Sounds of the Season

Sponsor and Ticket Information Packet

2010-06-10T19:24:00.000-07:00

Please join us on December 18, 2010 at beautiful and historic Union Station for the Dallas Hearing Foundation's Sounds of the Season gala. You can purchase tickets and become a sponsor by visiting http://www.soundsoftheseason.org/. Give the gift of hearing this holiday season!

Congrats to Michael Noble!

2010-06-06T20:46:00.000-07:00

We would like to send a big congratulations to Dallas Hearing Foundation supporter Michael Noble for his recent graduation with honors from SMU! As the first child ever to receive the cochlear implant in Dallas, you can learn more about Michael's amazing journey by viewing the recent story NBC news did on him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2ULVYdAB_w

2010 Sounds of the Season Gala Date and Venue Announced!

2010-05-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

We are proud to announce that the Dallas Hearing Foundation's 2010 Sounds of the Season Gala will again be held at Union Station on December 18, 2010. This year's gala promises to be even bigger and better!

Check out these pics from last year's event!

Don't wait! Purchase your tickets to the 2010 Sounds of the Season gala today at

http://www.soundsoftheseason.org/! Tickets are only $175.00 each or $1,200 - $1,500 per table.

Can't attend, but still want to contribute? Contact Melissa Benton at melissa.benton@dallashearingfoundation.org

Dallas Hearing Foundation/Hearing Loss In The News

2009-11-04T09:03:00.001-08:00

Sounds of the Season was featured in the Dallas Morning News' Neighborsgo!

And in Pegasus News!

Find us on Social Direct Connect!

The home of the Marshall Family is rebuilt on ABC's Extreme Home Makeover. The Marshall Family experienced first hand what it is like to lose one's hearing and then rediscover the gift of sound through cochlear implants.

Elijah Shaddox was featured in the Wylie News! Read on . . .

Cox third-grader given gift of sound
Date: Wednesday, August 18, 2009
news@wylienews.com

By Judy Truesdell
Staff Writer

When Wylie 9-year-old Elijah Shaddox was only 5 weeks old, his parents and doctors knew something wasn’t functioning as it should.

Born prematurely in April 2000, Elijah couldn’t hear. His condition, auditory neuropathy, is one that has only been diagnosed since the mid ’90s and can be tricky to spot since the cells inside the cochlea continue to function normally – but sound isn’t transmitted to the brain properly.

Coincidentally, Elijah’s mom, Mary Shaddox, had worked for nine years in the Greenville Regional Day School for the Deaf, a facility where she is now department head.

Elijah had his first surgery, a cochlear implant, at the age of 18 months, in September 2001. Mrs. Shaddox said she knows what the parents of her students are going through when they consider the same for their children.

“I tell parents that it’s a big decision,” she said. “There’s your child, who’s pretty little at 18 months, about to be cut open … they literally bevel out part of the skull. And some babies are having the surgery as early as 6 to 9 months.”

Mrs. Shaddox explained that a cochlear implant is a device that is inserted surgically into the cochlea, or snail-like inner ear, where it stimulates any functioning auditory nerves inside the cochlea with an electric field.

“It’s different than a hearing aid,” she explained.

The device doesn’t just amplify the sound; it actually changes the sound, bypassing the eardrum and sending the image directly to his brain. Elijah also wears a little broadcasting unit or processor that looks like a hearing aid.

“It’s pretty instantaneous,” she said. “There’s only about a .02-second lag time. It’s a little like an FM receiver.”

Prior to receiving the initial implant, Elijah had no oral language. When he was 4 years old, he received his second cochlear implant, this one partially funded by the Dallas Hearing Foundation, an organization that has assisted the Shaddox family with a variety of expenses over the years.
Mrs. Shaddox said it was a happy day when the second implant was “activated.”

“Elijah kept saying, ‘I hear it!’ ‘I hear it!’ ” she said.

He began school in Plano’s Regional Day School Program for the Deaf at the age of 3, and his mother said his language and vocabulary skills have progressed each year. He has, however, Tourette’s syndrome and some other challenges, so there have been some additional things to overcome. However, his hearing-assisting system, which he refers to as “his ears,” has presented his mother with an opportunity many would like.

“I can wear a special microphone,” she said, “that is patched directly into his system. He can hear me from about 50 feet inside and about 90 feet outside. He’ll be playing soccer, and other moms will say, ‘Tell Elijah to tell Andre to kick the ball!’ ”

She said the system is also useful when they’re, for instance, in Chuck E. Cheese. “I’ll say, ‘Elijah, where are you?’ and he’ll say, ‘Over here, Mom!’ and I’ll find him.”

His mom also said Elijah can attach his Gameboy and his iPod directly into his processor and “plug in.”

Elijah’s been at Cox Elementary in Wylie ISD since December 2008, and Mrs. Shaddox said she has been very happy with his experiences so far at Cox.
“[Cox teacher] Mary Simmons has been especially helpful and supportive,” she said.

In the fall, he’ll be in third grade, in a special classroom.

“He’ll always be ‘playing catch-up’ to some extent,” she said, “but he’s made great progress, using words like ‘continuous.’

“We were playing Farmland recently and discussing hay bales. So, when we were driving back from Rockwall and passed some hay bales, I said, ‘Look Elijah – hay bales. Those are hay bales.’ I bet I repeated it 10 times … but it used to take 40 to 50.”

She and Elijah are both proficient in sign language and sometimes need to use it; when Elijah goes swimming, for instance, he has to remove his hearing system to keep it from getting wet. Though it’s water resistant and can handle a sprinkler or rain, it can’t get in the pool with him.

“He likes ‘his ears,’ but he’ll sign, ‘Not yet! I want to keep swimming!’ ”

Mrs. Shaddox’s experiences with Elijah have given her a better perspective about her own students and their families.

“I counsel with the parents of my students [about these surgeries], and they know I’ve walked in their shoes. I tell them it’s a lot of fun, but it’s a baby step in a long journey that takes years.

“But it’s really exciting when it all starts to click.”

September Kick Off Party Pics Up!

2009-11-03T13:30:00.000-08:00

Our September Kick Off Party was a huge success!

Thanks to Bravo Catering, C.E. Collins Design, Elegantly Chocolate, Groovy Sound Productions, The Lily Pad Flowers, Lumen Event Lighting, Marc Events, Pea Pod Productions, Shag Carpet, Silver Tray Staffing, Sweet Art Bakery, United Party Rental, VIM Studio Photography, and VIP Valet Services for helping to make this event a success!

Dr. Peters addressing the crowd.

Blaine Moore's testimonial with the crowd in the background.

DHF recipient Lauren Sutton and her family

DHF Fundraising Committee Member Carl Smith reviewing the Capen family testimonial.

Meredith Commender with Significant Events of Texas (event coordinator, Sounds of the Season), Sabino Soleto, the Cigar Roller, and Marla Watson-Werst, CSEP, PeaPod Productions (Sounds of the Season video production sponsor)

Marla Watson Werst, CSEP, PeaPod Productions,

and Sally Strong, Bravo Catering, Sounds of the Season September Kick Off Party Sponsor

View the rest of the pictures here

Sounds of the Season Gala Tickets on Sale!

2009-10-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

Purchase your tickets online at www.soundsoftheseason.org. Remember that this is a great opportunity to celebrate with your clients or employees if you take part in our Company Holiday Party promotion!

Contact: Kristen Dickson, CSEP
KDPR
PR & Marketing Coordinator
214.991.4009

August 3, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DALLAS HEARING FOUNDATION OFFERS UNIQUE HOLIDAY PARTY ALTERNATIVE ATSOUNDS OF THE SEASON GALA

Dallas, Texas --- Charitable organizations across the country have been hearing the screeching halt of corporate charitable giving for many months now. The hospitality & hotel industry, accustomed to booking much of its holiday party business in the third and fourth quarters, are hearing crickets instead of silver bells with regards to their December bookings.

The board and fundraising committees of the Dallas Hearing Foundation’s Sounds of the Season gala are offering a solution to both problems by inviting companies to schedule their holiday parties at their fundraising event, scheduled for Saturday December 19th at Union Station downtown.

“It occurred to us that many corporations and small businesses do not feel comfortable giving to non-profits like they used to in the past, especially when they are facing employee layoffs and branch closings,” said Larry Kelso, Treasurer of the Board. “We realized that many companies are also not having holiday parties for the same reason, so we are offering a creative solution: companies can buy tickets or tables to attend our gala and market it internally to their clients and employees as their holiday party, and for the company, they can save quite a bit of money on a nice, elegant party and satisfy their charitable giving goals as well?”

The Sounds of the Season gala, emceed by recently retired chief meteorologist Troy Dungan, is available to the public for the purchase price of $150/ticket, which includes a night of dinner, dancing, and holiday cheer. The funds raised for the Dallas Hearing Foundation will “give the gift of sound” to individuals in need with hearing loss or profound deafness.

This is the first year that the DHF Fundraising Committee has decided to launch a formal gala event, after 8 years and $1 million successfully raised funds through casual family events. The fundraising committee for Sounds of the Season has developed 12 sponsor levels named after the 12 nights of the holiday season; the title sponsor level, Drummers Drumming, is $40,000, which provides a beneficiary with hearing loss one cochlear implant surgery, including all exams, surgery, rehabilitation and therapy.

“Sounds of the Season is an event we are very proud of,” said Dr. B Robert Peters, president of the Dallas Hearing Foundation. “It is an event that DHF has needed and toward which we have been working for several years. Even during these trying economic times, we feel it is time to make the push towards a top-notch, high class event.”

The Dallas Hearing Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit charitable foundation that provides cochlear implants, hearing aids, auditory-verbal therapy, and educational support services based on financial need. They are dedicated to providing a hearing/speaking life and quality education available to many deaf children and adults. DHF uses revolutionary technologies such as digital hearing aids, cochlear implants, and auditory-verbal therapy.

