17March2016

This edition of One in Six is dedicated to the memory of Stan

Batson.

The many problems of AC/DC

AC/DC singer Brian Johnson was warned by doctors to stop
touring immediately or risk total hearing loss.

2016 Libby Harricks Memorial Oration

will be presented by The Hon John Howard OM AC,
25th Prime Minister of Australia. Hearing impaired since
youth, Mr Howard wore two hearing aids throughout his
professional career.

Have you ever experienced nausea or

developed a sudden headache while out
shopping?
While there are likely numerous explanations, a new study
suggests exposure to airborne ultrasound could be one. The
general public is unaware it is being exposed to very highfrequency sound and ultrasound at levels over the current
guidelines.

National survey
Deafness Forum is planning a major campaign to raise the
profile of Hearing Health and Well-being in the Australian
community. We encourage all members and friends to spend
a few minutes to fill out a short online poll.

We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, and their

continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to them
and their cultures, and to elders both past and present. We acknowledge the
challenge that faces Indigenous leaders and families to overcome the unacceptably
high levels of ear health issues among first Australians.

Dementia, deafness: the many problems of

AC/DC

Australian rock elders AC/DC on Monday postponed remaining dates on their US tour after
singer Brian Johnson was warned he risked total deafness.
The 68-year-old Johnson has been advised by doctors to stop touring immediately or risk
total hearing loss, the band said in a statement.
AC/DC, famous for playing at painfully high decibels, said it would play the 10 remaining US
shows at later dates but likely with a guest vocalist.
Johnson, known for his trademark cap and a voice that strains the vocal cords, joined the
band in 1980
But Johnsons hearing problems are just the latest of the bands woes. AC/DCs latest
album Rock or Bust, released in 2014 after a six-year gap, is the first without founding
member and rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, who has retired due to dementia.
Youngs brother Angus remains the lead guitarist -- known, even at age 60, for sporting his
signature schoolboy outfit.
AC/DC has sold more than 200 million albums since 1973 with Back in Black among music
historys top sellers.
From AFP, New York. http://www.hindustantimes.com/music/dementia-deafness-and-assault-ac-dc-isplagued-with-problems/story-fHz0TZWG5Gvfl2p43djyUN.html

The 2016 Libby Harricks Memorial Oration will be presented by The Hon John
Howard OM AC, 25th Prime Minister of Australia (1996 to 2007).
Hearing impaired since youth, Mr Howard wore two hearing aids throughout his
professional career.
He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian award,
recognising exceptional meritorious service - the honour roll includes Martin Luther King
and Nelson Mandela. Mr Howard is the patron of Deafness Forum of Australia.
The Oration will be a key-note address during the National Deafness Sector Summit in
Sydney on Saturday 7 May.
http://www.deafnessforum.org.au/index.php/events/national-deafness-sector-summit

Since 1999, the Libby Harricks Memorial Oration series has

raised awareness of key issues relating to hearing loss and deafness.
The series honours the memory of the first President of Deafness
Forum of Australia.
For her work on behalf of hearing impaired people Libby Harricks was
made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1990.
Dr Christopher Lind PhD is the chair of the organising committee.

Majority of childrens' hearing loss preventable

By ESTHER ASHBY-COVENTRY, Timaru Herald

MYTCHALL BRANSGROVE/FAIRFAX NZ
NEW ZEALAND. South Canterbury Life Unlimited hearing therapist Heather Talbott tests
the hearing of an adult in the Hearing Association building in Timaru.
The implications of undiagnosed auditory problems on a child's learning, is the focus of
NZs 2016 Hearing Week (February 29 to March 6).
The chief executive Louise Carroll said a child's literacy and academic potential could be
affected by untreated hearing loss.
"It is the mild to moderate who can go through their whole life without being identified."
Formal hearing and vision screening is part of the New Zealand Well child/Tamariki Ora
schedule that is undertaken at four years of age as part of the B4 School check.
Children who miss the B4 School checks are screened when they start school.
The foundation has been pushing the Government for the B4 School checks to become
compulsory and has sent information to all schools in the country on the importance of the
assessment.
When there is a concern about the hearing of any pre-schooler they should be referred to a
free audiology clinic at Timaru Hospital by a Public Health nurse, their doctor or other
health professional.

Sixty per cent of childhood hearing loss is preventable.

Louise Carroll has recently completed a PhD, which is yet to be released, on prisoners and
their hearing through Flinders University, Australia.
She found a disturbing trend at Mt Eden Prison in Auckland.
One in three prisoners surveyed were hard of hearing.
In the general population, that figure is closer to one in six.
The prisoners Carroll spoke to had, generally not done well at school and had faced social
challenges.
"Some had never had been hearing tested in their whole life."
She was also concerned hard of
hearing prisoners could not fully
access rehabilitation programs as
they
could
not
hear
the
information.
"If you can't understand what is
going on around you, how can you
interact?"
It was a global trend which
required
more research, Carroll
said.

