We’ve mentioned different careers that people who are deaf or hard of hearing would find easier to manage, but it’s important to emphasize that you can have any career that you want - no matter how good or bad your hearing is.
As part of Women's History Month we're going to share facts about the inspirational life and career of Dr. Helen Brooke Taussig, a pioneer in pediatric cardiology who used her hands to listen to heart rhythms due to her hearing loss. A Career in Cardiology The work and research of Dr. Taussig made a difference in the lives of thousands of babies who had congenital heart defects at birth. She was a key figure in preventing a potential epidemic of birth defects by campaigning against the approval of thalidomide usage in the U.S. Dr. Taussig went to Johns Hopkins Medical School and graduated in 1927. This was during a time when not all universities granted advanced degrees to women. In addition to her hearing loss, which was caused by whooping cough, she also suffered from dyslexia. Healing Infants with Blue Baby Syndrome Currently, infants who are born with anoxemia, also known as “blue baby” syndrome, have a higher chance of survival because of the work contributed by Dr. Taussig. Congenital heart defects cause blue baby syndrome. After determining the complications that cause low blood flow to the lungs in children who has blue baby syndrome, Dr. Taussig came up with a new type of surgery that was tested by surgeon Alfred Blalock and surgical technician Vivien Thomas. This procedure became known as the Blalock-Taussig shunt. Listening to the Heart through Touch Cardiologists use a stethoscope to hear a patient’s heartbeat. After Dr. Taussig began to experience hearing loss, she used hearing aids and read lips in order to communicate. When she needed to treat patients, she used her fingers. She “listened” to children’s heartbeats by placing her fingers over their chest and could detect issues such as heart murmurs by way of touch. Dr. Taussig was cited as the founder of pediatric cardiology. After graduating from medical school, she was head of the Children’s Heart Clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital between 1930 to 1936. She continued working at Johns Hopkins until she retired in 1963. In 1965 she was elected as the first woman to be president of the American Heart Association. If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation.
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The invention of the ear trumpet during the 17th century and today’s digital hearing aids are just some of the historical breakthroughs in hearing.
It’s incredible how we’ve gone from simple using our hands as a natural sound harnesser to programmable hearing devices that come in all shapes, sizes, styles, and colors. Hearing Aid Devices Hearing aids are programmable medical devices that were designed to treat people with certain ranges of hearing loss. As long as they can benefit a person with hearing loss, they are usually the primary solution for anyone with hearing loss. Natural hearing cannot be restored with hearing aids, but they can amplify certain frequencies so that the user can feel as though they’ve regained some of the hearing that they’ve lost. Hearing loss can happen at any age. Some people are born with it, others come in contact with loud noises that impact their hearing, autoimmune diseases or other ailments can cause hearing loss, or simply an aging body can gradually lead to hearing loss. One in eight people in the U.S. who are at least 12-years-old experience bilateral hearing loss. Celebrities like Halle Berry and Jodie Foster wear hearing aids. Hearing loss that goes untreated can create more problems in your daily life. Simple interactions with coworkers, healthcare providers, and even friends and family can become challenging. You may prefer to isolate yourself from these situations, which can lead to depression. It may be surprising that among adults who are at least 70 years of age and could benefit from wearing hearing aids, less than 30% use them. The Invention of the First Man-Made Hearing Aid There were many varieties of hearing aids before today’s digital hearing aids became widely used. Today, hearing aid technology is changing at a rapid pace with more conveniences and features than ever before. The very first hearing aid creation was the ‘ear trumpet’. This was a tubular mechanism that was designed to siphon sounds into the ear. These funnels were made out of animal horns, snail shells, wood, silver, or sheet metal. Their usage can be traced back to the 17th century. A French priest and mathematician named Jean Leurechon first referenced the ear trumpet in the Recreations mathématiques in 1634. The conical ear trumpets were also customized by instrument specialists. Just like today, hearing instrument specialists can customize the fit and programming for each person’s individual listening needs for the best results. The Inventor of the First Hearing Aid The ear trumpet, though impressive for its time, turned out not to be as useful as originally thought. It simply amplified all sounds. Better technology was created. In 1889 the Akouphone was invented by Miller Rees Hutchinson. It was the first hearing aid that utilized a carbon transmitter. The carbon transmitter had an electric current that could change a weak signal into a stronger signal. It featured an individual microphone, amplifier, headphones, and battery (which did not last long). The device was bulky and challenging to use. It was also very expensive, so few people used the Akouphone. Among the wealthy, it was considered a success. The American press called it a “miracle”. Queen Alexandra of Denmark was thrilled with the results that Hutchinson was invited to attend her husband’s coronation. 