#####

For more information about DHF, the Sounds of the Season Gala, or to schedule an interview with DHF President B. Robert Peters, MD, DHF Gala Liaison Melissa Benton, or Sounds of the Season event producer Meredith Commender, please contact Kristen Dickson at Kristen@kristendicksonpr.com or 214 991 4009. Please also visit www.dallashearingfoundation.org, www.dallascochlear.com, www.soundsoftheseason.org, or www.soundsoftheseasongala.blogspot.com. A list of human-interest story leads is also available, including current and past patients.

DHF Patient Testimonals (NEW!)

2009-10-06T15:56:00.001-07:00

Thank you to

for the amazing photographs of our patients. These patients are proof of the real difference that DHF can make to those needing help through the gift of sound. Read the true testimonials below to see real triumphs made possible by the Dallas Hearing Foundation!

William Forman

In February 2002, after having lost all hearing, I found myself in a place of shocking isolation. However, by God’s grace, that all changed after being introduced to Dr. Robert Peters. Through the help of the Dallas Hearing Foundation, I was able to receive my first cochlear implant. Since the day of my “hook-up” much has happened. In short, I was able to return to full-time Pastoral ministry. One of the most important things that happened after activation was the fact that I could engage in meaningful conversation with my lovely wife again. The first words I heard her say were, “Can you hear me say I love you?” I replied, “Loud and clear!”

Fast forward five years … Once again, with the help of the Dallas Hearing Foundation, the North Texas District of the Assemblies of God was allowed to raise and donate the necessary funds to the foundation in my name, so that I could receive my second cochlear implant. This allows me to hear on both sides and has made significant improvements in my ability to communicate and interact in everyday life. I thank God for this organization and the blessings I have received through their work.

Alyssa Alford

My name is Alyssa Alford, and I was born June 02, 2008. I failed my newborn hearing screening when I was 5 weeks old and was later diagnosed with bilateral profound hearing loss. My parents were devastated when they heard the news, but eventually learned there was hope for me to hear and speak. I received hearing aids at approximately 3 months of age. However, I received very little to no benefit from my hearing aids, due to my degree of hearing loss.

In the meantime, my parents were informed about the Cochlear Implant and were given information. After doing much research, they decided it was something I could greatly benefit from. I received my first implant at approximately a year old. Within 6 weeks of being activated, my parents noticed that I was starting to make normal baby cooing and babbling sounds. Approximately 2 ½ months later, I received my 2^nd implant. Thanks to the cochlear implant, I made great progress within the first 3 months of being activated; I even learned my first word during that time! I continue to make great progress each and everyday with my implants, thanks to Cochlear Implant and the Dallas Hearing Foundation!

Brenda Shepherd

My hearing loss journey is rather short compared to others. I began losing my hearing in 2002, with tinnitus - ringing in the ears. My hearing loss increased substantially over the next two years. I went from being an outgoing confident woman, to a shut-in. I was fitted with two different types of hearing aids over the next few years, and although I did get some help with amplification, clarity of speech was not normal enough to carry on a conversation. Interestingly, my otolaryngologist referred me to Dr. Robert Peters, if my hearing continued to get worse. I had no idea of the miracle of hearing I could experience with a cochlear implant. I received my cochlear implant in June 2009, and only 9 weeks after my surgery, I tested to be hearing at a normal level! Once again I hear our dog panting, the cat purring, water running, and I am UNDERSTANDING WORDS that I have not understood in several years. I am so grateful for my cochlear implant and the help I have received in getting my hearing back on track.

With God all things are possible, and He has brought me through this successfully, using Dr. Peters and the cochlear implant! Philippians 3:13-14 says, ‘Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.’

At my first appointment with Dr. Peters, I read a brochure in his office about the Dallas Hearing Foundation. I was so excited to learn that help is available for the deaf and hearing impaired. I knew instantly I wanted to be involved with them and help others have the opportunity to hear.

Cassidy Arnold

Cassidy was born with normal hearing and normal development. At 17 months of age, she contracted a near fatal case of meningitis which resulted in profound sensorineural hearing loss, as well as other impairments. Cassidy received her cochlear implant in her left ear at the age of 22 months.

Cassidy’s speech and hearing development was very slow at first. Upon her release from the hospital, she had to re-learn every motor function and overcome cortical visual impairment. We faithfully continued with auditory-verbal therapy with Linda Daniel for many months. While we knew she was hearing, we were unable to determine how much and how good her hearing was.

When Cassidy was 4 years old, we added an additional speech therapist who specialized in communication disorders. We began teaching Cassidy sign language in addition to speech. The physical aspect of sign language, paired with speech that she heard through the cochlear implant, really activated Cassidy’s ability to learn to hear and speak. Cassidy was able to use her hearing, her visual skills (to see sign language and the mouth), and her motor skills to learn words.

The cochlear implant has been vital in Cassidy’s speech and hearing development. As she learned to sign words she learned to “hear” the word as well. Over time, the words no longer need to be signed to her. She is able to hear and comprehend language. Through the cochlear implant, Cassidy has learned to hear and speak almost all of the sounds of the English language. As she learned more language, her communication has exploded. None of this would have been possible without the cochlear implant

While Cassidy did not follow the traditional path of speech and hearing development, she has learned to hear and speak by having a cochlear implant. Cassidy is positive proof that someone with challenges to overcome, in addition to hearing loss, can benefit significantly from a cochlear implant and learn to hear and speak. We are very grateful that Cassidy received her implant and that so many people supported us through our journey. We can now say that Cassidy is a hearing and speaking child! With assistance from the Dallas Hearing Foundation, many other children like Cassidy can also experience the miracle of hearing and speech.

Christian Hudspeth

Christian's first implant was activated on September 14, 2006. Since then, he has moved fluidly between the deaf and hearing communities of his church, school, family, and friends. His speech is clear, and he is able to discern everyday sounds. He overhears conversations, and will add his opinion in family discussions. This past year, Christian participated in Cub Scouts, and among his awards was earning his Language & Culture belt loop award. With his cochlear implants, Christian was able to listen and say ten words in the Shona language with the same ease as his hearing peers.

In February 2009, Christian participated in a Cub Scout food drive, which included a stop at the new home of former President George & Laura Bush. Appearing in several local newspapers, Newsweek, and Boy's Life magazines, is a photo of Christian shaking the hand of President Bush - a photo in which Christian is wearing his cochlear implant processor. Christian is a happy and confident boy. Thank you to Dr. Peters and the Dallas Hearing Foundation, for opening the world of sound and speech for Christian.

Dean Blanton

In May 2007, our son, Dean Blanton was given the gift of hearing through the generous help of the Dallas Hearing Foundation. At 12 months of age, Dean was diagnosed with a profound hearing impairment. We had been mentally preparing for these results and had made the decision that we wanted a cochlear implant for our son. Like many Americans, we found that Dean did not qualify for medical insurance that would cover his hearing impairment. For months we tried to find ways for our baby boy to get care. In October 2006 we found the Dallas Hearing Foundation. Approximately 7 months later, Dean received his cochlear implant.

The past 2 years have been a tough, but moving journey. Although we have had a few speed bumps along this road, Dean is doing wonderfully. As everyone knows, therapy is the key. Audiologist Linda Daniel is a very strong, determined force in Dean’s life. Proof of her hard work is listening to my son talk all day. Linda changes children’s lives. In addition to auditory verbal therapy, Dean has sessions regularly with occupational therapist, Pat Matzke. Also with the help of DHF, he is able to meet with Pat and work through his sensory processing. She is another very important person in Dean’s life.

Currently, Dean meets with Linda and Pat weekly, along with attending our public school mainstream Pre-K. He is speaking in 2 to 4 word phrases, asking questions, and interacting with other children. It is hard to track Dean’s progress, because he changes weekly. Dean enjoys music, cartoons, talking, and learning just like other children. He works very hard at speaking and listening. We are so proud of how far he has come.

Through the help of DHF we have a hearing, talking little boy. Without their help Dean would not be where he is today. We are thankful every time Dean says, “I love you.” Linda Daniel, Pat Matzke, and everyone at the Dallas Hearing Foundation have changed our lives. We are grateful everyday.

Garren Fletcher

I am 13 years old and I live in Whitesboro, Texas. I was born with bilateral aural atresia and other congenital ear malformations. Basically, that means I did not have ear canals and the small bones in my ears were fused together. I have moderate to severe hearing loss in both ears.

I have been seeing Dr. Robert Peters, my otolaryngologist and surgeon, since before I was 3 months old. He built my ear canals and worked with the bones to help them move. Dr. Peters and Melissa Benton, through the Dallas Hearing Foundation, have assisted me with obtaining my hearing aids and keeping them working.

Today, in my 7^th grade classroom, I can hear the instructions and assignments. Without my hearing aids, I have trouble understanding what people say and language sounds muffled like adult voices from the cartoon Charlie Brown! Thanks to the Dallas Hearing Foundation, I have hearing aids! I am able to participate in many activities such as University Interscholastic League competitions and band. I am a percussionist and I have all A’s in school. Hearing well has also helped me to speak clearly. I have many friends and I feel good about who I am. Thank you, Dallas Hearing Foundation!

Julieann Guerra

Our daughter, Julieann is a happy, healthy three year old twin, who was born with a mild-to-moderate hearing loss in both ears. As an infant, Julieann was very quiet, shy and always appeared to be two to three months behind her sister in achieving and accomplishing her fine and gross motor skills. Her verbal development and overall social skills were no exception. Julieann was diagnosed with hearing loss in June 2007 and two months after being fitted with her bilateral hearing aids, we could see a new awareness on her part, as if she was re-introduced to the world.

Julieann very quickly adjusted to her hearing aids and often requested they be placed in her ears first thing in the morning. Immediately after she started using her hearing aids, we noticed an incredible expansion in Julieann’s vocabulary and an increase in her verbal and comprehension skills. Her sentence structure has evolved from two or three words to complete, fluent sentences using several words. Her receptive and expressive communication has undeniably progressed to

an appropriate developmental level.

