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Michael R. Chial, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Michael Flahive, Ph.D., Saint Xavier University, Chicago
updated 22 July 2002
Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Medical Center. Retrieved July 11, 2002 from http://www.bcm.tmc.edu
Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Medical Center is an educational institution Web site. Baylor claims affiliation with seven other area hospitals, six community health centers and clinics; over 70 research and patient care centers and home to two national institute special centers of research. The site provides information for university alumni, visitors to the medical center, student applicants, researchers, patients, health professionals, and information about education, research and healthcare in the medical and related fields. Baylor is among the top medical institutions in the nation. It has achieved international acclaim for excellence in education, research and patient care. The site provides credentials for its contributors of information and research. The site has an enormous web of links to access information and research. Much of the information and research is supported by references and other recognized authorities in the medical and related fields as well as governmental agencies. The site is regularly updated with special features that include current topics in education, patient health care and research in the medical and related fields, and information about where and when forums and events are held. In conclusion, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Medical Center is a worthwhile Internet source for obtaining accurate information about education, patient care and research in the medical and related fields. It appeals to doctors, other health professionals, students in and those seeking the medical and related fields, patients, researchers and alumni. The site is well organized by content categories. The layout is easy to follow and has a colorful design.
American Academy of Audiology. Retrieved July 1, 2002 from http://www.audiology.org/index.php
The web site for the American Academy of Audiology is a large web site offering information to professional Audiologists and lay people interested in learning more about the area of hearing loss. It provides a variety of resources including academic journals such as, the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, Audiology Today, and an abundance of links to government issues related to audiology, current news and events, experts in the field, and more. It also provides consumer resources, which allows for a non-professional to learn about hearing loss, hearing aids, coping with a hearing loss, and other topics of education and personal interest. These subheadings are also offered in Spanish. There is a separate resource section designated to students in which brief audiology program descriptions are given for Universities across the United States also including information of PhD and AuD programs. It fulfills its purpose in the mission statement to educate and increase public awareness of hearing loss. Though membership is not required to access this site it does offer membership to professionals interested. In summary, the site is easy to browse through therefore making a significant amount of information available to Internet users.
American Society for Deaf Children. Retrieved July 12, 2002 from http://www.deafchildren.org.
The American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) is an organization for families who have children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The organization focuses on advocating, supporting, and educating families. It is a great outlet for parents and children to gain resource materials including list serves, mentors, publications, and programs especially created for families new at raising a child who is deaf or hard of hearing. There are also several links from A to Z regarding professional organizations, educational resources such as, sign language, deaf communication, state and federal legislative information regarding the right to education and more. Besides offering links the site also provides a Library page. This page lists other affiliations and the latest research being accomplished for the area of children and hearing. Though the ASDC site is not an extensive site it offers excellent opportunity for parents to become members and it opens the door to many other resources. It also offers plenty of personal contacts to reach for more information. The site is easy to browse through and also provides a mini tutorial of how to page through the site. I would encourage parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing to visit this site.
Augustana College Audiologic Rehabilitation. Retrieved July 1, 2002 from http://www.augie.edu/perry/ar/ar.htm
Perry C. Hanavan, M.A., CCC-A, developed this site in conjunction with Augustana College. To start, this site is conveniently broken down into 5 broad categories: education, hearing aids, assistive listening devices, cochlear implants and medical prosthesis, and audiologic rehabilitation. Each category is then further broken down so that the reader can find more specific information in whatever area they are interested. For example, the "hearing aid" section offers information in areas such as manufacturers and coops, hearing aid analysis, frequency response of the ear, history, earmolds, batteries, dry storage, hearing aid components, hearing aid insurance, management systems, and consumer protection. The amount of detailed information offered under each of these subcategories is truly amazing. In addition to the previously mentioned information, this site also offers several virtual tours (tours of animal studies of the ear and tours of audiologic equipment), a wide variety of online journals and publications, an extensive amount of information regarding hearing disorders and the anatomy of the ear, and an opportunity to e-mail the author with questions/comments. Overall, this site is extremely informative, organized, and easy to use.
Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc. Retrieved July, 2002 from http://www.shhh.org.
Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc. is arguably one of the most comprehensive and reputable resources for hard of hearing and deafened individuals. If you can't find what you're looking for here, chances are, you might not find it anywhere. This site seeks to educate, advocate, and support persons with hearing loss. The organization has over 20,000 members nationwide, and a readership of over 200,000 for their bi-monthly "Hearing Loss" magazine commonly referred to as "SHHH". The Homepage welcomes the viewer to the "World of SHHH", and it is almost as if the visitor enters a new world because a consumer would not be able to locate all of "SHHH's" resources and links in one sitting. Probably not even after several sittings. On the contrary, persons (as well as family and friends) with hearing loss would be best served if they visited this site on a regular basis to receive the latest updates on news, events and resources available to them. "SHHH's" Resource Page alone can take you to well over 100 links that provide information regarding such topics as education, employment, federal laws, assistive devices, organizations, research, and more! This is not to mention other noteworthy pages that may be of interest; such as the CNCS page, which is an outreach program that seeks to recruit individuals with hearing loss to promote hearing loss awareness by volunteering in their community. This site is endorsed by several reputable organizations, and is highly recommended to anyone who might have an interest in hearing loss issues.
Listen Up: The Listen-Up Web. Retrieved July 1, 2002 from http://www.listen-up.org
A parent of a child with a profound hearing loss developed the Listen-Up web site. This parent (name unknown) was frustrated with the few therapy aids that are available when helping children with hearing loss learn to listen and speak, and as such developed two innovative programs: "listen-up" and "talk it up." Interestingly however, the main purpose of this site is not to push either of these programs on its readers, instead, this web site attempts to offer a wide variety of information to individuals with hearing loss and to the families of these individuals. In fact, this web site was designed to be a "one stop shop" when looking for information regarding hearing loss. For example, one can obtain information regarding current technology, assistive listening devices, other outside resources, current laws and the rights that are entitled to the deaf and hard of hearing population. Another interesting aspect of this web site is that it really attempts to bring its readers together. For example, this site offers chat rooms, list serves, and a guest book so that people can also use each other as resources or just leave a helpful note for all to see.
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Treatment of hearing loss with hearing aids, cochlear implants, and aural rehabilitation. Retrieved June 27, 2002 from http://www.meei.harvard.edu/shared/oto/audio.html
The website listed above is a collaboration of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Harvard Medical School. This website contains a wealth of information for individuals with a hearing impairment including, but not limited to, information on: hearing testing, auditory evoked response testing, parent support groups, general outline of treatment for kids and adults, PAL (pediatric amplification loaner) program to exchange and upgrade hearing aids, etc. This website scored very high in all areas of the web site evaluation protocol, missing only two complete questions and getting partial credit for three questions. The site was not reviewed by a "content" reviewing agency and had not been updated since January 2002. Partial credit, one out of three points, was given to the question that addressed assertions supported by empirical observations and compelling reasoning. One point was assigned because many professionals gave compelling reasoning, but no empirical observations were noted. Partial credit, two out of four points, was also assigned to the question addressing the site contradicting information from reputable sources. This site addresses controversial information (e.g. cochlear implants), using sound reasoning, but does not supply empirical observations. Finally, two out of four points were assigned to the question addressing self-interest. Anytime someone is promoting a service that they charge a fee for, they are never completely free of self-interest. However, this website is full of information that would be useful to many hearing impaired individuals, and it would be unfair to say that it was completely based on self-interest.
League for the Hard of Hearing. Retrieved June 26, 2002, from http://www.lhh.org
The source of the above site is an organization called the League for the Hard of Hearing. This organization was founded in 1910 and is a non-profit rehabilitation agency dealing with infants, children and adults who are hard of hearing and deaf. The League for the Hard of Hearing has two locations, one in New York and Florida. The purpose of the web site is to educate, inform and support individuals who are hard of hearing and deaf, about aural rehabilitation, services that are available, assistive technology, communication therapy, and research being conducted. In addition, this web site is useful for professionals working with hard of hearing and deaf individuals because of the extensive information on old and new technology, the articles available which have been published in the Hearing Rehabilitation Quarterly and the information on research projects being conducted. This web site consists of detailed information on many areas of aural rehabilitation and more, including audiology, assistive devices, hearing aids, hearing aid repair and dispensing, cochlear implants, communication therapy, advocacy, career development, and research. The League for the Hard of Hearing web site also includes a long list of links to other sources on the same topic. Those who use the web site can also e-mail the organization with comments and/or questions. Overall, this web site was judged to be informative, easily utilized and understood and useful to all.
Augustana College. Retrieved June 28, 2002 from http://www.augie.edu/perry/ar/ar.htm
Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota provides an educational website composed of a wealth of information on audiologic rehabilitation obtained from their communication disorders professors and courses offered during the year. This site provides career and contacting information about faculty, staff, and alumni affiliated with Augustana College. Identification of this site was clear with its purpose being to offer students of varying background, interests and ages a unique opportunity to achieve academic excellence and individual development in a Christian context. Faculty, staff, prospective students, alumni, current students, friends, and visitors all comprise the intended audience of this site. In addition, this website provides an Email address open to questions and comments from their visitors. This site demonstrates exceptional concrete validity. All recognizable authorities are listed with their credentials based upon education and experience. Specifically, Perry Hanavan is an audiologist who teaches communication-disordered courses at the university. He regularly updates his website called "Virtual Tour of the Ear" that is compiled of information, related links, and a completed bibliography about audiologic education, hearing aids, assistive listening devices, cochlear implants, medical prostheses, and audiologic rehabilitation. Additionally, this site contains information based upon peer reviewed journals and controlled experiments. This site has been reviewed by numerous independent "content" reviewing agencies, is free from spelling and grammatical errors, and was last updated April 2002. Context validity of this site is demonstrated by offering acknowledgement of audiologic rehabilitation perspectives as well as discussion of other proposed theories of hearing. As mentioned earlier, this site also exhibits links to related sources about hearing and aural intervention. Also, this website does an impressive task of staying free from self-interest and presenting their information in an unbiased, educating way. Overall, this site is helpful in determining possible attendance to Augustana College in South Dakota as well as obtaining aural rehabilitation information through their academic search engine.
