Washington State Hearing Loss News
Building Community at Our Annual Meeting
At our annual meeting this past Saturday, our members inspired one another—and us!—as we had deep, thoughtful conversations about our hearing loss experiences. We shared our concerns about healthcare access, and ODHH explained ways that folks can find tech assistance. You all suggested some terrific ideas on how we can help one another solve hearing loss challenges, such as making role-play self-advocacy videos, helping folks get early treatment, and addressing the mental health effects of hearing loss. And we shared our new website and garnered input on the types of information you’d find most helpful.
Once again, we’re struck by how important and valuable it is to connect with one another. We’re proud to represent the hearing loss community in Washington State.
Thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday via Zoom. And special thanks to our guest speakers Earnest Covington III and Maggie Campbell from ODHH, and to the many people who helped make the meeting happen, especially Ann Thomas, Alan Katsura, Carolyn Odio, and Heather Patrick.
Stay tuned for a link to watch the meeting on our YouTube channel, and watch your email for an expanded survey similar to the polls at our meeting.
During the Holidays, Will You Include HLAA-WA in Your Giving?
As we approach the season of giving and thankfulness, we want to thank you, our readers and members, for being part of our community.
We rely on you to support our work, since we receive no funds from HLAA membership dues. Your kind gifts help us connect with the hard-of-hearing community, raise the voices of people with hearing loss in the public sphere, and walk hand-in-hand with people on their hearing loss journey.
As we are nearing the end of the calendar, if you are considering philanthropy, will you include HLAA-WA in your annual giving?
Help with Hearing Loops on Google Maps
You’ve probably heard that you can now find out on Google Maps whether a venue has a hearing loop or not–before you leave home. On our blog this week, we share the scoop, including some tools on how to find loops and help others find them, too.
Next HOPE Meeting
December 7, 2022
What can you do if your cochlear implant processor suddenly stops working? Are there places to get affordable equipment like captioned telephones or iPads? These are some of the questions that were asked and answered at a recent 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 related.
Facilitated by a caring, compassionate HOPE Crew, these monthly virtual meetings are free, live-captioned, and open to everyone with hearing loss and their friends and family. You’re also welcome to relax, listen, and spend time with people who understand what it’s like to live with hearing loss.
National Hearing Loss News
Audiograms, Hearing Loss, and More in The Washington Post
Find out what an audiogram shows, how to read your audiogram, and what hearing loss sounds like at different frequencies in this outstanding Washington Post article.
Dr. David Myers, Loop America Founder, Writes a New Book
Dr. David Myers is a pioneering advocate for loops and for people with hearing loss. He’s also a psychology professor and textbook author.
Dr. Myers has written a fascinating new book, How Do We Know Ourselves?: Curiosities and Marvels of the Human Mind. He’s also written a compassionate, helpful book about hearing loss, A Quiet World: Living with Hearing Loss.
What About Audio Processing Disorder?
Audio Processing Disorders don’t receive as much attention as other hearing loss issues. But APDs can lead to loneliness, problems hearing, and other communication challenges. Read more in this HearingLikeMe article.
Listening Fatigue Is Real. Dr. Cliff Olson Has Advice.
Struggling to understand speech when you’re hard-of-hearing can be exhausting. The inimitable Dr. Cliff Olson shares some tips on hearing through hearing aids in a recent video.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Holidays are wonderful, but they can be stressful, too. When you’re navigating family gatherings while trying to hear well, we encourage you to practice good self-care. Relax when you need to, ask others for help, and use the technologies you need.
Please feel free to share our communication tips with your family and friends. Plus, Shari Eberts has excellent advice on how to tackle Thanksgiving dinner when you have a hearing loss, and Oticon offers these Thanksgiving tips. Hint: It matters where you sit!
Join HLAA and HLAA-WA
Member benefits include product discounts, reduced convention registration fees, help with the latest hearing loss tech, and HLAA’s award-winning quarterly magazine, Hearing Life. Your HLAA membership automatically includes HLAA-Washington. Dues start at $45 a year.
HLAA-WA does not endorse any technology, nor does exclusion suggest disapproval. We support the full spectrum of hearing technologies for everyone.