This will comprise of a range of shows, workshops and storytelling led by Deaf presenters, and DeafBlog readers are invited to be special guests at their debut performances on Sunday 28th March.

Here's the programme for the day:

Kitchen Scientists
You don’t have to work in a high-tech lab to have fun with experiments. Join us to make your own rockets and much more in this hands-on workshop.
12:00, lasts 45 minutes
Suitable for children aged 8 and up

Real McCoy Storytelling
Choo! Choo! Next stop America. Hop on board for this story-telling adventure and discover all about the life of Elijah McCoy, who changed the way trains work forever.
14:00, Lasts 30 minutes
Suitable for children aged 7 and under

Short Circuit Workshop
Find out about the exciting world of electricity and make your very own top secret electrical gadget to take home!
15:30, Lasts 45 minutes
Suitable for children aged 8 and up

All events take place in the Things Gallery in the Basement.

If you would like to come to any of the events please book a place by emailing Charlotte Robinson at:
charlotte.robinson@sciencemuseum.org.uk In your response please let Charlotte know which event you would like to come to and how many adults and children you are bringing.

Light refreshments will be provided, as well as goody bags for the children.

Please reply by the 19th March.

Based in Leeds, the coHearentVision Youth Service will provide a one-stop-shop where sensory loss children and young people can find support, advice and activities to enable them to live full and enriching lives.

“We work hard to make our service users feel like they belong in society and it’s through the activities and events that we run where people really find out what their talents and interests are, which we then nurture to bring out the best in people.”

The service is being introduced to complement the new contemporary brand that is currently being launched by the charity, reflecting its modernised way of working and to reflect the dynamism of its team.

coHearentVision runs a range of activities for children aged five to 11 and young people aged 12 to 25.

Barbara added, “We run all sorts of activities from parents and toddler groups, to theatre visits, ice skating and football training. There’s always something for everyone, so we’re urging people who have a sensory loss to get in touch and join the fun.”

Community activities currently include:

Little Hiccups – parent and toddler group for the blind
Leeds Deaf Youth Club
Football Training with Seacroft Colts and Leeds Deaf FC
Sensory-special theatre shows – for both deaf and blind service users
Sporting activities
Counselling and advice sessions

coHearentVision is the new contemporary working name of the Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind People and reflects the forward thinking and innovative approach of its staff, volunteers and stake-holders.

The name builds upon the deep-rooted foundations of Leeds Society, which dates back to the 19th century, and will maintain the important sense of community that is already successfully associated with the organisation.

To find out more about the coHearentVision Youth Service, visit www.cohearentvision.org.uk or call 0113 243 8328.

Sabina Iqbal, founder and chair of Deaf Parenting UK, has been presented with the Charitable Mum of the Year award by Natasha Kaplinsky and Fiona Phillilps, for her dedication and commitment to helping others.

Sabina Iqbal is deaf and has two hearing children; she has long felt that deaf parents are isolated by a lack of support, especially new parents. As a result Sabina has dedicated her time to providing information and support networks for families affected by deafness and deaf parents of hearing children.

In 2001 Sabina founded Deaf Parenting UK, the first ever charity run by deaf parents for deaf parents. Her work for this fantastic cause has included; creating an informative video to inform deaf parents of their rights, creating and raising the profile of new website www.deafparent.org.uk, giving presentations and talks to parents in need of advice and arranging family days where people can meet others in a similar situation to themselves.

Sabina has also written a book called ‘Pregnancy and Birth: A Guide for Deaf Women’, the first of its kind in the UK, following anecdotes of deaf women who had encountered difficulties while being in hospital giving birth.

Sabina is dedicated to providing support for deaf parents and as a result has been recognised within the UK and internationally through the success of her projects.

The Tesco magazine Mum of the Year Awards took place on 28 February at The Waldorf Hilton in London. Other guests included Eastenders' actresses Patsy Palmer, Lucy Benjamin, Jo Joyner and Jessica Wallace, Emmerdale star Linda Lusardi, Linda Robson from Birds of a Feather and Bruno Tonioli of Strictly Come Dancing. Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah also attended.

Entertainment was provided by singer Gabriella Cilmi and Texas singer Sharleen Spiteri.

