April 16, 2025
Washington State Hearing Loss News
Let’s Face It: Hearing Loss Is Hard.
We’re Talking About It on April 26, 2025
Hearing loss can come with a range of emotions, including stress and grief. Better things await you in the future, but how do you get there?
Find out at our panel discussion at our annual meeting on April 26, 2025, 10-3, at Town Hall Seattle.
You can RSVP directly for the meeting here.
Congratulations to Our 2024 Award Winners
We’re pleased to announce our award winners for 2024 — the folks both behind and in front of the scenes who enrich our community with their dedication, leadership, and energy.
These stars will receive their awards at our Annual Meeting on April 26, 2025, at Town Hall Seattle.
Come See Us at the
Burien Senior Health & Wellness Fair
We’ll be presenting at the Senior Health & Wellness Resource Fair on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 11-1, at the Burien Community Center.
Come grab some handouts, learn about hearing loss, and say hello to our outreach team. Free to everyone, including lunch and beverages.
Hearing Loss Is a Psychological Journey
Hearing loss can challenge the ways you see and define yourself. The impacts can reverberate far beyond the physical loss and impact your daily mental and emotional state. In an article in The Conversation, Bill Hodgetts discusses self-efficacy, cognitive dissonance, and more issues that can come with a hearing loss.
And HLAA’s new webpage, The Emotional Side of Hearing Loss, introduces their “Beyond Your Ears” campaign to highlight the effects of hearing loss and provide ways to help.
The John Waldo Bill Moves Forward
The open-caption bill, SB 5486, passed both chambers of the Washington State Legislature. Fantastic news!
Because the bill has amendments, it needs to go back to the senate for a re-vote. It will most likely pass again, and if so, the bill heads to Governor Ferguson’s desk.
In this video, Washington State Association of the Deaf (WSAD) President Karen Atwood explains what’s in the bill. The video is in ASL with captions.
THANK YOU to everyone who reached out and supported the bill. We will keep you posted.
National Hearing Loss News
Apple AirPods as Hearing Aids: A Review
Larry Magid has a mild hearing loss, but he rarely wears his hearing aids. He tried Apple AirPods Pro 2, which claim to work as hearing aids. These AirPods offer a hearing test on your iPhone, and you can also import your professional hearing test results.
Larry shares his experience — which is mostly positive — in this article in East Bay Times.
Against the Odds, Paul Simon Launches Tour
Paul Simon had suggested that he may never tour again after his severe hearing loss. But after working with the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss to find solutions, such as positioning his stage monitors in a certain way, he kicked off his tour this month.
He’s coming to Benaroya Hall in Seattle this summer. Benaroya has assistive listening systems with devices you can check out. If you’d like to see this legend in concert, inquire about open captions and ASL: tickets@seattlesymphony.org.
Photo credit: “Paul Simon at the 9-30 Club (b)” by Matthew Straubmuller (imatty35) is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
HLAA Convention Keynote Speaker Announced: Lance Allred, Deaf NBA Star
Learn “The Principles of Perserverance” from an NBA legend at HLAA’s convention keynote this summer.
Lance Allred, the NBA’s first Deaf player, will relay anecdotes and lessons from coaches and mentors that created his culture of grit, empowering him to do the “impossible” with hearing loss.
Teen’s Book Brings Color to Kids with Hearing Loss
Rachel Leonard was born without hearing into a world she described as “very gray.” She says that getting hearing aids brought color to her world.
So this Arkansas teenager wrote a book, The Color of Sound, to share her experience with other kids with hearing loss.
Hearing Loops & Telecoils Spotlight
Hear Better at City Council Meetings with Hearing Loops
As more people are becoming involved in civic life, council chambers are becoming more hearing-friendly, too. Without ADA-mandated accommodations, people with hearing loss and people who are Deaf are left out of equal participation.
New hearing loops are at Sturgeon Bay, WI City Council
Venice, FL City Council. The Cities of Seattle, Spokane, Anacortes, Bellevue, Bellingham, Burlington, and Spokane also have hearing loops in their council chambers. King County Council does, too.
Who are we missing? Let us know.
Hearing Loss Support Meetings & Hearing-Friendly Events
Get In-Person Support for Your Hearing Loss
- April 19, 2025, Bellingham: HLAA-Northwest Washington Chapter monthly meeting featuring audiologist Pamala Spencer, “Before You Buy Hearing Aids.” This chapter meets the third Saturday of the month, 9:30 – Noon, at Christ the Servant Church, 2600 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, Washington. Looped and free.
- May 9, 2025, Renton: Our in-person monthly support group meets the second Friday of the month at 1pm at the Renton Senior Activity Center, 211 Burnett Avenue North. Looped and free.
Virtual Hearing Loss Support Meeting
HOPE: May 7, 2025
Facilitated by a caring, compassionate HOPE Crew, these monthly virtual meetings are free, live-captioned, and open to everyone with hearing loss and to their friends and family.
Read the notes from the April HOPE meeting, when the group learned abut the Audible Talkers Toastmasters group created specifically for people with hearing loss.
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 April 21, 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?
HLAA-WA does not endorse any technology, nor does exclusion suggest disapproval. We support the full spectrum of hearing technologies for everyone. 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.