Heidi Crabtree is offering some fantastic presentations to help you with your hearing aids and hearing loss. These events are in Kelso and Longview.

• Buying a Hearing Aid
  Longview Public Library, October 13, 2026, 12:30 pm
  AND
  Kelso Public Library, October 24, 2026, 11:00 am
  What you need to know pick a provider, what to ask for, and what to expect when you buy a hearing aid. In recent years, hearing technology has advanced dramatically, with innovations like AI-powered hearing aids, smart accessories, and real-time captioning tools that make speech clearer and more accessible. But technology alone isn’t enough. Knowing how to find audiologists who follow best practices, understanding the range of available tools, and accessing reliable resources are essential steps toward hearing your best. We also will talk about available accessories that may help in tricky listening situations.
  
• Hearing Loss Alternatives: Maximizing Your Ability to Hear and Connect
  Kelso Public Library, October 17, 2026, 3:00 pm
  Hearing loss impacts every aspect of life—from relationships and work to social engagement and emotional well-being. While hearing aids are often the most recognized solution, there are also many low-cost, low-tech strategies that can help protect your hearing and improve communication. 
  
• Hearing at Holiday Gatherings
  Kelso Public Library, November 7, 2026, 3:00 pm
  AND
  Longview Public Library, November 10, 2026, 12:30 pm
  This is a low-tech talk on how to hear your best at gatherings using strategies like considering the time of day, lighting, and venue, and picking your spot within the gathering. The shape of the table, where you sit at the table, and which table within a room you pick all affect how well you will connect with others.  We will talk about how sound travels and review some photos of living rooms, local restaurants, theaters, and other locations to identify where the best places to sit might be based on your hearing, room characteristics, and your goals in attending the gathering. If you have someplace you frequent and have trouble hearing, send Heidi a photo and they may talk through it as a group.

If you would like to schedule a presentation for your group in the Longview-Kelso area, email us: webmaster@hearingloss-wa.org and we’ll put you in touch with Heidi. Heidi Crabtree is an HLAA-WA Board Director, hearing loss advocate, and hearing loss tech guru.