Sabina attended a special meeting with Sarah Brown at Number 10 the following morning, with other mums including Tana Ramsay – celebrity mum of the year, (wife of Gordon Ramsay) to celebrate their fantastic achievements.

Her interview in Tesco magazine can be read here, or pick up a copy from your local store.

With fluid blocking the middle ear, it becomes difficult for sound to pass through to the inner ear and can make quieter sounds difficult to hear.

Glue ear is common. More than 7 in 10 children have at least one episode of glue ear before they are four years old. In most cases it only lasts a short while. Boys are more commonly affected than girls.

Glue ear is often, but not always, linked with ear infections. It can sometimes develop unnoticed. Changes in behaviour, becoming tired and frustrated, lack of concentration, preferring to play alone and not responding when called may indicate glue ear. These signs can often be mistaken for stubbornness, rudeness and being naughty. As a result, many children with glue ear are misunderstood or labelled as difficult.

What conditions influence glue ear?
There are many things which can contribute to glue ear. These include colds and flu, allergies and passive smoking. Children with genetic conditions such as Down’s Syndrome may be more likely to get glue ear as they may have smaller Eustachian tubes.

What is the treatment for glue ear?
Watchful waiting
No treatment is usually advised at first as the outlook is good. The length of time advised to 'wait and see' can vary, and depends on certain factors. For example, whether the glue ear is recurrent or new, the severity of the hearing loss, the child's age, etc. For a 'typical' situation, a doctor may advise that you wait several months to see if the glue ear clears.

Balloon treatment
For this treatment a special balloon is blown up by the child using their nose. This is called 'autoinflation'. It puts back-pressure into the nose, and may help to open up the Eustachian tube and allow better drainage of the fluid. The child needs to do this regularly until the fluid clears. The research studies that looked into this treatment found that it seems to help in some cases, but not all. Also, this balloon treatment requires a lot of commitment to do regularly. It is also difficult for young children to do properly. Therefore, with well motivated older children who can use the device, it may be worth a try. It is not thought to cause any side-effects or problems. You can get an autoinflation kit called Otovent on prescription, or you can buy it from pharmacies.

Surgery
A small operation may be advised by an ear specialist if glue ear persists, or is severe. This involves making a tiny cut (about 2-3mm) in the eardrum under anaesthetic. The fluid is drained and a grommet (ventilation tube) is then usually inserted. A grommet is like a tiny pipe that is put across the eardrum. The grommet lets air to get into the middle ear. Hearing improves immediately.

Grommets normally fall out of the ear as the eardrum grows, usually after 6-12 months. By this time the glue ear has often gone away. The hole in the eardrum made for the grommet normally heals quickly when the grommet falls out. Sometimes grommets need to be put in on more than one occasion if glue ear recurs. (See a separate leaflet called 'Operations for Glue Ear'.)

In some cases, the adenoids are also taken out to improve the drainage of the Eustachian tube. Adenoids are small clumps of glandular tissue (similar to tonsils). They are attached at the back of the nose cavity near to the opening of the Eustachian tube.

Hearing aids
Hearing aids are an option, although these would usually only be used for the time until the glue ear clears away.

Download the glue ear publications from the NDCS, here.

Users of the three mainstream painkillers widely available over the counter from pharmacists – paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen – are all at risk of damaging their hearing.

But the potential for ear damage drops dramatically after the age of 50, the US study indicated. Users aged 50 to 59 are 38 per cent more likely to develop ear problems and for those over 60 the risk is 16 per cent greater.

Aspirin presents a lower risk for those aged under 59, who are 33 per cent more likely to suffer hearing loss. The over-60s age group showed no increased risk if they took aspirin.

For ibuprofen takers under 50, the risk to their hearing jumps by up to 61 per cent, but that risk drops to 32 per cent in those aged from 50 to 59 and falls to 16 per cent among the over-60s. Both Ibuprofen and aspirin are part of the non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory group of drugs (NSAID).

Previous studies have linked NSAIDs to ear damage, but this is the first time the effects of paracetamol have been examined as well. The research project was led by scientists at Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the US, over a period of 24 years and involved a total of 26,000 men.

Every two years, the subjects were required to fill out a medical questionnaire, documenting the extent of their use of painkillers.

