Hearing God's Voice - How to Know It's God - Part II

Are you waiting for God to speak to you? How will you know if it's His voice you hear? This is a common question.
Most of us have been taught that when God speaks He tells us what to do and what not to do. This has mostly to do with our physical existence.
For instance we may want to know if we should date this person or that, marry them or not, move to a different town, switch jobs, etc That's all physical stuff.
God is well able to provide you with answers around those type topics.
What I have found is that God may introduce a new way of thinking - a spiritual knowing - and from that the obvious answer emerges.
To me this has been far more amazing than simply trying to get a yes or no answer about some perceived problem.
In this way there's no confusion - clarity comes which points to the answer and the clarity remains so there's never a need to ask that question again!
That being said here are three things that I have found that help to identify communication from God.
1. It is liberating. You feel it in your soul. Scripture says "You will know the truth and the truth will make you free". If you don't experience greater freedom it wasn't communication from God. And don't try to figure out if you have more freedom - you don't have to - you'll know instantly.
2. There is no condemnation. In other words God isn't going to beat you up for asking or wanting to know. I used to think that asking questions indicated a lack of faith. We are sometimes taught that. It's more true that there is no such thing as a stupid question. Do you really think the Almighty spends time judging your questions? I don't. You might judge them - and there's where the problem will be.
3. Communication from God won't include harm to others. I should think this is obvious - but somehow we live in a world where people who claim closeness to God abuse and mistreat each other every day. Many of these folks are good Christians too. Problem is they're not connected to God. Want proof? Go read about the way Jesus treated humble seekers of God. Remember who Jesus came down on? It was the religious and righteous folks - the people who thought they had all the answers.
To sum it up - If your attempts to communicate with God leave you feeling bound, condemned and judgmental of others - I'd say it's safe to say you're tuned into some old programming or teachings from your childhood.
If on the other hand you are finding great liberty, freedom and peace - you're connected! Keep it up!
There's no need for you to make these common mistakes when communicating with God.
Get your free mini course here: bestillknowgod.
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Impeachment Hearing Leaves Cloud Over Hillary Clinton 1998 Editorial

Impeachment Hearing Leaves Cloud Over Hillary Clinton - 1998 Editorial
By Lindsey Williams

There was good news and bad news for the Clintons from the House Judiciary Committee impeachment hearing Thursday. Good news for the president is that Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr gave him a pass on Whitewater, Travelgate and Filegate. The bad news is that Hillary was not mentioned. While giving Bill's Teflon a polish, Starr said investigations about the gate trio continue. He stated there was some evidence the president lied about his involvement in the Madison Guaranty fraud, but assertions by a single witness would be a weak case.

Having obtained 14 convictions of the many Whitewater finaglers -- including the governor of Arkansas -- Starr seems to be focusing on a final culprit. Is it Hillary or her law partner Webster Hubbell? Starr told the committee there still were unanswered questions about Mrs. Clinton's legal work for another land fraud known as Castle Grande. Also, he wants to know how subpoenaed law firm billing records -- allegedly destroyed -- were discovered by a secretary two years later in Mrs. Clinton's private study.

The independent counsel said his office was investigating a single individual in the travel office firings and in the illegal possession of confidential FBI files.

Last week's hearing shed no new light on White House lies and cover ups. During 12 hours of harassment by Democrats, not one question was asked about the charges in Starr's referral to the committee.

The affair was bitterly partisan from the opening statement by minority ranking member John Conyers, to a final call by Zoe Lofgren that Starr's answers under oath be examined for perjury.

Highlight of the day was the usual pit-bull attack against Starr by Clinton's personal Lawyer David Kendall. The latter spent the half hour allotted him -- plus an extra 35 minutes allowed by Chairman Henry Hyde -- trying to prove Starr was a biased prosecutor.

Not once did Kendall try to disprove the charges against Clinton. At each accusatory question, Starr waved a copy of his referral at Kendall and challenged him to refute he facts.

Starr sailed through the partisan mine field unscathed. Indeed, he received an unprecedented standing ovation from sympathetic onlookers and Republican committee members after concluding questions by majority counsel. A smiling Starr shyly stood up to acknowledge the accolade. All in all, the hearing was a dud insofar as advancing the impeachment process. Democrat zealotry was painful to watch, it was so pitiful in effect. Particularly disgraceful was the mindless bias of the black members in asserting perjury about sex by the president doesn't matter. The civil rights movement stressed that lying by whites about offenses against blacks was heinous. The Black Caucus has become Uncle Tom to the Democratic plantation.

African-Americans overcame official discrimination through the courts by the rule of law. Truth-telling is the cornerstone of the American legal system. Perjury is a crime masking all other crimes. Friends of Bill -- and majority of Americans according to opinion polls -- contend lying under oath about sex by a president is not impeachable. How sad.

Perjury, for any reason, is perjury. This, alone, fully justifies impeachment.

However, there are larger justifications for removing Bill Clinton. He solicited sex service in the Oval Office. This was adultery, and adultery is a sin defined by the Ten Commandments. It is an offense established by four thousand years of social consensus.

Perhaps worse was the tawdry nature of the repeated sex overtures by the president. It was on the level of two-dollar deals with street walkers in darkened doorways. President John F. Kennedy at least carried off his sexcapades with style.

Those in Congress, and in the public, who clamor for overlooking perjury and tawdry sex are as guilty as Clinton. More so because they aren't even getting 10 seconds of ecstasy.

Now that Democrats have had their free shot to discredit the independent counsel, sterner ethicists can take charge. Facts speak for themselves.

Immediately after the hearing, Chairman Hyde issued four subpoenas for witnesses in the Kathleen Willey sexual harassment charge against Clinton. They are Bruce Lindsey, Clinton's most trusted confidant; Robert Bennett, Clinton's lawyer for imbo eruptions; Daniel Gecker, Willey's attorney; and Nathan Landow, a wealthy contractor accused of trying to persuade Willey from pressing charges.

Again, there is possible perjury, witness tampering and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

It is likely that Hyde will call John Huang, the White House bag man for questionable campaign contributions. Attorney General Janet Reno is inching toward establishment of another independent counsel to investigate massive violations of campaign financing. This might rap Republican knuckles but decapitate Democrats.

Eventually, articles of impeachment will be reported to the full House by party-line vote. If that was to happen today, a batch of wobbly-knee Republicans might refuse to impeach.

