HLAA-WA News, December 5, 2023

Washington State Hearing Loss News

A Sincere Thank You for Your Support on Giving Tuesday

Thank you to our supporters — that’s YOU! — for giving generously to help us help people with hearing loss all across Washington State. Because we’re a small organization, every donation has a huge impact on the work we can do.

Because of our loyal community, our outreach, peer mentoring, and policy advocacy can have an even bigger reach in 2024 and beyond. On behalf of our members and the larger hearing loss community, we deeply appreciate you.

If you’d like to donate to HLAA-WA before the end of the year, your donation is tax-deductible, and 100% of your gift directly supports HLAA-WA programs. Learn more and donate now. Thank you!

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Renton Support Meeting: Guest Speaker on December 8

Join our December Renton Support Group meeting and learn about emergency management from Elizabeth Luttrell, Training and Presentation Program Manager at the Washington State Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH), on December 8, 2024, from 1:00 – 2:15 pm.

Our Renton Support Group meets in the Banquet Room at the Renton Senior Activity Center, 211 Burnett Avenue North, Renton, Washington. There will be holiday treats to enjoy. The meeting is amplified, and the room has a hearing loop. Check in at the front desk when you arrive.

purple and white graphic. bottom right corner has a photo of a white woman with glasses and a blue top. text reads hearing loss help, renton support group. december 8, 2024, 1-2-15 pm, Renton Senior Activity Center.

Can an Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Help You?

Hearing aids are now available over the counter (OTC). Many people still have questions, though: How much do they help? How much do they cost? Will they work for me or someone I know?

Cheri Perazzoli, HLAA-WA president, wrote this article for our terrific friends at AgeWise King County to help answer these and other questions. This article is part two of a three-part series. You can also check out HLAA’s webpage on OTCs, and watch HLAA’s OTC webinar, which features experts from the FDA. As always, let us know what you think.

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You’re Invited to a Christmas Potluck with the HLAA-Whatcom County Chapter

Join the HLAA-Whatcom County folks for a Christmas potluck at their monthly meeting on Saturday, December 16, 2023, 12:00 noon – 3:00 pm, at Christ the Servant Lutheran church, 2600 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, Washington.

color photo in background shows a table with plates and silver and greenery and candles. text reads hlaa-whatcom county christmas potluck, december 16, 2023, 12-3 pm, Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 2600 lakeway drive, bellingham, washington.

Next HOPE Meeting: Wednesday, December 6, 2023

What assistive technology and tips can help me during a holiday dinner with my family? How long will it be before I hear better with my new cochlear implant? These are two of the topics we discussed together in our November HOPE meeting.

Our Hearing Other People’s Experiences (HOPE) meetings are a safe, welcoming space where you can ask questions from your peers about anything and everything hearing loss and hearing tech.

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. You’re welcome to relax, listen, and simply spend time with people who understand what it’s like to live with hearing loss.

Note: You can read summaries from past meetings on our blog.

color text that reads HOPE, virtual support group for living well with hearing loss, HOPE: hearing other people's experience

Save the Date for Our January Hope Meeting

Mark your calendars for January 3, 2024, to join our HOPE meeting and learn about tinnitus from Dr. Megan Nightingale, our special guest.

You can register anytime at this Zoom link. Remember, all our HOPE meetings are free, captioned, and open to everyone.

january 2024 HOPE meeting, special guest speaker, doctor megan Nightingale, the neuroscience of tinnitus and dementia and the impact of hearing loss on brain health, january 3, 2024, 4 pm via Zoom, free, captioned, open to everyone.

Become Part of a Research Study on How People Hear and Understand in Noisy Environments

If you have mild to severe hearing loss, you may be eligible to participate in a series of studies by AI Data Innovations.

People with normal hearing may be accepted. Cochlear implant users or candidates, or people with profound hearing loss, are not eligible at this time. The studies will take place in Redmond, Washington, and participants will be compensated for their time.