They were also asked to note any hearing loss they experienced, as well as a variety of physiological, medical and demographic factors.

The results are due to be published in the March edition of the American Journal of Medicine. The study also involved researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston, Massachusetts, Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee, and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

Should I get two cochlear implants at the same time?
Some bilateral cochlear implant recipients have both devices implanted during the same surgery. Other bilateral recipients receive their second device later during different surgery. There are a variety of reasons that can influence a recipient's decision. You should discuss your options with your audiologist and cochlear implant surgeon to find out which approach is right for you.

A second cochlear implant may improve your child's hearing in difficult listening situations. Several studies suggest that children with unilateral hearing loss may have difficulty listening and learning in classroom environments, and often benefit academically and socially from binaural hearing.

How long after the first cochlear implant should I get the second?
The simple answer is: as soon as possible. Most people find the benefits of one implant so remarkable that they don't immediately think about having a second one. However, when you receive two implants close together, or even at the same time (simultaneous), the brain adapts quickly.

The tendency towards favouring one ear can be avoided and less auditory therapy may be needed. For your child, allowing the two ears and hearing pathways to develop in tandem means the critical window time period can be used to it's full advantage. For some people, it may be possible to achieve binaural benefits using one cochlear implant and one hearing aid. However, with extended use of a cochlear implant, many people find that they no longer gain the binaural benefits they once did from the hearing aid in their non-implanted ear. This is when a second cochlear implant should be considered, even though it might be several years after the first implant.

How soon will I notice the benefits of having a second implant?
Some bilateral recipients find their hearing performance improves immediately following switch-on of the second cochlear implant. For others, improvement is more gradual. Your own experience is as unique as you, and may depend on factors such as the duration of your hearing loss and how much experience you have with your first cochlear implant or a hearing aid.

What is the risk of having a second implant?
As with receiving one cochlear implant, the bilateral implant procedure carries very low risk. The new Nucleus 5 cochlear implant and award winning Nucleus Freedom cochlear implant featuring the Contour Advance™ Electrode offers maximum protection of your delicate cochlear structures. You should discuss this option with your hearing professional.

I already have one cochlear implant. Will they be compatible?
Choosing your second cochlear implant system is just like choosing your first - you want optimal hearing performance and the peace of mind. That comes from exceptional implant reliability and knowing that you will have access to the latest sound processing technology upgrades for life. For example, you might want to upgrade the speech processor on your first ear to get the most from your hearing potential in both ears in the easiest possible way.

What kind of re/habilitation is involved with bilateral cochlear implants?
It's very important for implanted children and adults to receive ongoing auditory, speech and language therapy, regardless of whether they have one implant or two. With more access to sound, therapists may use different approaches to rehabilitation and incorporate practice in areas such as locating where sound is coming from into your program.

The Ear Foundation has welcomed David Luterman back to present this lecture on 50 years of working with deaf children and their families.

"I feel incredibly fortunate to have stumbled into my life work and have found a niche that nourishes me and at the same time benefits others. Immersed in my life journey it seemed disjointed; from this vantage point it seems inevitable. At this stage in my life, I find myself more reflective with a strong desire to look back, distil my clinical experience and pass it on to current and future generations of clinicians."

The lecture will be filmed by Phonak and the video will then be accessible to download and view on The Ear Foundation's website the following day.

To book your place at the lecture simply visit the website.

"So we must remember that we're not wearing a flashing neon badge and people are not mindreaders. We do need to express our needs in a non-aggressive manner." And she laughs. And this is opera singer Janine Roebuck all over, always finding the best side of things.

Become a member of RNID to receive One in Seven magazine every two months.

How did you hear about the role in the first place?
Beaumont Hospital in Dublin was sent an email asking if they had a deaf teenage girl who would be interested in acting a main part in Dublin and to email them if anyone was interested. I replied, but was told that they had decided on a girl for the main part, (Genevieve Barr) so I didn't expect anything after that. A few days later I got a phone call from the hospital saying that the director (Dearbhla Walsh) and a few other people wanted to meet three deaf teenagers to talk about what it's like to be deaf and would I go? Naturally, I said yes! Just before we finished talking, they asked us what we'd like to be when we are older. I said, "I would love to be an actress". I didn't expect anything to come of it, but a few days later I received an email asking if I would like the part of Izzy, and here I am now!

