Vol. 10, No. 1, Winter 1993 GRANT WILL CREATE ORGAN REGISTRY FOR EAR RESEARCH The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders of the National Institutes of Health has awarded a three-year contract to the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and the Deafness Research Foundation (DRF) to establish a registry for all of the temporal bone collections in the U.S. The collections and the registry will provide a resource for scientific research into hearing and balance disorders. The human temporal bone is that part of the skull containing the structures of hearing and balance, the middle and inner ear. Researchers have always been faced with a major problem in studying these structures. The temporal bone, because of its inaccessible location, cannot be examined during life. It is only after death, when the bones are harvested in a way similar to other organ donor programs, that scientists can examine the human hearing and balance systems, a DRF news release said. In 1960, the DRF established the National Temporal Bone Banks program to identify people with ear disorders who would pledge their temporal bones at death to scientific research. During the past 30 years, nearly 6,000 pledges of temporal bones have been made. With the registry project, the DRF will continue to serve as the clearinghouse for all public information on temporal bone donations and enroll individuals who wish to bequeath their temporal bones to science. To learn how you can pledge your temporal bones to research, call The Deafness Research Foundation at (800) 535-DEAF. _________________________ IDENTIFICATION BRACELETS VEDA is often asked where people can get medical identification bracelets. Here is the name and address of a company that will make them to your specifications: MedicAlert, Turlock, CA 95381-1009. You can call them for details at 1-800-ID-ALERT. NEWS AND REVIEWS By Susan L. Engel-Arieli, M.D. The following are summaries of articles that appeared in recent medical and professional journals: 1. Dizziness Difficult to Diagnose -- Dizzy spells rarely signal a life-threatening illness but are common. Dr. K. Kroenke of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, conducted a study of 185 middle-aged and elderly patients with dizziness. He found that about 50 percent of the cases involved the inner ear. Some people have dizziness with no physical cause, he says; if so, depression, anxiety, or panic disorder must be considered. See Faivelson, S., "Dizziness Common But Diagnosis Hard to Pin Down," Medical Tribune, 33(24), Dec. 24, 1992, p. 2. 2. Vertigo Treatment -- Dr. Fries, of the University of Vermont College of Medicine, was recently interviewed. He describes ways that doctors can choose treatments for vertigo patients. He treats most acute vertigo attacks with meclizine or scopolamine. Low-dose Haldol can be an effective drug of second or third choice for mild to moderate vertigo, he says. Dr. Fries suggests relaxation, positioning, and the use of a cervical collar for positional vertigo that lasts more than a few weeks. In patients who have failed at conservative measures for more than six months, sectioning of the nerve should be considered, he says. See Sherman, C., "Simple Office Maneuvers Help Guide Vertigo Treatment," Internal Medicine News and Cardiology News, Oct. 15, 1992, p. 45. 3. Balance Training May Decrease Falls in the Elderly -- According to Connecticut researchers, exercise and balance training can help elderly people reduce their tendency to fall by 50 percent. Dr. Leslie Wolfson, one of the researchers, says about one third of older people fall each year, with one in 20 falls resulting in serious injury. His three-year study found that the elderly got better at maintaining their balance the longer they were tested. In a second study, 108 patients aged 70 and older, all in good health, were trained for three months with weights and exercises. After three months, the people came close to losing their balance only half as often as before the study. See Faivelson, S., "Balance Training Might Help Reduce the Number of Serious Falls . . . ," Medical Tribune, 33(24), Dec. 24, 1992, p. 2. 