National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (Utah State University): Issues and Evidence, Summary Presentation. Retrieved June 30, 2002 from http://infanthearing.org/research/index.html
This site was designed to provide information pertaining to early hearing detection and intervention. The source of this site is the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management, based out of Utah State University. The information presented on the site was derived from standards and guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an unbiased, research and educational source. The site was formatted into four different sections: Issues & Evidence, Slideshows (Powerpoint Presentation), Educational & Training Videos, and Abstracts & Citations. The "Issues & Evidence" sections provided information from various "academic disciplines and areas of responsibility and experience related to identifying and providing intervention to very young children with congenital hearing loss." The information was thorough, concise, and offered varying opinions and issues. The "Educational & Training Videos" section listed videos that could be used to "educate parents, professionals, and policy-makers about the benefits and techniques for doing universal newborn hearing screening, train screeners in the effective use of screening equipment, and to inform parents about what will be happening in their hospital related to universal newborn hearing screening." Last, the "Abstracts & Citations" sections provided a reference list for other issues related to early hearing detection and intervention. This site provides purely educational material for individuals in the field of education, communicative disorders, and other professionals.
Boystown National Research Hospital. Retrieved June 28, 2002 from http://www.boystownhospital.org
The Boystown National Research Hospital provides a complete and valuable website consisting of information concerning better hearing and speech in children and adults. This site contains links to numerous doctors affiliated with the Boystown hospital as well as their personal and contacting information. Identification of this site was clear with its purpose regarding the enhancement of life through better hearing and speech, healthier children, and research and education. The website included parents, professionals, educators, and researchers as its intended audience. Additionally, this site provides an Email address enclosed under their private policy section. Concrete validity of this site is demonstrated in the following ways. First, the sources of the site are all recognizable authorities (speech pathologists, cleft palate team members, orthopedic specialists, surgeons, audiologists, pediatricians, otolaryngologists, etc.) on hearing and aural rehabilitation based upon their educational background, credentials, and years of experience. Also, numerous links and suggested books concerning aural rehabilitation can be contacted or located for further information. All researchers, in obtaining credible information, utilized clinically controlled experiments as well as peer reviewed journals. Unfortunately, this site has not been reviewed by an independent "content" reviewing agency and is not updated regularly. Furthermore, this website offers links to related sources on aural rehabilitation for children and adults evidencing context validity of the site. However, this site does not acknowledge controversy or other perspectives about the information it offers bur rather informs and educates it audiences about aural rehabilitation services. Also, this website is not free from self-interest because it accepts donations from visitors who want to improve the hospital's research capabilities.
House Ear Institute. Retrieved June 28, 2002 from http://www.hei.org/
The House Ear Institute is a 501-(c)3 private, non-profit organization based in Los Angeles, California. The institute was established in 1946 by Howard P. House, M.D. in an effort to advance hearing research. The Institute deals with both clinical and research related aspects of audiology, including functions and innervations of the auditory system, cell and molecular biology, and evaluation and treatment of hearing loss and hearing conditions. The Institute and associated sources (e.g., website, publications) are intended for both professionals and the public interested in the scope of audiology. The HEI site describes clinical issues, such as Diagnostic Audiology and Auditory Rehabilitation; and current research topics, for example Auditory Development in Early-Amplified Children and Impaired Cochlear Tuning in Pediatric Patients with Hearing Loss. Both the research and clinical staff include Doctors, Engineers, Doctorate Scientists in the areas of Audiology, Human Communication, Cell and Molecular Biology, and Histopathology. The site offers an opportunity to look into the following areas from the HEI perspective: clinical services, research, hearing health, new technologies, opportunities for giving, conferences, education, and news and events. The website provides contact information and biographies of clinical professionals and project investigators. The website also supplies reference information for relevant resources, in addition to links in associated areas of audiology (including other organizations, publications both of the HEI and other associations, and current research issues). This specific HEI website includes a substantial amount of research data, geared at physicians, health care professionals, and educators of the deaf and hearing disordered populations.
Hearing Loss Web. Retrieved July, 2002 from http://www.hearinglossweb.com.
Hearing Loss Web was developed by Char and Larry Sivertson of San Diego, California. Both of them suffer from hearing loss and are active participants in the Association of Late Deafened Adults; Char is the San Diego chapter president. The purposes of this site are two-fold. First, to provide education to the hearing world about the needs of the hard of hearing and deafened population and second, to provide a variety of resources to deaf and hard of hearing individuals in order for them to live more fulfilled lives. This is a very large web-site that provides information on a myriad of topics. For example, this site offers a listing of national, regional and local events as well as provides up to date news to hard of hearing and deafened individuals. They also provide information and links about pertinent issues such as employment opportunities, hearing aid insurance, government resources, and related organizations and services. Information is also provided on a wide variety of communicative aids. Instructions and hints are given to make navigation through this web-site quick and easy. The user is given a variety of links to choose from throughout this site, and is sponsored by several reputable sources. A caution is given, however, as some of the "pages" are incomplete and still under construction. Even so, a visitor to this site will find a variety of resources. For example, they can link to a site which plays audio files that simulate what people with hearing loss hear, or they can join a lively discussion group as they debate the importance of defining "disabled" vs. "handicapped". This web-site is recommended, regardless of hearing ability.
Association of Late Deafened Adults. Retrieved July, 2002 from http://www.alda.org.
Several individuals who had gathered for a convention in Chicago birthed the Association of Late Deafened Adults in 1987. Although they were strangers to each other initially, they developed a camaraderie based upon common experiences and communication difficulties. Individuals began meeting informally to provide support to each other. One social group soon multiplied into several groups and eventually, the ALDA was formed. The specific purposes of the ALDA are to provide education about deafness to late deafened individuals and their related familial or societal members, advocate for the needs of late deafened adults, provide positive role models, and to provide support and coping strategies to the late deafened adult.The ALDA has eight chapters in the United States that service people from the East Coast to the West. Each chapter provides a variety of local social gatherings (in both private homes and at public events) where individuals can fellowship with one another. In addition, members from all over the country get together on an annual basis for conferences, cruises, etc..This web-site is easy to navigate through, and provides several helpful links to other organizations for the deaf, aural rehabilitation services, and discussion groups. Membership information is easily accessible, as is the ability to e-mail the board of directors for additional help. This site would be a good choice for the late deafened individual who feels that they are at a social disadvantage, and would like to broaden their scope of social experiences.
Hearing Exchange, 2000-2002. Ideas & Information on Hearing Loss. Retrieved on July 17, 2002 from http://hearingexchange.com/.
The HearingExchange is a website that provides support and current information for people with hearing loss, parents of deaf and hard of hearing children and professionals who work with them. It provides an open forum for the discussion of ideas and information on hearing loss and related issues. The site includes current news, articles, resources, forums, chats, newsletters, and expert advice. The information is organized very well, making it very user friendly. This site overall is very comprehensive and would be especially useful for families dealing with a hearing loss. The author of the site is not a professional, but rather a woman that has personal experience with hearing loss having a profound hearing loss herself, a husband with a hearing loss, and a daughter with a hearing loss. Expert question/answer forums and articles are available on the site, however, the author shares a number of personal experiences with the site's visitors and provides opportunities for others to share their experiences. Free resources and event descriptions are also available for professionals and non-professionals. It also provides a list of job openings relating to hearing/communication for professionals. This site is a wonderful resource.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Aural Rehabilitation. Retrieved July 9, 2002 from http://www.asha.org/hearing/rehab/gen_aur_rehab.cfm
The American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) website provides detailed information for the use of professionals, students, and the general public in the area of communication sciences and disorders. The latest news in the field of human communication is easily accessible to the viewer. Professionals are given access to continuing education opportunities, as well as current research in the field through a resource center link that connects the viewer to ASHA's journals. Students can obtain information about accredited academic programs, financial aid, and careers in the field of speech-language pathology and audiology. Individuals with speech, language, and hearing disorders and their families can view the site in the effort to examine specific communication disorders, quality services, and speech-language pathologists and/or audiologists in various communities. There are numerous informative links that will direct the viewer to related sites. Online discussion forums can be of assistance to all viewers who are looking to pose concerns, questions, and offer advice. Membership, certification, events, and member services are posted for the viewer. The search engine on the ASHA website is very valuable for those needing a quick and easy way to access specific areas of interest. This includes an area dealing with aural rehabilitation, providing its definition and services that are available for adults and children. Information regarding hearing aids, assistive technology, and treatment of aural rehabilitation are also discussed. The ASHA website is a fantastic place to visit for all individuals interested in its area of concentration. The information and links are endless. All can benefit from its ease of use. Families, students, and the public will not be overwhelmed by "professional jargon," for the site utilizes vocabulary considerately. This website is a highly recommended resource.
Insight into an implantable device to help you hear, by Dr. Joe Edmonds, M.D. Retrieved 6/26/2002. http://www.edmondsmd.com/cochlear_implants.htm
The introduction to the webpage utilizes a less complicated and technical vocabulary &endash; which assists in the understanding of ideas and concepts of cochlear implantation for the interested lay person. The pictures of anatomy help in clarifying difficult to understand models. It is again clearly organized, navigating through the page efficiently. Aspects of both normal and abnormal hearing are explained in uncomplicated terms. Technical terminology is defined in simplistic ways making ideas easier to understand. There are also helpful links to other information. It addresses questions about such things as candidacy, cost, and the surgery itself. This introduction provides a solid foundation upon which the layperson can tackle the more technical reading included in the second portion of this webpage. This paper goes into great detail the specifics of cochlear implants for both adults and children including people of diverse cognitive, cultural and social populations. Implications of a cochlear implant are discussed in detail concerning a variety or differing types of hearing natures including age of deafness onset, age of implantation, hearing loss duration, residual hearing, individual electrophysical factors and device factors. It discusses the impact of speech perception in adults and speech perception, speech production, and language acquisition in children and how the cochlear implant may affect each of these aspects of communication.
