LUANNA SWAINSTON, DIRECTOR
965 108th St SW
Byron Center, MI 49315
616-877-0169
Cell: 616-262-3516
plswainston@hotmail.com
965 108th St SW
Byron Center, MI 49315
616-877-0169
Cell: 616-262-3516
plswainston@hotmail.com
DEAF AWARENESS
POSTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE!
We now have reprints of four of the previous Deaf Awareness Posters. Contact me if you wish to have posters, etc.
American Manual Alphabet: This poster is one that we did not have to reprint. This poster could be used in schools, churches, libraries, Grange Halls or anywhere that people come in contact with deaf or hearing impaired people. For example, our Grange delivered Dictionaries to a third grade classroom, along with Deaf Awareness items (one being the Manual Alphabet poster) and in one of the thank you’s we received, one of the students had learned the alphabet. Another third grade teacher had her students do their spelling words in sign language. There are many possibilities with this.
Your Noisy World Could Get Silent: This poster is a chart that shows the potential hearing hazard of the loudness of sounds combined with the length of exposure to sound and how it can create a permanent hearing loss. Preventions are suggested on this poster. It shows the decibels of many electronic devices that we are in contact with everyday.
Pledge of Allegiance: This poster could be placed in schools, Grange Halls, libraries, etc. An idea that can be used is to do parts of it at each of your Grange meetings until everyone can sign it.
Do You See the Signs: (of hearing loss) This poster could be placed in church nurseries, day care centers, pre-schools or wherever adults can view them. It is a poster to make parents aware of what an infant to 12 months should be able to do, from 12 months to 2 years, from 2 years to 4 years and 5 years old.
Grange Deaf Awareness: Awareness – communication is key to qualify of life – hearing loss is permanent- early detection and treatment is essential, etc. Education – educate the public with printed material, video programs, classroom instruction, special equipment, information, programs. Prevention- hearing protections used, hearing testing, newborn hearing screening, personal education.
We now have reprints of four of the previous Deaf Awareness Posters. Contact me if you wish to have posters, etc.
American Manual Alphabet: This poster is one that we did not have to reprint. This poster could be used in schools, churches, libraries, Grange Halls or anywhere that people come in contact with deaf or hearing impaired people. For example, our Grange delivered Dictionaries to a third grade classroom, along with Deaf Awareness items (one being the Manual Alphabet poster) and in one of the thank you’s we received, one of the students had learned the alphabet. Another third grade teacher had her students do their spelling words in sign language. There are many possibilities with this.
Your Noisy World Could Get Silent: This poster is a chart that shows the potential hearing hazard of the loudness of sounds combined with the length of exposure to sound and how it can create a permanent hearing loss. Preventions are suggested on this poster. It shows the decibels of many electronic devices that we are in contact with everyday.
Pledge of Allegiance: This poster could be placed in schools, Grange Halls, libraries, etc. An idea that can be used is to do parts of it at each of your Grange meetings until everyone can sign it.
Do You See the Signs: (of hearing loss) This poster could be placed in church nurseries, day care centers, pre-schools or wherever adults can view them. It is a poster to make parents aware of what an infant to 12 months should be able to do, from 12 months to 2 years, from 2 years to 4 years and 5 years old.
Grange Deaf Awareness: Awareness – communication is key to qualify of life – hearing loss is permanent- early detection and treatment is essential, etc. Education – educate the public with printed material, video programs, classroom instruction, special equipment, information, programs. Prevention- hearing protections used, hearing testing, newborn hearing screening, personal education.
MAY/JUNE 2021 GRANGE NEWS
In the U.S., an estimated 17.9 million adults report having a voice problem. Problems with you voice can significantly affect your ability to perform your job. Rest your voice when you can. Avoid screaming or whispering. Other voice and speech conditions can also affect your verbal expression and therefore your ability to communicate.
If you experience problems with your hearing, voice speech and language problems you have options. You can reach out to your primary care doctor or qualified health professions such as a speech -language pathologist, an ear, nose and throat doctor, or audiologist for early and appropriate care.
DEAF AWARENESS FUND APPEAL LETTERS
POSTERS
May is Better Hearing and Speech Month
Each May, Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM) provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role of ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) members in providing life-altering treatment. The 2021 theme is “Building Connections.”
At least 46 million people in the United States have a hearing or other communications disorder. For these individuals, the basic components of communication – sensing, interpreting, and responding to people and things in their environment – can be challenging. To raise awareness about disorders related to hearing, voice, speech, or language, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders (NIDCD) joins the ASHA and other organizations in observing Better Hearing and Speech Month.
People need to communicate to perform tasks in many aspects of their lives: at school, at work, in health care settings, and during special and leisure activities. Safety might depend on your ability to hear potential dangers in your environment, and productivity might rely on your ability to clearly communicate your plans, progress and concerns with others. With the increased use of technology to works and communicate at a safe distance during the pandemic, overcoming communication challenges is more important now than ever before.
