Washington State Hearing Loss News
You Gave BIG, and Now We Can Give BIGGER
Our community rocks! A BIG thank you to everyone who gave to HLAA-WA through GiveBIG this year. Together, we set a record for our highest GiveBIG event ever: $5,700! That’s more than a thousand dollars over our goal.
Your generosity allows us to increase our programming to better support you and to raise greater awareness about the importance of hearing health and communications access across our state. Your support also lets us know that you believe in us and the work HLAA-WA volunteers do. That goes a long way to keep us motivated. We hope you’re feeling as good as we are.
Take Action During Better Hearing & Speech Month in May
The theme for this year’s Better Hearing & Speech Month is “take action.” Actions you can take….
- If you suspect you have a hearing loss, visit an audiologist.
- Encourage someone you love to get their hearing tested, even if they don’t suspect a problem. It’s good to establish a baseline hearing exam.
- If your hearing aids aren’t working well for you, get help from your dispenser or your audiologist. Patience and persistence are key.
- When you’re in a public venue, ask for the hearing access you need.
- If you have a friend or family member with a hearing loss, learn communication techniques and other ways to help them.
- Whatever your level of hearing ability, protect your ears.
- Finally, share what better hearing means to YOU in your social media. Use the hashtags #BetterHearing and #HLAA. Include a photo of you living life with better hearing. Read more in HLAA’s latest news.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Expo in Washington State on June 1, 2023
Learn about resources, assistance, and services for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people at the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing’s Expo on June 1, 2023, from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Lacey Community Center, 6729 Pacific Avenue E, Lacey, Washington.
Visit the ODHH website calendar for more information on this Expo and for other upcoming events that people who are hard-of-hearing or Deaf might be interested in.
When You Have a Hearing Loss, You May Need a Different Alarm Clock
A regular alarm clock may not wake you up if you’ve experienced a hearing loss. On our Washington State Hearing Loss Blog this week, HLAA-WA President Cheri Perazzoli shares some ideas for bed shakers, light devices, and other alarm clocks designed for hard-of-hearing people and people who are Deaf.
Next HOPE Meeting: Wednesday, June 7, 2023: A New Format To Better Serve You
To better serve our HOPE community, we’ll launch our new format at our June HOPE meeting.
With the goal of reaching everyone, we will be focusing more time on exchanging ideas. After creating an agenda at the top of the call, we will
address each question or concern before moving to the next topic. Our facilitators will ensure everyone has a chance to share and has a chance to talk and get support. We learn from each other’s experiences, and this new format will allow us to create a better flow of information and to spend more time talking about what’s most important.
Join us at our next HOPE meeting and let us know how the new format works for you.
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.
Reminder: Hearing-Accessible History Talks in Seattle This Spring and Summer
The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) in Seattle is continuing its terrific series of hearing-friendly, in-person history talks.
Programs with both CART captioning and ASL Interpretation:
History Café: Tales from the Mountain on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 6:30pm
History Café: A Decade of Gender Justice on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 6:30pm
Reflections on Art Practices in Seattle: 25 Years of the Neddy Artist Award on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at 7:00pm
CART captioning will also be available for:
Behind the Seams: Ugly Clothes on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 11:00am, 1:00pm, and 2:00pm
You can also visit our events webpage for more hearing-friendly entertainment ideas in the Seattle area.
National Hearing Loss News
Reminder: Upcoming HLAA Webinar
The Workplace and The Law for People with Hearing Loss
At this HLAA Employment Webinar on May 18, 2023, attorney and hearing loss advocate John Waldo will help us understand the law and where it helps people with hearing loss–and where it may not. Free, captioned, and open to everyone.
Making Your Hearing Aids Last
Hearing aids are a big investment for most of us. How do you make sure that they last? How do you clean, store, and care for them?
Check out this article in the Miami Hearld for tips and advice. Did you know you could keep your hearing aid batteries in a dehumidifier to extend their shelf life, for example? Note that this is a sponsored article, but we found some good advice nonetheless.
The New York Times Talks Hearing Aids, OTCs, and a Changing Landscape
More powerful hearing aids, over-the-counter options, and people losing hearing at younger ages: The landscape for hearing aids and those who need them is changing. While the stigma of hearing loss may be fading, some consumers are navigating a confusing marketplace of hearing help options.
Read more in this New York Times article. Note that Zina Jawadi, HLAA board member and Employment Taskforce member, is quoted in the article.
The Sky’s the Limit in the Latest Issue of HLAA’s Hearing Life Magazine
Check out the latest issue of HLAA’s magazine and read about…
- Accessibility being tested in space (really!)
- The next step HLAA’s fight for communications accessibility
- Health care communication access
- Service to underserved communities with hearing loss
- Improved hearing access in New York City
- And more
We’re Here for You
Thank you for your interest in HLAA-Washington State and in all things hearing health related. As always, let us know how we can help you: info@hearingloss-wa.org.
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.