HLAA-WA E-News
Hearing Loss News & Help, May 27, 2026
In this issue, we announce our annual picnic, help you hear better at a Mariner game, highlight a memorable event at WWU, share details on getting emergency alert devices, explain why hearing aids require our patience, and much more.
Save the Date: Our Annual Picnic Is
July 11, 2026Mark your calendars for our annual picnic on July 11, 2026, at Lake Boren Park in Newcastle, which is not far from Bellevue. Rick Faunt will be back as grillmaster — yay!
More details coming very soon. Stay tuned!
Hear Better at Mariner Games at T-Mobile Park
The Mariners are winning, kind of, sometimes. But win or lose, you can hear better at Mariner games by streaming captions on your smartphone.
Read more in our blog post. And thank you to Kirsten Robbins for the information and her photo of the phone captions.
Getting Inspired by WWU’s Audiology and Hearing Clinic
At their recent fundraising event, our president Cheri Perazzoli toured Western Washington University’s audiology program and hearing clinic.
Read about what she found inspiring about this program and why we need more programs like it.
Smoke Detectors and Other Alerts for People with Hearing Loss
If you have a hearing loss, how can you hear a fire alarm? What if your carbon monoxide detector activates, but you can’t hear it?
Fortunately, there are safety devices that rely on visual cues like strobe lights and text rather than sound.
Read more about safety devices in this handout. You can also try the American Red Cross, the ODHH TED Program Pilot Project, or your local fire department and ask about devices for people with hearing loss.
Help Disability Rights Washington (DRW) Set Their 2027 Priorities
Disability Rights Washington (DRW) fights for people with disabilities all throughout our state. Hearing loss is a disability, too. So how can DRW help people with hearing loss?
We encourage you to join HLAA-WA in sharing your suggestions for DRW by filling out this short survey.
Considering a Cochlear Implant?
Attend This Educational Session
May 30, 2026, 10-NoonVirginia Mason is hosting an in-person educational session about how cochlear implants help us hear better. This session can help those who already have a cochlear implant who are considering a second one.
The session is held in the Volney Auditorium in the Lindeman Pavillion, Level 1, 1100 9th Avenue in Seattle.
Hearing-Friendly Live Entertainment:
Seattle Children’s TheaterThe Seattle Children’s Theater has announced their 2026-2027 season. Performances include Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster, I’ll Be Your Superhero, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: The Holiday Show. The theater is mostly on hiatus over the summer, but it’s never too soon to get your tickets for fall.
A hearing loop (yay!), ASL performances, sensory performances, and audio described performances are available. Both Seattle Children’s Theater spaces are accessible for people using wheelchairs. You may park temporarily in the loading zone on 2nd Avenue North.
National Hearing Loss News & Events
During Better Hearing Month, How Are YOU Taking Charge of Your Hearing Loss?
- Asking for hearing access at an event or meeting
- Getting a check-up and hearing test at your audiologist. Here are our guidelines for working with a hearing health professional.
- Pro tip: If you don’t have an audiologist, you can search for one on the Northwest Academy of Audiology website.
- Pulling your hearing aids out of the drawer and trying them again – and asking for help if you need it.
- Building community by attending a HOPE meeting, making a hearing loss friend, and staying connected with us and with HLAA national.
Take Action:
Support the Hearing Aid Tax Credit ActWhile hearing aid insurance coverage has improved, especially here in Washington State, hearing aids are still out of reach for many people who would benefit from wearing them.
The Hearing Aid Tax Credit Act (HR 7700) would provide a tax credit of up to $1,000 to certain people who buy prescription or OTC hearing aids. HLAA supports this bill, and we do, too.
Tell your representatives to support this act by clicking here.
Hearing Technology Spotlights
Why Patience Is Needed When You Get New Hearing Aids
Tin-can voices, hearing things you don’t wanna hear, feeling overstimulated or overwhelmed, not sure you did the right thing? These are normal, temporary experiences when you first get new hearing aids.
This video from Timpanogos Hearing & Tinnitus explains why it takes time, effort, and partnership with your audiologist to ensure that over time, your hearing aids are doing their best work for you. We promise it’s worth it.
Reach out to us if we can be of help, too.
Where Are We With Auracast?
Are Auracast assistive listening systems here, almost here, or still far away? It depends on whom you ask, and in this Inavate article, they asked AV companies and hearing aid manufacturers.
In the article, some industry folks suggested that we’re in the “mid-phase of the adoption cycle” and a long way from widespread adoption. But the excitement and demand are growing, and standards are expected to be finalized in 2027.
A Hearing Loop in a Hospital in Seoul, South Korea
Healthcare settings need hearing access and accommodations, but often, people with hearing loss struggle to get what they need to communicate clearly.
But at Seoul National University Hospital in South Korea, hearing loops are installed in five locations, including a pediatric and a nurse consultation room. Read more about these loops here.
