Welcome to our August 12, 2025 issue.
Washington State Hearing Loss News
A Portable Hearing Loop Saves the Day at the Picnic
At our picnic last month, Heidi Crabtree, Carolyn Odio, Heidi Crabtree, Rick Faunt, and Cheri Perazzoli jumped in to install a temporary hearing loop in the picnic shelter. Without it, we couldn’t have held our program.
Find out how they did it and how you can do a similar installation at your next event.
Embracing Community at Our Annual Picnic
Sharing our stories, giving and receiving awards, and coming together: Read about our summer picnic last month, and check out the photos, courtesy of our photographer Kevin Pieczynski.
Our Outreach Team Is Reaching Out
We’ll be coming soon to a neighborhood near you. Stop by and see us, grab some swag and a “Face Me” button, and say hello.
- September 26, 2025, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm: Renton Senior Resource Fair.
- September 18, 2025, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Bellevue Farmer’s Market, Bellevue Network on Aging (BNOA) Senior Day
- September 25, 2025, 9:30 – Noon: Auburn Senior Wellness Fair, Auburn Senior Activity Center. Scroll down to page 2 for a flyer with more details.
Village Theater’s New Season Offers Hearing-Friendly Performances
Start planning your fall entertainment at the Village Theater.
Hearing loops await you at both the Issaquah and Everett Village Theater locations. Plus, they offer several ASL and closed-caption performances.
Their new season includes Brigadoon, 9 to 5, Baskerville, Grease, and We Ain’t Ever Gonna Break Up.
Get Discounts with a Gold or a FLASH Card
At our picnic, you may have seen City of Seattle folks handout out GOLD cards. These cards offer discounts on all kinds of things, including museums, restaurants, and entertainment in Seattle and King County.
The gold card is for people aged 60+, and the FLASH card is for people 18-59 who have disabilities.
Changes to ODHH Remote Captioning Services
Due to budget restrictions, the State of Washington Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) will no longer pay the cost of Remote Conference Captioning Services. Using the free automatic captions on Zoom or Microsoft Teams is another option, though these are not always as accurate as the human captioners. You can also use apps like Otter, Maestra, Trint, or other AI captioning; some of these services may charge a fee.
Steve Peck, ODHH Program Manager, explains more in this video, which is in ASL with audio and captions.
This is a big loss for our community, as we relied on this service. If you used RCC and you’ll miss it, please let us know: hope@hearingloss-wa.org.
Do We Need an Earplug Law?
We encourage people to protect their hearing by wearing earplugs in loud settings, like concerts. But should earplugs be mandatory?
What do you think?
National Hearing Loss News
This Vest Lets You Experience Music
Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities can experience music in a new way with this vest from Music: Not Impossible.
The vest, along with wrist and ankle bands, sends vibrations through the skin, bypassing the eardrum. The designers call this a “surround body experience.” You can watch their promotional video here.
Clinical Trial for Sensorineural Hearing Loss Therapy Begins Soon
The UK has approved a first-in-human study for a regenerative cell therapy drug in patients with hearing loss.
The therapy, a drug called Rincell-1, be tested in patients undergoing a CI implant, people with postsynaptic auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, and people with severe-to-profound, age-related hearing loss.
This story is generating a lot of buzz on social media. What do you think?
Another Paid Research Study Opportunity: $250 if You Qualify
Help improve product accessibility by signing up with User Research International (URI.) With URI, you create a profile card, and they’ll match you with the most relevant studies.
Getting Hearing Access Right Starts with the “Ask”
Hearing loss advocate Gael Hannan recently had an especially wonderful travel experience, and she says it’s because she decided to tell people she had a profound hearing loss, and she asked for what she needed. Read more here.
Get the Hear & Beyond Book for 50% Off
Speaking of Gael Hannan (see story above), Gael’s book, which she co-authored with Shari Eberts, is on sale for 50% off now until September 5, 2025. The sale applies to the audio version, but we encourage you to read it in any format, on sale or otherwise.
Sign Up and Get Open-Caption Movie Notices in Your Inbox
Join the OC Movie Club, provide your ZIP code, and soon you’ll receive summaries of the open-caption movies in your area for that week.
Taming Thoughts Might Help Tame Tinnitus
For many people with tinnitus, the noise can trigger anxiety and negative thoughts, which can make the experience of tinnitus worse.
But changing your thoughts and behaviors can help. Read more in this article in Healthy Hearing.
Spotlight on Loops & Assistive Listening Systems
Hearing Loops and Auracast Are Installed Together
At North Island College’s Stan Hagen Theatre in British Columbia, a hearing loop AND Auracast are being installed in one place. This way, telecoil users have easy access to the loop, and the Auracast system is ready and waiting for when hearing aids and CIs have the technology to connect to it.
We appreciate both the inclusivity and forward-thinking strategy.
Hearing Loss Support Meetings & Hearing-Friendly Events
Get In-Person Support for Your Hearing Loss
- September 12, 2025, Renton: Our Renton support group meets 1-2 pm at the Renton Senior Activity Center, 211 Burnett Avenue North. A hearing loop is available. No need to register; simply check in at the desk. Free.
- September 20, 2025, Bellingham: HLAA-Northwest Washington Chapter monthly meeting: The chapter celebrates its 21st anniversary, plus you can get help with Medicare open enrollment from the Washington Office of Insurance Commissioner. This award-winning chapter meets the third Saturday of the month, 9:30 – Noon, at Christ the Servant Church, 2600 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, Washington. Looped and free, open to all.
Our Renton support group and our HOPE crew are on summer break in July and August. We hope to see you in September!
Our HOPE Team is Back!
After a relaxing summer break, our HOPE Crew is back in action on September 3, 2025.
Facilitated by a caring, compassionate team, these monthly virtual meetings are free, live-captioned, and open to everyone with hearing loss and to their friends and family.
HOPE meets the first Wednesday of each month at 4:00 pm.
Toastmasters Online for People with Hearing Loss
Need a boost in confidence? Some friendly coaching to improve your speaking skills?
If so, you might like to join the Audible Talkers Toastmasters, which is specifically designed for people with hearing loss. This friendly group meets twice a month, online via Zoom, the first and third Mondays from 6-7:15 pm Arizona time. Their next meeting is August 18, 2025. Everyone is welcome.
Access the meeting at zoom.audibletalkerstoastmasters.com. Questions? Contact Christy Abrams (c.abrams@acdhh.az.gov) or Harry Wolfe (hwolfeaz@gmail.com).
Stay Involved with HLAA and HLAA-WA
We’re glad you’re part of our community.
What more can you do to support people with hearing loss?
The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and HLAA-WA do not endorse specific products or services,
but educate and advocate for a range of assistive technology options to help people with
hearing loss understand, connect, and stay engaged in their lives.
As an all-volunteer run organization, 100% of every dollar donated is directed to our programs. HLAA-WA is an IRS non-profit 501(c)(3) organization; all donations are tax-deductible as allowed by relevant IRS code.