Blood-sucking Leeches Settle Near Man's Eardrum

Egypt
ENT News
February 2008

An Egyptian ENT doctor reported removing seven (!) 2-cm long blood-sucking leeches were removed from a farmhand's ear. The leeches lodged themselves in the victim's ear canal, and reportedly were having a jolly good time...

Jamaican School for the Deaf Celebrates 50 Years

Jamaica
Jamaica Gleaner
February 2008

Imagine Jamaica 50 years ago.
Imagine being deaf in Jamaica in the 1950's.
Beautiful story of how two determined Canadian missionaries launched a school for the deaf in 1957 Jamaica.

Top Israeli TV Channel Reports Extensively on Hearing-impaired Basketball Team

"Playing in Silence"Israel
February 2008

The top Israeli TV channel, "Channel 2," ran a 9-minute story tonight on a recently formed basketball team that embraces hearing-impaired players. This is a key turning point for the rarely covered hearing-impaired population. Reporting - and my kudos and response on the channel's site - are of course in Hebrew. Includes video.

Not Wearing Hearing Instruments Turns Deadly

Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona Mirror
January 2008

A woman fell asleep while smoking in Altoona, Pennsylvania, sparking a fire that killed herself and her hearing impaired 68-year-old mother. The mother, who was asleep upstairs, did not hear the smoke alarm go off without the assistance of her hearing instruments, which she had properly taken off prior to retiring.

"Snyder’s death raises another issue that some people might not have considered: the problems the hearing impaired may have in being awakened by a smoke alarm. Isenberg said that a smoke alarm on the second floor was sounding, however, authorities believe Snyder probably didn’t hear it because she wasn’t wearing her hearing aids at the time."

Had the family installed a special smoking alarm with adequately loud alerts for the hearing impaired the woman's life would have likely been spared...

"Personal Communication Assistants" in WSJ (Wall Street Journal)

Melinda Beck, health reporter for the Wall Street Journal, has been testing out the new generation of "personal communication assistants" - cool, nifty hearing instruments for the baby boom generation.