If your role in The Silence could change one misconception about deaf people, what would it be?
That friends are important whether you are deaf or hearing. With your friends, you are not "different"!

What does the future hold for you?
Well, I am still in school so, I hope to finish my education and then go to University and pursue my acting career - but who knows?!

Which model of cochlear implant do you have?
I have an ESPrit 3G cochlear implant.

Do you have a bilateral cochlear implant?
No, I don't. I wish I did as it seems to be really great.

Were you born profoundly deaf?
Yes, I was. I had the operation just before my 4th birthday and I was "switched on" after my 4th birthday!

Has your cochlear implant changed your life?
Yes, I wouldn't be able to do as many things in my life if I didn't have the cochlear implant, like listening to music which I cannot live without!

Do you think there should be more deaf characters on our screens?
Oh yeah, definitely. Why shouldn't there be? I mean, deaf characters are just as good as hearing characters if not better! If there were more deaf people on t.v, people would be more aware about what it's like to be a deaf person and the challenges deaf people face in a hearing world.

Is there a particular actor who has inspired you?
Well for years there was only one actor who inspired me - Julia Roberts. But now I also really admire Genevieve Barr who is the main actor in The Silence. She is also deaf!

What do you get up to when you’re not working?
Well, I do my school work and I hang out with my family and friends. I also spend my time reading books, playing the piano, listening to music and I go to drama lessons as well!

Rebecca Dunne is 17 and lives in Raheny, Dublin.

Look out for The Silence coming soon to BBC One! Read about Genevieve (Amelia Edwards) here and more about the thriller, here.

By Karen Finch FSHAA FRSA, Managing Director of The Hearing Care Centre (Suffolk)

With Valentine's Day just past, and love in the air, I was very interested to read about a survey, which suggests that the use of hearing aids improves relationships.

An opinion poll among 300 elderly hearing impaired Australians found that hearing aids had wide-ranging positive effects on personal and social relationships.

More than half of the respondents stated that their hearing aids improved their social lives. Two in every three said that their hearing aids helped them overcome difficulties in connecting with family and friends.

A little more than 70 percent of the respondents in the study live with their partners, and one in 10 said their hearing aids had improved their love life, whereas nobody stated that their love life had been harmed. Many pointed out, that hearing aids made it easier to engage in intimate conversations.

Hearing aid users also strongly reported that it was easier for other people to talk to them (84 percent), and that these people no longer had to talk loudly (75 percent).

I am not at all surprised by the findings of this survey. I see patients on a daily basis that tell me how much a hearing aid has improved not only their hearing but also their family life and relationships.

One in seven people in the UK have a hearing loss and when you realise that only a third of people who would benefit from a hearing aid, have one, you begin to see the size of the problem facing the hearing care professionals – and to be brutally honest, the families and loved ones of those people too.

There is plenty of evidence that people with uncorrected hearing loss have a worse quality of life than those with normal hearing, and there is also evidence that untreated deafness can lead to people suffering from serious social or psychological problems.

People with hearing loss tend to get left out of family discussions and decision-making. There are frequent misunderstandings, relationships can become difficult, marriages strained and the unimpaired partner can suffer stress, fatigue, anger and guilt.

So it is so important that you have your hearing tested regularly! Contact your local hearing care professional.

For further information on hearing loss and hearing aids please visit Karen’s website at www.hearingcarecentre.co.uk.

Check back to read inspiring stories about hearing aid, cochlear implant and Baha recipients on the DeafBlog.

Study source: www.brisbanetimes.com

The forums include useful topics like deaf events, deaf sports and jobs - as well as general chat. You'll also find random games in the arcade section!

Check it out at Deaf4Life.co.uk.

However, it was only a couple of months ago that the one year-old heard these tunes for the first time, thanks to her bilateral Nucleus 5 cochlear implant.

Now, like most babies, she reacts to noise and loves musical toys. She will almost definitely develop spoken language in line with her peers and go on to attend a mainstream school.

Ruby's mother Lisa says: 'She is reacting to sounds such as clapping, and is making distinctive sounds, almost saying "Mama".'

