Jewish Deaf Business
by Sharon Ann Dror
Paula Rosenthal, Founder & Editor HearingExchange, Inc. P.O. Box 689 Jericho, N.Y.11753
FAX 314/1991-0190 St. Louis, MO www.HearingExchange.com E-mail: info@HearingExchange.com
Paula Rosenthal
Hearing Exchange, Inc.
Paula Rosenthal is oral and uses hearing aids. She has
started an online community called HearingExchange for people with hearing loss, parents of deaf and hard of
hearing children and professionals offers a panel of experts who answer questions on hearing loss. Unaware of
early testing for hearing loss in newborns and children, she first learned that her daughter had a previously undiagnosed hearing loss when she was 23 months old.
Childhood
"I had a happy, loving childhood. I am one of three children and am the only one with hearing loss. I received
hearing aids at the age of 3, after I was already speaking. Despite my progressive hearing loss, I have always
been mainstreamed and attended the local public school and had speech therapy for many years. Luckily, I did not
have a speech delay.
My husband Howard's hearing loss was discovered when he was in junior high school. He is also oral and has always been mainstreamed."
Jewish Upbringing
"I grew up in a home that celebrated many Jewish holidays, we had traditional gatherings and participated in
many of the customs and rituals of Judaism. I attended a Reform Hebrew School from fourth grade on and had a
Bat Mitzvah. I toured Israel one summer during college.
Howard's family also celebrates Jewish holidays with traditional gatherings of his family. He attended Hebrew School and had a Bar Mitzvah. His family belonged to a Conservative temple."
Any Deaf Family Members?
"I have one brother and one sister. My husband has one
sister. The only members of our family with hearing loss are our fathers who got hearing aids in adulthood. Our
deafness is of unknown etiology at this time."
Education backgrounds?
"I graduated from Emory University with a B.A. in Political Science in 1988 and received a J.D. from Pace Law
School in 1992. Howard received a B.S. in Computer Science from Northeastern University in 1987."
Children?
"We have two children, a girl who is 5 and a boy who is 3.
Our daughter has a progressive, profound hearing loss. Our son's hearing is tested frequently and has been normal thus far. "
Why Hearing Exchange?
"HearingExchange has been formed to offer adults with
hearing loss, parents of deaf and hard of hearing children and professionals a community to learn and network. Most parents of children with hearing loss have
normal hearing and are unaware and overwhelmed when they receive their child's diagnosis. HearingExchange of
fers news, articles, resources, forums, experts and more to assist people looking for information and support. As a
hearing impaired person and a mother of a child whose hearing loss was detected after its initial onset, I have a
unique perspective to offer others.
HearingExchange is a division of Taylor Rose, Inc. It is not a non-profit organization. HearingExchange.com was launched mid-September 2000. It is privately funded.
My website has moved with me. I spend part of the year in my "real" hometown of Jericho, New York and most of the year in my "adopted" hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. I have relocated temporarily so that my daughter can attend the Moog Center for Deaf Education's oral school program."
Why Did You Start The Company?
"I have always wanted to be an advocate for the deaf
and hard of hearing, which is why I went to law school. My life has taken unexpected turns and it is only now that
I have finally been able to realize that goal. With my love for research, writing and advocacy, HearingExchange has
been a dream come true for me.
HearingExchange has two employees and a panel of top quality experts in the fields of Special Education, Cochlear Implants, Parent Advocacy, Audiology and Auditory-Verbal Therapy." For more information, see their website at http://vww.HearingExchange.com