CI AM A ROCK STAR!!! VOTE NOW!!!

Music Video for Do Something Battle of the Bands Raises Awareness of Importance of Music Education for Kids with Hearing Loss

Students enter unique video in DoSomething.org and the VH1 Save The Music Foundation Battle of the Bands contest to raise awareness of importance of music education while reducing stigma associated with kids with hearing loss; use Jonas Brothers tune as inspiration.

Jericho, NY (PRWEB) April 12, 2010 -- Following up last year’s first place award in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Better Speech and Hearing contest, Jericho High School graduate Mel Paticoff re-worked her video, “That’s Just the Way We Hear,” based on a Jonas Brothers tune, to create a new version for DoSomething.org’s Battle of the Bands contest highlighting the importance of music education. “That’s Just the Way We Hear 2” also aims to reduce the stigma associated with kids with hearing loss by demonstrating that they are able to speak, sing as well as hear with the assistance of hearing aids and cochlear implants. Two of the participants are deaf and use cochlear implants to hear.

Producer, songwriter and videographer Mel Paticoff feels strongly about the message of her video. "Teaching deaf and hard of hearing students to learn to love music can improve both their auditory listening skills as well as their social skills. This is definitely where music education money should be spent,” says Mel. As a Fontbonne University student in St. Louis, Missouri, Mel is studying to become a teacher of the deaf and has recently become a children’s book author. She has had years of experience working with deaf students both formally and informally. Her cousin, Julie Rosenthal, is one of the two deaf singers with cochlear implants in the video. Julie was late-diagnosed with her hearing loss at the age of two and spent several years undergoing intensive language therapy at an oral deaf school to learn how to talk.

Teaching deaf and hard of hearing students to learn to love music can improve both their auditory listening skills as well as their social skills. This is definitely where music education money should be spent.

“That’s Just the Way We Hear 2” is open captioned for accessibility and showcases eight Jericho elementary, middle and high school students who play piano, guitar, drums and trumpet while singing an original song to the tune of the Jonas Brothers’ “That’s Just the Way We Roll.” Mel’s sister, Dani Paticoff, a vocal student at Long Island High School of the Arts, developed the base guitar and vocal tracks and displays her talented voice on several solos. The video’s view count has risen rapidly since it was posted on YouTube and at the Do Something website where voting takes place. The organization also featured the video in its email newsletter, citing it for “highlighting the power of music to raise awareness about different issues, break down stigmas, and impact the lives of the hearing impaired.”

Support the students in their endeavor to win and raise awareness about hearing loss and the importance of music education. View and rate the video online at http://www.dosomething.org/bands/entry/sophies-tales You can also show support by blogging, tweeting on Twitter and posting the link on Facebook. While the Battle of the Bands competition ends on April 16th, you can still help by continuing to pass the word on. For more information about Mel Paticoff, visit her website, Sophie’s Tales at http://www.sophiestales.com

Cochlear's Hearing Hero Award Goes To...

On behalf of all members of CiCircle, I would like to congratulate Miss Rachel Chaikof for winning Cochlear’s Hearing Hero award.

Rachel started advocating for others like herself at a very young age and has continued to devote much of her time to cochlear implant awareness. I can’t imagine having accomplished what she has in her short twenty three years. As a young college student, dealing with her own day to day hurdles, she still manages to dedicate time to CI awareness by maintaining cochlearimplantonline.com, moderating deafvillage.com, creating t-shirts, illustrating books, raising funds for various organizations, speaking to the public (not only in the US) and sharing her story. Along with everything else, Rachel continues to be an active member of the Cochlear Awareness Network.

The award is well deserved! As the winner, Rachel receives the opportunity to visit the Cochlear Americas headquarters in Denver, Colorado to share her experiences and meet with Cochlear executives and employees.

To read more about Rachel, visit her here.

Congratulations to all others that were nominated as well. Your devotion to the CI world is appreciated by many! More information regarding the Hearing Hero award can be found here, along with profiles of the other nominees.


...with love from the members of the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Circle

Size comparison of Nucleus 5 and Nucleus Freedom BTEs

If you're an avid CI family blog reader, you may have seen this already. Landon's (a.k.a. Buzz's) mom, Jen, posted some nice pictures on her blog comparing the new Nucleus 5 with the older Nucleus Freedom sound processor. There are photos both on and off Landon's ear (he's about 3 1/2 years old, BTW). Check it out: Landon's New Ears are Here

Also, in case you missed it a few months ago, here is a (captioned!!) video comparison of the Nucleus 5 and Freedom sound processors reviewed by an audiologist who also happens to be Nucleus user.