19th Century Hearing Aid History The potential business from hearing aids received more attention from manufacturing companies that specialize in mass production, and engineers who wanted to make more advancements with the device. This is what led to the variety of hearing aid products that are currently available. Just like many inventions, it took trials and errors to improve the devices. Technology is always quickly changing and there are always improvements that need to be made with current hearing aids. What is Vacuum Tube Technology? The first vacuum-tube technology was patented in 1920, by Naval engineer Earl Hanson. It was known as the Vactuphone. This invention utilized the telephone transmitter to translate speech into electrical signals, then amplified via a receiver. This became a huge hit, and vacuum tube hearing aids were marketed in the U.S. in 1923. Just like today’s technology, smaller versions of these devices became available throughout the 1930s. They were sold as wearables starting in 1936, and became popular across the country. During this period, the amplifier and batteries were donned on your neck and the microphone was held by hand. The size of it was equivalent to your range of hearing loss. As a result, conversations mimicked a news reporter. Transistor Hearing Aid Transistors played a crucial role in the evolution of hearing aids. They were introduced in 1948, replacing vacuum tubes due to their better performance. Less battery power was utilized, there were fewer distortions and heat compared to vacuum tubes, and they were more discreet. Manufacturers were thrilled about the benefits of transistors, but sufficient testing was not implemented on the transistor hearing aids. Due to their carelessness, the devices stopped working within weeks of a customer’s purchase. Moisture in the hearing aids interrupted the transistor and it would stop functioning. This ushered in the invention of a protective layer and silicon transistor to repel sweat. Microprocessor and Compression Hearing Aids In 1970 the microprocessor was invented. It sped up the process of making hearing aids smaller and modernized. A researcher named Edgar Villchur built upon this invention by improving hearing for its users. He made advancements by making an analog multi-channel amplitude compression device that let audio signals separate into frequency bands. They had the ability to finely-tune analog sound in a non-linear manner. This is how specific sounds could be lowered and other sounds could be made louder. High-Speed Processors and Minicomputers During the 1970s, high-speed digital-array processors were starting to be used with minicomputers. In 1982, digital, real-time array processing hearing aids were created at the City University of New York. It was used as part of a research tool to study digital signal processing. Even though this was a major advancement, like many devices that were made up to this point it was big and heavy. Inside was a minicomputer, a digital-array processor, an FM transmitter, and a receiver. The 1980s established the creation of digital chips that were used for high-speed digital signal processing. These enabled fast processing but were pretty hefty and drained too much power, so it wouldn’t be practical to wear them as hearing aids. As more advancements were later made, these inconveniences became more manageable with the help of A. Maynard Engebretson, Robert E. Morley Jr., and Gerald R. Popelka, Ph. D. from the Central Institute for the Deaf (CID). The First Complete Pair of Digital Hearing Aids In 1987, the Nicolet Corporation introduced the first commercial digital hearing aid on the market, without much commercial achievement. Even though it seemed like a bit of a failure companies saw that it was possible to market, and improvements could be made. It became a race to create functional hearing aids that could be marketed to a wider audience of people with hearing loss. There were quicker developments and leading hearing aid companies presented different combinations of instruments that used analog amplifiers, filters, and inhibitors that were digitally controlled. Hearing Aids of the 21st Century Hearing aid technology and usage has advanced greatly in modern times, thanks to the work and technology that has been refined. Bluetooth®-connected devices and rechargeable batteries make hearing aids more convenient for today’s users. In addition to hearing aids, devices like Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAPs) give people with hearing loss a way to hear their surroundings. They can control background noise by using ambient sound, isolation, and suppression. These devices help enhance your environmental sounds (whether it’s an office setting, class setting, or somewhere else), but should not be used as a replacement for hearing aids if you have moderate to severe hearing loss. These provide two different benefits and should be used when paired together, rather than working on their own. If you or a loved one are experiencing difficulties with hearing, get in touch with us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation. Learn about Major Advocates for People with Hearing Loss during National Deaf History Month3/4/2022 April 1st marks National Deaf History Month. Previously celebrated on March 13 through April 15, the achievements of people who are deaf and hard of hearing are recognized during this month.
