prevention.

Breaking down the invisible barriers between the deaf and the hearing
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 | Start Time: 3:00 PM | End Time: 4:30 PM
In an era of technological advancements and new ways of socialising, the ability to communicate

is key. Yet close to 4 million Australians are affected by hearing loss, significantly impacting their
ability to communicate. This workshop, led by researchers Rakshita Gokula and Chi Yhun Lo,
provides a rare opportunity to understand this invisible impairment, by sharing the personal
experiences of people affected by hearing loss, and through a simulation that demonstrates what
impact hearing loss has on communication.
http://www.cvent.com/events/macquarie-minds-showcase/event-summary-740a00f2d32b4aebad4aab077a8c7c05.aspx

The International Federation of Hard of Hearing People has released a video on the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and how it applies to uphold the
rights of people with hearing loss.
The video is available at https://youtu.be/_GaVQY5c26k and we encourage you to use it when
educating others about the CRPD. The development of this video has been a global collaboration
funded by Oticon Foundation, Denmark.

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