4. Band Eases Morning Sickness -- In an Italian study, 60 women in the first trimester of pregnancy wore an acupressure band or a placebo band. Sixty percent of the women who wore the acupressure bands reported feeling less nauseous than the women wearing placebo bands. See "Band Said to Ease Morning Sickness," Medical Tribune, 33(24), Dec. 24, 1992, p. 4. 5. Labyrinthotomy with Streptomycin Infusion -- Researchers from the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit reported early results from 47 patients who had labyrinthotomies with streptomycin infusion (LSI). Sixty eight percent of patients had worse hearing after surgery; severe hearing loss was experienced by 57 percent. Seventeen percent had persistent vertigo, which required a second procedure. The researchers concluded that early results indicate LSI is associated with a significant postoperative hearing loss. Four of 13 co-investigator surgeons have stopped using LSI; one considers his results satisfactory, and the remainder recommend LSI use only in selected cases. See Monsell, E.M., et al., "Labyrinthotomy with Streptomycin Infusion," American Journal of Otology, 13(5), Sept. 13, 1992, pp. 416-425. 6. Traumatic Perilymph Fistula -- Physicians in Tennessee recently reported on 68 patients they had seen over 18 years for perilymph fistulas (PLF). Thirteen percent had a fistula identified at surgery. The most common cause was head trauma, and most patients had persistent symptoms lasting months. Eighty three percent had sudden or fluctuating hearing loss; 77 percent had vertigo, and 61 percent had tinnitus. Vertigo was the most commonly improved symptom postoperatively, and only 25 percent had improved hearing. See Glasscock, M.E., et al., "Traumatic Perilymphatic Fistulas. . . ," American Journal of Otology, 13(4), July 1992, pp. 333-338. 7. Possible Virus Particles in Meniere's Patients? -- Four patients with Meniere's disease underwent vestibular nerve section, and their endolymphatic duct and vestibular cells were later studied via transmission electron microscopy. Although no virus particles were identified, numerous cell components and artifacts were found that mimic viruses. Further study is deemed necessary. See Wackym, P.A., et al., "Differential Diagnosis of Virus-Like Particles," American Journal of Otology, 13(5), September 1992, pp. 431-437. 8. Meniere's Disease in Both Ears -- Researchers at Cambridge, England, state that it is well-established that patients with unilateral (one-sided) Meniere's disease have a high likelihood of eventually developing the disease in both ears. Using electrocochleography (ECOG) to detect endolymphatic hydrops, researchers found that of 40 patients who had unilateral Meniere's 35 percent had bilateral endolymphatic hydrops. These results could have profound implications for management of Meniere's disease. See Moffat, D.A., et al., "Bilateral ECOG Findings in Unilateral Meniere's Disease," Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery, 107(3), September 1992, pp. 370-373. 9. Meniere's Disease -- Is It Immune Mediated? -- Recent clinical research suggests that one cause of Meniere's disease may be immune-mediated damage to the inner ear. The diagnosis of autoimmune Meniere's syndrome is largely based on history, response to steroids, and/or lab tests. Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were tested in 30 patients with Meniere's disease and 20 control patients. Patients with Meniere's disease had elevated CIC compared to the control group. This suggests that CIC may be involved in the pathogenesis of Meniere's disease either as a direct cause of damage or as a by-product of an underlying autoimmune abnormality. They suggest therapeutic implications may include the use of plasmapheresis (a process involving removal of whole blood from the body, separation of its cellular elements, and reinfusion of these elements in a plasma substitute). See Derebery, M.J., et al., "Meniere's Disease. . . ," Laryngoscope, 101(3), March 1991, pp. 225-229. 10. Tinnitus -- Tinnitus may caused by a number of things; therefore, a thorough ear-nose-throat diagnosis is necessary to find the cause. Therapies for tinnitus are, at best, problematic. The most common type of tinnitus is said to be cochlear- synaptic. Researchers at the University of Vienna have found some new possibilities for treating tinnitus with drugs. Intravenous application of a compound, GDEE, reduced tinnitus in 77.2 percent of the patients studied. See Denk, D.M., et al., "Tinnitus. . .," Wiener Medezinische Wochenschrift, 142(11-12), 1992, pp. 259- 262. 11. Toxic Exposure and Dizziness -- A recent article described shipyard workers becoming ill with nausea and dizziness after several days of exposure to benzene and petroleum products during removal of gas from shipboard fuel tanks. See Midzenski, M.A., et al., "Acute High Dose Exposure to Benzene. . .," American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 22(4), pp. 553-565. Another article, from Israel, describes the effects of organophosphate-containing pesticides in selected people including pilots, ground crews, field workers, people living in kibbutzim, and residents of homes treated by pest exterminators. In all groups, evidence of exposure illness was seen. Complaints included dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea, breathing problems, etc. The researchers suggested decreasing the use of pesticides in general and organophosphates in particular. See Richter, E.D., et al., "Health Effects from Exposure to Organophosphate Pesticides," Israel Journal of Medical Sciences, 28(8-9), August-September 1992, pp. 584-598. Finally, another medical article from Israel described workers in nickel-cadmium and other battery factories becoming ill with headaches, dizziness, skin eruptions, nosebleeds, wheezing, sterility, multiple abortions, etc. Those who worked more than 10 years had more symptoms than shorter-term workers. The authors identify a need for safety precautions and stricter rules on dumping. See Bar-Sela, S., et al., "Medical Findings in Nickel Cadmium Battery Workers," Israel Journal of Medical Sciences, 28(8-9), August-September 1992, pp. 578-583. Here are summaries of articles appearing in non-technical publications: 1. Most Dizziness Just Goes Away -- The Uniformed Services University in Washington, D.C., says that dizziness often goes away on its own, is generally treatable, and is not life-threatening. See Kotulak, Ron. "Most Dizziness Just Goes Away," Chicago Tribune, Section 5, Dec. 13, 1992, p. 4. (Author's note: Although this is true, it is of little comfort to many people who have chronic and debilitating vertigo.) 2. Easing Morning Sickness and Nausea -- A recent article on acupressure suggests the following technique to lessen morning sickness and nausea. Place the fingertip or thumb on the inside of the wrist, two thumb-widths up from the wristfold, in the midline between the two tendons. Press firmly in a circular motion, or press with the thumbnail. See Natural Health, November-December 1992, p. 40. (Author's note: This is the same idea as that behind the acupressure band. See "Band Eases Morning Sickness" in the preceding section.) 3. A Terrible Din -- D. Vaughan has written an excellent article, meant for the public, on tinnitus. It discusses the many causes of tinnitus, such as medications, allergies, Meniere's disease, acoustic neuroma, hypotension, heart disorders, anemia, etc. It talks about the use of hearing aids, maskers, and background noise as treatments. Tinnitus patients should get plenty of sleep and avoid overexertion and stress. Hypnosis or biofeedback can be helpful. Recent studies suggest that a drug, lidocaine, can produce relief in certain cases. See Vaughan, D., "The Terrible Din Within," Your Health, Oct. 20, 1992, p. 13. 