The more that Democrats obfuscate and delay the Judiciary Committee proceedings, the more likely the impeachment process will continue well into next year.

New revelations of wrong doing by the Clintons and associates would gradually sober up public opinion.

Let the games begin.

November 22, 1998

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Click here to see this article on Lindsey Williams's website

.

Lindsey Williams is a Sun columnist who can be contacted at:

LinWms@earthlink.net or LinWms@lindseywilliams.org

Website: http://www.lindseywilliams.org with over a thousand of Lin's Editorial & At Large articles written over 40 years.

Also featured in its entirety is Lin's groundbreaking book Boldly Onward, that critically analyzes and develops theories about the original Spanish explorers of America. (fully indexed/searchable)

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Not Just Hearing the Word

Not Just Hearing the Word
By Mellody Davis

Welcome to the website: All about Jesus, I hope you enjoy the Revealing Facts about the Bible. I encourage you to look at your Bible and see the truth (fact) about the true living word of God and then make your decisions. My Goal is to bring as many as I can to the Glory of the salvation of Jesus in hopes that your soul may be save.

Lets start by saying all Praise and Glory go to the Lord Jesus and his Father God

Not Just Hearing The Word

In many chapters in the Bible it speaks of not just hearing the word, but also following it. In Matthew 7:21 it says: Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. We must live by the Will of the Father and as Jesus did. In James 1:22 it clearly states the fact about just hearing the word. It says; Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he look like.Now who wants to forget what he looks like? Thats something to think about.

It also says in Matthew 12:48 it says; He replied to him, Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? Pointing to his disciples, he said, here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. We are one Family in Jesus Christ. Furthermore Jesus asks the question in Luke 6:46 saying; Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? We all need to ask ourselves that question. If you look at John 14:21 it says; Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. What a wonderful statement. Now look at 1John 5:3 it says; This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Jesus is so powerful, he gave us so many wonderful works. Look at 1John 2:5 it says; But if anyone obeys his word, Gods love is truly made in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. Jesus even gave us the ability to learn his word on our on. Look at 1John 2:20 it says; But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. Now look at verse 2:27 it says; As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. Bus as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit---just as it has taught you, remain in him. To sum it up I think it is best written in Romans 12:1 it says; Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of Gods mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, Holy and pleasing to God---this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what Gods will is--- his good, pleasing and perfect will. Jesus is truly merciful and deserves all the praise and glory. Enjoy more reading at:

WWW.hostinghelps.com/allaboutjesus

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How Traumatic Brain Injury Affects Hearing

How Traumatic Brain Injury Affects Hearing
By Lynn Fugaro

Hearing problems are quite common after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) because the inner ear is directly connected to the central nervous system. Ringing in the ear (tinnitus) and hearing loss are two of the most widely reported side effects of a traumatic brain injury. Some other hearing problems that may occur following a brain injury include hyperacusis (normal situations seem very loud); difficulty filtering one set of sounds from background noise; and auditory agnosia (also called pure word deafness). Auditory agnosia is a condition in which the person is unable to recognize the meanings of certain sounds.

Following a TBI, hearing problems can occur for a number of reasons, both mechanical and neurological, particularly when the inner ear and/or temporal lobes have been damaged. External bleeding in the ear canal, middle ear damage, cochlear injury and/or temporal lobe lesions can all cause auditory dysfunction.

Children who suffer TBI typically face additional problems in the areas of communication, acquiring new information, spatial orientation, task completion, impulse control, and social conversation.

The inner ear is made up of a series of delicate membranes, which can easily rupture during a head trauma. The cochlea, which is the important spiral-shaped bone in the ear, can be damaged by a strong blow to the head causing hearing damage. Other types of membrane damage may cause hearing loss as well as dizziness (vertigo) and nausea. Sometimes, surgery can correct damage to the inner ear.

Because hearing loss limits or takes away one of the primary means we use to communicate, hearing loss has the potential to complicate many of the other side effects of brain damage, mainly cognitive and social problems. Many TBI victims already suffer cognitive issues such as trouble finding words, and these problems are only exacerbated if the patient cannot hear what is going on around him.

Fortunately, for some TBI victims, hearing problems disappear a few weeks after the accident that led to the patient's brain damage, but other hearing problems will last indefinitely. Since many hearing problems cannot even be detected by the patient himself after the TBI, it is recommended that anyone suffering a traumatic brain injury be evaluated by an audiologist, even if nothing appears to be wrong with the victim's hearing.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury in Houston or anywhere in Texas, please contact the experienced Brain Injury Attorneys at Kennedy Hodges L.L.P.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Traumatic-Brain-Injury-Affects-Hearing&id=631165

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Hearing Aids To Best Suit Your Needs

Hearing Aids To Best Suit Your Needs
By Robert Thatcher

Studies show that one-tenth of the American population is hearing-impaired. Over the years, hearing aids have helped a great deal in eliminating this deficiency.

Hearing aids are small audio devices which are attached to the ears. Most models now are hidden to a casual observer. They offer a superior sound quality which helps lessen, if not eliminate, the loss of hearing.

As technology evolves, the science behind manufacturing hearing aids have become more and more advanced.

Here are the three basic types of hearing aids:

1. Conventional hearing aids

These are the very first types and brands of hearing aids which were realeased in the market.

Although not as technologically advanced as the programmable digital hearing aids, the conventional type can be adjusted in a way that will fit the user's needs.

With this type, the volume is manually adjusted by the user. The sound can be turned up or down, depending on the softness or loudness of the source of sound.

The only minor disadvantage of this type of hearing aids is that if a person's hearing loss level improves or worsens, it must be sent back to the manufacturer so that adjustments can be made.This can be quite inconvenient for the user.

2. Programmable hearing aids

This is more advanced in terms of technology, as compared to the conventional type.

Programmable hearing aids have adjustable circuits which may be adjusted, depending on the user's level of hearing.

The volume control is automatic, making life easier for the patient.

3. Digital hearing aids

Depending on the patient's needs, a digital hearing aid may be ordered to suit a specific situation.

This is by far the best and most convenient type to use.

There are hearing health care professionals whose job is to find the hearing aid that will be beneficial for the user.

The patient's lifestyle and level of hearing loss is considered when looking for the best hearing aid to buy.