The Hearing Exchange. Retrieved June 28, 2002 from http://www.hearingexchange.com/press/press-0425.htm
Paula Rosenthal, J.D. founded The Hearing Exchange in September 2000. In a link on the Hearing Exchange, a viewer can read about Paula Rosenthal's personal experiences with hearing loss and that of her child. It also shows that She graduated from Emory University with a B.A. in Political Science and received her law degree from Pace University School of Law. The Hearing Exchange is a website that seems to focus on offering a supportive community for people with hearing loss, parents of deaf and hard of hearing children, and professionals who work with them. It provides an open forum for the discussion of ideas and information on hearing loss and related issues. The site includes current news, articles, resources, forums, chats, newsletters, and information relevant to hearing loss. This website focuses on the personal aspect of hearing loss. Many of the articles are personal testimonials relating to dealing with a personal loss of hearing or your child's loss of hearing. Similarly the resources are focused more on coping and identifying with other people who have similar situations as the readers. I feel that this is a great resource for people who are dealing with the emotional aspects of hearing loss. I find that the Hearing Exchange offers many resources that would benefit a person who is experiencing hearing loss or who is close to someone who is hard of hearing.
Hear-it, Treating Hearing Loss. Retrieved July 1, 2002 from http://www.hear-it.org
Hear-it is a website produced by the organization Hear-it AISBL to increase public awareness of hearing impairment. This organization consists of and is run by hearing organizations from around the world including the International Federation of the Hard of Hearing, and the European Hearing Industry Manufactures Association. The site offers articles on prevention of hearing loss, advice for relatives and colleagues of the hard of hearing, hearing loss statistics, and consequences of hearing loss, to name a few. It also provides an e-mail address for consumers with questions on any hearing issues. Most articles include references from reputable sources including The Hearing Review. However, other articles and information provided does not include any references, so it is unclear where the information came from. Also, Hear-it does not provide information on the members of the organization and their credentials. The site is updated regularly with new articles and impartial information. Also, links are provided for organizations and manufactures around the world, in addition to other relevant sites. Hear-it was selected "best of health" site at the "International Web Page Awards" in 2001. The site does not sell any products, and it is free from self-interest. Hear-it is a website that devotes itself solely to informing the public on hearing health and related issues. Hear-it is an excellent source of information for professionals and the general public alike.
Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers. Retrieved July 1, 2002 from http://www.hearnet.com
H.E.A.R, Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers, is non-profit organization developed by a musician and a physician in order to provide information on hearing loss and Tinnitus for musicians and music lovers. It is affiliated with certified professionals including audiologists, hearing health organizations, and research groups. The website produced by H.E.A.R provides information on music and the damage it could cause to unprotected ears. Some of the information provided includes references by certified professionals, including audiologists, however the website does not provide a list of the exact references for all information posted. The website promotes the successes in outreach that H.E.A.R has accomplished since its formation. These successes include PBS specials, promotions through record companies, published books, and public service announcements made by celebrities. Not only does this site provide information about the organization, it also provides links to other websites for further information including the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association, the American Academy of Audiology, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Also, the site is renewed monthly in order to update hearing information and current events of the music industry. One drawback of this site is that H.E.A.R uses its site to sell products that benefit the organization. However, this could also be a plus for people looking for products, such as earplugs. H.E.A.R does not offer any listservs, but it does provide an e-mail address and an online question and answer section to answer any consumer questions. Overall, this site is a great source for information about what loud music can do to healthy hearing, and what we can do to prevent hearing damage.
Where do we go from Hear? Retrieved July 14, 2002 from http:/www.gohear.org
This site appears to be an organization of parents with children who are hard of hearing or deaf. No claim of affiliation to any organization was stated or implied. The source of the site is not made clear, but when browsing through the different links provided, the source of the site can be concluded. The purpose as well as the intended audience of the site is made clear: to serve as a source of information for families of children diagnosed with a hearing loss and for professionals who service these children. An email address is provided for any questions or concerns in regard to the website. Based on the information found on this source, there is no recognizable authority in the subject matter, nor any credentials presented to establish expertise. However, the site is only serving as a link or guide to resources that do provide credentials and recognizable authority in the subject matter being discussed. This site provides a detailed and concise list of links and resources that encompass a variety of issues regarding hearing loss prevention and rehabilitation. The links and resources provided are easily accessible. Although most of the information presented are links and resources, there is some information regarding communication presented, but no recognizable authority in the subject matter was evident, in addition to lack of proof of credentials. The site offers a variety of links to related topics. The site appeared to be free from self-interest.
National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Retrieved July 14, 2002 from http:/www.nidcd.nih.gov
This site is a government agency. The NIDCD is part of the National Institute of Health (NIH), which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The stated purpose is to provide information to professionals who service people suffering from deafness or other communication disorders, as well as to provide support for those professionals who wish to conduct research in these areas. The information provided by this site includes the most recent news and research, information about workshops for professionals, a directory of organizations, and health information regarding deafness and other communication disorders. There is information that would benefit people suffering from deafness, but the site failed to make this clear. Due to the fact that the source is a government agency, no specific authors mentioned throughout the site. However, the page does provide links to the U.S. department of Health and Human Services and to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In addition, an email address is provided if any questions or concerns arise. The information provided in regard to recent news and research is taken from professional and credible Journals such as JAMA. The common links to this site are the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Human Services. The site also offers links to other organizations that deal with deafness and communication disorders.
Oral Deaf Education. www.oraldeafed.org
The purpose of the web site Oral Deaf Education is a resource provided to help the parents of deaf and hard-of-hearing children, as well as serving pediatricians, audiologists, speech pathologists and others involved in caring for and educating deaf and hard-of-hearing child. This web site includes information and resources in oral deaf education. In addition it gives useful topics that will; answer many questions about hearing loss, provide helpful advice about raising a deaf or hard of hearing child, information about hearing testing and technologies, legal rights and financial resources and a list of oral deaf resources and helpful organizations. It also provides highlights from the library area, which provides available videos, free of charge in several languages to educate parents and other professionals. A parent resource kit is also available for parents of newly identified deaf and hard-of-hearing children. This web site gives highlights from the professional area, which gives information on how professionals can make a difference for deaf and hard of hearing children. It also includes listings of undergraduate and graduate school training for persons interested in pursuing a career in working with children who are deaf and hard of hearing and job openings. The listing of schools provided by this web site are beneficial for parents and professionals seeking information concerning oral deaf education with newsletters attached to view about upcoming calendar events and histories of schools. In addition, it gives pertinent information regarding financial assistance and helpful organizations that fund them such as the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. In addition, other links to resources are available concerning auditory devices, support aids, and the law. In summary, Oral Deaf Education gives informative information regarding their web site and access to available tools for parents and professionals. It also, gives a clear understanding of the benefits of oral deaf education.
The Canadian Hearing Society. Retrieved June 14, 2002 http://www.chs.ca
The Canadian Hearing Society is an organization that was established in 1940 to "provide services that enhance the independence of deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing, and that encourage prevention of hearing loss." I feel that this website carries out this intended purpose very well. The organization has published much informational literature and pamphlets, which are all available free of charge on this website. These documents were written to educate people with hearing impairment, their family and friends, educators, employers, and the public of issues faced by those with hearing impairment as well as strategies to help them deal with these issues. This invaluable literature is put together by the Canadian Hearing Society, which is composed of a board of directors of which 1/3 is deaf or hard of hearing as well as 350 nationwide employees and many volunteers. I feel that the literature published by this organization is credible based on the experience of the members of the administration. However, the website does not indicate specific references for all of the literature and pamphlets. In addition to providing written material, the website of the Canadian Hearing Society is a source of valuable resources to help those with hearing impairments live more independently, such as advice on seeking employment, using a TTY device, and where to find sign language translators. It also provides resources for others working with people with hearing impairments, such as sign language instruction, instructional strategies workshops, and advice on prevention of hearing loss. I would recommend this website to any person struggling with hearing impairment. I would use this website myself to access informational literature to give to my own hearing impaired students and their families.
National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management, www.infanthearing.org
The goal of the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM) at Utah State University is to ensure that all infants and toddlers with hearing loss are identified as early as possible and provide a timely and appropriate intervention plan to include adequate educational, audiological, and medical assistance.The NCHAM web site includes information and background about the web site itself and provides various helpful links to other website that provide information, resources, and support to families of deaf and hard of hearing children. The source site is made clear and provides a newsletter, bulletin board, audiological workshops, and sources for families and professionals. NCHAM offers a resource center that includes the following; newborn hearing screenings, diagnostic audiology, early intervention, data management, family support, medical home, and program intervention. In addition, NCHAM offers information regarding legislative activities, state grants, screening equipment, and loan programs to help hospitals establish universal newborn hearing screening programs as quickly as possible. Currently, NCHAM is cooperating with several manufacturers to loan hearing screening equipment for a 6-month trial period to hospitals.The web site also promotes and gives information regarding a culturally competent family support. The goal of culturally competent family support is to "aid the cause and interests of families who have a deaf or hard of hearing child, and to promote policies that further these causes and interests, in a manner which is sensitive to families from racially, ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds". NCHAM is a great resource for parents, audiologist, speech language pathologist and other professionals.