Lisa, Ruby's father Lee and her sister Charlotte are also learning sign language so that they are able to communicate with Ruby when she's not wearing her sound processor.

Ruby, whose hair-cell damage is a result of Waardenburg syndrome, a hereditary condition, was diagnosed profoundly deaf when she was just two weeks old.

Lisa says: 'We didn't have any reservations about giving her implants. This way, she will never remember having the operation.

'Christmas was extra special for us because Ruby was given the ability to hear, something we never thought would happen.'

Ruby's cochlear implant surgery was carried out by ENT Surgeon Mr Andrew Marshall at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.

Last January, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended that all children born profoundly deaf be offered bilateral cochlear implants on the NHS. Cochlear implant surgeon Professor Gerard O'Donoghue, the director of the National Biomedical Research Unit in Hearing at the University of Nottingham, says the decision marks the end of deafness as it was once known. 'Children born without hearing won't have to grow up deaf,' he says. 'We can now restore useful hearing to someone who is totally deaf. It's a world of difference.'

About 8,000 people in the UK have cochlear implants, including most profoundly deaf children. About 350 children per year are born deaf enough to be considered for an implant.

Cochlear implants do not restore normal hearing, but do give the sensation of hearing by stimulating the auditory nerve, greatly improving a person's ability to communicate.

Find out more about the Nucleus 5 here.

www.cochlear.co.uk

DJ Judge Jules, 43, has paid the price of years of loud tunes. He now suffers tinnitus, permanent ringing in both ears.

The DJ has played sets at clubs all over the world for the past 20 years and knows how important it is to look after your ears. Yet, he regularly sees revellers gravitating towards speakers, particularly when they have had too much to drink.

"With hearing, you've got one shot. If you lose it, it's gone," he told The Sun.

Meanwhile, the number of people experiencing ringing, buzzing or whistling in their ears is growing. The latest research by the RNID shows that seven million people in the UK suffer from tinnitus.

Emma Harrison from RNID said: "Young people are more likely to listen to music players for long periods – often on their way to and from school or college - with poor quality headphones that need high volumes to hear properly.

"Many keep headphones in when they talk to others, so they are not giving their ears a rest.

"The younger someone is when they damage their hearing, the sooner in adulthood those signs of damage show up. Our research shows that many young people don't realise that music can damage their hearing.

"This, coupled with the difficulty in finding out how loud your MP3 player actually is, means that children and parents are not receiving enough information about hearing damage to make an informed choice."

The EU is consulting experts on new standards to make it clear that safe use of personal music players depends on exposure time and volume levels.

New devices will have a limited default volume setting of 80dB, although the user can override this, with advice that exposure should be limited to 40 hours per week.

Manufacturers will also have to include warnings and hearing damage information in their packaging.

Here are five tips to protect your hearing and manage tinnitus:

1. Keep the volume level on your MP3 player at no more than 80 decibels - just over halfway on the volume control.
2. Keep your listening time to a maximum of 40 hours per week.
3. Wear earplugs if you are exposed to high levels of noise.
4. Reduce your listening time and give your ears a regular break.
5. If clubbing, take regular breaks in chill-out zones. Do not stand near speakers.

Charity Works provides a dynamic one year mentoring and learning programme for up to 24 participants all seeking career progression in the charity sector. Offering a salary of 15k to graduate trainees and the chance to gain experience across a range of leading national charities, Charity Works is a unique example of a talent solution that has been created through collaboration across the sector.

Programme Director Rachel Whale said: 'Charity Works is carefully planned to benefit both graduates, high flyers and pa! rticipating charities. We have created three cost effective ways for charities to participate that ensures an increase in talent and a reduction in spend. We are also confident the offer to graduates is appealing as so many are seeking a way into the charity sector.'

'Rewards for our students include professional development, networking and exposure to peers working across the charity, public and commercial sectors. Charities also benefit by retaining high calibre staff, nurturing their managers and attracting new talent.'

The Charity Works 2010 programme is now open to new applications. A celebration event sponsored by KPMG will take place 6-8pm Wednesday 9 March in London. To take part please contact info@charity-works.co.uk

The inaugural programme was launched in September 2009 with 16 participants working across 7 UK charities. Here are some views from the Class of 2009.