Read more about the study, including how to sign up for a specific date and time, in our blog post.

logo for AI Data Innovations. red circle with white letters in the center that reads AI DI. Black circular border.

National Hearing Loss News

Hearing Better During the Holidays

Most of us have a lot going on during the holidays, including shopping, family gatherings, holiday plays and concerts, and parties — all of which could be challenging, especially if you have a hearing loss. What can you do to hear better and enjoy the holidays, rather than just surviving them?

The wonderful Chelle Wyatt at Hearing Loss Live has excellent suggestions for overcoming listening fatigue, such as taking hearing breaks.

color photo of a holiday table with white flowers, christmas crackers, greenery and candles. gold lights blurred in the background.

The World Health Organization Is Listening to People with Hearing Loss

Shari Eberts, HLAA board member and hearing loss advocate, shared her hearing loss story at the World Hearing Forum Stakeholder’s Meeting at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, this past November. Read her blog post on her experience at the meeting in Geneva.

The Stakeholder’s Meeting goals included discussing barriers to changing hearing loss perceptions and integrating hearing care into public health throughout our lives.

Shari has been a member of the World Hearing Forum since March 2022.

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Treat Your Hearing Loss and Get (Or Stay) Happy and Healthy

Hearing aids can help you not just physically, but mentally, too. Untreated hearing loss can contribute to isolation, depression, and anxiety. But a hearing aid can help keep you connected your work, community, and the people and things you love.

We love this article from Rachel Dixon in The Guardian. Dixon talks about how the stigma of hearing loss is fading, and she stresses the many benefits of treating your hearing loss at any age or stage.

color graphic of a head and neck, drawn from the side. pastel puzzle pieces represent the brain.

Captions Added on FaceTime iPhone Calls

Live captions are now available for video FaceTime calls on your iPhone. Read about how to turn them on in iOS16 or iOS17.

The captions are in beta (early testing), so let us know how they work for you.

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Hearing Loops & Telecoils Spotlight

Finding Looped Holiday Entertainment in Washington State

Hearing loops connect you directly to a venue’s sound system via the telecoil in your hearing aid, CI, or hearing instrument. That makes looped venues VERY hearing-friendly.

Find a happy holiday event at these and many other local places with hearing loops:

Note: If you need help hearing but you don’t have a hearing instrument with a telecoil, ask to borrow a hearing loop receiver and headphones from the venue.

red holiday graphic with gold stars that reads enjoy your hearing-friendly holiday with friends and family. the blue ear logo, universal symbol for hearing access, is in the bottom corner.

photo of holiday presents in shades of blue, orange and cold.

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you the best during this holiday season, however you may celebrate.

With your support, we help empower people with hearing loss all across Washington State, providing tools, education, and information they need to thrive. Thank you!

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.


Opportunity: Join Research Studies on Hearing in Noise

Do you have difficulty hearing in noisy situations like restaurants? 

A company called AI Data Innovations is conducting a series of studies to learn more about how people with and without hearing loss hear and understand speech in noisy environments. 

To be eligible to participate, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Hearing ability:  Mild to severe loss preferred, but some participants with normal hearing may be eligible.  Cochlear implant users, cochlear implant candidates, and those with profound hearing loss are not eligible.
  • Age:  21-79 years old.
  • Visual ability:  Able to see clearly with or without glasses or contact lenses.  Glasses wearers must be willing to remove their glasses for part of the study.
  • Residence:  Residents of Texas and Illinois cannot participate due to legislation concerning biometric data in those states.

If you meet the above eligibility requirements and participate in the studies, you will be compensated for your time. The studies are taking place at 15032 NE 95th St., Redmond, WA

If you’d like to participate, you must first sign up at https://calendly.com/noisywarehouse. (Copy and paste the link into your browser.) You’ll have the option of two different studies, and you’ll be able to choose a date and time.

Please feel free to share this information with friends.