Digital hearing aids also feature an automatic volume control.

However, it may take one or two visits to a health care professional before the settings of the hearing aid can be adjusted to the user's satisfaction.

Physically, this type of hearing aid is easier to wear and is kinder to the ears.

The circuit within the hearing aid automatically increases or decreases the level of sound.

There is a microphone and an amplifier that gathers and adjusts the sound respectively.

Finally, the speaker transmits the byproduct of the altered and digitally-enhanced sound to the user's ears.

The downside is that this type of hearing aid is more expensive than the programmable and conventional hearing aids.

Still, once you have invested in a digital hearing aid, it will surely be convenient for you and will fit into any lifestyle.

4. Disposable hearing aids

This type offers the sound quality of a conventional hearing aid and is more cost-effective than its more technologically-advanced counterparts.

Disposable hearing aids have a shorter shelf-life. They can last 40 days at most, and once the battery expires, a new one should be purchased.

To choose a hearing aid that is right for you, make sure that you consult your ear doctor or otologist/audiologist.

When consulting a professional to choose the right hearing aid for you, give them an overview of your lifestyle and budget to determine the best hearing aid that will suit your needs.

Finally, try it out for a few days and if you find that the hearing aid that you bought does not fit your ear, your needs and your way of living, go back to your health care professional so that another type can be purchased.

Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides hearing aid resources on http://www.hearing-aid-center.info.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Hearing-Aids-To-Best-Suit-Your-Needs&id=149977

Hearing Loss and the Games Children Play

Hearing Loss and the Games Children Play
By Jill Blodgett

Today in the newspaper there was an article about a Welsh company that developed a device called the mosquito. The device emitts a high pitch sound and was marketed as an ultra sonic teenager repellent. The whole idea is based on the fact that adults gradually lose their ability to hear high pitched tones as they age. The device was popular with shopkeepers in England who would use it outside their shops where teenages loitered.

The device, intended to benefit adults, has been turned against them. The mosquito noise has been reinvented as a cell phone ring tone. Kids are downloading the ring tone from the internet and using it in school and other places where they aren't allowed to have their cell phones on. The phone rings or beeps for a text message and the teacher never knows!

This article made me laugh because years ago when I used to jog with my teenager there was a certain place on a street we went down where she would cover her ears and complain about a noise, a high pitched squeal, that hurt her ears. I thought she was crazy because I couldn't hear a thing. She is vindicated!

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Hearing-Loss-and-the-Games-Children-Play&id=221930

Go Beyond Hearing and Listen Listen Listen

Go Beyond Hearing and Listen, Listen, Listen
By Bette Daoust, Ph.D.

If we listened twice as much as we talked, we would be a lot further down the road to success. People sometimes think I am very quiet when they first meet me. Those that know me are aware that I am quite the opposite. When I am in a setting where I do not know anyone, I spend my time listening to conversations. I pick up good information about most people at the event. Once I feel I have enough to go on, I will put my hat in the ring and speak up. If most people did the same thing, they would learn how to participate in a conversation. Not only do you have to listen to conversations, you actually have to hear what they are saying. It is only through hearing that you will gain an understanding. I am not saying you need to understand every conversation but you do need to understand enough to make an intelligent comment to get into the circle.

Another way to get into a conversation is to reiterate what you have just heard. I use, did I hear you say . . . . .? The response is usually yes and then they continue to explain why they said it. This is your opportunity to follow up with your comments. You must continue to listen and hear throughout any conversation and only make a comment when you know exactly what you are talking about. I made a fatal error once when someone was arguing a point and I agreed with them. They then asked me how I knew about the subject. I was dumb-founded and could not answer as I was not really hearing what they said, I was just listening in. I felt very foolish and now I make sure I hear the words and understand them before agreeing. There is nothing like an embarrassing moment to straighten up your habits.

When you attend events and spend your time adding to conversations, you are really taking in information that will be valuable for you at another time. You will get to know the participants in the conversation and perhaps even exchange business cards. You may also find that you have common interests.

Bette Daoust, Ph.D. is a speaker, author (over 170 books, articles, and publications), and consultant. She has provided marketing, sales, business development and training expertise for companies such as Peet's Coffee & Tea, Varian Medical Systems, Accenture, Avaya, Cisco Systems to name a few. Dr. Daoust has also done extensive work with small businesses in developing their marketing, training, and operational plans. You may contact Dr. Daoust at http://BizMechanix.com. You may also view her latest publications at http://BlueprintBooks.com. Dr. Daoust also writes for the National Networker http://theNationalNetworker.com.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Go-Beyond-Hearing-and-Listen,-Listen,-Listen&id=357862

Designer Hearing Aids

Designer Hearing Aids
By Steve Joseph

It seems that the latest craze to grace the catwalks is hearing devices! Yes, I said hearing devices. The interest has been astounding as high revenues created by an aging baby boomer generation have caused some hearing aid designers to abandon previous efforts to conceal hearing aids in favor of making them the latest must have fashion accessory. An incredible revolution has already taken place in the world of eyewear, and it appears that hearing aids are starting to catch up.

For years hearing aid manufacturers have all fought to gain supremacy in the hearing aid market with smaller hearing devices aimed at a level of subtlety that bordered invisibility. People with hearing loss were able to discard their comparatively bulky behind the ear (BTE) hearing aids in favor of aids that fit inconspicuously into the ear canal, although the small aids did come at a cost. Obviously smaller hearing aids drew on expensive technology which was reflected in the cost, but the other sacrifice was in the quality of sound that the aid delivered. Due to the small size, speaker volume and the ability to counter ambient sounds was somewhat sacrificed. Such compromises for micro technology had been popular in the past, but reports say that the market appears to be shifting dramatically. As a new breed of hearing impaired people begins to opt for fashionable and functional hearing aids, a whole new world of opportunity has been opened to development teams.

The revolution in fashionable hearing aids is allowing designers to incorporate a much wider array of feature that simply werent possible with the mini aids. Since designers have more room to work with, options like Goldfish, (which allows the user to replay the last 10 seconds of audio just incase something like a name was missed) can now be offered. These advances are set to redefine the negative stigma that has traditionally been attached to hearing aids.

In fact the designers of these new stylish aids claim that hearing aids may even attract customers without hearing loss. That would appear somewhat optimistic to believe for now, but these more attractive and useful hearing aids look certain to deliver a clearer level of sound deaf people that so far has proven elusive.