Graduate Trainee

Ned Younger, 23, joined the Terrence Higgins Trust as a Graduate Trainee last September within three months of finishing a degree in Art History with Spanish.

'Without Charity Works I wouldn't have a career in the Third Sector!' he said.

'With the experience I've gained I now realise that I could be of real value to an organisation.'

Now Charity Works is looking for its second intake of graduate interns.

The programme involves a dynamic mix of seminars, networking events and assignments.

Topics include Safeguarding Children, Fundraising, Finance, Leadership and Management.

Graduates or final year undergraduates can find more details in the latest e-brochure http://www.charity-works.co.uk/e-brochure/index.html and an application form is available at www.charity-works.co.uk

High Flyers

Liliane Dwek, 29, from London, is one of Charity Works' first group of high flyers. She left her job in Advertising 'to make a difference' and now works as a Marketing Account Manager at The Children's Society.

She said: 'Charity Works gives you a springboard to take on more responsibility, motivation and ideas for future career development.'

Claire Taylor, 24, from Manchester, joined the Charity Works programme after a two-year spell as an Information and Advice Manager in the Prison Service.

She now works as an Employment Adviser for the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID).

She said: 'I wanted to work in a rewarding role which would allow me to support others and make a difference in people's lives. I have always wanted a people-focused job and felt the Third Sector best offered me the opportunity to do this.'

'My knowledge and confidence to meet with new people and! promote my own charity, as well as developing future network opportunities, has been a fantastic experience that no other course would offer.'

'Charity Works provides a well-rounded learning experience matched by no other existing training provider. Students can learn not only from each other but also from the trainers who have a plethora of experience. Being allocated a mentor is a superb opportunity to learn from a successful and knowledgeable Third Sector representative and is a unique aspect of the course.'

Teesside Graduate Christopher Brodrick, 29, now works for The Children's Society in London as a Legacy Marketing Officer.

He went into the Charity sector after a career in retail.

'I feel that the Third Sector is suited to my personal and marketing skills and I gain job satisfaction from working for a charity.'

'The Charity Works course is both informative and practical and I have enjoyed working with people from across the charity sector.'

Rebekah Griffin, 25, is a Service Manager for Advance UK in! Warwickshire. A Psychology graduate, she wanted to work in Mental Health.

She said: 'Mentoring has been the most positive aspect of the course for me as it provides the opportunity to discuss one to one what career options are available in the Third Sector.'

'It is an exciting opportunity - if you have not managed before it offers a comprehensive training in all aspects of management.'

Michelle Nurse, 27, helps with careers advice and information for Work in Progress in Leicestershire.

She originally worked for the Department of Work and Pensions. She said: 'The Third Sector has become a real choice for a career as the causes within it can bring a great deal of job satisfaction and fulfilment.'

Michelle said Charity Works has given her the chance to develop her management skills: 'I have been exposed to some great training so far and had the opportunity to speak to individuals who are tat the top of their game within the different sector! s.

'The mentor element has been fantastic and I would definitely encourage anyone who is looking for more than their current role provides to apply.'

Pawel Domitrz, 30, started working in the Third Sector when it first started in his homeland of Poland.

He is now a Senior Social Care Worker in London for the charity Together Working for Wellbeing.

Pawel joined the Charity Works programme to broaden his horizons and open up more opportunities.

He said: 'I would recommend the programme especially to external candidates as it provides an experience in the charity sector and many inspiring training course at the same time.'

'It is a golden opportunity to everyone interested in the charity sector and the best investment in the future career for fresh graduates.'

For more information visit www.charity-works.co.uk.

Instead of an ear-piercing wail, the device unleashes the chemical compound 'Allyl Isothiocyanate', which gives horseradish, mustard, and wasabi their bite. A red LED on the alarm also starts flashing when smoke is detected.

The alarm is eight inches long by three inches wide and works on a room that's roughly 50 square feet. It was launched last year following a two-year development by Kobe-based fire extinguisher company Air Water Safety Service and Seems, a bioventure in Tokyo.

Interest in the smelly siren is apparently now growing, with one hotel in Nagoya now offering it to hearing-impaired guests. The firms are also targeting noisy environments like karaoke parlors where crooners might drown out an alarm.

The alarms should be on general retail sale in the next few years.