Of course, we’re always working to improve hearing access in medical settings. If you have a hospital visit coming up, you can print and bring one of our hospital kits. And make sure you call and request access before your appointment, if you can.
A Brain-Controlled Hearing Aid?
It’s not as weird as it sounds, and the science is really interesting.
Researchers at Columbia University monitored the specific brain waves of people trying to isolate one conversation among many — the typical cocktail-party listening problem that’s especially challenging when you wear a hearing aid.
Then, researchers were able to adjust the volume based on the person’s brains.
Read more in this NPR article, or read the actual study here.
Hearing Loss Support Meetings
Local, Online Support for Everyone with
Hearing Loss: June 3, 2026Need HOPE and support for your hearing loss? You’re warmly invited to come our online hearing loss support meeting: HOPE Hearing Other People’s Experiences.
Facilitated by a caring, compassionate team, these monthly virtual meetings are free, live-captioned, and open to everyone with hearing loss and to their friends and family.
Note: This is our last HOPE meeting before the HOPE crew goes on summer break until September. We hope to see you in June!
Local, In-Person Support for Hearing Loss: Renton
June 12, 2026, 1:00 pm
Led by HLAA-WA Secretary, Glenda Philio, our Renton Support Group provides camaraderie, information, and support. The June meeting will be held at the Renton Community Center, not the Renton Senior Activity Center.
Open to everyone, always free.Note: This will be our last Renton support meeting until September. There will be no meeting in July or August. We invite you to join us at our picnic on July 11!
Local, In-Person Support for Hearing Loss: Bellingham – Northwest Washington
June 20, 2026, 9:30 – 2:30, extended meeting with lunch included
HLAA-Northwest Washington Chapter
This month: WE are HLAA-NWWA — “Past, Present, and Future!”
The HLAA-NWWA chapter meets the third Saturday of the month at Christ the Servant Church, 2600 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, Washington. Looped, captioned, and free. Open to all, including friends and family.National Online Support for Veterans with Hearing Loss
June 16, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Pacific time
Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting
The national HLAA office has a virtual chapter dedicated to veterans with hearing loss. They meet online every third Tuesday of the month, and everyone is welcome.Meet with veterans from across the county to talk about issues related to veterans and hearing loss. Caregivers and family members of veterans are welcome to attend. Free and captioned.
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.
Hearing Loss News & Help, May 12, 2026
In this issue, we celebrate our community day, mourn the loss of a hearing loss star advocate, share a volunteer opportunity with the Washington State Patrol, and more.
Our Biggest Community Day Yet
In Town Hall Seattle last month, members and friends, new and old enjoyed a fantastic day of hands-on tech training, self-advocacy tips, and connection and encouragement.
Read more about the day, download presentations and handouts, and plan to join us next year.
In Memory of Cynthia Stewart
Our community lost a treasured member last month. We’ll miss Cynthia, and we hope to carry her spirit of advocacy forward.
You may visit here for more information on her memorial service on May 30, 2026, and how you can honor her legacy. Note the time change; the service is now at 2:30.
Help the Washington State Patrol to Work Better with People with Hearing Loss
The Washington State Patrol is looking for people with disabilities, including hearing loss, to help train their new cadets. The goal is to help cadets learn how to appropriately deal with communication issues and access. The training is on June 23 and 24, 2026, at the Washington State Patrol Academy in Shelton.
If you are Deaf, DeafBlind, hard-of-hearing, or speech-disabled, and you’re interested in volunteering, reach out to patrick.macgregor@wsp.wa.gov for more information.
Save the Date: Our Annual Picnic Is
July 11, 2026Mark your calendars for our annual picnic on July 11, 2026, at Lake Boren Park in Newcastle. Rick Faunt will be back as grillmaster — yay!
More details soon — stay tuned.
Thank You for Giving BIG!
You gave BIG this year, and we are so grateful for you!
You gave almost $8,000 toward our $25,000 goal to support programs that build community, connect with vulnerable people, and create a world where everyone thrives, regardless of how well they hear.
Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity.
If you haven’t yet donated, there’s still time to help us reach our goal.
Let the Seattle Public Libraries Know How They Can Help Hard-of-Hearing Families
The Seattle Public Library system is hosting a Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community Listening Session on Saturday, May 30, 2026, 3:00-4:30 at the Beacon Hill Library.
While ASL will be provided, the room may not have an assistive listening system. We encourage you to attend the session and let them know that captions and assistive listening systems are what people with hearing loss need to participate equally, as others do.
Hearing-Friendly Live Entertainment: Lincoln Theater, Mount Vernon
Heads up, north Washington folks: You’ve got a hearing-friendly theater in your neighborhood.
The Lincon Theater in Mount Vernon has a hearing loop. To hear best, you’ll want to sit in the center section – there’s a drawing on their website to help you find it.
The Lincoln also has closed captioning “gooseneck” units to check out, and most films at 2pm on Sundays open-captioned.