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Hearing Enhancement. Retrieved July 1, 2002 from http://www.hearingresearch.org
The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Hearing Enhancement is a national project with the objective of conducting research programs that promote technical solutions to the difficulties of people who are deaf of hard of hearing. This research center addresses accessibility problems, evaluates technological solutions, and aims to develop training in rehabilitation engineering and improve the distribution of assistive devices to individuals with hearing loss. Given that this site is clearly research based it presents information on current RERC projects and information on obtaining grants. Some current projects include developing national standards for assistive listening devices, and a focused project on reducing interference from background noise and reverberation in multi-channel and multi-microphone directional hearing aids. Further, as it is a national organization bulletins and standards for assistive listening systems for large area and public arenas are stated and explained to consumers, providers and installers. A RERC newsletter is available to view online in both English and Spanish. Also, available online is a special section entitled "Dr. Ross on hearing loss." Dr. Ross is the principal investigator of the RERC on hearing enhancement, and writes a column regularly in Hearing Loss &endash; The Journal of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, called "Developments in Research and Technology." To add to his credentials, Dr. Ross is an individual who has worn a hearing aid for nearly 50 years, which clearly adds credibility to his writings. Many extensive articles written by Dr. Ross are available on this site. Such topics include: helpful hints to the new hearing aid user, a consumer's checklist, hearing aid troubleshooting, and his own personal reflections on aural rehabilitation. This site is useful on both a professional and consumer level given the research basis as well as resourceful articles by Dr. Ross.
Options in Deaf Education &endash; History, Methodologies, and Strategies for Surviving the System. By: Cheryl Zapien. Retrieved July 17, 2002 from http://www.listen-up.org/edu/options1.htm#copyright
This website was adapted from an article that appeared in the 1998 volume of Exceptional Parent Magazine. It is a comprehensive article for parents of deaf children that provides valuable information so they may be better equipped to make potentially difficult decisions about their children's education. The author clearly believes that parents should be well informed and encourages parents to be advocates for their children, implying that otherwise they may not receive the most appropriate education. The article includes the history of deaf education and the origin of the conflict between different philosophies, warning parents that the issues can be emotionally charged and to always be aware of the differentiation between fact and opinion. The article fairly presents both sides of the oral/manual dispute, and is careful to provide positive and negative aspects of both approaches. Useful information about laws affecting deaf education is provided, and explanations of different types of hearing loss is also included. She provides detailed descriptions of many different educational approaches; both having to do with the different language options for deaf children, as well as the different educational settings available for deaf children. There was little empirical evidence provided in the article, but the author pointed out that the differences between options were not necessarily better or worse than others and that the benefits and drawbacks were not easily quantified and measured, as these qualities differed for every child. She did a good job of providing balanced and unbiased descriptions of all options available. I would recommend this website to parents facing a decision about education for their deaf child.
Independent Hearing Aid Information. Retrieved July 1, 2002 from http://www.earinfo.com
As this site is maintained as a public service by the Hearing Alliance of America, it provides a wealth of information to persons with hearing impairment, while keeping in mind that coping with hearing loss and choosing the best suitable hearing aid are major concerns. To begin, this site is quite easily navigated. The home page presents several topic headings that are pertinent to individuals dealing with hearing loss. For instance, one such topic reads, "There are thousands of makes and models of hearing aids to choose from. Here's how to select yours." This section of the website offers a starting point, giving features, sizes, and prices of the range of assistive listening devices. The consumer is presented with information on the basic types of hearing aids and asked what is most important to them in their purchase, be it getting the best possible hearing benefit, having discrete or practically invisible hearing aids, or simply holding costs down. Further, this site provides an "insider's look" at the actual purchase of a hearing aid, when presenting topics such as steps to take in the purchase, availability of trial purchases, providers in your area, and the range of hearing aid styles and technologies. Also, this site provides a basic description of reading and interpreting an audiogram. The effort in this section of the website is admirable as it allows the consumer to have a better and more holistic understanding of their particular case. Finally, coping strategies are presented for families. Written by an established audiologist, specific topics covered include the "psychology of hearing loss," and "how the family can help" concerning issues of denial and effective communicating techniques, among others.
Northern Virginia Resource Center: Assistive Devices. Retrieved July 14, 2002 from http://www.nvrc.org/
This source is NVRC, Northern Virginia Resource Center. It is a nonprofit corporation serving several counties and cities in and around Northern Virginia including: of Fairfax, Arlington, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park. The intention of this site is to provide services to a place where services are in need, since Northern Virginia has an estimated 170,000 deaf and hard of hearing persons. They also serve not just deaf and hard of hearing persons but the whole community. NVRC provides services to families, friends, schools, businesses, agencies, service providers, organizations, libraries and others. The source of this site does not appear to have any affiliation with ASHA, and no one on the board of directors have titles that would show that they were either audiologists or speech-language pathologists. However, they do have many other sources that include: lectures, links, exhibits, presentations, workshops, and training programs. Overall, the site is there to provide people with information and services. Also, they have worked in the past to get better services for the people in the area, such as, updating systems for the police station and fire department. They also provide people visiting the site to contact them and specialists in the area. NVRC provides a complete bibliographic page that gives specific information about where they received their information, including a citation from SHHH. There are no major assertions, but links to new finding and journal articles are available and credible. There was no evidence that this site has been reviewed by an independent "content" reviewing agency. However, this site seems to be very credible, it is free from spelling and grammatical errors and was updated on July 10th. This site contains complete information about some of the issues that are hard to explain, such as the ability to name the different labels. The site presents information from reputable sources, and the materials and facts given from these sources. There does not seem to be a common link, because it contains services for people of this specific area. However, there are sources from all over the country as well as, people close to them that can provide services. The site is free from self-interest, its sole purpose is to provide service and information for people of this area who are in great need of help.
Help for Hearing Loss: Services are Scarce for Hard of Hearing, Late Deafened, and Oral Deaf People. Retrieved July 14, 2002 from http://www.hearinglossweb.com/
This source of this site is Char and Larry Sivertson who both have a hearing loss. The purpose of this site is to give information to the people who have hearing loss, but are not members of the traditional Deaf community. This includes people who consider themselves to be hearing impaired, hard of hearing, late deafened, and oral deaf. Help for Hearing Loss provides information on events, issues, support, and technology related to hearing loss. This site's intended audience is Baby Boomers, who are increasingly becoming aware of the effects of hearing loss. The source of the site is a recognizable authority in the subject matter because both of them have experienced hearing loss first hand. Larry has recently become an interpreter for ASL. The sponsors are unbiased; they are simply providing information in an accessible medium that they have struggled over the years to find. The site also provides links, bibliographic information, and several links that are easy to locate. Help for Hearing Loss also provides credible information that supports their findings. Again, I could not find that the site had been reviewed by an independent "content" reviewing agency, but it is free from spelling and grammatical errors. Also, it was updated on July 13, 2002. The site discusses the growing need for support and information. It describes a new community of people that are suffering hearing loss, but are not really contained within the "traditional" deaf community. It does not really contradict any information from reputable sources. It also allows site users to talk about their own personal gripes in a forum that they provide. The site does not have a common link from a recognized authority, but offers links to other sources on the same topic. The site is not for personal gain, but is in the interest of people that share the same trouble that the site managers have.
Self Help for Hard of Hearing People.. Retrieved ? from http://www.netprocorp.com/shhh/nys/winter2002/index.htm#top
The website listed above is the homepage for the non-profit organization called SHHH (Self Help for Hard of Hearing). This website is intended for members, or potential members, of the organization and contains a lot of valuable information on strategies and helpful hints for dealing with hearing loss including: travel tips for the hearing impaired, information on preparing for an emergency as a hearing impaired person, press releases, calendar of meetings, legislative reporting, a note from the president (a hearing impaired audiologist) on aural rehabilitation classes that he teaches to hearing impaired individuals, etc. This website scored fairly high on most areas of the web site evaluation protocol. Full credit was given for the identification section. Full credit was given to 6 out of 11 areas in concrete validity. Questions that did not receive credit lacked the following information: ability to locate sources of material presented in the website, scientifically credible resources, assertions supported by empirical observations, review by a "content" reviewing agency, and site update within the last three months(last updated 3/02). The section on context validity received full credit on all responses, including the fact that it is a site free from "self-interest" since the organization is completely non-profit and does not charge a fee to join.
Med Help International. Retrieved July 11, 2002 from http://www.medhelp.org
Med Help International is an organization Web site. The source of the site is an independent, non-profit organization that claims no affiliations with anyone. The site is dedicated to helping patients find the highest quality non-technical medical information about diseases and conditions in the world today. Med Help International is not an authority in the medical information field, but many of its contributors of information and research have excellent credentials. The many links to the site provide access to current medical information in education and research, Q & A forums, and features topics that make news headlines. Sponsors to the site include other information sites, support groups, medical centers, clinics and private agencies. Registration is required to use the forums, but at no cost to the consumer. The site is regularly updated. In fact, once on the site, a site visitor is provided with the current date and an appropriate salutary greeting, e.g., "Good Morning!"In conclusion, Med Help International is an organization Web site. The source of the site is an independent, non-profit organization that provides non-technical medical information about diseases and conditions to patients. The contributors to the site include experts and professionals in medicine and related fields.
Educational Audiology Association Retrieved July 1, 2002 from www.eduad.org
The Educational Audiology Association (EAA) is an organization recognized as a related professional organization (RPO) by both the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) and the American Audiology Association (AAA). The purpose of the EAA is to promote and encourage continuing education of persons who are hard of hearing from early childhood to adult hood. The web site targets a professional audience mostly, however also provides a few family resources. Professional resources available through this web site include journal publications, state law information, and links to expert audiologists and more. Family resources included finding an audiologist and commonly asked questions. The site requires membership to access most of the web links, which is a downfall. As a member professional materials, printable publications, and list serve accessibility are available. The web site is updated regularly. In summary, the web site offers enough information to briefly review, but requires membership to access further information. I would recommend this site to anyone interested in educational audiology because it does offer many contact persons for the organization, but for general consumers it does not offer an abundance of useful or resourceful information.