4. New Procedure for Diagnosing Middle Ear Disorders -- A new procedure for diagnosing middle ear disorders has been developed at the Lahey Clinic in Massachusetts, according to a recent issue of National Enquirer. The technique allows a doctor to view the middle ear with a tiny "telescope" and look for leaks, tumors, infections, or other causes of dizziness. Researchers suggest that the device should be available within the next two years, and thousands of patients could be spared the pain, cost, and time of surgery. Author's Note: Please note that neither Dr. Engel-Arieli or VEDA can recommend or be responsible for an individual's reaction to a particular treatment. These reviews are not intended as a substitute for professional health care by your own physician. THE A.D.A. AND VESTIBULAR DISORDERS The Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) of 1990 includes protection for people with substantial functional disabilities, such as those sometimes caused by vestibular disorders. The A.D.A. is the most recent of five Federal laws that protect people from discrimination in employment, public services, public transportation, public accommodations, and telecommunications. Its provisions are being phased in over several years; many are already in place. In the A.D.A., "disability" has a functional rather than a medical definition. To be protected from job discrimination under the A.D.A., you must have, have a record of, or be regarded as having a substantial, as opposed to a minor impairment. A substantial impairment is one that significantly limits or restricts a major life activity such as hearing, seeing, speaking, walking, breathing, performing manual tasks, caring for oneself, learning, or working. Vestibular disorders can cause substantial difficulties in hearing, seeing, walking, learning, performing manual tasks, and working. To be protected by the A.D.A. from job discrimination, you must also be qualified to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. You must not have a contagious disease that is a direct threat to others, and you must not use illegal drugs or abuse alcohol. The new law applies to all employers with 25 or more employees now and will apply to all employers with 15 or more employees after July 26, 1994. The complete A.D.A. is too complicated to fully explain here, but The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of the United States can provide much more information. The commission publishes a booklet, "The Americans with Disabilities Act: Your Employment Rights as an Individual with a Disability." You can request a free copy by writing or calling: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 1801 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20507 (202) 663-4900 (voice) (800) 800-3302 (TDD) (202) 663-4494 (TDD for 202 area code). This booklet also includes places to write or call for specific information about A.D.A. requirements affecting public accommodations and state and local government services, accessible design in new construction and alterations, transportation, and telecommunications. Also, Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc. (SHHH) sells a 23-minute video, "HEAR'S to the ADA," to teach people with hearing loss about the types of communication accommodations they can expect under the provisions of the ADA. The cost is $35 to SHHH members and $40 to non-SHHH members plus $2 postage and handling. Send payment and orders to "HEAR'S to the ADA," SHHH Publications, 7800 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814. SHHH NAMES NEW DIRECTOR Donna L. Sorkin of