[Nfbf-l] Fw: Simulating blindness to improve hearing study

[Sherri]

I totally agree with you and know several people who as they have aged have 
lost their hearing in addition to their sight. I am blessed to still have 
most of my hearing and appreciate the difficulties you have.

Sherri
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Darlene Laibl-Crowe" <dlaiblcrowe at att.net>
To: "'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List'" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2014 6:55 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Fw: Simulating blindness to improve hearing study


Yes, that is an interesting concept.  However, for those of us who grew up
with hearing issues that is NOT a possibility!  (smile)

I grew up wearing bilateral hearing aids, so I depended on my vision to
'read lips' to accommodate for what I could not 'hear'.

I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at the age of 28.  Had to give up
driving and took up the cane for mobility...my vision narrowed but I was
able to see to 'read lips' to continue to accommodate for what I couldn't
hear.  Then about 5 1/2 years ago at the age of 50, that central vision
narrowed to less than 2 degrees and became very distorted so now I can no
longer find those lips to understand what is being said.  My brain is NOT
adapting to allow me the ability to 'hear'...So, losing one sense does not
necessarily mean another sense can take over or assist in the loss.

I have heard from many who are blind, who have used their hearing to locate
things and etc...that is AMAZING!  But for me and those of us who have
hearing issues, that is NOT possible!  Recently, I wrote an article for my
local newspaper titled 'Are You in Danger of Losing Your Senses?'  I sure do
hope it was an eye opener for those who are losing their vision and/or
hearing of how important it is to have both and NOT take what you have for
granted!  Many who have been blind most of their lives are losing their
hearing as they age...that will lead them to Deaf-Blindness.  The
combination of vision and hearing loss is called Deaf-Blindness.

Okay, I am stepping off of my soapbox and hope everyone has a terrific
week!!

(smile)
Darlene

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sherri
Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2014 11:49 PM
To: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfbf-l] Fw: Simulating blindness to improve hearing study

Interesting article!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Samme.Ripley at ocfl.net
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2014 3:29 PM
Subject: Simulating blindness to improve hearing study


Reported February 7, 2014

Simulated Blindness May Help Improve Hearing

(Ivanhoe Newswire) - Music experts commonly use blind musicians like Stevie
Wonder and Ray Charles as examples of how blindness can enhance hearing
ability.  However, scientists did not fully comprehend just how that
happened until now.

In a new study, neuroscientists at the John Hopkins University have found
that minimizing a person's sight may improve the brain's ability to process
hearing.  Researchers used mice in experiments to learn how the neural
connections in the brain that controls vision and hearing work together to
support each sense.

 "By temporarily preventing vision, we may be able to engage the adult brain

to now change the circuit to better process sound, which can be helpful for
recovering sound perception in patients with cochlear implants, for
 example," Hey-Kyoung Lee explained, associate professor of neuroscience and

researcher at the Mind/Brain Institute at the Johns Hopkins University, was
quoted as saying. "Our result would say that not having vision allows you to

hear softer sounds and better discriminate pitch."

For more information, go to:
http://releases.jhu.edu/2014/02/05/simulated-blindness-can-help-revive-heari
ng-loss-researchers-find/

SOURCE: Neuron, February 2014





Samme Ripley, Program Manager

ADA Office of Disability Concerns

Family Services Department

2100 E Michigan St., 2nd floor

Orlando, FL 32806

407 836 6568, www.orangecountyfl.net/ADA



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