Her hearing aids have given her a sense of self confidence and a chance to assert her independence. She has begun to socialize more with other children, and we feel that her hearing aids have opened up the opportunity for Julieann to reach her full God-given potential. It is our belief that her hearing aids have jump-started her inquisitive mind and have made her more aware of her surroundings. She has encompassed her sensory world and is now learning how to filter through the multiple stimuli in her environment.

The developmental and speech gap between her and her sister is diminishing. She is now physically stronger and faster than her sister, and at times will even

vocalize her verbal expression over her sister.

As all parents do, we take great pride in watching our princess develop her verbal and comprehension skills to new levels. She is beginning to assert herself as a leader instead of a follower. We look forward with great anticipation to her continued success! With assistance from the Dallas Hearing Foundation, many other children can have the same bright future that Julieann has.

Lauren Sutton

My name is Lauren Sutton. I was 7 years old when I was implanted with my first cochlear implant, and 8 years old when I received the second implant. My cochlear implants have made me hear so much better! Now I can hear the wind, the thunder, the water running in the bathtub and my brother (but sometimes I think, “Why?!”) The first time I heard it rain, I said "Momma, what is that noise?"

I love watching the Texas Longhorns, the Dallas Cowboys, and especially Jason Witten! Now I can hear the commentators say his name on TV! It is amazing how my life has been improved and changed! I would tell anyone that cannot hear, if you can, get a cochlear implant - it will make your life so much better! - Lauren Sutton

It is astonishing to see the difference in our daughter! She has gone from an introvert to an extrovert, in the true sense of the word. She is not the "shy" little girl she once was because, with her cochlear implants, she can now hear what people are saying to her! She has blossomed unbelievably! It is amazing to see how she has gained so much courage to step out in front and make a difference. She has become quite the vocal advocate for herself and will let you know when she cannot hear! She has such a sweet and caring personality, and her cochlear implants have so enriched, not only Lauren's life, but the lives of the rest of her family as well! We are so thankful for the advancement of science. Without this advanced technology, Lauren would miss out on so much! We had a rough start in the beginning, but once Lauren became acclimated to her new hearing, it has been awesome. We cannot say enough praises about Dr. Peters,

Dr. Dansby, Leslie, Linda, Kari, the Dallas Hearing Foundation, and the rest of the cochlear team. They are amazing! Thank you so much for giving our "hearing" daughter back to us. We are forever indebted to you!!

- The Suttons

Meghana Vedala

Meghana‘s hearing loss was diagnosed at the age of 8 months. We were in India

at that time and the cause of hearing loss was unknown, as she was a full term baby. Initially we thought it was due to an ear infection, and after wasting a couple of months on antibiotics, we finally hooked her up with hearing aids. For almost three years, we struggled with hearing aids and speech therapy, and the results were frustrating.

Meghana was barely speaking phrases at that time. We moved back to the USA in March 2006 and got her enrolled in Plano Independent School District’s Early Childhood School. There we learned about Dr. Robert Peters, and that was the best thing that has ever happened to Meghana.

Dr. Peters and his team were so helpful and they gave us all the information about cochlear implants. Meghana got her first implant in June 2007 and with the help of Linda Daniel, her speech therapist, her progress just took off! She did amazingly well in the first year and was very eager to get her second implant, so we went ahead with her second implant in March 2008. She is in the first grade now and is learning everything so quickly. We are so happy today and we are very thankful to Dr. Peters, the Dallas Hearing Foundation, and everyone who helped us in making everything right for Meghana.

Payton Lange

Payton Lange was born on June 22^nd, 2004 and did not pass his newborn hearing screening. After being confirmed as profoundly deaf by the staff at Dr. B. Robert Peters’ office, he began wearing hearing aids and started auditory-verbal therapy. He was supposed to be implanted shortly after his first birthday, but the insurance would not approve the surgery. After a long battle with the insurance company, both ears were finally approved for implantation. Payton received his surgery on October 10, 2005. He became the proud owner of two Cochlear Nucleus Freedom devices. They were “turned on” on October 31^st (Halloween). What a treat!

When Payton turned 3 years old he started an all-day oral preschool program. He loves school. He has a hunger for learning and the drive to accomplish anything put before him. When he gets home from school he likes to pretend to be the teacher for his 3 younger siblings. Often we will hear him teaching them songs and lessons or providing speech therapy. He is now in Kindergarten, mainstreamed part of the day. His speech and language have improved by leaps and bounds over the last 4 years and we are extremely proud of how well he is doing. Payton is meeting and exceeding all the goals that teachers and we as his parents put before him.

In his free time Payton is involved in Karate. He loves it and is able to keep up with the class, learning new lessons every week. One of Payton’s other favorite things to do is play games on the Nintendo Wii. He likes to play Mario Kart, Lego Batman, Guitar Hero, and Wii Music. He definitely has an appreciation and love for music.

We wanted our son to have a chance to communicate, learn, and socialize just like everyone else; a chance to lead an independent life and be anything he wants to be. Everything we wanted for our son is coming to be; he is very independent, happy, and excited about life. When I asked him what he wants to be when he grows up he said, “A Superhero, because I want to help people.” I believe he will be a “Superhero” of some sort helping people just as he experienced people helping him, especially the Dallas Hearing Foundation.

Our family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the Dallas Hearing Foundation for all of the talent, support, and guidance they bestowed upon us. They have been there from the beginning through all of our family struggles with a constant message of hope. We were treated with care, compassion, love, and understanding throughout our journey. In helping Payton, they forever changed his life and also the lives of so many around him. It brings tears to my eyes to think of the Dallas Hearing Foundation and the good they do for so many. There is always a success story, because these kids have been given a gift and told they can do anything. The future is bright for the Dallas Hearing Foundation because of the spark it has lit in so many people.

Piper Owens-Cooksey

Piper was born on May 23, 2008. She was a beautiful 5lb. 6oz ANGEL! It was a very bittersweet day. She was finally here, but struggling to survive. She had a cleft in her soft palate, causing her difficulty in feeding and maintaining her oxygen levels. The doctors transferred her to the NICU and began running tests. They decided that umbilical cord failure, combined with a syndrome was probably the culprit. It was the most devastating experience in our lives. To date, Piper has been diagnosed with profound bilateral hearing loss,

Pierre Robin Sequence, respiratory distress syndrome, cortical vision impairment, and Cerebral Palsy. She has no hearing and damaged sight. This has created a huge delay in her physical and mental development. We heard of the leaps and bounds they are making in improving hearing in children using cochlear implants, and we decided that would be the direction we would take.

A specialist referred us to Dr. Robert Peters and assured us that his team is the very best. The help and direction we received began as early as our first visit. The auditory-verbal therapist, Linda Daniel noticed right way that Piper was displaying signs of vestibular issues and referred us to an occupational therapist that specializes in children with balance problems and varied muscle tone. Our insurance didn’t cover the specialist, but the Dallas Hearing Foundation stepped in and covered the cost of this treatment Piper so desperately needs. She began to improve right away - rolling over, sitting, holding herself up and looking around with purpose. It was all very new and exciting!

Piper received her cochlear implant, and is now smiling at us and laughing when we do. Her father and I still get teary-eyed when we watch her look around in wonderment and smile when she hears our voices. Her therapists are astonished by the almost immediate change in her and her attitude towards the new world that has been opened up to her. She has been given the gift of a new beginning and a chance to lead a healthy life - to be able to hear us tell her we love her, to run and play because her balance is improving, and especially to be safe. Imagine your child not being able to hear a security alarm, smoke detector, or storm siren. Piper now has the options to do so many new things that were not previously available to her, and we cannot imagine other children not being given the same opportunity. By supporting the Dallas Hearing Foundation, you can change lives and quite possibly save them!

The Capen Family

Bruce, Rebecca, Aliza, & Bruce Jr.

When our daughter Aliza was diagnosed as having lost her hearing in 2002 at the

age of twelve months, we began to investigate cochlear implants. All roads led to Dr. Robert Peters, president of the Dallas Hearing Foundation. After five months of discussion with adult implantees and other parents of deaf children, much research and assessments with Dr. Peters, not only did we have Aliza implanted, but both of us, as parents, were implanted as well.

When our son Bruce Jr. was diagnosed as deaf in infancy, we elected to have him bilaterally implanted; at the same time, Aliza chose to have her left ear implanted (she would not let her brother have an advantage over her!) Seven years and six cochlear implants later, we know we did the best thing for each of us individually and as a family.

Rapid speech development was the rule with our children. Through auditory-verbal therapy sessions with Linda Daniel, practice at home, socialization with family and friends, and the wonderful education provided at Pearson Early Childhood Center, Bruce and Aliza continue to amaze everyone with whom they come in contact, with their ability to hear and speak as normally and age appropriately as other children. People we meet for the first time indicate they would not have known the kids were deaf, until they see the devices, because they speak so clearly, so naturally and without the “deaf” accent.

Bruce sings to the car radio and Aliza listens to her Hannah Montana and High School Musical CD’s. They are inquisitive, alert, intelligent children for whom cochlear implants have expanded another dimension to their lives. As deaf parents of Aliza and Bruce, we know we made the right decision for them. Cochlear implants will continue to serve them well throughout their lives.

Most children today are totally into technology – in their case, the technology is into them! The future holds amazing and endless possibilities for them!

Official Kick Off Party September 22 at Marc Events!

2009-09-14T09:39:00.000-07:00

Who: You

What: Official Kick Off Party for the Sounds of the Season Gala!

Where: Marc Events, 1130 Dragon Street, Dallas 75207

When: Tuesday September 22

6:30-8:30PM

Why: Because the gala is on December 19th, three short months away, and we need to

a) tell you more about the Dallas Hearing Foundation

and how you can Give the Gift of Sound This Holiday Season,

b) give away some great raffle items, and

c) sell discounted gala tickets, ONLY available in person at the Kick Off Party

Thanks so much to all our in-kind donors and sponsors,

and to our Media Sponsor Modern Luxury Dallas

How: RSVP to events@kristendicksonpr.com

***For more information on how to buy tickets or how to sponsor the gala, please visit www.soundsoftheseason.org. ***

Troy Dungan Announced as Sounds of the Season Gala Emcee!