On March 13, 1988, Dr. I. King Jordan was the first deaf president of Gallaudet University after the Deaf President Now movement strongly advocated for a deaf president. Dr. Jordan symbolized “self-determination and empowerment” for all members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. On April 8, 1964, Gallaudet University - the first institution in the world that advanced education for the deaf and hard of hearing - was officially founded. President Abraham Lincoln signed a document for Gallaudet University in Washington. He formally declared that the university would be the first school that advanced the education of the Deaf and hard of hearing in the world. On April 15, 1817, the first public school - today known as the American School for the Deaf - became accessible in America. Over 100 years later, on March 13, 1988, Gallaudet hired its first deaf president after the student-run Deaf President Now movement took place. In 1997, the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) officially introduced National Deaf History Month. In 1996, the organization proposed the week should change to a month. In 2006, the American Library Association joined the NAD to promote awareness of this observance. Against the ongoing advocacy efforts, the U.S. Congress does not federally recognize this holiday. We can still celebrate and recognize National Deaf History Month. Here are five shining examples of activism, education, and perseverance, even through the hardships that included their disability. Shirly Jeanne Allen, EdD She is the first Black deaf-woman in America to earn a doctoral degree. In 1941, Allen was born in Nacogdoches, Texas. After contracting typhoid fever when she was 20 years old, she became deaf. At that time, she studied music at Jarvis Christian College and resumed playing piano for audiences, even with her hearing loss. She graduated from Gallaudet University in 1966 and Howard University in 1972. She later earned a doctorate in education from the University of Rochester in 1992. She was a professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology for 28 years and retired in 2001. Allen was honored and featured in several editions of Who’s Who of Professional Women, received a lifetime achievement award from Who’s Who in America, and then made the Jarvis Christian College’s Pioneer Hall of Fame. Robert R. Davila, PhD He is a Mexican-American who grew up in California. He became deaf after contracting spinal meningitis at the age of 8. His mother sent him to the California School for the Deaf in Berkley, California. She wanted to make sure that he received equal access to education. Davila learned American Sign Language (ASL) at school, along with other essential skills. In 1972, he later received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education and earned his Ph.D. in educational technology from Syracuse University. Davila became an influential advocate for disability rights. He was also the assistant secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services under President George H.W. Bush. He eventually led several organizations that were devoted to supporting the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, which included serving as president of Gallaudet University until 2009. Juliette Gordon Low She was born in 1860 and founded America’s Girl Scouts in 1912. After several ear injuries during her childhood, she experienced severe hearing loss. Low was a very adventurous person, inspired by her passions for the arts, athletics, animals, and nature to create a worldwide movement that has enabled girls to develop leadership skills and self-confidence. With her first troop of 18 girls, she took a stand against racism, sexism, ableism, and other biases that helped bring together young women from different backgrounds. In 1927, Low passed away from breast cancer and received many posthumous honors. These included the start of the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund, which provides financial support for international travel and service work for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides across the globe. Eugene Hairston (A.K.A. “Silent Hairston”) He was the first deaf African American boxer. He became deaf after contracting spinal meningitis as a child. In 1929, Hairston was born in Harlem, New York. He attended schools for deaf children until he was 15 years old. Hairston had to drop out to earn money for his family. After working many different jobs, he became a professional boxer and attended a New York fighting club. Initially, he was overlooked by the trainers because of his hearing loss until they saw how talented he was in the boxing ring. He shortly went pro, won 45 fights, and defeated two world champions before he turned 22. In 1952, doctors advised him to quit boxing because they were concerned that he would go blind due to the repeated punches to his head. He retired, lived a fulfilling life, and died in 2014 at 85. Audree Norton She was born in 1927 and was the first deaf actress featured on American network television. In the 1960s and 1970s, Norton acted in major sitcoms on ABC, NBC, and CBS. In 1967, she was a founding member of the National Theatre of the Deaf, the first production company that regularly featured American Sign Language (ASL). The theatre toured in the U.S. and Europe and on Broadway. Norton was a disability rights advocate and appealed to the Screen Actors Guild after she and her husband Kenneth North, who is also deaf, were not cast in roles because a director was worried about working with hard-of-hearing actors. Norton was a graduate of Gallaudet University and California State University at Hayward. She taught psychology, English, and media at Ohlone College. In 2012, Norton was the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Gallaudet. She passed away in 2015 at the age of 88. Marlee Matlin Academy Award-winning actor Marlee Matlin had relentlessly worked to get the Americans with Disabilities Act signed into legislation - which passed on July 26, 1990. She has been the only recipient with a hearing problem to win the award and has since used her platform to raise awareness on accessibility, diversity, and inclusion. Matlin’s parents discovered she had hearing loss when she was just 18 months old. To her parents’ credit, they treated her just like her hearing brothers and sent her to the same schools in their neighborhood. She emphasized that her parents treated her with respect, which can be difficult for any parent who has a child with challenges. Starting at age seven, she went from the lead role of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz at the International Center of Deafness and the Arts to winning a Golden Globe and an Oscar for her role in Children of a Lesser God at age 21. She stars in the movie CODA, which viewers can watch on Apple TV. If you, or a loved one, need a free hearing test and consultation for hearing aids, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing. |
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