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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:
- Anacortes Community Theater
- Edmonds Driftwood Players
- Federal Way Performing Arts & Event Center
- Lincoln Theater, Mount Vernon
- Seattle Rep
- Stroum Jewish Community Center, Mercer Island
- Town Hall Seattle
- Whidbey Playhouse
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.


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.