Cochlear Implant Association, Inc. Retrieved June 28, 2002 from http://www.cici.org/
Cochlear Implant Association, Inc. (CIAI), formerly Cochlear Implant Club International, Inc., is a non-profit organization that aims to provide support and information and access to support groups for cochlear implant recipients, their families, professionals, and other individuals interested in cochlear implants. In addition to support groups for members of the CIAI and candidates of cochlear implants, the members and staff of the association purport to promote improved financial support, support and encourage the development of CIAI chapters at the local level, to enhance community awareness and education of both cochlear implants and hearing impairment. The credentials and experience of the staff members, officers, and board of directors of the CIAI, are unknown; however, direct contact information is given for the executive director. The site primarily deals with news, advocacy, education, families, conventions, and chapters. Each area links to a current, brief update on the specified topic area. The update includes anecdotal reports and relevant publications, with references sited when necessary. The website also has a section that includes the association's publications (e.g., Selecting a Cochlear Implant Center, Evaluation, etc . . .) also with works cited. The site also provides links to websites for chapters of CIAI, manufacturers of cochlear implants, and resources and personal websites dealing with cochlear implants. The website supplies contact information (address, phone number, and e-mail) for the CIAI international headquarters in Washington D.C. Additionally, the homepage contains an index with information on updated sections, specifying the date of the update and the new information.
American Speech Hearing Association, Aural Rehabilitation for Children. Retrieved July 15, 2002 from http:// www.asha.org/hearing/rehab/child_aur_rehab.cfm
The American Speech Hearing Association (ASHA), an accredited organization, divides aural rehabilitation into three sections: aural rehabilitation for children, adult aural rehabilitation, and aural rehabilitation. To learn more about ASHA, one would have to access more information through www.ASHA.org. This review focuses on aural rehabilitation for children. Overall the website provides clear general information. It describes the difference between rehabilitation and habilitation, provides some important factors that dictate specific services needed for each child, and names different communication modes. ASHA then divides aural habilitation/rehabilitation services into six sections: 1) training in auditory perception, 2) using visual cues, 3) improving speech, 4) developing language, 5) managing communication, and 6) managing hearing aids and assistive listening devices. The website briefly describes each service. Finally, the website ends with the delivery of services. Since ASHA is a recognizable authority, the website has concrete validity. However, the site does not contain links providing more specific information, does not contain references or citations, and the site was not reviewed by an independent agency. The site also has context validity since it is linked through ASHA and appears free from self-interest, since the presented information is general. However, it does not indicate any controversy or positives and negatives of aural rehabilitation services.
Mark Ross, Ph.D., Aural Rehabilitation: Some Personal and Professional Reflections. Retrieved July 15, 2002 from http:// www.hearingresearch.org/aural_rehabilitation.htm
Mark Ross, Ph.D., states that while he was in the Air Force in 1951, his hearing loss was first detected. He describes in detail the treatment procedures involved at the time and how this impacted his job. He also discusses the stigma of hearing aids by describing his and others' attitudes concerning his hearing loss. Dr. Ross concludes by providing insightful information that should be incorporated in the procedures involved in hearing aids. Even though the website is well written and provides clear and helpful anecdotal information on these procedures, it contains little information on aural rehabilitation. As for concrete validity, the web site does not include: 1) Dr. Ross's credentials (except that he has a Ph.D. and worked in the Air Force), 2) his email or a webmaster's address, 3) the site is not dated and therefore one can't determine when and if it was updated, and 4) the website was not reviewed by another source. On the positive side, the website does contain references and a bibliography at the end of the site. As for context validity, the website does not indicate any controversy per se but rather provides helpful suggestions which are supported from his life-long experiences and he also incorporates relevant literature. Also, the site does not have any website links. Dr. Ross does not appear to be involved in self-interest or in the interest of others.
Mark Ross, Ph.D., Aural Rehabilitation in Australia. Retrieved July 15, 2002 from http:// www.hearingresearch.org/aural_rehabilitation_in_australi.htm
Mark Ross, Ph.D., discusses his aural rehabilitation experiences in Australia, which were funded by the World Rehabilitation Fund. He does not claim any other affiliation with an organization. Dr. Ross focuses on three aural rehabilitation programs: 1) conversational therapy, 2) audio-cassette auditory training, and 3) nursing home programs. Overall, Dr. Ross clearly discusses the differences between the three and provides examples of the procedures involved, who is involved, and the nature of each program. Although one can find these services in the United States, not all of the activities are inclusive because of the differing health systems. The website is well written and provides clear and helpful anecdotal information on aural rehabilitation, however, it is low on concrete and context validity. As for concrete validity, the web site does not include: 1) Dr. Ross's credentials (except that he has a Ph.D.), 2) his email or a webmaster's address, 3) the site is not dated and therefore one can't determine when and if it was updated, 4) the bibliography only contains one citation, and 5) the website was not reviewed by another source. As for context validity the website does not indicate any controversy for each of the three aural rehabilitation programs and does not contain any website links. Dr. Ross does not appear to be involved in self-interest or in the interest of others. The purpose of his website is to educate others about his experiences of aural rehabilitation in Australia.
Aural Rehabilitation. Retrieved June 30, 2002 from http://krbo23.tripod.com/ar/
This website, developed by a student at Augustana College as a class project, provides a thorough introduction to aural rehabilitation. The source and purpose of this website are made clear and the intended audience is implied. An e-mail address is provided should there be any questions or comments. Although the website rates low in concrete validity, as no references or credentials are reported, it does appear to be a good resource for those seeking information on hearing loss and the different modes of aural rehabilitation, with no biases presented by the author. Links to other website sources are provided; however, they cannot be opened from this website and because their web addresses are not reported, it is unclear whether or not they are resourceful. This website also rates low in context validity, as it does not report other perspectives or controversy, but it does offer links (if properly functioning) to other sources and is free from self-interest. Overall I found it to be a valuable source of information. All information is clearly presented and easy to follow. Use of simple vocabulary and actual photographs facilitate an understanding of the different devices. I believe this website to be especially beneficial for families who are just beginning to seek aural rehabilitation options and information, however they should be aware that there are other perspectives and that this website is not comprehensive.
Bowman, K. Augustana College: Aural Rehabilitation. Retrieved July 9, 2002 from http://krbo23tripod.com/ar/
Kristy Bowman's website was created to fulfill the requirement of her class titled "Introduction to Aural Rehabilitation." The site specifically deals with aural rehabilitation and what can be done to alleviate the problems of hearing loss and minimize the consequences that result. Although not specified, the site seems to be of valuable use for students, the general public, and individuals with hearing impairment and their families. The author works to define aural rehabilitation, discuss how to troubleshoot, offer information on hearing aides, cochlear implants, and assistive devices, and provide a directory of related links. The material located in this site is by no means exhausting. Rather, it seems to be more of a brief introduction to various issues in the area of aural rehabilitation. For this reason, it is suggested that the viewer visit the recommended links and others in order to obtain more detailed information in this particular domain. What is provided on the site, however, is basic facts to get the interested one started. The information presented on this site informally appears to be accurate and consistent with other sources on aural rehabilitation. The viewer is cautioned, however, because the page did not provide a bibliography or references to confirm the accuracy of the information given. Although the site is presented in a way that is easy to understand, it is believed that other sources can contribute greatly to the material provided here.
Boys Town National Research Hospital, My Baby's Hearing. Retrieved July 10, 2002 from http://www.babyhearing.org.
Babyhearing.org is a website designed in conjunction with Boys Town National Research Hospital to answer parents questions about infant hearing screenings and the follow testing, steps to take after a diagnosis of hearing loss, gearing aids, and speech and language, and parenting issues. The website is divided into two major sections, "first steps" and next steps." From the "first steps" link, a parent can obtain information about what the result of the hearing test mean, as well as the follow up testing. From the "next steps" link, a visitor to the site can learn information about early intervention and read about other parents' experiences. Also in the "next steps" section, materials are neatly organized into three major areas: Hearing and Amplification, Language and Learning, and Parent to Parent. The Hearing and Amplification section contains information broken into chapters about newborn hearing screening, hearing loss, hearing aids choices, and cochlear implants. The Language and Learning link provides an extensive list of information broken into chapters about the importance of embedding a variety of language tasks into everyday life. Information provided in these chapters included early intervention importance and, learning from the family topic. The Parent-to-Parent link is key feature that parents can find comfort in communicating with other parents share the same experiences. Overall this website provides parent friendly information with links to key resources.
Oberkotter Foundation 1998-2002, Oral Deaf Education. Retrieved July 13, 2002 from http://www.oraldeafed.org.
docProvided by Oberkotter foundation, Oral Deaf Education is a resource provided to help the parents of deaf and hard-of-hearing children, as well as serving pediatricians, audiologists, speech pathologists, and others involved in caring for and educating deaf and hard-of-hearing children. This website is subdivided into four general links: schools, search, library, and professionals. From the school link, a visitor can access an exhausted list of oral deaf education schools, along with their websites. The search link allows visitors to search their website through keywords. The library link is a tool for parents to gain information on how schools use the auditory-oral method of teaching deaf children to listen and talk, as well as general information. From the library link, caregivers can gain information about auditory devices and support aids. This section also provides information that pertains to legal rights and sources for financial assistance for oral deaf education. The oral deaf education website also offers a free resource kit and video to inform families and help answer questions about their deaf or hard-of-hearing baby. A key feature of this website is the overview link that neatly organizes the content of the entire website. Overall, this is a useful website for parents to gain information about oral deaf education, related topics, and other resourceful websites.