2009-09-14T09:15:00.001-07:00

Contact: Morgan Wright
KDPR
PR & Marketing Coordinator
214.991.4009

August 3, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TROY DUNGAN ANNOUNCED AS EMCEE FOR DALLAS HEARING FOUNDATION’S ANNUAL FUNDRAISING GALA, “SOUNDS OF THE SEASON”

Today’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and a good chance of showering those who need it with the gift of sound! With an Emcee that has been eight-times named the Best Television Weathercaster by the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Association, we are assured this forecast is nothing but accurate. The Dallas Hearing Foundation is proud to announce the honor of having Troy Dungan, Channel 8’s recently retired chief meteorologist, as the official emcee for this year’s annual fundraising gala, Sounds of the Season, to take place on Saturday December 19th at the newly renovated historic Union Station downtown.

Troy Dungan, an award-winning meteorologist, is a proud supporter of various charities around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. A Dallas Hearing Foundation supporter, Dungan also personally benefits from organizations like DHF that are dedicated to helping individuals with hearing loss. Troy Dungan uses some of best hearing aid technology available which has given him the gift of sound. Therefore, he would like to pass along that gift to others who need it.

When asked about his newly acquired role as emcee, Dungan explained, “For some years now I have been on the Foundation Board for The Callier Center for Communication Disorders - part of the University of Texas, at Dallas. Since all board members are given hearing tests I discovered that I have developed some hearing loss. In fact, I have worn hearing aids now for several years. I also represent Jones Hearing Solutions in television and newspaper ads because I want people to understand that there is no stigma attached to wearing hearing aids. Hearing is a vital part of communication. That's why I am taking part in the Dallas Hearing Foundation's “Sounds of the Seasons” Gala. Here's to Hearing!”

Dungan recently retired as the chief meteorologist from WFAA Channel 8 News in 2007 after dedicating more than 30 years of his career to the news station and Dallas-Ft. Worth area. His career in meteorology began in Waco, then expanded to Houston, Orlando, Philadelphia, and Detroit. He was the first meteorologist to introduce the 5-day forecast system when he began as chief weather anchor at WFAA-TV in 1976. Before 1976, forecasts were no more than 2 days.

The Dallas Hearing Foundation is thrilled to have Troy Dungan join the DHF family and feel greatly appreciative to have such an astounding member of the community as their emcee for Sounds of the Season.

“Sounds of the Season is an event we are very proud of,” said Dr. B Robert Peters, president of the Dallas Hearing Foundation. “It is an event that DHF has needed and toward which we have been working for several years. Even during these trying economic times, we feel it is time to make the push towards a top-notch, high class event, and Mr. Dungan’s participation in the gala will truly further our cause.”

For a link to his (un-authenticated) wikipedia page, please visit www.wikipedia.com

The Dallas Hearing Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit charitable foundation that provides cochlear implants, hearing aids, auditory-verbal therapy, and educational support services based on financial need. They are dedicated to providing a hearing/speaking life and quality education available to many deaf children and adults. DHF uses revolutionary technologies such as digital hearing aids, cochlear implants, and auditory-verbal therapy.

#####

For more information about DHF, the Sounds of the Season Gala, or to schedule an interview with DHF President B. Robert Peters, MD, DHF Gala Liaison Melissa Benton, or Sounds of the Season event producer Meredith Commender, please contact Kristen Dickson at Kristen@kristendicksonpr.com or 214 991 4009. Please also visit www.dallashearingfoundation.org, www.dallascochlear.com, www.soundsoftheseason.org, or www.soundsoftheseasongala.blogspot.com. A list of human-interest story leads is also available, including current and past patients.

Videos Posted from May Preview Party, Plus Past News Stories

2009-09-14T08:53:00.000-07:00

Please visit You Tube for past news stories on DHF patients, plus a fantastic video by Pea Pod Productions that was produced for the May party. Thanks to everyone involved and please visit the Sounds of the Season gala website to learn more about how to buy tickets to the December 19th fundraiser or to become a sponsor of the Dallas Hearing Foundation.

Preview Party Inspirational/Educational Video

Besa Shala News Story-- Channel 8

Besa Shala News Story-- Channel 11

Amanda Huston News Story-- WB

Amanda Huston Part Two with Linda Daniel

Channel 8 Family First Report (Michael Noble)

Facts About Deafness (no audio)

DHF Sounds of the Season Offers Companies a Holiday "SOS" Party Promotion

2009-09-14T08:51:00.001-07:00

Contact: Kristen Dickson, CSEP
KDPR
PR & Marketing Coordinator
214.991.4009

August 3, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DALLAS HEARING FOUNDATION OFFERS UNIQUE HOLIDAY PARTY ALTERNATIVE AT SOUNDS OF THE SEASON GALA

Dallas, Texas --- Charitable organizations across the country have been hearing the screeching halt of corporate charitable giving for many months now. The hospitality & hotel industry, accustomed to booking much of its holiday party business in the third and fourth quarters, are hearing crickets instead of silver bells with regards to their December bookings.

The board and fundraising committees of the Dallas Hearing Foundation’s Sounds of the Season gala are offering a solution to both problems by inviting companies to schedule their holiday parties at their fundraising event, scheduled for Saturday December 19th at Union Station downtown.

“It occurred to us that many corporations and small businesses do not feel comfortable giving to non-profits like they used to in the past, especially when they are facing employee layoffs and branch closings,” said Larry Kelso, Treasurer of the Board. “We realized that many companies are also not having holiday parties for the same reason, so we are offering a creative solution: companies can buy tickets or tables to attend our gala and market it internally to their clients and employees as their holiday party, and for the company, they can save quite a bit of money on a nice, elegant party and satisfy their charitable giving goals as well?”

The Sounds of the Season gala, emceed by recently retired chief meteorologist Troy Dungan, is available to the public for the purchase price of $150/ticket, which includes a night of dinner, dancing, and holiday cheer. The funds raised for the Dallas Hearing Foundation will “give the gift of sound” to individuals in need with hearing loss or profound deafness.

This is the first year that the DHF Fundraising Committee has decided to launch a formal gala event, after 8 years and $1 million successfully raised funds through casual family events. The fundraising committee for Sounds of the Season has developed 12 sponsor levels named after the 12 nights of the holiday season; the title sponsor level, Drummers Drumming, is $40,000, which provides a beneficiary with hearing loss one cochlear implant surgery, including all exams, surgery, rehabilitation and therapy.

“Sounds of the Season is an event we are very proud of,” said Dr. B Robert Peters, president of the Dallas Hearing Foundation. “It is an event that DHF has needed and toward which we have been working for several years. Even during these trying economic times, we feel it is time to make the push towards a top-notch, high class event.”

The Dallas Hearing Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit charitable foundation that provides cochlear implants, hearing aids, auditory-verbal therapy, and educational support services based on financial need. They are dedicated to providing a hearing/speaking life and quality education available to many deaf children and adults. DHF uses revolutionary technologies such as digital hearing aids, cochlear implants, and auditory-verbal therapy.

#####

For more information about DHF, the Sounds of the Season Gala, or to schedule an interview with DHF President B. Robert Peters, MD, DHF Gala Liaison Melissa Benton, or Sounds of the Season event producer Meredith Commender, please contact Kristen Dickson at Kristen@kristendicksonpr.com or 214 991 4009. Please also visit www.dallashearingfoundation.org, www.dallascochlear.com, www.soundsoftheseason.org, or www.soundsoftheseasongala.blogspot.com. A list of human-interest story leads is also available, including current and past patients.

Dallas Hearing Foundation Celebrates 4th of July in Park Cities

2009-09-14T08:45:00.000-07:00

DALLAS HEARING FOUNDATION CELEBRATES LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF “HEARING”

AT PARK CITIES ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY PARADE

DHF promotes "Holidays in July" float to attract attention to their Sounds of the Season gala on December 19th at Union Station downtown

WHO/WHAT: The Dallas Hearing Foundation is excited to support the local community by participating in the Park Cities annual 4th of July Parade.

WHEN: Saturday, July 4, 2009, 9:00 a.m.

WHERE: 4700 Drexel Drive, Dallas, Texas 75225 (Highland Park Town Hall)

   *The parade begins on Euclid Avenue near the Highland Park Town Hall. It will travel up Preston Road and on University Boulevard, and then wind its way to the back side of Goar Park in University Park

WHY: The Dallas Hearing Foundation wants to celebrate with the community the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness that the foundation hopes to provide Dallas through its efforts to give the gift of hearing to those who cannot hear.    The Dallas Hearing Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to providing a hearing/speaking life and quality education to many deaf children and adults through medical and surgical treatments, hearing technologies, speech and hearing rehabilitation, and educational support for patients with hearing loss in financial need. DHF uses revolutionary technologies such as digital hearing aids, cochlear implants, and auditory-verbal therapy.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS:                                    Melissa Benton, Dallas Hearing Foundation Administrator, email at                                                                                           Melissa.benton@dallashearingfoundation.org

                                                    Meredith Commender, Significant Events of Texas, email at                                                                                                             Meredith@significanteventsoftexas.com

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: The DHF float along with their booth will have a “Christmas in July” theme, including SANTA giving the gift of sound! Also, local patients of the Dallas Hearing Foundation will ride the float and attend the festivities following the parade, providing a great photo opportunity!!

# # # # #

May Preview Party Pics!

2009-09-14T08:44:00.001-07:00

Check out the entire album here. Thanks, VIM Studio!

DHF Patient Testimonials

2009-05-11T06:32:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to:

For these beautiful photographs of our Dallas Hearing Foundation patients. Grab some tissues and read on for their touching testimonials.