The author is a regular contributor to http://www.discountaids.com and permission to reproduce this article is given only on the basis that all links remain active and intact.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Designer-Hearing-Aids&id=138047

Hearing Voices and Talking to Voices: Invite Them In

Hearing Voices and Talking to Voices: Invite Them In
By Louis Tinnin

Hearing voices does not mean you are crazy. This is so even when a voice tells you to commit suicide or to kill someone else. People do sometimes obey those commands and this fact makes it urgent to do something about command hallucinations. Many common attempts to do something are simply futile. One cannot close ones ears to the voices. Medications dull consciousness long before affecting the voice. Auditory hallucinations often persist even after electroshock treatment. Such treatment efforts are protracted and demoralizing to the person and the end point is usually an uncertain claim that the voices are gone.

An entirely different approach to dealing with voices is recommended by some clinicians that work with trauma, which is the most common origin of voices. They say, talk to the voices. They explain the voices as vocal parts of yourself that have their own ideas and opinions. If you are willing to negotiate with them you may be able to help them become less extreme in their efforts to participate in your life. First, it will help to learn more about their nature and their role as parts of you.

The Nature of Voices

Usually the individual voices have been constant companions and are recognizable to the person as male or female and young or old. Sometimes there is a single voice, but more commonly there are groups of voices; some with prominent roles and some just bit players. There may be the crying of infants or young children and there may be cries of other traumatized selves. When there are young, helpless children there may be older protectors. There is no limit to that internal world. Voices keep arising as consequences of traumatic experiences.

A person may hear only one or two voices. This layer often contains a commanding voice urging total subjugation and humiliation. It may impel the person to drink or to starve or self-cut, or it may demand suicide. The person typically reacts with automatic, trance-like obedience and may be saved only by appeals from another voice saying No, or the intervention of another actual person. One may come to realize that these voices represent past selves that are still locked in the trauma that froze their action. Other voices are protectors of young traumatized selves and some are keepers of the secret as commanded by a perpetrator.

The Externalized Dialogue With Voices

Talking with a voice requires externalizing the voice, which is best done by writing a message to the voice, addressing it as you. This will be the first of a series of taking turns, each addressing the other as you or by name. Now it is the turn for Voice to speak. You may have to write for the voice at first but before long Voice will speak for itself, your hand moving by its will.

The rules for the externalized dialogue are three: 1. Take turns. 2. Dont interrupt. 3. Write complete sentences. The dialogue with commanding voices can begin with an exploration of their roles and their feelings. Usually their roles began as attempts to help the person. Unfortunately, even suicide might be regarded as a helpful solution for the need to escape. A successful negotiation with the suicidal part can substitute less extreme solutions.

Voices Have Quirks

There are certain quirks that characterize the majority of voices. Knowing about these quirks helps to understand the power of the externalized dialogue.

Voices are gullible: Voices arise outside of consciousness in the brain tissue that normally relies on the conscious language processing of the brain to provide syntax and leadership. The dissociated states of self with their voices may be desperate for leadership and for the missing elements of syntax. The practical consequence for voices that represent self-states frozen in past traumas is that their identity and roles are ripe for reframing by the individuals present verbal mind. The externalized dialogue is a practical vehicle for communicating with those voices, influencing them, and reframing their identity and roles.

Voices hear voices: When someone negotiates with a voice that urges suicide and finally gains agreement to pursue a different option, this may not be the end of the matter. There may be another suicidal voice ready to fill the role vacated by the first suicidal voice. Separate negotiations with different voices may be necessary.

The best defense is a strong offence: The fiercer the voices sound at the beginning, the meeker they are in the long run. People may be terrified of their voices and also fearful for the safety of others if that fierce voice gets out. However, once engaged in the dialogue the voice becomes simply another aspect of the person and, more often than not, a younger aspect.

Voices can be wise. Some voices become helpers by providing a clear-headed response to the negative voices. Some voices exemplify a wise archetype or a role of inner-self-helper described in the psychiatric literature. That helpful voice can be called on during the course of therapy using the externalized dialogue process.

A Safe Self-Help Technique?

Many people have used this as self-help after going through a one or two-week intensive trauma therapy program and they reported no difficulties or complications.

Louis W. Tinnin, MD

http://traumatherapy.us

http://traumarecoveryinstitute.org

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Hearing-Voices-and-Talking-to-Voices:-Invite-Them-In&id=172482

Hearing Loss In The Elderly

Hearing Loss In The Elderly
By Alice Endy

Last Sunday my mother was visiting. We were playing cardswhen I began to realize how long we have accommodated herhearing loss.

My mother lost the hearing in her right ear as a teenager.As children we learned to always talk to her left ear,have the radio off when she was driving, wait forthe TV commercial and lower the volume before speaking.

We had many a laugh when after calling my mother she wouldwalk to another room or the other end of the housethinking the voice came from that direction. Mom laughedwith us MOST of the time.

When my nursing career led me to the field ofGeriatrics I automatically knew how to communicatewith people with hearing loss.

Twenty eight million people suffer from hearing loss.

Ages 65-74-- 23% have hearing loss.
Ages 75 84-- -33% have hearing loss.
ages 85+ ---- 48% have hearing loss.

Most older people with hearing loss never see an audiologistnor do they get fitted for hearing aids. It amazes me that so feware willing to get help.Hearing loss has a very gradual onset, frequently not noticed bythe person himself. Usually it is the spouse that raises thepossibility of hearing loss.

Most doctors do not test for hearing loss as part of aroutine physical and for some unknown reason, most olderpeople will not complain of their hearing loss.Denial is very strong when the topic is hearing loss.

As people age the hearing sense does decline in many folks.

This presents many problems:

Unable to hear emergency sirens, fire alarms, honking horns

Often develop depression over time due to an inability tohear conversations.

Often withdraw from social gatherings and isolate themselves.

Often develop paranoia, thinking people are talkingabout them since they are only able to pick up occasional words.

Often become irritable as they isolate.

These symptoms are very common among the frail elderly, especiallywhen in group activities such as sitting at a table playing cards, or eating.

Communicating With Elders with Hearing Loss

Face the person- within three feet.

Sit at eye level.

Get eye contact.

Be sure you have their attention.

Turn off any background noises-TV, Radio.