Notes from Our November 2023 HOPE Meeting

If you missed our November 2023 HOPE virtual hearing loss support meeting, here are the notes. Our topics at this meeting included help with a new cochlear implant, communicating during holiday gatherings, and self-advocacy.

You can read more about our HOPE program here. Notes from HOPE meetings are always available on our blog shortly after the meeting.

note with paperclip on top. text reads hope notes november 2023
  • Help with a New Cochlear Implant
    An attendee shared his experience with a cochlear implant, expressing his struggle with word recognition and understanding conversations in noisy situations. He sought advice on retraining his brain and what to expect in terms of a timeline for improvement. Other attendees suggested consistent practice, using audiobooks for training, using Angel Sound, a free computer program for auditory training, and watching TED Talks (www.ted.com) with captions for practice.
  • A Joyful Experience with a Cochlear Implant Upgrade
    An attendee expressed joy over the group’s previous advice about obtaining cochlear implants. She shared that she had successfully used the group’s advice by going directly to the company for help, which resulted in a smooth upgrade process.
  • Self-Advocacy for CART
    An attendee shared her experience with Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) at a seminar. After advocating for herself, she received CART for the seminar, greatly improving her experience. Another attendee also shared her positive experience with CART at work, emphasizing its value for non-native English speakers.
  • Angel Sounds Auditory Training
    An attendee shared her experience with Angel Sounds, a free computer program for auditory training. She mentioned how the program helped her understand environmental sounds, single words, two words, and sentences. She recommended the program to others struggling with word recognition.
  • Assistive Technology and Tips During the Holidays
    An attendee shared her successful experience with assistive technology during a Thanksgiving dinner. By using a mini microphone and asking for the support of others at the table, she was able to hear and participate in the conversation. Other attendees also shared their experiences with assistive technology, including using multiple microphones at home and using a Pocket Talker device.

    Several attendees shared their experiences and tips for managing hearing loss during holiday gatherings. Suggestions included taking breaks, limiting the duration of stay at parties, using assistive technology, ensuring good lighting, asking a friend to tell you when there’s a change of topics, and having quiet conversations with one or two people aside from the main gathering. 
  • Music in Restaurants
    An attendee shared her experience with asking restaurant staff to turn down the music to facilitate better hearing. She emphasized the importance of advocating for oneself in such situations.
  • The Otter App
    An attendee shared her experience using the Otter app for transcribing conversations, which helped her understand what was being said in situations where she couldn’t hear well. Note from chat: AVA is another speech-to-text app that people have found helpful.

Notes and links from the chat

  • Video Conference CART is free to Washington residents with hearing loss. For more information or to schedule CART, just click on this link: Washington Relay: RCC (Remote Conference Captioning)
  • Here is a YouTube video showing you how to network Phonak Roger Pens (which are personal mini microphones)
  • An example of a photo of a Roger Pen showing Version 1.1

     

HLAA-WA News, November 21, 2023

Washington State Hearing Loss News

Guest Speaker on Tinnitus at Our January HOPE Meeting

Mark your calendars for January 3, 2024, to join our HOPE crew and learn about tinnitus from Dr. Megan Nightingale.

You can register anytime at this Zoom link. Remember, all our HOPE meetings are free, captioned, and open to everyone.


Next HOPE Meeting: Wednesday, December 6, 2023

What assistive technology can help during a family Thanksgiving dinner? How long will it be before I hear better with my new cochlear implant?
These are two of the topics we discussed together in our last HOPE meeting.

Our Hearing Other People’s Experiences (HOPE) meetings are a safe, welcoming space where you can ask questions from your peers about anything and everything hearing loss and hearing tech.

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. You’re welcome to relax, listen, and simply spend time with people who understand what it’s like to live with hearing loss.

Note: You can read summaries from past meetings on our blog.