Blaine Moore

I was born on August 31, 1997. My mom said that was one of the best days of her life. When I was born, I was very sick. I was three days old, and my parents came to visit me in the hospital. My mom said all of the babies in the intensive care unit had a sticker on their crib that said, "I CAN HEAR." I did not have one of those stickers.

I am deaf. My dad is also deaf. I think if I have children they will also be deaf. Sometimes I get sad that I was born not able to hear. But the really good thing is that Dr. B. Robert Peters did cochlear implant surgery on me and my dad on the same day! So now, my dad and I, both deaf, can talk and hear each other!

I had to go to auditory-verbal therapy for 7 years to learn to hear and speak. Now I can talk, and I am a really good speller and reader. I am not very good at math, but I don’t think being deaf has anything to do with me being bad with numbers. Next year the Dallas Hearing Foundation is sending me to an awesome school - Dallas Academy. I am also a Boy Scout. I just got my Arrow of Light, and I really want to get the Eagle Scout.

If I did not have my cochlear implant, I would have to talk with my fingers, and only a very few people would be able to understand me. Now everyone knows what I am saying. I am so happy that Dr. Peters and his staff helped me and my dad to hear and speak!

Carl R. Smith, R.Ph.

I am a lot older than most cochlear implant recipients. My hearing loss started when I was about three years old. My left ear had less hearing than my right ear, and I had to sit close to the teacher in all of my classes.

After I graduated from the University of Texas College of Pharmacy, I had a physician friend who treated and accidentally damaged my right ear. I bought a large RadioEar analog hearing aid, which I wore in a holder around my neck, and when I used the phone, I held it upside down. One day a lady came to the pharmacy and asked to speak to the pharmacist who talks out of his stomach! I have had all types of hearing aids - in the ear, behind the ear, in my eye glasses, bone conduction…. and now cochlear implants.

I have read that "every society is judged by how it treats the least fortunate amongst them." People with hearing loss have been in the valley, but with the cochlear implant, they are on the mountain top. A person can live for a few days without water and more days without food, but people cannot live without hope. The Dallas Hearing Foundation gives hope to people with hearing loss.

Cayla Coleman

To hear birds was a childhood dream for me. I could never hear their sweet melody. However, with my new Freedom cochlear implant, my dream has come true.

The gift of my cochlear implant has been made possible by Dr. Peters, Melissa Benton, and the amazing Dallas Hearing Foundation.

Wow! Now I like to listen to Dr. Laura on the radio. I can even hear my mom on the phone with little difficulty. I volunteer for the City of Allen and rely heavily on my Freedom cochlear implant to interact with my bosses. One even said, "You're not deaf, you're hearing." What a nice compliment after being in a world of silence. With my Freedom, I truly am free!

Dakota Clark

Dakota failed her hearing test on the day she was born. After many tests, it was determined that she had a profound hearing loss in both ears. She was fitted with hearing aids before she was two. They did help with her hearing, but after more testing, it was determined that her hearing loss was a progressive loss and would go up and down without warning. It would eventually bottom out, but there was no way to determine when that would happen. Dakota became frustrated when these fluctuations would happen because she wasn’t old enough to communicate what was going on with her hearing.

We started going to Dr. B. Robert Peters of the Dallas Hearing Foundation and continued to routinely test Dakota’s hearing so we would know when her hearing was up or down. In 2007, the hearing in her left ear bottomed out. We knew it was time to take the next step and give her a cochlear implant. The cochlear implant has given her hearing in her left ear that she never had with any hearing aid since she was born. She is now a more peaceful child, and her speech has improved dramatically. She has been in the deaf education program since she started school, and since she has been implanted, she has been able to have less and less assistance.

As far as Dakota is concerned, Dr. Peters is her hero! The cochlear implant is the best thing we ever could have done for her.

Elijah Shaddox

Elijah was born prematurely in April of 2000. He was diagnosed with Auditory Neuropathy (AN) in June of 2000. Elijah was given a cochlear implant in September of 2001 when he was 18 months old. He had no oral language prior to receiving his implant. When Elijah was four and a half years old he received his second cochlear implant. His activation went very well as he sat there saying, "I hear it!" We were thrilled. He received auditory-verbal therapy from the time he was first implanted until he was in kindergarten.

Elijah began school in Plano's Regional Day School Program for the Deaf at the age of three, and after one year in a total communication classroom, he easily transitioned to the oral program. Elijah's vocabulary and language skills grew and grew each year. His language skills have allowed him to succeed and cope with other challenges as well. It has not been easy, but he is doing well. Without his cochlear implants and the Dallas Hearing Foundation, he would not be as successful as he is today!

Jackie Charles-Rosson

The Dallas Hearing Foundation was very instrumental in my cochlear implant journey. Through the guidance of Melissa Benton and funding by the Dallas Hearing Foundation, what I thought was an overwhelming impossibility became a reality. The time answering questions, the information that was provided, the reassurance of the support group - all made the path negotiable and enjoyable.

My Cochlear Implant, aka Ethyl (the ear), has opened my mind to a broader range of sounds that enable me to hear and understand children, softer voices, and conversations in a crowd. "Ethyl" has made it possible for my speech to improve because I am now hearing sounds that were not available to me in the past. Improved communication sums it up the best. Hearing and speaking. It was a decision that I have had no regrets making, and I recommend the cochlear implant to all who can benefit from it!

Jason Beyette

The cochlear implant has allowed me to take a whole new perspective on life. I can now understand conversation and speak on the phone with confidence. The cochlear implant has opened up a whole world of possibilities for me and my family. I’m now training to be a teacher, a career that was simply not available before my implants. Now I feel empowered to take on new challenges and realize my fullest potential.

It wasn’t easy getting to this point. I struggled for a long time and there didn’t seem to be any kind of recourse. As my hearing continued to deteriorate, I asked myself “What is to become of me?” I sank into a helpless depression, not being able to answer the question. By the Grace of God, this technology and the Dallas Hearing Foundation were made available to me, and I knew this was the answer I’d been praying for. My speech discrimination and hearing improved dramatically and quickly. This has given me the confidence to start my career anew, to follow my dreams, and live the life I’ve always wanted to live, but was afraid to.

While challenges still remain, they are nothing compared to life before the cochlear implant. I am forever grateful for this technology and what it has done for so many. My prayers were answered and the result is truly miraculous.

As the technology continues to improve, I wonder how much better the cochlear implant will become and how many more people will see their lives changed for the better. It is an amazing feeling to be a part of such discovery and what is to come in the near future.

Jillian Liebert

Jillian received her gift of hearing through the technology of bilateral cochlear implants at the age of 14 months. At 2 ½, she began speaking jargon with her 2 year old neighbor and her classmates. From that point on, Jillian's progress living in the world of sound has been nothing short of amazing. She began individual speech therapy immediately after the surgery and reaped the benefits of reverse-mainstream educational activities at Pearson Elementary when she reached four years old. Jillian then entered the mainstream educational system side-by-side with her friends, neighbors, and the rest of the “normal" kids in Kindergarten.

Now at the age of six, Jillian is already looking forward to first grade beginning next year. Her bilateral implants have allowed her such luxuries as sound localization, a decreased dependence on lip-reading as compared to her unilateral peers, and an ever-growing vocabulary with which to express herself. She has even expressed an interest in learning to play the piano and singing. This continues to be a gift too precious to explain in words. We continue to cherish every word, sentence, cry, and laugh she makes. This truly has been an everlasting blessing from God! The Dallas Hearing Foundation provides these same blessings to many other children just like Jillian.

Amanda Martinez

Growing up in the world as a profoundly deaf adult, I became used to the daily struggles of going through life unable to hear. The idea of having the ability to hear within my grasp was a foreign concept to me. I could not comprehend the idea of having the chance to pick up the phone and participate in something as simple as a phone call without having to go through the relay operator or depending on someone in the same room with me translating the phone call. I heard the stories, “I have a cochlear implant and can now hear the door bell!” or “I love to listen to the radio when I use my implant!” Try as I might, I still could not believe that a world of sound could exist for me.

A few major life changes put me in the path of audiologist Linda Daniel. One day, a nine year-old girl with cochlear implants was finishing her auditory therapy in Linda’s office. Linda, sensing the hesitation in my believing what a transformation the cochlear implant could have on my life, presented an impromptu demonstration. Linda stood two feet behind this precious child and said various sentences. The phrases were repeated verbatim! This little girl started with a profound hearing loss, the same as I had, and here she was in front of me rattling off phrases and words without the need to lip read or ask for repeats! It was then that I was able to tell myself, “If this child can do what I thought was impossible I can too!” I keep in mind the Bible verse, “A little child shall lead them.” Isaiah 11:6

I sought out Dr. B. Robert Peters and the Dallas Hearing Foundation, and the rest is history. My implants have brought so many new sounds to my life - sounds that I did not even know were missing! The rustling in the trees, the cicadas that chirp in the summer, a soothing violin, and the turn signal in the car are all sounds that I can now hear as clear as bells that ring. You have to hear to believe!

Matthew Grover

After being diagnosed with profound bilateral hearing loss, Matthew received his cochlear implant at 20 months old. What amazing technology and an incredible blessing for our family!

Now eight years old, Matthew has made amazing progress over the years learning to listen and speak. Prior to his implant, Matthew spoke only using single words. He then progressed to multiple word phrases. Today his language skills are at, or beyond, grade level. He attends our neighborhood elementary school and has been mainstreamed since before kindergarten. Matthew excels at math and reading and thoroughly enjoys school. He’s active in Cub Scouts and sports, enjoys music, and loves video games like any other kid.

Our family is proud to be involved with the Dallas Hearing Foundation and to help provide this miracle for other children as well.

Melissa Benton

I was diagnosed with a moderate hearing loss as a child, which progressed to a profound loss during my teenage years. I used a hearing aid and lip-reading, and although I was able to communicate fairly well, I struggled with challenges such as telephone use, lack of independence, low confidence, and feelings of isolation. For years, I prayed for a miracle that would allow me to hear more clearly the voices of family and friends and restore all of the wonderful sounds I had not heard since I was a child.