BEGGINNINGS: For parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Retrieved July 8, 2002, from http://beginningssvs.com.
This is a website of a non-profit organization, BEGGINNINGS, that offers emotional and technical support to families with deaf or hard of hearing children, deaf parents with hearing children, and professionals serving those families. The BEGGINNINGS website provides an impartial approach to meeting the diverse needs of these families and the professionals who serve them. This website helps parents be informed, empowered and supported as they make decisions about their child. It offers valuable information about many aspects of early intervention including the developmental benefits, health professionals involved, and information pertaining to Individual Family Service Plan. Communication options such as total communication, cued speech, and American Sign Language (ASL) and assistive technology (e.g., hearing aids, cochlear implants) are explained in parent friendly terminology. The BEGGINNINGS website provides information about specific accommodations and modifications that children can receive in a classroom, Individual Education Program (IEP), and general tips for parents and professionals. A key feature at this website is on designated nights, parents can chat live with other parents or professionals in a parent forum link. A link to "other links" and a "search" link are easily located at the top of the home page. Overall, this is an east to follow website that parents and professional may find valuable information.
Dybala, P. and Meier, G., Audiology Awareness Campaign. Retrieved July 15, 2002, from http://www.audiologyawareness.com
The Audiology Awareness Campaign (AAC) clearly states its purpose as helping persons who have a hearing loss. At this website, an individual with no audiology background may search for information about hearing loss, hearing aids, and other related issues. It is easy to navigate and offers a variety of options. The AAC has a library on its website with articles and brochures about hearing information, hearing aids, and other issues of audiology. As I perused the site, I came upon articles with tips on how to communicate with a person with hearing loss, how to read an audiogram, Auditory Processing Disorders and how to perform a hearing aid check. There is even an option to take a "hearing test" which is actually a Hearing Disability/ Handicap Scale. I approved of the fact that the articles and information were not bogged down with jargon which would be mystifying to the average person. Each article was followed by the name of the author clearly referenced. There are a number of links available and there is a list of audiologists and organizations who help promote the AAC. An email address is provided as well as a section to submit both questions and articles about hearing loss. Persons interested can also contact the AAC via mail or telephone. It does not appear to be recently updated so the contact information may have changed. There is one small section devoted to obtaining donations for the AAC. Overall I found this website to be very informative and inviting to the reader.
Hearing Planet: Hearing Aid Help. Retrieved July 1, 2001, from http://www.hearingaidhelp.com
Hearing Aid Help is a commercial website put together as a public service by Hearing Planet, a company that sells hearing aids and other products. This source does not claim affiliation with any other group or organization. The purpose of the site is to provide a public service for people suffering from hearing loss, and other people who want more information regarding hearing and ear health care. Hearing Aid Help provides information and articles about types and styles of hearing aids, and types and levels of hearing loss. It also provides a hearing glossary including over 1,000 hearing terms, and tips on ear care. All the material provided seems like great information, however the site does not include any references. Also, it is unclear who the individuals who created this site are, and if they have any qualifications in the area of hearing. The site does include links to other reputable sources including the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association, and H.E.A.R. It also provides lists of hearing aid manufactures and audiologists. Hearing Aid Help includes an e-mail address for consumer questions, however it is unclear who will be answering the questions. This particular site does not sell any products for self-interest, however, it does like to Hearing Planet's home page, which only sells products. Overall, this site is a good place to start when looking for information on hearing aids and hearing loss because it provides excellent links and lists of professionals available.
Hands and Voices: About Us. Retrieved July 14, 2002 from http://www.handsandvoices.org
The source of this site is parents of ASL signers, cued speech users, parents of kids with cochlear implants or total communicators; we are people who have common interests connected through the community of deafness. Hands & Voices' purpose is to give information to explore options, get unemotional and emotional support, learn from one another and share what they have in common. The source of the site is not a recognizable authority in the subject matter of the site, but they do have experience and have become more educated about the subject. The authors do not attack others, but celebrate their own community. The site provides links and other resources including articles. These materials are easily to access and have bibliographic information. I could not find that the site has been reviewed by an independent "content" reviewing agency, but is free from spelling and grammatical errors. The site was last updated June 19, 2002. he site does not really acknowledge controversy, because that is not its intent, it is intended to give support for parents of children with hearing loss. Furthermore, it does not contradict reputable sources, and does not have a common link from a recognized authority. It does have links to other sources on the same topic, and is free from self-interest.
Nemours.org-Speech and Language. Nemours Children's Clinic. Retrieved June 27, 2002 from http://www.nemours.org/no/fl/nccjax/svcs/otolaryngology_speech.html
The website listed above is a collaboration of the Nemours Children Clinic and the Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children. This website contains many valuable features that would be of interest to the parent of a hearing impaired child including, but not limited to: information on hearing evaluations, descriptions of how hearing is tested and the different types of hearing loss, "kid friendly" pictures of how the ear works, examples of case studies, information available in Spanish, etc. This website scored fairly high on most areas of the web site evaluation protocol. Full credit was given for the identification section. Full credit was given to 6 out of 11 areas in concrete validity. Questions that did not receive credit lacked the following information: ability to locate sources of material presented in the website, scientifically credible resources, assertions supported by empirical observations and compelling reasoning, review by a "content: reviewing agency, and site update within the last three months. The section on context validity received full credit on 3 out of 5 responses, with the other two responses receiving half credit. Half credit was given because empirical observations were not noted for contradiction of information and because the website was not completely free of self-interest. Anytime someone is promoting a service that they charge a fee for, they are never completely free of self-interest. However, this website is full of information that would be useful to many hearing impaired individuals, and it would be unfair to say that it was completely based on self-interest.
National Association of the Deaf, Reasonable Accommodations for Deaf Employees Under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Retrieved June 28, 2002 from http://www.nad.org/infocenter/infotogo/legal/accom.html
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) was established in 1880 and focuses on safeguarding the accessibility and civil rights of deaf and hard of hearing Americans in education, employment, and health care. This website is intended to promote the services that the non-profit National Association of the Deaf offers to the public. Information regarding news archives, position statements, and job postings are offered. Also available is information regarding upcoming conferences, and links to the affiliates of the National Association of the Deaf. Informative articles related to American Sign Language, the deaf culture and community, education, emergency information, mental health, parents and friends, and technology are available through links. These articles offer the views of the National Association of the Deaf but do not offer links to articles in professional journals or other scientific resources. The website shows that plans for the members only section include discussion forums, and a sign-up area for the "NAD E-zine" which will be a member-only publication. Promotions for joining the National Association of the Deaf is stressed throughout the website. This website seems to focus on promoting the services that the National Association of the Deaf offers its members. Informative bulletins are available, however, this website does not seem to offer more extensive research on the issues surrounding hearing loss.
Beginnings for Parents of Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. Retrieved June 28, 2002 from http://www.beginningssvcs.com/
BEGINNINGS for Parents of Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Inc., is a non-profit organization, incorporated under the laws of North Carolina, since 1987. BEGINNINGS was established to provide emotional and educational support and access to information for families with children (birth through 21) who are deaf or hard of hearing. The site not only educates and supports parents regarding decisions about their child; it also provides technical assistance to professionals who work with these families to help their children maximize social and educational participation in society. BEGINNINGS' staff aims to provide services and information for the families that include emotional support, objective information, early identification, and awareness of early intervention programs. The staff that provides these services range from parents, to teachers, to Master's professionals in Special Education. The site itself deals with several issues in regards to the population of deaf or hard of hearing individuals, such as early intervention, communication options, assistive technology/audiology, school issues, and legislation. Each of these topics have drop- down menus which further specify topics related to these overall areas (e.g. School issues contains Individualized Education Program (IEP), Accommodations/Modifications, etc . . . ) Within each section, references are cited and if available, links are highlighted to provide direct access to other related sites. If questions and/or concerns arise, there is contact information provided including address, telephone, and e-mail information. Additionally, a link to a parent forum is provided as a means for families to have informal discussions.
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Communicating with People who have a hearing loss. Retrieved June 28, 2002 from http://www.agbell.org/information/brochures_communication.cfm
This website focuses on offering an extension of the range of programs and services that are available to members of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing which was founded in 1890 by Alexander Graham Bell. The Alexander Graham Bell publishes and distributes books, brochures, videos, CDs, and audiocassettes related to the issues surrounding hearing loss. Information on the governmental and education advocacy services provided through the Alexander Graham Bell Association is also available on the website.The website offers links to resources on hearing loss information, financial aid, advocacy, and periodicals. Topics in these links include parenting issues, controversies related to hearing loss, hearing technology, and a hearing dog resource list. Biweekly online chats are offered which focus on questions that are emailed to the association. The website offers a chat room, an email list-serv, BabbleOn, as well as an "e-zine" for deaf and hard of hearing members, LipSpeak. Networks are available for people interested in information on the public school caucus, international professionals, parents, deaf and hard of hearing. This website is designed to promote the services that the Alexander Graham Bell Association offers to the public. I feel that these services are valid and offer assistance to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Chapter 9: Cochlear Implants and Options for Persons with Profound Hearing Impairment, by Jaclyn B. Spitzer, PhD. Retrieved 6/26/2002. http://www.vard.org/mono/ear/spitzer.htm
Chapter nine of Rehabilitation Research and Development Service Practical Hearing Aid Selection and Fitting is entitled Cochlear Implants and Options for Persons with Profound Hearing Impairment discusses many aspects of the cochlear implant. Candidacy for implantation is communicated in extent, and considerations are made with concern for age, type of hearing loss, degree of hearing loss, and more. Explanations and models are made clear through the use of tables and graphs. The relationship between risks and costs and benefits is also discussed in this chapter, organizing main ideas into an easy to read table of information. Chapter 9 also discusses the practical aspects of rehabilitation. Focusing on issues of psychoacoustic and electrophysiologic examinations, and consultation by other specialists, and counseling opportunities and suggestions. The components of the rehabilitation plan include repair strategy learning which include: when there is a communication failure: the person with hearing impairment should ask the communication partner to: repeat the missed word or phrase, simplify the sentence, rephrase the stimulus, give a key word, or break the sentence into two parts.