Millions of Americans experience a hearing disorder at some point in their life, especially as they grow older. Having trouble hearing can make it hard to understand and follow instructions, respond to alarms and other warnings, and to hear doorbells and phones. It can complicate conversations with family and friends. People who work in noisy environments – such as factory or construction workers, road crews, musicians, and fitness instructors – can develop noise induced hearing loss. A number of devices, including hearing aids and cochlear implants can help.
In the U.S., an estimated 17.9 million adults report having a voice problem. Problems with you voice can significantly affect your ability to perform your job. Rest your voice when you can. Avoid screaming or whispering. Other voice and speech conditions can also affect your verbal expression and therefore your ability to communicate.
If you experience problems with your hearing, voice speech and language problems you have options. You can reach out to your primary care doctor or qualified health professions such as a speech -language pathologist, an ear, nose and throat doctor, or audiologist for early and appropriate care.
DEAF AWARENESS FUND APPEAL LETTERS
By now you should have received your Appeals Letter for the Deaf Awareness Fund. Please contribute what you are able whether it be a large or small contribution. Every contribution helps. We are still involved with the Michigan School for the Deaf, the Alexander Graham Bell’s Camp Fund and other projects in the State. Thank you for your contributions! They are greatly appreciated!
POSTERS
If you have locations that you can donate any of the Deaf Awareness Posters, please be sure to let me know and I will do my best to get them to you. Suggested locations are doctors offices, day cares, church nurseries, hospitals, libraries, etc. Another way to make people aware of not only the deaf people but of the Grange as well.
“What language do pigs speak?”
“What language do pigs speak?”
“Swine Language.”
JULY/AUGUST 2021 GRANGE NEWS
Who Can I Turn to for Help with my Hearing Loss?
An otolaryngologist is a physician who provides medial and surgical care, diagnosis and treatment of the ear, nose, throat and neck. Sometimes called and ENT, an otolaryngologist will work with you to find out why you’re having trouble hearing and offer specific treatment options. They night also refer you to another hearing professional, such as an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist, to receive a hearing test and be fitted for a hearing aid.
An audiologist has specialized training to test your hearing and identify the type and degree of hearing loss. Audiologists are not physicians, but they have a doctor of audiology graduate degree, which typically requires four years to complete after earning a bachelor’s degree. They must also pass an exam and complete a clinical fellowship. Audiologists are licensed to fit and dispense hearing aids; they can also work with you and your family to adapt to hearing loss and determine which devices, including hearing aids would be most helpful.
Who Can I Turn to for Help with my Hearing Loss?
If you or a family member might have a hearing loss, consult a qualified health professional for early and appropriate care. Several types of professionals can help. Each has a different type or training and expertise, and each can be an important part of your hearing health care.
You may want to start by talking with your primary care provider. They will likely give you a medical exam to see if an infection, injury, or other condition (such as buildup of ear wax) might be causing your hearing loss. Your primary care provider might then refer you to an otolaryngologist or other hearing health provider for more specific test and treatment.
Types of Professionals who can help you with Hearing Loss are:
A primary care provider is a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant who provides general health care to patients by identifying and treating common medical conditions. Primary care providers often refer patients to medical specialists when necessary. Types of primary care providers include family practitioners or general practitioners, pediatricians, geriatricians and internists.
An otolaryngologist is a physician who provides medial and surgical care, diagnosis and treatment of the ear, nose, throat and neck. Sometimes called and ENT, an otolaryngologist will work with you to find out why you’re having trouble hearing and offer specific treatment options. They night also refer you to another hearing professional, such as an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist, to receive a hearing test and be fitted for a hearing aid.
An audiologist has specialized training to test your hearing and identify the type and degree of hearing loss. Audiologists are not physicians, but they have a doctor of audiology graduate degree, which typically requires four years to complete after earning a bachelor’s degree. They must also pass an exam and complete a clinical fellowship. Audiologists are licensed to fit and dispense hearing aids; they can also work with you and your family to adapt to hearing loss and determine which devices, including hearing aids would be most helpful.
A hearing instrument specialist, also known as a hearing aid specialist, is a state-licensed professional who conducts basic hearing tests, fits and dispenses hearing aids, and educates individuals and their family members about their hearing loss. The licensure requirements varies among states; most states require completing a 2-year apprenticeship.
DID YOU KNOW
Deaflympics was started in 1924 and predates the special Olympics and Paralympics. One of the rules for competing in Deflympics is no hearing aids or cochlear implants are to be used.
The “huddle” was invented by a deaf quarterback in 1892 by Paul Hubbard who was a quarterback at Gallaudet University, Washington, DC, and didn’t want the opposing teams to see his team’s signs. Thus, the first huddle started, and since then the huddle has been a reoccurring part of many sports teams.
The little blue characters, “The Smurfs” was the first animated show to have a character use Sign Language. “Smurfing In-Sign Language” is the episode that introduced the wood-elf Laconia. She taught the Smurfs, and many of those who watched the show some sign language. This was revolutionary as the technicality of producing signs in animation was not something that had ever been done before.
NEED DEAF AWARENESS POSTERS???
SCROLL DOWN!!
SCROLL DOWN!!