Announce the topic of the conversation.

Enunciate clearly.

Do not eat or chew when communicating.

If not understood, rephrase your statement using different words.

Use hand gestures as needed.

Talk to the good ear if appropriate.

Make sure your elder sees a doctor for hearingdifficulty. Ask for a referral to an audiologist.

Dedicated to Eldercare,

Nurse Alice

About the Author: Alice Endy is a Registered Nurse with national certification in the field of Geriatrics.Ms Endy is a sought after speaker and consultant in the field of Eldercare. Ms Endy is also a caregiver for her mother who is in her twelfth year of Alzheimer's Disease. Ms Endy knows well the problems of long term caregiving and the joys and sorrows of end of life issues.

http://www.AskNurseAlice.com/blog

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Hearing-Loss-In-The-Elderly&id=249631

Read This Article if You Are Tired of Hearing About the War in Iraq

Read This Article if You Are Tired of Hearing About the War in Iraq
By Lance Winslow

Are you tired of all the news about Iraq? Are you tired of all the news stations implying that somehow we are losing the War in Iraq? Are you tired of the obvious attacks of the media on the Bush Administration? Do you support our troops and support a total victory in Iraq?

Do you feel that Iraq is just too far away being over half way around the world for it to affect your personal life or the lives of your family? Are you really more concerned with what is happening in your community, neighborhood, with your family and their health than what happens in Iraq?

Are you more concerned with credit card debt, real estate prices, your job and your health care insurance than the tit for tat attacks on the President of the United States and weapons of mass destruction? Do you really care if Ali Zambonee, or Al Mohammed Zahoo is captured, killed or on the news on Yahoo?

Does it bother you that many of the critics of the Bush Administration are eating their words; do you think the enemy combatants, insurgents and fanatical nut cases are all turds? Are you tired over the debate and non-issue of the WMD, Zarkowee Ali or OBL all on Al Jazeera TV? After all the proof is already out and the Iraqis are Free and in record numbers voted and came out; Purple fingers, isnt that the key

Is all this Iraq stuff you are hearing about really of concern? Dont you just want to know it is being taken care of, as you have more serious things to think about?

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance in the Online Think Tank and solve the problems of the World; www.WorldThinkTank.net/

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So what's the Big Secret I Keep Hearing from Internet Marketers

So what's the Big Secret I Keep Hearing from Internet Marketers
By Larry Clark

Maybe you can relate to me when it comes to internet marketers. Not all mind you, but the core group who get you to opt-in to their auto-responders and tell you that they have the secret to making instant money on the internet. Well if it a secret and they are making money because they have kept it secret, why let me know about it so I can now know the secret and make the money?

Well heres howthey make money selling you the secret and dont have to worry about the income from the secret anymore. Go figure. Everyday we are inundated with the hey Larry, I was thinking of you when I found this great program and everyday we get sucked into reading how this great program was better than the last one they said was the greatest program. They werent thinking of me, just my wallet.

Now for my confessionI make money by marketing on the internet. No, not that way, we actually market our new home export housing online are quite successful. I do rely on some internet marketing professionals and do willingly buy e-books and courses that I feel will help me understand the best and most efficient way of marketing online. I have found some absolute exceptional programs and courses that I feel were invaluable to the growth of our Companies and in helping us get some new marketing divisions started successfully. I will include some links below to my favorite list below.

I totally grasp that people need to make an income and I wouldnt deny anyone making money or being successful, but where is the legitimacy in selling products or information that is usually recycled fluff with tons of links to other programs that they writer makes money off as well. The jury could be out on whether this is smart marketing, but I cant help thinking there are a group of these guys who get together and laugh when they relate how much money they made off people being pulled in by the hype.

So now I will step down from my soapbox and anticipate this article will make the rounds and hopefully enlighten the uninitiated internet marketing student to think twice before jumping on the next internet secret . Just remember that the secret to making money on the internet is sound advice, patience, hard work and allot of persistence. Now the secret is really out.

Larry J Clark is President of Allpro Building Systems which is in Canada.Their new resource website is http://www.buildandsave.com Larry can be reached personally at ljclark@abshomes.com or 604-504-1555.

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Hearing and Your Pet

Hearing and Your Pet
By Audrey Frederick

Ever catch your cat staring at a blank wall and wonder why?

More than likely she was listening to sounds coming from inside the wall. Did you know that a whole tone (like in music) that we can hear, a cat hears it as 10 separate tones.

A cat can hear ultrasonic sounds (high pitched) that we cannot even imagine.

Dogs on the other hand are equipped with ears that hear the lower spectrum of sounds. They cannot hear as well as cats, but have a range of about 250 yards away, while a human is lucky if it can hear something that is 15 to 20 yards away.

A dogs hearing is dependent its size. A small dog has small ears and can hear high pitched sounds almost as good as a cat can, while a large dog is better equipped to hear low sounds.

Research has shown that with the passage of time humans have lost some of the sharpness of their hearing and cats and dogs have sharpened theirs.

Nature has given humans a less complex set of ears, while our pets are blessed with superior pieces of machinery.

The outside of you pets ear is like a satellite dish that picks up the sound waves and moves them down the ear canal to an organ called the Corti, which has more than 7,500 working parts.

Your voice becomes a sound wave that then travels through miles of nerves, until it gets to the brain and your pet hears what you are saying.

Did you know that puppies and kittens are deaf for the first 2 weeks of life. During that time their hearing is really the picking up of body vibrations, so they are actually feeling your words instead of hearing them.

The ear canals open up little by little, and by the time they are 4 weeks old their hearing is almost up to Moms standards.

Cats really like high pitched voices better than lower level voices. Cats are more apt to pay attention to words that are spoken with a higher pitch.

Since we usually talk to our pets in our normal voices, most of the time they rather ignore us. If you want to get their attention, change the tone of your voice, speak some words softly, others a little more loudly and whisper to them. It is guaranteed to get their interest.

We humans use our ears for hearing and sometimes for adornment, our pets however, use their ears to convey their feelings.

Ears, along with other body parts, are all a part of a dog or cats language.

In many cases the shape of a dogs ear depended on its job.

In a dogs world ears have evolved from the pointy straight-up ears, wolves have, to the many looks of today, all dependent on what the dog was bred for.

