Spring 2010 Hearing Health E-News

Clifford P. Tallman, Jr., Chairman of DRF

In celebration of Better Hearing and Speech Month in May, DRF has announced a drawing contest.

WELCOME TO THE SPRING 2010 ISSUE OF OUR HEARING HEALTH E-NEWS!

As the new Chairman of Deafness Research Foundation, I am looking forward to making DRF the leading source of information on hearing and balance science and continuing DRF's mission of funding ground-breaking research. I have been a member the DRF Board of Directors since 2008 and have especially enjoyed serving on DRF's Communications Committee. I am confident that my background in marketing and communications will be instrumental in the success and growth of DRF's programs, including DRF's free quarterly publication, Hearing Health magazine (click here to sign up for a free subscription). If you would like to know what DRF has been doing lately, please visit our Hearing Health E-Newsletter archive at http://www.drf.org/Hearing+Health+E-Newsletter/. We hope you enjoy this issue. Please feel free to share our e-newsletter with family and friends.

If you no longer wish to receive Hearing Health E-Newsletter, simply click the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom, and you will be removed from the mailing list. Enjoy!

Clifford P. Tallman, Jr.
Chairman
Deafness Research Foundation

DRAWING CONTEST
IT'S A NOISY PLANET: WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO PROTECT YOUR HEARING ?

In celebration of Better Hearing and Speech Month in May, DRF has announced a drawing contest for children and tweens ages 5-7 and 8-12, and teenagers age 13-18. The theme of each drawing is "It's a Noisy Planet: What are you doing to protect your hearing?" This contest aims to raise awareness about the need to prevent hearing loss and the steps children are taking to protect their hearing. The deadline to submit original artwork is April 16. Three finalists will be selected from each age category and voted on by the public at www.drf.org during the weeks of April 19 and 26. A winner from each age category will be announced on May 3 on our website.

Winners will receive a framed certificate and their artwork will be printed in the Summer 2010 issue of DRF's quarterly publication, Hearing Health magazine.

For more information on the drawing contest and how to enter, click here

For information on how to prevent Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and DRF's participation in the NIDCD's "It's a Noisy Planet" program, click here

CHIN-TUAN TAN'S, DRF CURRENT GRANT RECIPIENT, MATHEMATICAL MODEL PATENT PURCHASED BY NOKIA


Chin-Tuan Tan, Ph.D., a current DRF grant recipient, has extensive experience examining the types of distortion that are common in cell phones. Tan has developed a mathematical model to predict how sound quality may suffer from different types of distortions that may be introduced by cell phone microphones and speakers. The patent he obtained for the mathematical model has been purchased by Nokia due to the strong likelihood that it might be helpful to design the next generation of cell phones.

Dr. Tan, in collaboration with Dr. Mario Svirsky and Dr. Brian Moore (Dr. Tan's former mentor) has obtained funding from the Deafness Research Foundation to extend the model to the perception of distorted speech and music by hearing-impaired listeners.

To read more about Chin-Tuan's research, click here

To read about past and current DRF recipients' research, click here

DR. CAREY BALABAN IS ELECTED TO DRF COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC TRUSTEES

Carey D. Balaban, Ph.D., Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh, was elected as a member of Deafness Research Foundation's (DRF) Council of Scientific Trustees (CST) in December of 2009. Dr. Balaban will assist in strategic planning and advocacy for the DRF scientific agenda, including efforts relevant to the Department of Defense and Veterans Administration.

To view DRF's Council of Scientific Trustees, click here

THE MIRACLE WORKER COMES TO BROADWAY



The Miracle Worker is back on Broadway in a groundbreaking production that is fully accessible to theatergoers who are blind or deaf. Starring Academy Award® nominee Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) and Tony Award® nominee Alison Pill (The Lieutenant of Inishmore) The Miracle Worker tells the story of real-life Medal-of-Freedom-winner Helen Keller and the extraordinary teacher who taught her to communicate, Annie Sullivan. Save nearly 50% with this exclusive offer!

For more information, click here

IRENE GOODMAN'S EBAY AUCTIONS



Since December 2009, Irene Goodman, The Irene Goodman Literary Agency, has auctioned off critiques of partial manuscripts on eBay and donated 100% of the proceeds to selected charities, including the Foundation Fighting Blindness, Hope for Vision, the Clinton and Bush Haiti Fund, and Deafness Research Foundation. To date, Ms. Goodman's auctions have raised over $9,000 for DRF funded research on Usher Syndrome.

For more information on Irene Goodman's auction, click here

To learn about Usher Syndrome, click here

THE BARBARA EPSTEIN FOUNDATION AWARDS DRF THE TODD M. BADER RESEARCH GRANT

Deafness Research Foundation is excited to announce that it has been named recipient of The Todd M. Bader Research Grant, which is generously provided by The Barbara Epstein Foundation. This grant will provide support for the most cutting-edge research in hearing and balance science. We thank The Barbara Epstein Foundation for their kindness, and look forward to sharing in future issues of this publication the results of the work that they are making possible.

DRF IS ON FACEBOOK

DRF is excited to announce the launch of its Facebook page! To become a member and get up-to-the minute developments, click here

DRF PARTNERSHIP WITH ShareTheMic^TM!

DRF is proud to announce its partnership with ShareTheMic^TM, an innovative network and community platform that inspires fans, musicians, and organizations to connect and collaborate to make a difference. Check DRF's website or our Facebook page for further developments.

For information about ShareTheMic^TM, click here

DRF RECONNECTS WITH PAST GRANT RECIPIENTS

If you've received DRF funding between 1958 - 2000, please email Trisha Donaldson, Grants and Programs Coordinator, at tdonaldson@drf.org. DRF wants to reconnect with you!

To read how DRF funding has helped past recipients further their research, click here

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