McLean, Va., has been named executive director of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc. SHHH is the nation's largest consumer organization for hard of hearing people. She will officially assume the title and duties of her new position on June 15, 1993, said a news release. Ms. Sorkin is a Harvard graduate, owns a consulting firm, and is writing a book on adult hearing loss, with which she has personal experience. She will replace the current SHHH director, Howard E. "Rocky" Stone, who founded SHHH in 1979. SHHH is a nonprofit, educational organization. For information on membership and publications, write SHHH, 7800 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814. THANK YOU We thank all of the following for their contributions to VEDA through Jan. 6: Patrons: Howard Underwood, Englewood, Fla. Friends ($500 to $999): Mr. & Mrs. Ervin Pietz, Wellesley, Mass. Associates ($100 to $499): Doris Celentano, N.J.; Donald Tormey D.D.S., Calif.; Kenneth Marks, N.J.; Gene Halverson, Okla.; Stephen K. Fisher, Mich.; Charles Merten, Ore.; Dr. Norman R. Robinson, Del., Dr. Steven J. Millen, Wisc.; Elaine Schreiber, Ariz.; Mary & Ed Pawlak, Mich.; Dr. Claude A. McClelland, Tex.; Dr. Paula Headbloom, Mich.; Margaret M. Paul, Va.; Mr. & Mrs. Robert P. Weber, Colo.; Judd Gordon, Pa.; Stella Averill, Calif. Contributors ($10 to $99): ALABAMA: George Smith Jr., Ruby Holcombe. ALASKA: Lois & Don Abel Jr., Nancy Stivers, Mildred Harris, Eleanor Tyler, Patricia Varness, Rene Seymour, Lillian Dorcas, Monica Weyhe. ARIZONA: Marjorie Rolfe, Maurice Faubion, Diane Vigil, Fred & Doris Guilford. ARKANSAS: Billie Reynolds, Ralph Palmer, William Norman Jr. CALIFORNIA: Gail Forman, Nancy Penza, Lillian Kuhn, Gene Marple, Eva Neel, Janet Mooers, Paul Steiner, Arch Perry, Vivian Hauck, Lee Ann Myers, Jack Goodman, Myron Roth, Richardine Freeman, John Pino, Dottie Bechtelheimer, R. Ted Meyer, Rita Manuelli, Vince Gelezunas, Lee Law, Andrea Beylen, Ruth Corson, Tali Barbosa, Mary Robertson, Susan Atchley, Danielle Parker, Carol Springer, Mary Lou Wood, Charles Helm, Lois Ramos, Carolyn Ridgeway, Karolyn Zebarth, Martin Bloom, Vivian Gatzert, Carol Labadie, Georgia McHenry, Radojka Dobrilovich, Isolde Andrade, Geraldine White, John Carlson, John Montoya, Elena McClain, Darrell O'Briant, Fred Meinzen, Jacqueline Cursi, Evelyn Burnell. COLORADO: Don Anderson, Patty Haybach, Harold Cohen, Ernest Rose, Abraham Shapiro, Lydia Coulter, JoAnn Notte, Paul Sunberg, Price & Donella Anderson, Lois Jensen, Bill & Jeanie Swartz, Mary Williamson, Patty Haybach, Bob & Wendy Sherr, Patty Woods, Ken & Linda Richards, Robert & Mary Mathews, Marvin & Phyllis Fisher, Bonnie Hartman, Glenn Channell, Pat Green, Elizabeth Smith, Therese Hester, Mary Berghoefer, Lois Burke, Louise Strand, Suzanne & Gary Koegle- Johnson, Diane Writer, Maureen Reis, Ruth Rothenberg, Alice Engram. CONNECTICUT: William Neidlinger, Pamela Post, Rita Feola, Rita Frechette, Mary Channell, Edward Seroni, Susan Moon. DELAWARE: Virginia Wooldridge, June Cooper, Bernadine Lunski. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Frederic Miller, Joseph Miller, Herbert Franklin. FLORIDA: Henry Chaffee, Roger Nathanson, Julianne Bennett, Jeanne Herman, Homer Marchant, Mary Etsen, Jeff & Susan Kaye, David Comar, E.D. Martin, Jo Waters, Edward Scharf, Grace Criscione, Henry Poulin, Ann Monaco, Norman Ahlswede, Kathryn Karpowicz, Adalberto Alfonso, Norman Ahlswede. GEORGIA: Peggy Jenkins, Patti Hallowell, Kathy Gaines, Reba Smithline, Connie Monroe, Gaye Cronin, Sary Korrick, Patrick May, Nathan Chapin, Dr. Luther Smith III. HAWAII: Norita Nelson, Roy Shimizu. IDAHO: Constance Dickow. ILLINOIS: Wanda Morales, Heather Hehman, Elsie Ryan, Anne King, Terry Taldone, Mary Braido, Cathy Andorka, Ethel Kelly, C.F. Moculeski, Arlene Stielow, S.L. Nielsen, Anne Dudovitz, Phyllis Johnson, Rose Niecikowski, Mildred