Louise Carroll, National Foundation for the Deaf

She could not say whether the hearing loss caused antisocial behaviour and there were
no statistics on the subject, she said.
South Canterbury hearing therapist Heather Talbott who conducts hearing tests for
people aged 18 and over, said many people did not take action or waited a very long time
to finally get some help.
"Our Ministry of Health-funded Hearing Therapy service (in Memorial Ave) is free and I
would love to see more people getting in touch for the advice and support we offer."
Hearing loss did not automatically mean the person needed a hearing aid.
"Your needs will depend on the extent of the loss and how it affects your daily life."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/77404575/majority-of-childrens-hearing-losspreventable

Deafness Forum national survey

Deafness Forum is planning a major campaign to raise the profile of Hearing Health and
Well-being in the Australian community.
The first step is the commissioning of a poll to gain your insights and perspectives to guide
the design of the campaign.
We encourage all members and friends to spend a few minutes to fill out a short online
survey.

All you need to do is click here: Begin the Survey

Or go to https://essentialmedia.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2nUEulyGwM3iK4l
The poll will close next week on 22 March, so please take just a few minutes
now to share your insights.
Your views will help ensure that we develop an effective campaign that succeeds in making
our sector more visible, contributing to better lives for everyone who is touched by Hearing
Health and Well-being issues.
The research company we commissioned, Essential Research, is an ISO 20252 accredited
company - this is a best practice, quality assurance accreditation for the market and social
research industry.
Essential Research is also bound by the Privacy Act and the industry code of ethics. Its
privacy policy is at http://www.essentialmedia.com.au/privacy-policy/

Ever experienced nausea waiting for a train?

Or developed a sudden headache while out shopping? While there are likely numerous
explanations for such occurrences, a new study suggests exposure to airborne ultrasound
could be one.
A study suggests the general public is unaware it is being exposed to very high-frequency
(VHF) sound and ultrasound (US) at levels over the current guidelines.
Such exposure could be putting people's health at risk, a UK researcher claims, causing
headache, nausea, dizziness, migraine and tinnitus - ringing in the ears. These are
symptoms that have been reported in occupational settings among workers exposed to
high sound frequencies through drilling, for example, or industrial cleaning devices.
In the UK, current guidelines state that humans should not be exposed to ultrasound
greater than 20 kilohertz (kHz), which is the highest frequency of sound that humans can
hear.
However, study author Prof. Tim Leighton, of the University of Southampton in the UK,
notes that such guidelines are only applicable to workplaces in which employees are aware
of their ultrasound exposure, enabling them to protect themselves against any possible
health implications.
"The guidelines are also based on an insufficient evidence base, most of which was
collected over 40 years ago by researchers who considered it insufficient to finalize
guidelines, but which produced preliminary guidelines," notes Prof. Leighton.
Sound frequencies were recorded in a variety of public buildings in the UK, including train
stations, libraries, museums, schools and sports stadiums - places where there had
previously been reports of people experiencing symptoms that could be related to
ultrasound exposure. Prof. Leighton notes that there is a variety of ultrasound sources
present in public places, including loudspeakers and door sensors.
Data showed that the general public occupying the buildings were being exposed to
VHF/US at levels over 20 kHz, which Prof. Leighton says has the potential to be a public
health concern.
He admits that there is insufficient evidence to reach a definitive conclusion as to whether
exposure to such sound frequencies is harmful to health. "However, it is important that
sufferers are able to identify the true cause of their symptoms, whether they result from
VHF/US exposure or not."
He notes that people who are unlikely to be aware of their ultrasound exposure are
complaining of a number of health conditions, and he points out that recent research has
indicated that "1 in 20 individuals aged 40-49 years have hearing thresholds that are at

least 20 decibels (dB) more sensitive at 20 kHz than the hearing thresholds of the average
30-39-year-old."
Prof. Leighton says further investigation into the potential health implications of airborne
ultrasound is warranted. In particular, he believes studies should assess "whether current
audiological practices, equipment and standards are suitable for the VHF and ultrasonic
regime," and they should also identify strategies to combat any shortfalls.
by Honor Whiteman, Medical News Today http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/305366.php