The straight-up ears or the semi straight-up ears that you find on German Shepherds, Collies and most Terriers are great for hearing. These dogs have been bred as working dogs and/or for hunting, where good hearing is an important factor.

Dogs with floppy ears such as Labs, golden retrievers and hounds, have ears that are down to help muffle sounds and to help develop their sense of smell and sight for specialized hunting. They are called sighthounds.

Cropped ears (which is being frowned on more and more) was done to make Dobermans and Rotties and others look more fierce as the breeds were used mostly as guard dogs.

What do certain positions mean in regard to a dogs mood?

Slightly raised ears mean I am a happy dog and all it right with my world. Ears that are raised high means I am interested in whats going on. Flat back means I am afraid of something and ears that seem to be moving back and forth mean I am not sure how I feel. Straight back and fur ruffled means I am agitated or mad, watch out.

Cats on the other hand have ears that stand straight up, with the exception of the Scottish Fold. Straight up, perky ears means all is well in my world. Straight up and back means MEOW I am mad. Flat against its head and down means I am scared and very afraid, while swiveling around like an antenna means I am listening to something interesting.

Well, thats it for the ears of our cat and dog world, I hope you learned something you did not know and that you will appreciate the great gift that hearing is, not just for our pets, but for us, too.

If you have enjoyed this article and wish to learn more about cats and dogs, please come and visit my web site http://www.cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com

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Hearing Loss is the Number One Disability in the World

Hearing Loss is the Number One Disability in the World
By Jay Stockman

Hearing loss is prevalent in modern societies as a result of the combined effects of noise, aging, disease, and heredity. Hearing loss is the number one disability in the world; approximately 28 million Americans suffer some type of hearing loss. In addition, 15 of every 1000 people under the age of 18 have a hearing loss, and nearly 90% of people over age 80 have a hearing impairment. The incidence of hearing loss is greater in men, than women. The sad part is, that hearing loss is the most preventable disability in the world.

Hearing is a complicated process involving both the sensitivity of the ear, as well as the ability to understand, and interpret the speech. When we hear sounds, we really are interpreting patterns of air molecules in the form of waves. . The ear is able to pick up these waves, and convert them into electrical signals that are sent to the brain. In the brain, these signals are deciphered into meaningful information, such as language or music with qualities like volume and pitch. We can characterize sounds in terms of their frequency (or pitch) and intensity (or loudness).

An individual with hearing in the normal range can hear sounds that have frequencies between 20 and 20,000 Hertz. Speech includes a combination of low and high frequency sounds; vowels have lower frequencies and are easier to hear. Consonants, on the other hand have higher frequencies, and are harder to hear. Since consonants express most of the meaning of what we say, someone who cannot hear high frequency sounds will have a hard time understanding speech.

Intensity, or loudness, is measured in decibels. A normal hearing range usually ranges from 0 to 140 dB. A whisper is around 30 dB, and normal conversations are usually 45 to 50 dB. Sounds that are louder than 90 dB can be uncomfortable to hear. A loud concert might be as loud as 110 dB. Extreme sounds that are 120 dB or louder can be quite painful and can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss.

Hearing loss can happen in either frequency or intensity or both. The severity of hearing loss is assessed on how well a person can hear the frequencies or intensities most often associated with speech. Severity of loss can best be described as mild, moderate, severe, or profound. Deafness is used to describe an individual who has approximately 90 dB or greater hearing loss. The term hard of hearing describes a condition that is less severe than deafness.

There are many potential causes of hearing loss. These can be divided into two basic types, called conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss is the result of the interference of sound transmission from the outer ear to the inner ear. Common causes include, inner ear infections, accumulation of fluid in the middle ear, excessive wax, damage to the eardrum by infection or an injury, or otosclerosis. This type of hearing loss is temporary, and results in a less severe form.

Sensorineural hearing loss is due to damage to the pathway from the hair cells of the inner ear to the auditory nerve and the brain. Common causes include, age-related hearing loss, injury to the inner ear hair cells as a result of trauma or noise, abnormal pressure in the inner ear, stroke, benign lesions, and brain tumors. This type of hearing loss is more devastating, and is usually more permanent.

The successful treatment of hearing loss depends on the cause. A bacterial infection of the middle ear can be treated with antibiotics; blockages of the outer and middle ears can be cleared; damaged eardrums can be repaired surgically; and ossicles affected by otosclerosis can be replaced with artificial bones. Some causes of sensorineural hearing loss can also be improved. For example, an acoustic neuroma can be removed surgically.If no cure is successful, a hearing aid for one, or both ears usually helps, whether the loss is a result of conductive or sensorineural problems. Many different types of hearing aid are available and an audiologist will advise as to which type best suits the needs of the individual.

When a hearing aid does not give adequate amplification, as with profound deafness, a cochlear implant can help. This device transmits sound directly into the auditory nerve via electrodes surgically implanted into the cochlea. Although the sounds heard tend to be of a buzzing or electronic nature, it can be very useful when used in combination with lip reading.

Jay B Stockman is a contributing editor for Digital Hearing Aids Online Visit http://hearing-aidsonline.com/ for more information.

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Dealing With Hearing Loss in Dogs

Dealing With Hearing Loss in Dogs
By Kelly Tanja

Any living thing with the ability to hear has the potential to experience hearing loss. Of course, this goes for dogs. Any dog can be hard of hearing in one or both ears. The cause for hearing loss in dogs is similar to that in humans. Dogs can be born deaf or develop hearing loss due to genetics, illness, injury or old age. Since the reason for having a pet dog is companionship, the isolation of hearing loss in dogs can be particularly heartbreaking for its owner. There are organizations which officially take the position that dogs that cannot hear should be put to sleep. Some breeds, naturally, tend to have more congenital deafness than others. Dalmatians, for instance, suffer more from hearing loss in dogs than most breeds. Among Dalmatian owners, the issue of whether to raise a deaf dog or put it down is subject to hot debate. Like people, dogs are social. Unlike people, dogs do not depend on conversation skills to form social circles. At the center of the debate over hearing loss in dogs is the ability to train a deaf dog.

To Keep or Not to Keep

A dog owner who suspects that it may be deaf can have it tested by a specialized veterinarian. The BAER test is 100% accurate and can be performed on any dog over the age of six weeks. Most owners, however, can rely on observation to determine whether a dog can hear. Any reasonably alert dog will respond to sounds, especially sounds that indicate the presence of an affectionate owner. Sounds like the jingling of keys will cause different reactions in dogs with hearing loss in only one ear.