Walter, Dr. & Mrs. C.J. Voelker, Darleen Runge, Rita Eckhart, Frieda Volpel, John King, Kathryn Crossen, Dr. Christopher von Hake, Judy Jung, Jean Sundheim, Mildred McCartney, Elizabeth Werderich, Leatrice Wesber, Marion Yeagle, Violet Shulman, Thomas Casey. INDIANA: Cathy Dearing, Lewis Richardson, The Housefields, Dr. Enayat Shirazi. IOWA: Lloyd Shelangoski, Ruth Conway. KANSAS: Leonore Rowe, Travis White, John Peterson, Dr. & Mrs. James Shields, Ella May McLaughlin, John Voss, Catherine Hoy, Ethel Childs, Beth Titterington, Diane Lee. KENTUCKY: Mary Williams. LOUISIANA: Gail Hebert, Sidney Sandoz Jr. MARYLAND: Laura Russ, Sherrie Holtz, Bob Buzzanco, Mary Zamary, Elizabeth Garmatz, Lavern Riggs, Dorothy Joiner, Celia Weinstein, Jaclyn Portnoy. MASSACHUSETTS: Nancy Rule, Hyman Kyett, Frances Dennis, Linda Holdstock, Kathleen O'Toole, Mary O'Boyle, George Hollowell, Frances Dennis, Mary Pratt, Irene Atkinson, Judith Hall, Beulah Morrison, Molly-Jane Isaacson Rubinger, Nancy Dutton, Julie Kaneta, Howell Hughes, Philip Haggerty, Walter Wise, John & Anne Kendrick, Irma Aponte, Ann Drew, Philip Levin, Eunice Good, Barbara Pasquale, Guy Forcellati, Terry Wilson, P.J. Paradiso, Christine Sheehy, Ronald Mehlhorn, Wendy Shaffer, Cindy D'Amato, Joanne Prince, Elizabeth Quirk, James Rayne, Frederica Cushman, Deanne Bonnar. MICHIGAN: Doreen Wise-Friedenberg, Rebecca Szabo, Ed Karmann, Marie Key, Paul Olson, Janet Rea, Cheryl Krysiak, Judith Bommarito, Evelyn Brown, Steve Eisenberg, Doreen Wise-Friedenberg, Earl Zetterholm, Angeline Grigorian, Richard Cook, Frances Lewis, Sandra Brown, Amy Rosenberg, Bonna Page, Katherine Kerr, John Reynolds, Dorothy Schmidt, Roger Bennetts. MINNESOTA: Cindi Ahmann, Michael Maloney Family, Linda Fort, Angela Kaiser, Norma Anderson, Patricia Jensen, Nancy Weiss, Kenneth Sanders, Verde Clinton. MISSOURI: Olive Duffy, Janet Brown. MONTANA: Mary Gatzke. NEBRASKA: Hilda Bukacek. NEVADA: Iris Gleed, Joan Mellor, Margaret Gilbert, James Darnell. NEW HAMPSHIRE: Mary Brick, Robert Gamble, Alan Cameron Jr., Harry Haymes, Norma Moore, Peter Mellen. NEW JERSEY: Brian Packard, Winifred Wright, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Spohr, Susan Martinez, Dawn Santoro, Donna Boyle, Cathy Mele, Judy Budinsky, Emma Trombly, Mrs. Robert Hartigan, Patrice McDermott, Barbara Brown, Catherine Sogorka, Winnie Wright, Mary Lou Sommer, Robert Shamosh, Denise Carelli, Dr. Alexander Hochheiser, Barbara Strongin. NEW MEXICO: Kit Hagen Stein, Bette Richards. NEW YORK: Marion Cohen, Irene Stiles, Carola Michael, William Wakefield, Richard Tripp, Randy Atlas, Abe Berkowitz, Thelma McNamara, Shirley Weiss, Roscha Folger, Lewis French, Nancy Mesh, John Herring Jr., Phyllis Lindsey, Marvin Goldman, Catherine Nicholas, Donna Anselona-Troisi, Kenneth Noonan, Eileen Farley, Nancy Ladd, Mary Braverman, Dorisann Rinaldo, Marvin Osias, Roseann Crabb, Helene Schmidt, Marion Sullivan, Rita Demers, John Galindo, Concetta Kudirka, Margaret Venezia, Naomi Lederer, Carole Mitchel, Bernice Heller, Betty Potash, Jean Vincent, Doyle Smith, Jeanne O'Leary, Lydia Chang, Ruth Stone, Luanne Surace, Joan Calkin, Anna Pierson, George Holzmann, Margaret McNicholas. NORTH CAROLINA: Harriet Hinson, Linda Marker, Ingeborg Bush. NORTH DAKOTA: Vicki Martinson. OHIO: Miriam Faud, Marcia Kolovich, E.A. Colley-Brown, Maria Mruzek, George Tyler, Betty Willson, Enno Thuss, Michael Michelson. OKLAHOMA: Dr. Robert Keim, Billie Mize. OREGON: Kathryn Hansell, Gred Alarid, Tom Hashizume, Bernd Crasemann, Natalie Driscoll, Gene Sigfrid, Charlotte Johnson, Paul Mays, Marie Walker, Rilla Peterson, Martha Torson, Ida Barbeau, Joanne Graham, Edythe Allen, Scott Moreland, Charlotte Shupert, Hildagarde Hochhalter, Dorothea Radel, Liz McKinney, Elmer & Darlene Griser, Bertha Nelson, June & Jerry Underwood, Kenneth Starr, Shirley Dejong, Robert Stokes, Yvette Cross, Ruth Nachtwey, Tracy Hensley, Jean Kunkel, Rosemary