NRS app wins international innovation award

The National Relay Service (NRS) app, developed in
Australia, was one of the international winners in
awards announced at the World Government Summit
in Dubai recently.
The app won the international Social Affairs category.
The NRS is an Australian Government initiative that
allows people who are deaf or have a hearing or
speech impairment to use the phone via a wide range
of devices.
We are thrilled to see that the benefits the NRS app provides for users of the relay service
in Australia have been recognised internationally, said Director of the Communications
Accessibility team at the Department of Communications and the Arts, Kelly Mudford.
The NRS app was launched in December 2014 - making the NRS the first relay service in
the world to provide access to a range of relay calls and support functions via a single app
for smartphones or tablets.
Winning this internationally renowned award is a great honour for the Australian
Government and the NRS. It highlights our achievement in ensuring people who are deaf
or have a hearing or speech impairment are just as mobile on the phone as everyone else
and shows that Australia is at the forefront of accessibility and innovation, said Managing
Director of NRS Outreach Deborah Fullwood.
The award was presented to Australias Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE),
Arthur Spyrou by the Prime Minister of UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The awards acknowledge innovative developments in smartphone, SMS and wearable
technology by entities around the world.

Federal Minister for Social Services, Hon Christian Porter MP (in blue attire)
spoke this week with representatives of national disability advocacy
organisations.
Pictured with Minister Porter are (from left) Deafness Forum CEO Steve Williamson,
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations CEO Matthew Wright, and Down Syndrome
Australia chair Angus Graham OAM. Not pictured was Ruth Webber, CEO of Down
Syndrome Australia.
It was on the occasion of a morning tea at Parliament House Canberra to celebrate World
Down Syndrome Day next week on 21 March. http://www.downsyndrome.org.au/

The Commonwealth Government announced today the roll out of the NDIS in Queensland.
This agreement gives certainty to more than 90,000 people with disability and their families
in Queensland.
It is another significant milestone for the NDIS and a unique period for the Agency, with a
large number of people joining the Scheme during a short period of time.
Learn more at http://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/our-sites/qld

Deaf Services Queensland has launched its new website which can be viewed at
www.deafservicesqld.org.au
The purpose of the redesign is to ensure clear and simple access to information for the
Deaf and hard of hearing community in Queensland. The site is focused on providing a
visual and user-friendly experience through a major overhaul of the existing design,
navigation and functionality.
Deaf Services Queenslands Chief Executive Officer, Brett Casey said, Despite changes to
the current environment for Australian not-for-profits, Deaf Services Queensland is
experiencing a significant period of growth. The launch of our new website marks a new
chapter in the evolution of our organisation.
As an organisation committed to an empowered and connected Deaf community,
accessibility of information must always be a priority, Mr Casey said.
Having worked alongside Queenslands Deaf community for over 100 years, Deaf Services
Queensland has developed a unique understanding of the most effective ways to ensure
essential services are communicated to the community, and we feel our new website
provides a far greater alignment with this understanding.
As part of Deaf Services Queenslands commitment to accessibility, the website provides
key information in Auslan as well as English, a function that should be standard for all
websites that wish to be inclusive of Australias Deaf and hard of hearing population.
The significant improvements to the website have also simplified the enrolment process
for our popular Sign Language classes, provided a greater integration with social media and
now allows for online registrations to community events Mr Casey says.
Deaf Services Queensland is a not-for-profit organisation providing information, referral,
advocacy, aged care, independent living skills support, community education, and
interpreting services to the deaf and hard of hearing communities in Queensland.

Passing of a deaf community champion

Australia mourns the passing of Stan Batson, a volunteer and community leader
who gave more than 60 years conspicuous service to the Deaf community and
the hard of hearing sector at large.
Mr Batson was born profoundly deaf. He recalled that in his formative years, Deaf culture
and history were not talked about.
Sign languages were not widely recognised as proper languages with their own grammar
and syntax. We werent supposed to sign at school. Sometimes, we were slapped when
we signed, Mr Batson had recalled.
I thought, Where are my rights to use my language?
culture.

I want to instil pride in Deaf

Mr Batson held leadership roles in various organisations serving the deafness community,
both in his home state of Victoria and in a national setting.
He was a Life Member and the first Deaf and Auslan-user
chair of Deafness Forum of Australia.
The current chair of Deafness Forum David Brady said he
was a symbol for the volunteer spirit.
Stan was a great supporter and always encouraged me
and others to make a difference, David Brady said.
Alex Jones, a past chair of Deafness Forum remembers him as an incredible and funny
guy.
He was a great ally for Deafness Forum and the community. It saddens us to lose such a
good value person. Vale Stan Batson", Alex Jones said.
Kyle Miers, chief executive of Deaf Australia said It's very sad to hear of Stan's passing.
His advocacy for Auslan and the history of the Deaf community should be celebrated.
Stan Batsons motto was To your own self you must be true. Be who you are and be
proud of it.

http://greatist.com/discover/experience-world-as-deaf-person-video

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