An important issue concerning hearing loss in dogs is the ability of an owner to teach a deaf dog the skills it needs to be safe. A dog that cant be called away from a busy street can never be allowed near a busy street. The safety of others is also a consideration. A dogs owner should be able to calm an excited dog that is in a position to harm another person or animal. While no studies have been done to compare hearing with non-hearing dogs, owners who know from experience that hearing loss in dogs has not affected their ability to train and communicate with their own dogs will testify that a dogs personality has more to do with its success as a pet than its hearing does. Dogs, after all, are not expected to communicate with human language hearing or not. And dogs do not depend on the sense of hearing as much as humans do. You can not sneak up on a dog even if it cant hear. Most dogs have sharp eyes and a keen sense of smell, after all.

There are many ways in which you can improve hearing in dogs. If you want to learn more about hearing loss, author of this article, Tanja Kelly, has made an informational website about Hearing Loss.

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What Happens at a Social Security Hearing in Virginia?

What Happens at a Social Security Hearing in Virginia?
By Jerry Lutkenhaus

You have gone through the initial denial for Social Security Disability and you have gone through the reconsideration. The next step in the appeal process is the hearing before a Social Security Judge. What happens at this hearing before the Social Security Disability Judge?

FIRST, your file of information has been collected and is bound in a folder for viewing prior to the hearing. This folder will contain the medical information gathered so far, your history of earnings, and the questionnaires you have filled out for Social Security. This folder will also contain the prior decisions by Social Security on your case. It is essential to review this folder prior to the hearing because it contains the evidence that will determine your case. Any additional medical information, you want to present can be presented up until the hearing however, it is best to present it at least one week before the hearing.

SECOND, you will receive a notice regarding the hearing usually about 30 days in advance. This notice will also notify you if a medical advisor or vocational expert will be present at the hearing.

THIRD, the judge will ask for a vocational expert to be present if there are issues in your case regarding transferable skills, your past work skills, non exertional impairments, and what other types of work you may be able to do. The vocational expert is a person trained in vocational issues with a degree in that field.

FOURTH, the judge may ask a medical expert to be at the hearing if your case involves a complex medical issue. The medical expert will be a physician who has reviewed your medical file.

FIFTH, if the judge does not call for a vocational expert or medical advisor, then the only other person in the hearing room will be the judge's assistant who will record the testimony given at the hearing.

SIXTH, the judge or your representative will ask a series of standard questions and your testimony will be given under oath. These questions will focus on your education, work experience, impairments, symptoms, medications, side effects of medications, activities of daily living, etc. Most hearings do not last more than an hour. The judge will also hear testimony from any witnesses you have brought about the effect your impairments have had on your ability to function.

SEVENTH, after you and your witnesses testify, the judge will then often take the testimony of a vocational expert. The expert will testify regarding the skill level of your past relevant work. The judge then may ask the expert a series of hypothetical questions. For example, the judge may say assuming a hypothetical person like Mr. John Doe has the residual functional capacity to do perform low stress sedentary work, are there jobs in significant numbers within those restrictions? Generally, if the vocational expert can suggest jobs Mr. Doe can still do despite his impairments, then Mr. Doe will probably not receive benefits. In more rare situations if a medical advisor is present, the judge will ask the medical advisor questions about your condition. Your representative will be allowed to cross examine the vocational expert and/or the medical expert.

EIGHTH, after all the testimony, the judge will allow the claimant's representative to make a final argument. Then, the record will close. Usually, the judge will not announce his decision at the time of the hearing. Instead, he will mail the decision to the claimant and his/her representative within 30 days of the hearing. The decision will summarize the medical evidence and the testimony. It will either be favorable or unfavorable. If the judge feels the medical record is incomplete, he/she may ask for a Social Security Doctor to do a further examination of the claiamant. The judge will then hold the record open for this examination.

NINTH, if the decision is unfavorable, your case can be appealed further to the Appeals Council but one should strive to win your case before the judge because the Appeals Council rarely reverses the Social Security Judge.

TENTH, if you win, your decision will be forwarded on to the processing center and you will start receiving benefits usually within 60 days. If you have provided Social Security your bank information, your benefits will be directly deposited to your bank account.

In conclusion, the hearing before a Social Security Judge can involve complex issues regarding your work history, your impairments, and your future prospects. The hearing can involve testimony from expert witnesses. It is utter folly to represent yourself in this proceeding. As someone once said, He who represents himself has a fool for an attorney. You need to obtain the services of an experienced Social Security Attorney after your case is denied at the intial level.

This may be considered AN ADVERTISEMENT or Advertising Material under the Rules of Professional Conduct governing lawyers in Virginia.This note is designed for general information only. The information presented in this note should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.

Jerry Lutkenhaus is a practitioner of Social Security Disability law in the Richmond, Virginia area for over 30 years and has been rated AV by Martindale Hubbell in 2003. For more information, see our websites at http://www.geraldlutkenhaus.com and http://www.virginiadisabilitylawyer.com

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The Public Perception of Hearing Aids

The Public Perception of Hearing Aids
By Steve Joseph

The simple fact about hearing aids is that many people would not be caught dead wearing one, no matter how deaf they become. In fact hearing aids are quite interesting in the sense that they remain shrouded in a negative stigma within our society. Other aids such as reading glasses have been able to emerge from their shameful past and take their place as high fashion items, but such is not the case with hearing aids. The result of this negativity toward hearing aids has traditionally meant that significant portions of hearing impaired people are not getting the relief that they need. The negativity surrounding hearing aids is resulting in hearing aid manufacturer not being able to realize the potential of their market, a problem that they are keen to address.

Hearing aid suppliers are currently embarking upon a campaign to destroy the stigma that hearing aids and devices currently have and build a new reputation of social acceptance. Much of this transformation is reliant on affiliating hearing aids with popular gizmos such as iPods and Buetooth cell phone accessories. Hearing aid manufacturer are hopeful that by association, they can make their product hip and in doing so coax a new generation of hearing impaired people to wear hearing aids. In essence, the problem of hearing loss is quite substantial, especially with aging populations in most developed countries, so the challenge to manufacturers is not to increase market share so much as it is to reinvigorate their products says http://www.1hearingaid.com .This has translated into a vastly different approach to hearing aid design from some companies.