Pennell, Karolyn Eiseman, Alene Robertson, Lisa Haven, Tricia Hillbury, Jeanette Welch, Dr. John Epley, Paul Boehler. PENNSYLVANIA: Nanette Wasner, Peggy Harper-Sotan, Harryette Radcliffe, Dolores McGonigle, Jane Smith, Donald Poet, Patricia Wreck, Doris Africa, John Salyer, Allison Keenan and Dr. Sidney Lipman, Dr. R.R. Pottash, Sara Post Lee, Sybil Stein, Dayle Taylor. RHODE ISLAND: Ann Oller. SOUTH CAROLINA: Barbara Auvenshine. TENNESSEE: Anita Nix. TEXAS: Diana Gilbert, Lydia Cruzen, Betty Wharton, Sandra Hunt, David Bloomer, Margaret Anderson, Cecily Hitchcock, Vernon Rayford, R.L. Thomasson, Esther Seiler, David Krych, Gale Robertson, Helen Barr, George Parker, Ronald Hull. VIRGINIA: Marjorie Wallick, Dr. Linda Plachetta, Lauren Berger, Willis Boone, Margaret Humphrey, Robert Hay, Howard Williams, Linda Allen, Jeanne Webb, Linda Boaz, Betty Wiley, George McAtee, Sharon Doud, Mrs. Ninel Segal, Libby Eife-Johnson, Mr. & Mrs. R.L. Wexelblat, June Battaile. WASHINGTON: Mildred Farrell, Linda Peterson, Joyce Arnold, Art Edburg, The Williams Family, Cynthia Singh, Gregg Eilers, Steve Rees, Sue Parks, Randi Holland, Henry Reents, Marvin Carmichael, Mary Rancourt, T. Roger Billeter. WISCONSIN: Bonnie Satorius, Carole Brenner, Jeri Zepnick, Lavern Getka, Martha Recknagel, Walter Mueller, Aletta Vandervelde, Mary Bichanich. AUSTRALIA: Ester Copley. CANADA: Susan Mailandt, Shirley Read, Els Van Dam, Rosemary Derbecker, John Hayes, Phyllis Purdy, Arlene Steel, Karen Kolbinson, Rosanne Shipman, Linda Hutchinson, Mary Ramsay, Gail Spray. NIDCD CLEARINGHOUSE ADDS 800 LINE The information clearinghouse for the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) has added an 800 telephone number for both voice and TDD/TT (for the hearing impaired). The clearinghouse helps health professionals, patients, people in industry, and the public find information about balance, hearing, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language. To speak with an information specialist at the clearinghouse, call Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time at 1-800-241-1044 (voice) or 1-800- 241-1055 (TDD/TT). You may also write to NIDCD Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 37777, Washington, DC 20013-7777. _________________________ NEW MATERIALS VEDA recently added the following items: N-1: News and Reviews, 1991, four sets of reviews of articles on vestibular disorders. The reviews, by Dr. Susan Engel-Arieli, first appeared in On the Level. N-2: News and Reviews, 1992. F-17: The Vestibular System, definitions of terms related to vestibular disorders. For example, "oval window" is defined as "oval- shaped opening into the inner ear. The footplate of the stapes fits into the oval window." F-18: Dizziness and Motion Sickness," reprint of a leaflet from the American Academy of Otolaryngology. These documents are free to members. To order, please send a self-addressed return envelope with your request, and enclose a 29-cent stamp for each item ordered. _________________________ LETTERS, PUBLICITY Sometimes VEDA is mentioned in letters to the editors of various publications. This is helpful in getting the word out about vestibular disorders. For example, a letter by Michael Smith of Woodburn, Oregon, appeared in a recent issue of The Elks Magazine, as follows: "I would like to thank you for the article on dizziness that ran in the November issue of The Elks Magazine. I am at home recovering from my second ear surgery. This surgery is an attempt to correct the dizziness and vertigo that I have been suffering from for over a year. I think that all members of the Elks should know that there is an international support and information group: Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA), P.O. Box 4467, Portland, OR 97208-4467." Any similar letters you might write to newspapers, magazines, or other media would be greatly appreciated.