National Hearing Loss News

HLAA Honors and Helps Veterans with Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is a very common disability among servicemembers of all ages. In fact, HLAA was founded by a veteran with hearing loss, Rocky Stone, in 1979. Today, HLAA carries Rocky’s work forward, building a community of support for these American heroes. Please share these resources with veterans you know who may need help.

  • HLAA’s Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter meets monthly via Zoom. Caregivers are welcome, too. This chapter is sponsored by Starkey.
  • Complimentary HLAA membership for veterans.
  • Complimentary convention registration.

Remember, the VA provides hearing care and hearing aids to veterans with hearing loss.

Gratefully, we tip our hats to our veterans.

color photo of cherry blossoms in front of an american flag. the blossoms are in focus and the flag is blurred in the background.

New Study: Hearing Aids May Reduce the Risk of Falls

We’ve been saying this for a while, and here’s another study that’s saying it, too. Hearing loss increases your risk of falling, but wearing hearing aids can reduce the risk.

This NPR story explains, including the dose-response relationship between hearing aid use and falls.

For details on the science, read the original study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

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Support People with Disabilities While You Shop This Season

Hoodies, leggings, coffee, adaptive t-shirts, makeup brushes, facial serum, and more: Check out these cool gifts made by people with disabilities. The list is curated by the folks at DisabilityIN, a workplace accessibility organization.

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Hearing Loss Advocate Katherine Bouton Talks Cochlear Implants

More and more people are thinking about and even receiving cochlear implants (CIs). In her latest blogpost, hearing loss advocate Katherine Bouton shares her experiences with her CI. Spoiler alert: She loves it.

Katherine Bouton

Hearing Loops & Telecoils Spotlight

A Plethora of Tools Available for Hearing Loop Advocates

So you’d like to advocate for hearing loops in your neighborhood, but you aren’t sure where to start? Or you’ve begun the process, but you’re stuck?

The HLAA Get in the Hearing Loop program (GITHL) offers a TON of tools to help you know what to do next, how to overcome objections, and figure out your next steps.

  • A toolkit that includes fact sheets, brochures, best practices, posters, logos, promotion tools, a sample RFP, and even a Powerpoint presentation template.
  • A two-part toolkit handbook to help you know where and when to use items in the toolkit. Part 1 is here, and part 2 is here.
  • A 50-page advocacy guide to cheer you on, direct your efforts, and get you to the finish line.

And much more.

Feel free to reach out to the GITHL team if you have questions: GITHLinfo@hearingloss.org.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

This week and all year round, we’re grateful to YOU, or members, supporters, and donors.

With your help, we help empower people with hearing loss all across Washington State, providing tools, education, and information they need to thrive. Thank you!

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.


HLAA-WA News, November 7, 2023

Washington State Hearing Loss News

New Legislation Helps Older Adults with Hearing Loss in Washington State

Hearing aid insurance coverage, captions on televisions in public, and improved consumer education: New laws are making life better for people with hearing loss here in our state. And we’re proud to have helped lead the way.

When big-hearted people come together for a cause this important, there’s nothing they can’t do!

Cynthia Stewart, HLAA-WA legislative liaison, shares more about these legislative victories in this AgeWise King County article.

colorful photo of three people at a picnic table. the season is autumn. They are smiling and leaning close together.

Holiday Bazaar at the Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center

Sip hot chocolate, nibble cookies, buy a gift for your mom, and say hello to our friends at HSDC at their holiday bazaar on November 11, 2023, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Note: The Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center offers unbundled audiology services, a speech and language clinic, classes such as a Parent-Infant Program, ASL interpreter services, and more. We encourage you to check out their services to see how they might help you.


Toastmasters Audible Talkers Club Inspires People with Hearing Loss

In Arizona, a Toastmasters public speaking club especially designed for people with hearing loss is helping people dream bigger. This club, led by Harry Wolfe, is fully hearing-accessible. They meet online, and new members are welcome, no matter where they may live. The meetings include formal speeches and respectful evaluations that include praise and encouragement, plus impromptu speeches.