Traditionally, the goal of hearing aid designers has been to make the item as small and inconspicuous as possible. The idea being to address the negativity of hearing aids by subtlety or by being undetectable. More recently, the decision has been to make the item technologically advance and thus sexier. Options such as remote controls, playback functions and cell phone interface are all being explored and soon you may even start seeing hearing aids on the shelves beside other popular audio entertainment equipment.

The author is a regular contributor to http://www.1hearingaid.com and permission to reproduce this article is given only on the basis that all links remain active and intact.

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Could There Be A New Way Of hearing The News Stories We Feel Are Relevant In Our Lives?

Could There Be A New Way Of hearing The News Stories We Feel Are Relevant In Our Lives?
By Jesse S. Somer

Mainstream media has become a single-minded authority on how we should perceive life. Theirs is a negative perspective. Could there be a new way of hearing the stories we feel are relevant in our lives?

If youre anything like me you are really getting tired of the mainstream medias one-voice-to-many analysis of life on Earth. First of all, its just too negative! I read a survey recently that stated that fourteen out of fifteen newspaper and TV News stories had negative fear-based stories. I dont know about you, but if I look at my everyday life, the amount of good and bad I experience seems to be much more balanced. Why does the big media think we all love hearing the dark side of things so much?

If you look at what news stories truly are in historical terms, it is a person sitting around the tribal campfire at night telling a tale to inform the people both in wisdom and knowledge. In any tribe there were many storytellers, so different perspectives were always available to the masses. Well, if you think todays media sources are too monopolized in their power of authority over the stories we are told, theres a new option for humanity. The answers and views we are seeking in our daily lives could lie in the Internet. This Internet thing really could be the key for humanity to evolving into a species that thinks independently, leaving this age of fear behind.

Its time to bypass the main media sources. On the Web we can access non-profit news organizations, we can hear personal views of individuals in news forums and blogs, we can even express our own views on world issues as well as sharing our own personal experiences! With this newly accepted technology called RSS Readers we can start to get the type of information that we feel is most relevant to ourselves as individuals. It comes straight to us and then we can sort through it and decide which people and sources we want to hear from on a regular basis. This is awesome as it means we dont have to search through a bunch of stories that have little interest to us. It also means if we want to hear more positivism, we can push the negative views out of our perceptions.

Although this idea is in its infancy, the repercussions once realized could have a mammoth impact on how individual humans see and live their lives on Earth. Imagine a society that stretches across the globe where a collective consciousness speaks to itself in an informative many-to-many communicative process. There are a lot of happy, positive, intelligent people in this world who are interested in similar things to you. Wouldnt you like to hear their stories and share their knowledge as a way of constructing your view of reality?

Lets leave behind this era of negative perspectives and singular authorities telling us how life on Earth should be viewed. It is interesting that some of the most over-wealthy, greedy individuals media moguls who tell us what is important. Dont you want to have a say in how you look at your life while you are here? Positivism and wisdom surrounds us at all times. Would the Universe exist otherwise? Lets reconnect with that source of energy that makes us smile so many times each day. If life were meant to have so bleak an outlook, would there even be stars in the sky?

About The Author

Jesse S. Somer is a writer thinking about how all this new technology could one day be utilized by the masses of technologically challenged people like him. If it could be incorporated into everyday life in a positive way, life itself could evolve to a higher plane. http://www.m6.net

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Winning a Virginia Workers' Compensation Hearing

Winning a Virginia Workers' Compensation Hearing
By Jerry Lutkenhaus

If your claim has been denied by the insurance company, the Virginia Workers Compensation will schedule your case for a hearing in front of a Deputy Commissioner. You will have 60-120 days to prepare for the hearing. This is what you need to know.

Discovery

You and the insurance company are allowed to engage in discovery. This usually means interrogatories, requests for production of documents, and depositions of witnesses.

Interrogatories

You are allowed to send the other side written questions asking about defenses, witnesses, and other evidence that may be used against you at the hearing. The other side has 21 days to respond. This is an excellent way to find out why your case is being denied and what evidence supports the denial of your claim.

Requests for Production

You are also allowed to request the other side to provide you any written documents about your case. If you have provided the insurance company a written statement about the accident, it is essential to obtain a copy of this document so that you review what you have previously reported about the accident.

Subpoena duces tecum

You can request doctors and other parties to send you documents concerning your claim. You do this by requesting the Commission to issue a subpoena duces tecum for these documents.

Pre Hearing

You now know the issues in your case. You now know the documents and witnesses that support your claim. You need to subpoena the witnesses to the hearing that support your claim. You also need to file with the Commission prior to the hearing the medical documents that describe your injury, accident, and disability. If the medical records are incomplete, you need to have the treating doctor prepare a comprehensive report addressing the injury, the accident, and any disability. The Commission accepts medical records as an exception to the hearsay rule. Thus, it is rare for doctors to testify at the hearings. Medical evidence is almost always submitted in the form of records or reports without testimony.

The Hearing

Now that you are ready you present the documents and witnesses that support your claim. The insurance company will do likewise. The Deputy Commissioner does not hear arguments he just listens to the witnesses and then reviews the documents and renders a written decision.

Need for an attorney

The insurance company will be represented by an attorney; thus, it behooves the claimant to consult an experienced Virginia Workers Compensation attorney for representation.

Appeal if you lose the hearing

If the case goes against, you have 20 days in Virginia to file for review of the Deputy Commissioners decision which will be heard by Three Commissioners. But, you should never count on the appeal process to correct the mistakes or omissions you made at the hearing. No new evidence is allowed in the appeal process in most instances. Thus, if you want to win, you need to win by proper preparation and presentation of favorable evidence at the hearing level.

Conclusion

Proper preparation is the key to winning your worker's compensation case. Thus, even if the insurance company has denied your case, you can still win at the hearing.

Jerry Lutkenhaus is a practitioner of Workers Compensation law in the Richmond, Virginia area for over 30 years. He was given an AV rating by Martindale Hubbell in 2003. Lexis Nexis listed him in the 2005 Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys. For more information, see http://www.geraldlutkenhaus.com and http://www.virginiadisabilitylawyer.com You can call Jerry Lutkenhaus now at 804-358-4766 for a free consultation about your disability case.

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