As a side note, the Lincoln folks have also done an amazing job for people who use wheelchairs or who need mobility access. They encourage you to call ahead for details and assistance: 360-336-8955.
Coming up this spring…
- May 15 – 24, 2026 – Live theater: “Always. . . Patsy Cline”
- May 16, 2026 – Beauty and the Beast movie, sensory-friendly screening. Personal closed captioning and assistive listening available.
- May 30, 2026, 10 am – The Met Live in HD: “El Ultimo Sueno De Frida Y Diego” (The Metropolitan Opera’s portrait of artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera)
- May 30, 2026, 7 pm – New Old Time Chautauqua, free for kids 12 and under.
National Hearing Loss News & Events
Take Action:
Support the Hearing Aid Tax Credit ActWhile hearing aid insurance coverage has improved, especially here in Washington State, hearing aids are still out of reach for many people who would benefit from wearing them.
The Hearing Aid Tax Credit Act (HR 7700) would provide a tax credit of up to $1,000 to certain people who buy prescription or OTC hearing aids. HLAA supports this bill, and we do, too.
Tell your representatives to support this act by clicking here.
Research Symposium: AI and Hearing Health in Louisville
At the HLAA convention this summer, the research symposium focuses on the impact of AI on hearing health.
- How are hearing aids utilizing the promise of AI?
- Can AI be leveraged to screen and diagnose common causes of hearing loss?
- What are AI’s future global possibilities, particularly in underserved settings?
You can pre-register through May 18, and you can register for just the symposium only.
Webinar: Breaking the Silence – Hearing Loss, Mental Health, and Substance Use
May 14, 2026, 11:00 am PacificHearing loss can sometimes heighten mental health challenges, including substance use. But there’s always hope.
This webinar features two public health experts, Kristel Scoresby and Michelle Niehaus.
Scientists Find the Tinnitus Switch in Our Brain
If you’d like to short-circuit your annoying tinnitus, this article provides some good news. OHSU scientists link serotonin brain circuit to tinnitus in new study – oregonlive.com
Hearing Technology Spotlights
How Your Hearing Aids Can Reduce Listening Fatigue
Listening fatigue is real, and it can really wear on us. Hearing aids help in very specific ways, including reducing background noise and allowing us to stream from our devices.
Telecoils Can Change Your Life, Says Consumer Reports Magazine
We agree with this Consumer Reports article: A telecoil in your hearing aid can change your life. A telecoil is a tiny-but-mighty feature that wirelessly connects you to hearing loops in Washington State and around the world. Read more about telecoils and loops on our website.
If you wondering if you still need a telecoil, given the advent of Auracast, the answer is YES. Hearing loops and Auracast will co-exist for many years, and Auracast isn’t widely available yet.
When you’re in a venue, look for a sign like the one to the right. Then turn your hearing aid to T or telecoil mode.Hearing Loss Support Meetings
Local, Online Support for Everyone with
Hearing Loss: June 3, 2026Need HOPE and support for your hearing loss? You’re warmly invited to come our online hearing loss support meeting: HOPE Hearing Other People’s Experiences.
Facilitated by a caring, compassionate team, these monthly virtual meetings are free, live-captioned, and open to everyone with hearing loss and to their friends and family.
HOPE meets the first Wednesday of each month at 4:00 pm.
Local, In-Person Support for Hearing Loss: Renton
June 12, 2026, 1:00 pm, Renton
Renton Support Group
This is our last meeting before our summer break. We’d love to see you.! Led by HLAA-WA Secretary, Glenda Philio, the Renton Support Group provides camaraderie, information, and support. This meeting and the June meeting will be held at the Renton Community Center, not the Renton Senior Activity Center.
Open to everyone, always free. Simply check in at the front desk.Note: There will be no meeting in July or August.
Local, In-Person Support for Hearing Loss: Bellingham – Northwest Washington
June 20, 2026, 9:30 – Noon, Bellingham
HLAA-Northwest Washington Chapter
This month: WE are HLAA-NWWA — “Past, Present, and Future!”
The HLAA-NWWA chapter meets the third Saturday of the month at Christ the Servant Church, 2600 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, Washington. Looped, captioned, and free. Open to all, including friends and family.National Online Support for Veterans with Hearing Loss
May 19, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Pacific time
Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting
The national HLAA office has a virtual chapter dedicated to veterans with hearing loss. They meet online every third Tuesday of the month, and everyone is welcome.Meet with veterans from across the county to talk about issues related to veterans and hearing loss. Caregivers and family members of veterans are welcome to attend. Free and captioned.
National Online Support for Parents of Kids with Hearing Loss
May 20, 2026, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Pacific time
Hear Together: Parents of Children with Hearing Loss
Led by a speech-language pathologist and an audiologist, this virtual national parents’ support group is designed to connect families and provide resources and support. The group meets regularly on the third Wednesday of the month, with the meeting moved to the fourth Wednesday in February only.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.
