Our July 8, 2025 issue
Washington State Hearing Loss News
Reminder: You’re Invited to Our Community Picnic THIS SATURDAY!
Join us for our annual community potluck picnic this Saturday, July 12, 2025, 11-3, at Lake Boren Park in Newcastle, Washington, not far from Bellevue. You’ll find us at the shelter by the tennis courts.
We’ll eat around noon. We’ll provide hot dogs, buns, chips, bottled water, ice, coffee, and condiments. You’re welcome to bring other proteins we’ll grill for you, plus your own drinks and goodies (6-8 servings) to share. If your last name begins with A-L, we encourage you to bring a side or salad, and M-Z folks can bring a dessert. . Alcohol is not allowed in the park.
Special guests Alex Alfieri and Bryan Greenaway from the newly formed Northwest Academy of Audiology will join us for fun and conversation. We’re exploring joining forces with NWAA to help people with hearing loss get the best possible support — bring your thoughts and ideas.
Audio assistance in the shelter, games, and more fun await you in the summer sunshine.
And as a special fundraiser, we’ll auction some great items, including a new Pocketalker version 2, a previously loved first-generation Roger Pen, and more. No need to bring cash — if you win, you can send a check or an electronic payment after the picnic. All items are donated by HLAA-WA supporters, and all money raised will help fund our programs.
See you there!
The Hearing Loss and Dementia Link:
Learn More on Our New Webpage
Hearing loss is linked to dementia. What does that mean, exactly? Do hearing aids help?
Our new webpage looks at the link between hearing loss and dementia, including the latest scientific research.
Free Museum Tickets for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community
Visit the Seattle Art Museum and the Seattle Asian Art Museum with a free Community Pass, courtesy of SAM and Deaf Spotlight. Each pass allows admission for up to six people.
Click here to request your pass. Allow 7 days to receive your tickets; must be used by December 31, 2025.
Thank you, Deaf Spotlight and SAM!
News from HLAA-Northwest Washington
News from our friends up north, courtesy of HLAA-NWWA President Larry Wonnacott.
- Our annual HLAA-NWWA Cracked Crab Dinner Cruise is August 16, 2025, at 5:45 pm. Forty spots are reserved on the Victoria Star. Let Larry Wonnacott know if you’d like to attend: lwonnacott@symmetryfunds.com
- The new website for HLAA-Northwest Washington is live! Check it out here.
Marlee Matlin’s Documentary Opens This Friday, July 11
Actress Marlee Matlin broke stigmas and opened doors like no other actress. In doing so, she helped all of us. And she made some wonderful movies, too.
Now there’s finally a movie about her: Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore. The Seattle International Film Festival hosts screenings starting this Friday, July 11, 2025, at SIFF Cinema Uptown. All screenings are presented with open captions.
The film is also playing in limited runs in theaters across the country this summer.
Can Disability Pride Include Hearing Loss? Yes!
July is Disability Pride Month. This month, we’re sharing Becky Montgomery’s excellent blog post on how she came to embrace living with her hearing loss — with pride.
Ask the Seattle City Council Candidates About Disability Issues
Got a question for the Seattle City Council candidates? Ask them at this forum on July 14, 2025, 5:30-8:00 pm at Centilia Cultural Center, 1660 South Roberto Maestas Festival Street, Seattle.
Captions and ASL will be provided; a hearing loop is installed in the room.
National Hearing Loss News
Auracast Was a Hot Topic at the HLAA Convention
Auracast broadcast audio was the star of a panel discussion at the HLAA convention last month. Here’s a rundown of the discussion from the folks at Bluetooth SIG. (Note: Auracast uses a type of Bluetooth technology.)
Hearing loop advocates such as Cheri Perazzoli and Ann Thomas have worked with Bluetooth SIG to make sure that Auracast truly works for people with hearing loss — and to ensure that hearing loops are also still available for quite a while, too. We believe that for now, we need hearing loops with an eye toward Auracast in the future.
Research Study Opportunity:
Help Advance Music Enjoyment for People With Hearing Loss
Researchers at Johns Hopkins hope to improve music enjoyment for people with hearing loss. They’re studying the factors that contribute how we enjoy music and what it means to us.
They’re recruiting:
- Hearing aid users who don’t use a cochlear implant
- Cochlear implant users with poor speech and word recognition, OR
- Anyone 65 years or older
Make Your Hearing Aids Work Harder and Better
Telecoils, remote mics, communication strategies, and where to sit in a restaurant: This outstanding article in Consumer Reports offers excellent tips on how to how to get the most out of your hearing aids.
The article includes notes on which hearing aids are both telecoil-enabled and Auracast ready and how to turn your iPhone into an extra microphone.
Starkey’s New Hearing Aids Use AI to Become Your Personal Assistant
The new Edge AI hearing aid from Starkey “mimics the brain’s auditory cortex to enhance speech…” according to this recent article in Forbes.
With fall detection and notification, medication reminders, and a language translator, and even weather forecasts (!), the Edge AI aims to be a “personal assistant.”
Will this type of hearing aid help remove the hearing aid stigma? Starkey believes so, and we hope so.
Manage Your Hearing Loss with Confidence at Work
How do you let your employers and coworkers know you have a hearing loss? How can you best prepare yourself and know what accommodations to ask?
Shari Eberts has advice in this article in Psychology Today. And HLAA’s Employment Task Force, who we feature on our blog, recommends some must-have hearing tech for the workplace.
Spotlight on Loops & Assistive Listening Systems
How Do You Use Your Telecoil, Anyway?
We talk a lot about telecoils in hearing aids and cochlear implants, and we encourage folks to use telecoils to connect to hearing loops. But just how do you DO that, anyway?
The Center for Hearing Access at the Shedd Institute has excellent, detailed guidance on how to connect to hearing loops for different brands and types of hearing aids and CIs.
A Hearing Loop in a Planetarium
This may be the most unusual — and cool — place we’ve seen a hearing loop: The Chaffee Planetarium in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
We like the idea of relaxing and learning about the stars and constellations — and being able to hear clearly all the while.
Hearing Loss Support Meetings & Hearing-Friendly Events
Get In-Person Support for Your Hearing Loss
- July 19, 2025, Bellingham: HLAA-Northwest Washington Chapter monthly meeting: “Auracast: Is it the Future of Assistive Listening Systems?” 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.
- August 1, 2025, 11:00 am Panorama in Lacey AND online via Zoom: Accessible Travel at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Contact carolynodio@gmail.com for more info or for the Zoom link.
Our Renton support group and our HOPE crew are on summer break in July in August. Instead, we hope to see you at our picnic on July 12.
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 July 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?
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.