The Victorian Deaf Society. Retrieved June 26, 2002, from http://www.vicdeaf.com
The Victorian Deaf Society offers several services such as case management, counseling, groups, clubs, and H.E.A.R. Service (Hearing Education and Aural Rehabilitation). H.E.A.R. Service is a non-profit organization and the claimed trading name of the Victorian Deaf Society. The purpose of the web site is to offer a range of programs and information for people with hearing loss, their families and friends and those working with hearing impaired individuals. The organization is located in Australia, however the information obtained from this web site is pertinent to all people with a hearing impairment. The Victorian Deaf Society web site provides a lengthy list of links to other web sites. In addition, this web site includes an e-mail address to direct comments and/or questions. The web site includes information on hearing assessments, hearing aids, assistive listening devices, aural rehabilitation and the deaf community and culture. Overall, the Victorian Deaf Society web site was judged to be informative about the various types of services and devices available to those who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Healthy Hearing. Retrieved June 26, 2002, from http://www.healthyhearing.com
Healthy Hearing is a web site that claims to contain up-to-date news, information and resources pertaining to causes and treatment of hearing loss, hearing aids and cochlear implants. The purpose of this web site is for the exchange of information between and within professionals and individuals with a hearing loss. This web site appears to be useful for both persons who are hard of hearing and professionals who work with them. The Healthy Hearing Advisory Board is made up of approximately one hundred professionals including physicians, audiologists and hearing instrument specialists. The Healthy Hearing web site contains a section labeled "patient perspectives" which gives those who are hard of hearing or deaf a chance to express personal experiences, which can then be read by others. It addition, this web site consists of interviews from individuals from various professions pertaining to hearing loss, and many articles concerning aural rehabilitation and more. There are currently 2,692 links to other sources on the Healthy Hearing web site. An e-mail address is included in the web site for the purposes of sending comments and/or questions. Overall, the Healthy Hearing web site was judged to be educational regarding hearing loss and aural rehabilitation, and an excellent web site to use to find additional links.
American Speech Language and Hearing Association Division 7, Aural Rehabilitation and Its Instrumentation. Retrieved on June 27, 2002 from http://www.professionalasha.org/resources/divs/div_7.cfm
This website was published by the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA), with the intended audience being professionals who are interested in joining Division 7. The purpose of the website is best described by the mission statement of the organization, which is: "Dedicating a forum for clinicians and researchers to discuss current ideas and issues in the field of auditory rehabilitation." The group lists its goals as:
Visions of Division 7 for future endeavors include:
Affiliate benefits for members of Division 7 are:
The website does not provide links to other resources regarding Auditory Rehabilitation, but it does provide a means to contact this division of ASHA with any additional questions. The website appears to be free from self-interest, as its focus is solely on aiding the advancement of those directly involved in auditory rehabilitation. There is also no monetary gain to be had from the publication of this website, which gives the reader more reason to place trust in the information the publishers put forth.
Ross, M. A retrospective look at the future of aural rehabilitation. Retrieved July 4, 2002 from http://www.hearingresearch.org/a_retrospective_look_at_the_futu.htm
This webpage gives a brief history of the profession of audiology and the intrinsic role of the audiologist in providing aural rehabilitation services to people with hearing loss. The article notes how the audiologist has to perform dual roles as both a technician and as a health service provider. Ross makes the case that the current scope of practice for most audiologist downplays the role of aural rehabilitation service provider and focuses most heavily on technical endeavors. Ross defends his position that audiologists need to broaden their scope of practice to include more aural rehabilitation services to clients. The author is a credible source for presenting on this topic, as he is both a professor emeritus of audiology and is a hearing-impaired person. Dr. Ross supports his arguments with empirical research, and a bibliography is provided to confirm the accuracy of the information presented within this page. The page acknowledges some of the arguments that might be presented in opposition to its contents. The site can be linked to from the website of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Hearing Enhancement, a project that is funded by national organizations, such as the United States Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS). The author of the site does not provide an e-mail address on this webpage, but his e-mail address can be accessed from the RERC's main webpage (www.hearingresearch.org). There are no links to other sources that may provide additional information or confirmation of the information presented at this webpage.
Adult aural rehabilitation. Retrieved July 4, 2002 from http://www.asha.org/hearing/rehab/adult_aur_rehab.cfm
This webpage provides descriptions of the topics that are frequently covered as part of adult aural rehabilitation services. It is noted that adult aural rehabilitation services may be provided on an individual basis, to small groups, or a combination of the two. According to the page, topics falling under the umbrella of adult aural rehab services may include understanding the hearing loss, learning about hearing aids, providing listening training, assistive listening devices, using visual cues such as speech reading, conversational strategies, home arrangement, support groups, and legal help. The source of this webpage is the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), a well-regarded organization in the field of audiology. The language used in this page is consistent with the purpose of providing information about adult aural rehabilitation services to members of the public at large and refrains from using technical jargon or complex technical information. The page does not provide a bibliography or references that could be used to confirm the accuracy of the information presented. There is no mention of how it was determined that the topics listed on the page are typical of adult aural rehabilitation services. The page does not acknowledge controversy or alternate viewpoints about adult aural rehabilitation. Viewers can link to the websites of support groups from the page. There is also an e-mail link for general questions and requests, as well as the address and phone numbers for ASHA.
Pediatric Hearing Loss, Family Issues. Retrieved June 30, 2002 from http://www.utdallas.edu/~thib/rehabinfo/index.html
This website is a link that is specifically intended for parents with children who have a hearing loss. It is a link made by a graduate student that stems from a larger website developed by an Associate Professor at the University of Texas-Austin who works at The Advanced Hearing Research Center, which is part of the Callier Center for Communication Disorders. Particularly, the Pediatric Hearing Loss section has information on the anatomy and physiology of the ear, amplification options, education settings, recent developments, diagnostic evaluation, speech and language development, legal issues, resources, types of hearing loss, communication options, and family issues. All of these webpages are very user friendly, and would be easy for a parent who is inexperienced with hearing loss to understand. The graphics of the ear and amplification devices are especially helpful and very clear. However, this site does not cite its resources or include a bibliography anywhere. It also does not have a specific date included, so it is difficult to tell if it has been updated. It does not mention cochlear implants, even though they are a large issue for this population, but does include a link to the documentary The Sound and the Fury, which deals with that issue. Overall, this is a very informative site for its intended population.
A.G. Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Advocating independence through listening and talking. Retrieved July 1, 2002 from http://www.agbell.org
The A.G. Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is an international organization associated with hearing loss and spoken-language approaches to aural rehabilitation. The organization, which has many affiliates located around the world, was founded in 1890 by A.G. Bell to provide programs and services to those affected by hearing loss. The source and purpose of the organization are clearly stated on the home page of the site, as are the intended audiences. An email address is provided for those who wish to contact the organization. After searching the site, it was apparent that the "claimed" purpose was consistent with the "real" purpose. The well-known organization is over 100 years old, and its objectives are stated outright. The web site offers background and contact information. The site is quite one-sided with regard to the spoken-language approach, but it does not attack proponents of sign language. It provides resources, links, and references, some of which are scientifically credible. Some assertions are supported by citations of controlled research. The content of the site was not reviewed by an independent reviewing agency. No spelling and grammatical errors were apparent, and the site was updated in July 2002. As previously stated, the web site provides little or no information regarding approaches to aural rehabilitation that differ from the spoken-language approach. The site is not free from self-interest in that one must pay to fully benefit form the organization, and commercial products are promoted on the site.
VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children, We give deaf children a VOICE for life. Retrieved July 1, 2002 from http://www.voicefordeafkids.com
The commercial web site for VOICE begins with a statement of purpose, as well as acknowledgement of affiliates to the organization. The source of the site is obvious, as is the purpose of the organization &endash; "To ensure that all hearing impaired children have the right to develop their ability to listen and speak and have access to services which will enable them to listen and speak." The intended audience is defined as parent, children, professionals, and the public. The site provides an email address for contact. Evaluation of the site supports that the "claimed" purpose of the organization is fairly consistent with its "real" purpose. VOICE was established 35 years ago to provide information and services regarding Auditory-Verbal Therapy. The site supports its information with reputable credentials, links, and references, some of which are scientifically credible. Some assertions made by the organization cite controlled research. The site is current for the past three months, but has not been reviewed by an independent content review agency. A grammatical error was detected in the form of an omitted apostrophe to indicate possession. The VOICE web site acknowledges the right of individuals to choose the aural rehabilitation option that is most suitable to their needs. Links to other sources on the same topic are provided. The site is not free from self-interest due to membership fees, and advertisement of commercial products. No privacy policy statement is provided, the site has restricted areas for non-members, and orders are not secure via the internet. In addition, there is no E-commerce seal of approval, stated return policy, or obvious way to unsubscribe to listservs.
Learning to Listen Foundation, Auditory-Verbal Therapy, Education, and Information. Retrieved July 1, 2002 from http://www.learningtolisten.org
As clearly stated on its web site, the Learning to Listen Foundation works "To provide excellence in auditory-verbal services for children with hearing impairment, their families, and the professionals who work with them." The foundation is affiliated with the North York General Hospital. The overall purpose of the site is well-represented by the resources, links, services, and recommendations contained within. An email address is provided for those who wish to contact the foundation. The source of the web site is a recognizable authority in auditory-verbal therapy, and credentials are listed for the foundation and its staff members. Reputable links and resources are available through a common link, and some information is supported by scientific references. The site is free from error, but it has not been updated in the past three months. Support does not come from controlled research in the field, and the content of the site has not been reviewed by an independent agency. The web site for the Learning to Listen Foundation, although organized and visually pleasing, does not present a balanced overview of aural rehabilitation approaches, for the auditory-verbal approach dominates the information provided. In addition, the site promotes self-interest through the advertisement of commercial products.