In 1998, I consulted with Dr. B. Robert Peters, who confirmed that I was a candidate for the cochlear implant. I immediately knew without a doubt that this was going to be the miracle I had been praying for. My faith was rewarded with amazing success! I am now able to hear the voices of loved ones, use the telephone, enjoy music, listen to the birds sing, and communicate with ease and confidence. I am amazed and overjoyed with the hearing ability I have with my cochlear implant!

The blessings continued as I became involved with the Dallas Hearing Foundation, at first as a volunteer, and later as the Administrator and Secretary on the Board of Directors. Being a part of this wonderful organization and its mission – giving the gift of hearing – is priceless!

Michael Noble

Your son, Michael, will never be able to hear, speak, or do the things a normally hearing person would do,” my parents were told when I was diagnosed as profoundly deaf.

Eighteen years ago everyone thought that I would have a maximum reading level of a third grader and exclusively attend schools for the deaf. However, in 2007, I graduated as one of the Top Ten students from an all hearing high school, Newman Smith High School, where I attended the exclusive International Business Academy. Currently, I am in my junior year of college pursuing a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and am in the University Honors Program at Southern Methodist University.

Since I have the cochlear implant, I never allow my deafness to become an excuse for not being able to do many things. I simply endeavor to be the best I can be! I am so grateful for the cochlear implant. I would not want to imagine one day without it. It has changed my life completely for the better. Many of the things that I have accomplished so far I credit to having the cochlear implant. It has been both a miracle and a blessing. Thanks to the Dallas Hearing Foundation, other young people have the same opportunities for a quality education and achievements in life.

Pam Butler

Pam is a bright, blue eyed 10 year-old who was diagnosed with profound deafness after contracting meningitis as an infant. She was adopted at age 3 and was very inquisitive but socially withdrawn. With no language skills, she immediately received her first cochlear implant and was immersed in a mainstream environment with the goal of helping her to function in a hearing world.

One day as she was running down the driveway toward the street, I looked out my kitchen window and called her name. She quickly stopped in her tracks and turned around. It was at that time that I truly realized the impact the cochlear implant was having on her life. Pam slowly made progress in her language development and received her second implant at age 6. There were many along the way who saw Pam's potential and encouraged us in our journey, but it was audiologist Linda Daniel who really moved her language forward.

We are lucky to have Pam in our lives, and we will be forever grateful to the professionals at Dr. Peters' office and the Dallas Hearing Foundation who were able to see daylight when others saw darkness. She continues to be mainstreamed, recently achieving the 3rd grade A/B honor roll. Pam is a blessing and inspiration for us all.

Pauline T. Newton, Ph.D.

As I explored Sabino Canyon with my friend Lisa, new sounds and sights
overwhelmed my senses. Gazing at tall cacti until the sky reddened with the setting sun, we then hastened back to the car, and I walked in front, deciphering the trail map. I heard a strange and beautiful noise. I looked up in wonder—what kind of Arizona bird could make that sound? And then I heard Lisa shriek my name, once and then twice, and I turned around to see her pointing at the ground at a diamondback rattlesnake with eight shaking coils on its tail. Lisa grew quiet, and I sighed in relief.

To this day, as I talk with my students in my classroom at Southern Methodist University, trying to guess the direction of each voice that pipes up in the back, I remember that handsome snake I so clearly heard on the Sabino Canyon Trail, and I think of all the sounds I must still decipher and localize each day. Growing up I mastered speech with my childhood speech therapist, Helen Beebe. “One word at a time,” was the mantra that I heard through my therapist’s encouragement. The powerful words drove me through speech therapy, college, and graduate school, inspiring me along the way to write and
teach. And thanks to Dr. Peters and the Dallas Hearing Foundation, through the use of my cochlear implants, I am reminded each day of new sounds and I am enjoying my new journey of learning one sound at a time.

Ryan Dake

Ryan was a micro-preemie, born at 26 weeks, weighing only 1 lb., 6.2 oz. Even though he had a difficult NICU journey, he passed the hearing test right before he was discharged at four months old. In the months that followed, his parents, Edward and Cindy, began to realize he was not responding to sound like other babies do. At age one, he was diagnosed with profound deafness, likely as a result of the side effects of high doses of life-saving medications in NICU. He was fitted with analog hearing aids and began speech therapy at 18 months old. Additional listening devices and better hearing aids helped some, and he developed a large sign language vocabulary and a moderate-sized spoken vocabulary. "But despite years of therapy and the best hearing aids we could buy," his mother said, "it was painfully obvious that it just wasn't enough. He would always need an interpreter. We yearned to give him independence so he could embrace life without an interpreter at the doctor, a conference meeting, or at the bank."

At age 5, Ryan got his first Advanced Bionics cochlear implant and began auditory-verbal therapy with audiologist Linda Daniel and staff. "Within six months, he made so much progress in speech and listening that it was like having a different child," his father remembers. "He was discovering new sounds all the time--and loving it! His spoken language soared." Less than a year later, his parents decided he could get the other ear implanted.

"This time, the adjustment was almost instantaneous," his mother said. "He was understanding words less than 24 hours after activation of the second implant. Within three months of being bilateral, he made the choice to stop using the interpreter in his kindergarten class. He could hear and understand the teacher now! And I'm probably the only mom in our school who rejoiced when her child came home with 'Ryan talks too much in class' written on his daily report! I was actually thrilled to have that problem." Ryan also began asking to listen to music after he went bilateral and enjoys what he calls "jazzy music." Now 11, Ryan is a happy, very talkative boy who reads on grade-level and loves to draw.

"Cochlear implants have given Ryan what we hoped - the potential for independence as an adult," his mother said. "But until then, my favorite benefit of cochlear implants is how we can now whisper to Ryan in the dark at bedtime - no signing, no lights or lip-reading needed. He can hear every word."

The Dallas Hearing Foundation brings sound to life and gives the potential for independence to other children like Ryan.

Sounds of the Season Preview Party Announced for May at Hickory Street Annex

2009-04-23T17:37:00.001-07:00

RSVP Now for the 1st Sounds of the Season Preview Party!

Who: Current and prospective supporters of the Dallas Hearing Foundation

What: Preview Party with hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and good company

Where: Hickory Street Annex, 501 South 2nd Avenue, Dallas Texas 75226

When: Tuesday May 19 2009

Why: Because it's a great opportunity to learn more about the Dallas Hearing Foundation's mission and get in early on the 1st Annual Sounds of the Season gala. Plus there are fabulous raffle prizes! See below.

How: RSVP now to events@kristendicksonpr.com

For more information on the gala itself, please visit www.soundsoftheseason.org.

Current Raffle prizes include:

Basket of treats from Myla Concepts
Private cooking class for 12 with Tastefully Yours Executive Chef Andrew Huszar ($1,200 value)

“Frisco Family Fun Pack”: 4 tickets to FC Dallas Major League Soccer game, dinner for four at Pizza Hut/Wing Stop, and 1 night stay at Comfort Suites – all conveniently located in the Pizza Hut Park complex in Frisco. ($300 value)

We are very grateful to our In-Kind Donors:

American Ice
BBJ Linen
C.E. Collins Design
Epic Vodka
Groovy Sound Productions
Hickory Street Annex
In-Light Gobos
Jules Event Decor
KDPR & Marketing
The Lily Pad Flower Shop
Mail Today
Marc Events
PeaPod Productions
Roush Productions
Sailing Stones Media
Significant Events of Texas
Silver Tray Staffing
Stephenson Entertainment
Sweet Art Bakery
Tastefully Yours Catering
United Party Rental
VIM Studio
Wolfgang Puck Catering

Dallas Hearing Foundation Announces Sounds of the Season Gala

2009-04-23T17:30:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release

March 16 2009

Kristen Dickson, CSEP

kristen@kristendicksonpr.com

214 991 4009

Dallas Hearing Foundation Announces First Formal Fundraising Gala to Give the Gift of Sound

After 8 Years of Successful Casual Fundraising Events, Local Non-Profit Launches December Gala, “Sounds Of The Season”

Dallas, Texas – The Dallas Hearing Foundation (DHF) announced this week that they will host a gala on Saturday December 19 at Union Station in downtown Dallas to raise funds towards the gifts of hearing and speech for deaf children and adults.

The Dallas Hearing Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to providing a hearing/speaking life and quality education available to many deaf children and adults through medical and surgical treatment, hearing technologies, speech and hearing rehabilitation, and educational support for hearing-impaired patients in financial need. DHF uses revolutionary technologies such as digital hearing aids, cochlear implants, and auditory-verbal therapy.

The Fundraising Committee has held a successful fundraising event every year since 2001 and has provided over $1 million in services to improve the lives of individuals with hearing loss. This is the first year that the DHF Fundraising Committee has decided to launch a formal gala event. They have developed 12 sponsor levels named after the 12 nights of the holiday season; the title sponsor level, Drummers Drumming, is $40,000, which provides a hearing impaired beneficiary one cochlear implant surgery, including all exams, surgery, rehabilitation and therapy.

“Sounds of the Season is an event we are very proud of,” said Dr. B Robert Peters, president of the Dallas Hearing Foundation. “It is an event that DHF has needed and toward which we have been working for several years. Even during these trying economic times, we feel it is time to make the push towards a top-notch, high class event.”

DHF will use funds raised from Sounds of the Season to provide financial aid to patients seeking cochlear implants through the Dallas Otolaryngology Cochlear Implant Program. A cochlear implant is a prosthetic replacement for the inner ear that bypasses damaged parts of the ear and electronically stimulates auditory nerve fibers to produce a sense of hearing. The cochlear implant includes two parts: an internal bundle of wires surgically implanted into the cochlea through the skull behind the ear, and an external part consisting of a microphone, connecting cables, and a speech processor that converts sound into electrical impulses.