In our latest blog post, find out more about this caring, supportive group, and read how one participant found courage to chase her dreams.

Color photo of eight people in a living room. They've taken a break during their holiday party to pose and smile for the camera.

Reminder: Special Free Screening of Crip Camp in Seattle

What happens when a group of teen campers joins the fight for disability rights? A grass-roots movement is born. Crip Camp tells their story.

Join a free screening of Crip Camp, a movie produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 1:00 pm at Town Hall Seattle. We’ll be in attendance!

This special event celebrates the 33rd anniversary of the ADA and honors activist Judy Heumann (1947-2023). A Q&A with the film’s co-director James LeBrecht and ArtsFund’s Michael Greer will follow the movie.

Town Hall Seattle has loops in all three event spaces. ASL and captions will be provided.

The screening is co-presented by the Seattle Cultural Accessibility Consortium, Town Hall, and the Seattle International Film Festival.

Movie promotion shot. Photo is a grainy image from the 70s of a young man with a guitar over his shoulder. he's pushing a male child in a wheelchair.

Next HOPE Meeting: Wednesday, December 6, 2023

What assistive technology can help during a family Thanksgiving dinner? How long will it be before I hear better with my new cochlear implant?
These are two of the topics we discussed together in our last HOPE meeting.

Our Hearing Other People’s Experiences (HOPE) meetings are a safe, welcoming space where you can ask questions from your peers about anything and everything hearing loss and hearing tech.

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. You’re welcome to relax, listen, and simply spend time with people who understand what it’s like to live with hearing loss.

Note: You can read summaries from past meetings on our blog.

National Hearing Loss News

RESCHEDULED Webinar: The Sky’s the Limit for Disability Workplace Inclusion

The HLAA “Mission Possible” webinar is rescheduled to November 16, 2023, 2:00 pm Pacific/5:00 pm Eastern.

Accessibility in space? Yes! And here on Earth, too. At this fun, free, and captioned webinar from HLAA’s Employment Accessibility Task Force, find out how AstroAccess is elevating workplace accessibility to stratospheric heights, especially for STEM professionals with disabilities.

Be sure to share this webinar with your employer.

graphic includes a photo of three astronauts in space suits practicing zero gravity.

Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Could Be a Game Changer, Yet Some Consumers Remain Unsure

Consumers may still be confused about over-the-counter hearing aids, says The New York Times in this October 30, 2023 article. Yet as the article correctly points out, hearing aids have many benefits, including possibly reducing the risk of cognitive decline in some people.

There are some encouraging signs, though: According to the article, Lexie says 94% of its buyers are first-time purchasers, and Dr. Frank Lin sees “increased innovation and lower prices ahead.”

photo of a hearing aid being paired with a smart phone.

Hearing Loops & Telecoils Spotlight

National Hearing Loop Advocate Juliette Sterkens Is Winning Hearts and Minds

New technologies hold promise, but people with hearing loss still need telecoils in their hearing aids and hearing loops in public spaces, says Juliette Sterkens, AuD. As a national hearing loop advocate, Juliette carries her message across the country and around the world.

And people are taking notice.

The Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA) presented Juliette with their advocacy award on November 1, 2023 at ALDAcon in Austin, Texas.

And Juliette was a featured presenter at TEDX Oshkosh on November 4, 2023.

To find out more about Juliette’s work on behalf of people with hearing loss for HLAA and HLAA’s Get in the Hearing Loop program, check out this cover story in Hearing Life magazine.

This week, Juliette — who’s also a brand-new grandmother — is on her way to Australia. Stay tuned for more about her TEDX adventure and learn what she’s up to next.

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Your Donations Make Our E-Newsletter Possible

Your kind generosity helps us bring you this e-news twice a month. With your help, we connect people with hearing loss to timely information and support that helps us all thrive.

To support our work, visit the donation page on our website.

Thank you for being part of our community!

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.