Phonic Ear. Retrieved July 15, 2002 from www.phonicear.com
Phonic Ear is a commercialized web site with the interest of individuals of hard of hearing, schools, and public facilities. The web sites mission is to, "foster a motivated team to develop, build, and distribute high quality products and services that solve the complete range of everyday speech intelligibility problems." Phonic Ear displays a complete history of their product, and detailed information about their products and services. Their products consist of using wireless technology in order to solve the problem of speech intelligibility over the presence of background noise or echo. Some of Phonic Ear's products include toteable sound fields, sprites, solaris personals, solaris binaurals, easy listener sound fields, radium sound fields, and many other products and accessories. Phonic Ear was rated as one of District Administration magazine's choice top 100 products. Their web site has information links about personal fm and sound fields, along with a link made for children. This web site also provides access to a free e-mail newsletter, a wish list link to e-mail comments in order to help the company to improve their products, and the opportunity to receive free literature on their products and services.
Hearing Aid Help. Retrieved July 14, 2002 fromhttp://www.hearingaidhelp.com
Hearing Aid Help is a commercialized web site for the hard of hearing population to find information on hearing aids and hearing aid technology, along with hearing loss and treatment. The web site explains in detail about several different types of hearing aids and hearing aid styles that are available. Hearing Aid Help also displays information regarding the different hearing severity levels and types of hearing losses that people of hard of hearing may experience. Links that can be found on the web site include magazines and publications about hearing loss, hearing and audiology associations, and hearing aid manufacturers. Hearing Aid Help provides an area to e-mail any questions related to hearing aids or hearing loss, in addition to a list of most frequently asked questions and answers. A list of ear care tips is also available for the public to view. However, it is important to note that this web site provided no credentials to establish expertise in the area of hearing loss that may have been based upon experience, education, or any other qualifications. The web site included a legal disclaimer, which states, "HearingAidHelp.com makes no warranties or guarantees that the information contained herein is in every respect accurate or complete."
Hearing Center Online. Retrieved July 14, 2002 from http://www.hearingcenteronline.com
Hearing Center Online is a commercialized web site for people with hearing impairments to seek information in regard to hearing loss. Hearing loss information is explained clearly in laypersons terms and consists of information related to the hearing mechanism, hearing aids, and assisted living devices. The web site has links to other related web sites, along with hearing related web site reviews. Hearing Center Online is a Healthlinks Select Site, which is a free service for healthcare consumers and professionals. Healthlinks reviews different web sites, and then places sites they have accepted into a directory of selected web sites. Hearing Center Online also has a special feature where a person online can hear samples of what different hearing losses sound like if the individual with a hearing loss was listening to music, speech in a large open room, and talking with background noise. The web site has a visual interactive hearing aid that easily displays and explains how the hearing aid works. There is a link for the public to ask hearing related questions to "Ms. Ears." However, it is important to note that this site did not list any credentials to establish expertise in this area that were based upon education, experience, or other qualifications.
Hearing Loss Web. Retrieved July 14, 2002 from http://www.hearinglossweb.com
Hearing Loss Web is a commercialized web site, which is dedicated to supporting individuals with hearing loss, but not members of the traditional deaf community. The creators of the web site are Char and Larry Sivertson, who have a long history of involvement with hard of hearing and late deafened issues. Their web sites mission is to provide resources to assist the hard of hearing, late deafened, and the oral deaf population to fully participate in mainstream society, along with educating the hearing community about these specific populations. Hearing Loss Web provides information regarding current events and issues related to hearing loss, resources, and technological and medical advances in aural rehabilitation. Some of these advances consist of alerting devices, assistive listening devices, cochlear implants, hearing aids, Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDDs), speech recognition, and visual communication technology. Hearing Loss Web has access to a discussion forum and a free subscription to a weekly e-mail newspaper. In addition, the web site provides supportive links related to family problems, psychological issues, hearing aid insurance, services, and employment for the hard of hearing population.
Ear Aces. Retrieved ? www.earaces.com/index.htm
This website is run by the Atlantic Coast Ear Specialists, P.C. in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Richard L. Prass, MD, Ph.D. is the otologist and Howard N. Gutnick Ph.D. and Debra E. Williams Au.D. are the audiologists at this clinic. Each person has a biography on the website stating their credentials. This is an actual clinic that deals with hearing and balance disorders. This website gives information to people who want to make an appointment to check their hearing or balance. People can also get information about symptoms they are experiencing related to hearing or balance disorders or problems. This website provides excellent information about different ear and balance disorders, (e.g., Meniere's disease, Central auditory processing disorder, etc.). Unfortunately, there is no bibliography for the information provided. Also, the site has direct links that connect to other websites for more information. I would recommend this website to people who are concerned about their hearing or balance problems and concerns. Obviously, this clinic is in Virginia so that may put a damper on people who want to visit these doctors/audiologists. But, the information on the website is excellent for those people who want to know about different disorders of the ear and balance mechanisms. I would not recommend this website for students or professionals gathering information due to the lack of bibliography.
Hearing Loss Web. Retrieved ? www.hearinglossweb.com
This website is run by Char and Larry Sivertson. Char is hard of hearing/late-deafened and Larry is not but works as an interpreter. Both are active in the Association of Late-Deafened Adults in San Diego, California. This website gives information to hard of hearing/late-deafened people who are not considered part of the deaf community. The website provides basic information for these people without references. The site is easy to maneuver and read with many layman's terms. There is a glossary for difficult or unknown terms. Also, the site has direct links that connect to other websites for more information. I would recommend this site for people who do not know a lot about the hard of hearing/late-deafened population. This would give a general overview with links to more in-depth websites and information. I would not recommend this website for students or professionals gathering information or evidence on the hard of hearing/late-deafened population. The information reported does not have a bibliography to back up the information provided.
Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, Working for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children Throughout the United States. Retrieved June 26, 2002 from http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/index.html
Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, Gallaudet University is the source of a deaf and hard of hearing web-site. This site is updated on a regular basis. It is written in a manner that targets teachers and parents searching for information regarding children who are deaf and hard of hearing. The site exposes its readers to many aspects of the deaf and hard of hearing population, such as deaf culture and different modes of communication. It also provides many links to resources for the reader, such as possible resources for obtaining hearing aids for people who cannot afford them or do not have insurance. The site also provides reading sources for several different topics, such as, information regarding children who are deaf and hard of hearing who also have other disabilities. The site does discuss cochlear implants and children in school briefly. This site professes children with cochlear implants should be exposed to the deaf culture and taught using the total communication method. There is no research sited to support this claim. On going projects are discussed in this web-site such as a shared reading project.
Johns Hopkins Medicine, Hearing Loss and Cochlear Implants. Retrieved June 26, 2002 from http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/hearing.html
Johns Hopkins Medicine, an educational institution and medical center, is the source of a hearing loss and cochlear implant web-site. This site is updated on a regular basis. It is written in a manner that targets lay people searching for basic information about cochlear implants. Some questions that are answered in this web-sites are What is a cochlear implant?, how does it work?, and who is a candidate for cochlear implants? This site does explain that cochlear implants are intended for people with severe to profound hearing loss; however, it does not review other factors that would make a client a candidate or may exclude a client as a candidate. This may lead the reader to believe that cochlear implants are appropriate for anyone with a severe to profound hearing loss. The site professes "(Cochlear implants) can lead to miraculous results, the implant is not a cure for deafness." This may falsely lead the reader to believe that even though it does not cure deafness that it is a miracle and can change a persons who is deaf life for the better. There are many professionals from Johns Hopkins Medicine that are referenced in the web-site. Links are available to contact professionals for further information or for an appointment at John Hopkins. Research done by John Hopkins in this field are linked from this web-site. Other organizations such as Shhh, ASHA, and manufactures of cochlear implants devices can be linked from this site as well.
Illinois Service Resource Center Services Tailored Specifically for Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Exhibit Behavioral or Mental Health Challenges. Retrieved July 1, 2002 from http://homepage.interaccess.com/~isrc/
"The Illinois Service Resource Center is the coordination center for a wide variety of services tailored specifically for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and exhibit behavioral or mental health challenges." This site (author unknown) is broken down into 11 sections: main page, help line, evaluations, psychological, consultation, training, library, directory, tips, links, and contact. Each section contains a small amount of information regarding its intended area and also provides several phone numbers of other resources so that interested readers can obtain more specific information in an area if desired. The "links" section of this web site is extremely informative because it will allow readers to browse other detailed sites related to deafness and behavior disorders. For example, if interested, one could connect with other sites regarding Illinois special education, special education topics, or with the Center for Hearing Loss in Children. The "tips" section is also helpful because it provides information regarding quick and easy strategies that may really prove to be useful when working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing and exhibit behavioral or mental health challenges. Overall, this site offers a nice overview of the services that are available for Illinois students, parents, and professionals, however, if looking for detailed information, this site would probably not be the best choice because it does not offer a great deal of specific information.
Strategies for teaching children with hearing impairments. Retrieved on July 16, 2002 from http://www.central.edu/education/REX/hi.html
This webpage contains a variety of tips that can be applied to teaching children with hearing impairments. The site does not state this, but the reviewer has the impression that the tips were compiled and submitted by students as part of a class project. The site includes a link to go "Back to Dr. X's Home Page." Dr. X turns out to be Rex Shahriari, Ed.D., a Professor of Education at Central College in Iowa. The tips listed on the webpage vary from general classroom considerations and setup to tips for teaching children with hearing imp