“Unlike other causes,” Dr. Peters continued, “donations to the Dallas Hearing Foundation will provide tangible, concrete surgeries and services. One donation of $40,000 pays for a cochlear implant surgery and all rehabilitation for a child; that donor will truly give the gift of sound.

For a child with hearing loss, this donation also provides funding for therapy and the education support services necessary to mainstream patients into public school systems, which saves the public school system up to $200,000 per child in special education costs. Rather than receiving disability throughout adulthood, deaf individuals who are orally educated and auditorally competent are more likely to achieve gainful employment and independence. DHF individualizes each child and adult’s treatment to provide the extraordinary attention needed to optimize each deaf person’s potential to hear, speak and receive a quality education.

To raise awareness about the gala, DHF is hosting two Preview Parties to invite potential sponsors and guests to learn more about the Dallas Hearing Foundation and its mission. The first preview party will be held May 19 2009 from 6:30-8:30pm at the Hickory Street Annex and the second preview party will be held in September at Marc Events, date TBD.

The Dallas Hearing Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit charitable foundation that provides cochlear implants, hearing aids, auditory-verbal therapy, and educational support services based on financial need. They are dedicated to providing a hearing/speaking life and quality education available to many deaf children and adults. DHF uses revolutionary technologies such as digital hearing aids, cochlear implants, and auditory-verbal therapy.

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For more information about DHF, the Sounds of the Season Gala, or to schedule an interview with DHF President B. Robert Peters, MD, DHF Gala Liaison Melissa Benton, or Sounds of the Season event producer Meredith Commender, please contact Kristen Dickson at Kristen@kristendicksonpr.com or 214 991 4009. Please also visit www.dallashearingfoundation.org, www.dallascochlear.com, www.soundsoftheseason.org, or www.soundsoftheseasongala.blogspot.com. A list of human-interest story leads is also available, including current and past patients.

DHF Raises Awareness of Cochlear Implants and Deafness through Sounds of the Season Gala

2009-04-23T17:21:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release

Kristen Dickson, CSEP

March 16 2009

KDPR

kristen@kristendicksonpr.com

214 991 4009

Dallas Hearing Foundation’s Sounds of the Season Gala Committee Raises Awareness about Deafness and Cochlear Implants

Dallas, Texas—The Dallas Hearing Foundation’s Fundraising Committee is seeking sponsorships for their first formal gala, Sounds of the Season, to raise funds for and awareness of cochlear implants, hearing/speaking rehabilitation, and the positive impact of bringing sound to life.

Deafness is the most costly disability in the United States in regards to the cost of education. Special education costs for public deaf education programs average $25,000 per child per year, almost five times higher than the costs for mainstreamed students. Studies show that the individuals who graduate from public deaf educational programs enter adulthood with a third grade reading level and ineffective speaking and writing skills, thereby greatly reducing their employment opportunities. The lifetime cost to society is over $1 million for each deaf person in terms of medical, education, disability and productivity loss.

Other facts on deafness include:

· There are 28 million individuals with hearing loss in the United States. Of these 738,000 are profoundly deaf. 4,000 deaf children are born each year.

· 90% of deaf children are born to normal hearing parents.

· Parents with normal hearing communicate through speaking, and most do not know how to communicate with their deaf child.

· Deaf education programs in the public schools usually teach some form of sign language in order to communicate with and educate the students. As a result, few deaf students become proficient in the English language.

· Graduates of deaf education programs in the U.S. typically have an average of a 3^rd grade reading level

· 45% of deaf individuals do not graduate from high school and only 5% graduate from college.

· A small minority of deaf students complete deaf education programs prepared for independence in adulthood; 60% face either unemployment or severe underemployment.

· Deaf individuals earn only 50% to 70% of what their hearing peers earn, losing an average of $320,000 in earnings during their lifetime.

· Over 50% of deaf adults earn less than $25,000 per year.

· 42% of deaf adults between 18 and 44 years of age are unemployed.

· 70% of deaf individuals rely on government sponsored insurance programs such as Medicaid and Medicare.

· Deafness is the most costly single disability in terms of special education costs, averaging $25,000 per year per child, compared to $5,100 for a normal hearing child.

· The average lifetime cost to society of a child born deaf in terms of medical, educational, and productivity losses is $1,020,000.

The major beneficiary of the Sounds of the Season gala is the Dallas Hearing Foundation, which provides financial aid to patients seeking cochlear implants through the Dallas Otolaryngology Cochlear Implant Program. A cochlear implant is a prosthetic replacement for the inner ear that bypasses damaged parts of the ear and electronically stimulates auditory nerve fibers to produce a sense of hearing. The cochlear implant includes two parts: an internal bundle of wires surgically implanted into the cochlea through the skull behind the ear, and an external part consisting of a microphone, connecting cables, and a speech processor that converts sound into electrical impulses.

Facts about cochlear implants include:

· Research has shown cochlear implants to be one of the most cost-effective medical treatments of our day, far greater than coronary bypass surgery or kidney dialysis.

· Children with at least two years of cochlear implant experience are placed in mainstream normal hearing classrooms at twice the rate of deaf children without implants. This saves the educational system up to $200,000 in cost from the first through twelfth grade.

· It costs $40,000 to implant one child during infancy to age three. Project Hope has calculated that for every dollar spent on cochlear implants, society saves $25.00 in specialized services. This calculates to $1 million in savings per child implanted.

· Cochlear implant centers are recouping only 25% to 75% of their actual costs from insurance and government programs, losing up to $30,000 per child implanted.

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Patient Testimonials

2009-04-23T16:58:00.000-07:00

Melissa Benton, Secretary of the Board of Dallas Hearing Foundation

"Hello, my name is Melissa Benton. It is a privilege to share my experience with deafness and the cochlear implant.

I was diagnosed with a hearing impairment at the age of three. Doctors believed the nerve damage was caused by a severe case of mumps and high fever when I was two years old. At the time of my diagnosis, I was found to be completely deaf in my right ear, and had approximately 40% loss in my left ear. In spite of my hearing impairment, I was a happy, outgoing child. I was also an energetic tomboy who earned the nickname "Tiger" because of my fondness for playing football and picking on boys.

I attended a mainstream school and had no difficulty making good grades. Although I was a good student, my classmates sometimes made fun of me because I talked funny and said "what?" all the time. Some of the children avoided making friends with me, probably because I was different and they didn’t understand why. I did form some friendships; however, by the time I reached the 4th or 5th grade, my hearing loss was already having a significant impact on my self esteem; I was beginning to experience feelings of self-consciousness and inferiority. Although I had always enjoyed interacting with other children, I was gradually becoming shy and withdrawn and was spending more and more time by myself. When not in school, I could usually be found hiding behind a book.

In the 5th grade, I had a teacher who would have made a better drill sergeant. The first time I missed an assignment because I didn’t hear it, he accused me (in front of the whole class) of using my hearing impairment as a crutch and an excuse to get out of doing homework. Although my parents set him straight, I will never forget the humiliation I felt that day. Up to that time, there had not been a definite or obvious need for a hearing aid; however, soon after that incident, my parents bought my first hearing aid and I enjoyed improved hearing….. for a few years.

When I was thirteen, my hearing suddenly began to decrease. After diagnostic tests ruled out a medical cause, the doctor explained that nerve deafness is often progressive and told me that I would probably be totally deaf before I reached adulthood. Needless to say, I was terrified of my own future. One night, as I prayed for a miracle, I became very emotional and threw my hearing aid, smashing it against the wall. Of course, I didn’t mean to hit the wall with it. Fortunately, my parents were understanding, and the hearing aid was not damaged beyond repair. My mother looks back at that night and says that God answered that desperate prayer when I received my cochlear implant –He just answered in His own perfect timing.

During my teenage years, my hearing continued to decrease, and I became increasingly withdrawn from my peers. Although I managed to maintain honor roll grades throughout high school, I felt that I wasn’t good enough for other teenagers, and I made few friends. My hearing decreased to the point that I was considered legally deaf by the time I graduated from high school. The small amount of residual hearing was just enough to be amplified with a very powerful hearing aid. Although a hearing aid increases the volume of sound, it does not provide much clarity. Therefore, I was forced to rely on lip-reading and guessing. I dreaded social situations and kept to myself most of the time. My ability to communicate on the telephone was limited to just a few family members. The lack of independence and self-confidence was a challenge I had to confront every day throughout my young adult years.

I first heard about the cochlear implant in the ‘80’s, but at that time, the reports were not very favorable, and I was told by my former ear doctor that the implant was only for people who could not hear with hearing aids. During the ‘90’s, I occasionally asked my doctor about new developments with the cochlear implant. His answer was always the same: he didn’t know whether I would be a candidate or not, because I was "getting by" with a hearing aid and lip-reading. When he did give me some information about the implant, that information was less than impressive. I threw it in the trash and resigned myself to a life of deafness. It never occurred to me that maybe there was more current information that reflected the positive facts about cochlear implants.

In September of ‘98, I went to the Deaf Action Center to find out about assistive technology to help me with telephone communication. It was there that I met Esther Kelly, who showed me all the special telephones and assistive devices that help hearing impaired people cope with their hearing loss. Ms. Kelly also told me that she was deaf, but could hear with the cochlear implant. My first reaction was astonishment that she could hear and speak so well. I was even more pleasantly surprised when she told me that she thought I might be a good candidate, because she was just like me before she had her implant. I was so excited! I even told her "forget the special telephone, I want the implant" and when I left there that day, I knew that I was going to have a cochlear implant and hear on the telephone again. I did some research of my own, and a lot of praying, and by the time I met Dr. Peters and he confirmed that I was a candidate, my mind was already made up. Any questions that I had were trivial. I just knew that the cochlear implant was going to be the answer to a lifetime of prayers.

Dr. Peters performed my implant surgery in November ‘98. I went home the same day, with no complications, and there was just minimal pain from the surgery. After a four week healing period, the audiologists fit me with the external components of the device and programmed my speech processor. At first, everything sounded strange and distorted, but became more natural sounding within a few weeks. This is because I was suddenly hearing sounds that I had not heard since I was a child, and my brain was interpreting those sounds as strange. As I began to hear the new sounds repeatedly, the sound quality became more natural. This is the reason the clarity with the implant continues to improve for two or three years. Prior to my implant, my ability to understand speech was only 12% with a hearing aid. One week after my initial programming, this had already increased to 76%. On my most recent hearing test, my speech discrimination score was 92%. This is without lip-reading, but in a quiet environment. I hear sounds at 30 decibels, which is considered just a mild hearing loss. Background noise and group situations are still somewhat difficult, but I definitely do much better in these situations than I did with hearing aids. My speech and quality of voice have improved tremendously, although I still have the nasal quality that is a characteristic of years of profound deafness. After two months of auditory telephone therapy with Linda Daniel of HEAR In Dallas, I communicate on the telephone with little difficulty. I enjoy music and television once again. I hear the birds sing and the rain falling. My life is less stressful, and I have more confidence. I now look forward to the challenges of each new day.

I thank God every day for granting the miracle of a new life and restored hearing ability, through cochlear implant technology. Although the degree of success with the cochlear implant varies with each individual, this is proof that very dramatic results can be achieved, and I give God all the glory for mine. I truly believe that the reason I received such good results from my implant is that my God-given purpose in life is to help others who are hearing impaired. It is because of my gratitude, and desire to help others receive the wonderful gift of hearing, that I became involved with the Dallas Hearing Foundation. My heart overflows with joy when I see deaf people hearing and speaking with the cochlear implant, and the memory of a child’s face when she heard for the first time is priceless.

I am forever grateful to Dr. Peters, not only for performing the miracle of cochlear implantation, but also for giving me the opportunity to work for the Dallas Hearing Foundation – first as a volunteer, and now as an employee. The Lord has opened the doors for me to help the hearing impaired as my full-time vocation as the administrator for the Dallas Hearing Foundation. I am still amazed and overjoyed that the Lord has not only restored my hearing ability, but has also blessed me with two very rewarding jobs.

The cochlear implant and my involvement with the Dallas Hearing Foundation have changed my whole life, and that’s why I tell my story – to help increase awareness of the success of present day cochlear implants, and to promote assistance, through the Dallas Hearing Foundation, to those who are financially unable to afford the help they need. It is my prayer that others, through their own compassion for the less fortunate, will continue to become involved and demonstrate their support of the mission and goals of the Dallas Hearing Foundation."

Randy & Blaine Moore

Our worse nightmare turned into a dream come true thanks to the help of a local surgeon and a cochlear implant. The following story is a journey into the life of Blaine, before and after this amazing surgery.  As with all expectant parents you hope and pray that you give birth to a healthy child, and as soon as it is born you find yourself counting to make sure that they have ten fingers and ten toes and that all their other parts are intact. I was never concerned that I may have a deaf child.

We had only been home a few minutes when the phone rang. It was the neonatal pediatrician calling from PICU wanting to speak to the parents of Blaine Moore. Our hearts sank. We just knew that something horrible had happened to Blaine. When I got on the phone the pediatrician said "Mrs. Moore, I have some bad news about your son. We did a hearing test on him today and he is deaf. He cannot hear anything. The audiologist will be in tomorrow morning to talk with you."

The whirlwind of emotions, questions, and anger over how this had all been handled is difficult to explain even to this day. Randy was devastated because he knew the hardships that would lie ahead for Blaine. I was so relieved they had not called to say that he died, that being told he was deaf was actually a relief. The full impact of it did not really sink in until later that evening when we went back to the nursery to hold and feed him. As I was rocking him and singing to him and trying to comfort him with soothing words it hit me that he could not hear a thing I was saying to him. He could not hear the musical teddy bear we had brought for him. I felt like he was in pain and all alone and there was nothing I could do to help him.

The next morning we met with the audiologist. We wanted to hear words of encouragement or at least be given some hope that our son could be helped. We asked about the cochlear implant at that time because we had heard about it several months ago thinking that maybe Randy might could be a candidate. We were told that it was not an option. She gave us the name of a hearing center and their phone number and said take him there. He will be fitted for hearing aids. Learn sign language as soon possible. Start finger spelling and signing.

Immediately we took Blaine to this center where his hearing was tested again and he was found to be profoundly deaf. He was given the strongest hearing aids made for a 4-week-old baby. We asked them about the cochlear implant. They said we will look at him when he is 2. We will not know until then if he is even a candidate. It varies from child to child they said. He has the strongest hearing aids available. Learn sign language and finger spell. Then we were referred to our school district. We called them immediately and scheduled an appointment for the teacher to come to the house. They worked with Blaine, helping him learn to crawl, sit up, and be more aware of his surroundings. They also communicated with him (using sign language and finger spelling). We would always ask her about cochlear implants and she would just brush us off and said it was not an option. Finger spell and continue to learn sign language.

By now Blaine is 16 months old and is not communicating at all and he is not responding with hearing aids. We learned sign language and we finger spelled. We continued to ask the hearing center and the school district and even the pediatrician about cochlear implants and the same reply was always given to us. He may not be a candidate wait until he is 2, continue to use sign language and one-day he will just pick it up and sign back to you. We never knew that there was a speech therapist or audiologist that worked with deaf children outside of the school system. We did not know that had he been seen by a physician who specialized in children's hearing problems that he would have already been in speech and would be making sounds and would be in the process of being readied for a cochlear implant for which he and all other children may be potential candidates.

We learned this by accident when my mother started working for Dr. Peters at Dallas Otolaryngology. Randy and I brought Blaine in for a consultation. Not only did we find out that Blaine was a candidate but Randy was also. That was the first day of a new life for Randy and Blaine. Now they would have the chance to hear. Randy and Blaine both had their surgery on July 1999 and are making fabulous progress. The entire cochlear team that works with them weekly has been a blessing to us. Their lives have definitely been changed. The anger is sometimes overwhelming when I think of the time we lost and could have continued to lose in helping not only Blaine but also Randy be able to come out of a world of silence because we could not get any information from any source about the cochlear implants.

If you have a hearing impaired child please, please check into the cochlear implant yourself. Don't let the school district or deaf community try to influence a decision as important as your child's hearing. There are so many myths about the procedure and surgery that people are afraid to even approach the subject. Whether your child reads lips or signs or has a cochlear implant is your decision. Contact the Dallas Hearing Foundation if you have questions or call one of three surgeons in this area for a consult. The first time that we said Blaine's name and he turned and smiled, we knew we made the right decision. The first time Randy heard birds singing he knew he made the right decision. And we are eternally grateful for turning a world of silence into one of beautiful noise for our family.

Past Press for Cochlear Implant Patients

2009-04-23T16:42:00.000-07:00

Implant Brings Sound of Game to Texas Player

Deaf since birth, Luke Adams of Trinity Christian in Lubbock, Texas, takes in the swoosh of the net and bouncing of the ball thanks to cochlear implant.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

By Eric Butler

MaxPreps.com

Luke Adams is familiar with what is known in some circles as "deaf speech" – the slight slurring of words by people who have never actually been able to hear anyone speak the language perfectly.

Adams is actually one of those people, although you'd never be able to tell just by talking to him.

A sophomore guard for Trinity Christian in Lubbock, Adams is a good ballhandler, a solid shooter and a tremendous weapon in a spread offense as he can drive to the bucket with productive results despite his 5-foot-7 stature.

But what stands out the most about Adams is that he's almost completely deaf and has been since birth.

"I was deaf when I was born, but my parents really didn't know it until later on when I was two," says Adams, in perfectly articulated speech. "I kind of had a little deaf speech until about five or six years ago."

What changed for Adams, and what makes his disability almost indiscernible, is what's known as a cochlear implant. It's a device that stimulates any still-functioning auditory nerves by means of a microphone, speech procesor, an RF transmitter and an RF receiver implanted underneath the skull's skin.

Adams has an earpiece which is connected to a wire that leads to a spot behind his ear. By means of a magnet, held in place by a head sweatband, Adams is able to access the implanted receiver.

"Now I can't hear," says Adams as he unhooks the device from his head, following a 69-61 victory at Clovis, NM.

After he puts the magnet back in place, Adams adds, "Now I can."

Trinity Christian competes in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) at the Class 4A (out of five) level. That makes the Lions one of the bigger TAPPS schools statewide, but the Lubbock school still has less than 300 students.

Although small, the boys basketball team is more than competitive with much bigger public schools. Coached by former Texas Tech player Todd Duncan, the Lions have knocked off Amarillo Palo Duro and Clovis – among other big schools – en route to a 24-4 record as the playoffs approach.

Adams' father is Mark Adams, head men’s basketball coach at Howard Junior College. Located in Big Spring, Texas, Howard is an hour-and-a-half daily drive from the Adams' home in Lubbock. Mark Adams, however, says he's more than happy to do the commute to keep his son at Trinity Christian.

"I haven't moved my family because we think so much of Trinity and coach Duncan and that school there that we want them in that environment," Adams said.

Mark Adams was coaching at Texas-Pan American when he realized that his young son was deaf.

"Even when he was young, we'd notice that he'd try to move our heads so he could see our mouths," Mark Adams says. "So he was learning to read lips at a very young age. At about two-and-a-half is when we realized he was profoundly hearing-impaired. He was a seventh-grader when we decided to go ahead and get the cochlear implant."

"He had been able to hear things like thunder and other very low frequencies. When you do something like this, you take out what little hearing that you have in order to do the implant," he adds. "In a quiet environment, he can now hear as well as any of us. With a lot of background noise, and a gym is one of the worst places for that, he still has a lot of difficulty.

"He's a very hard worker, but we're still learning how to deal with all the equipment – the batteries, the head band, the device itself, so it's still very much a work in process."