HLAA-WA E-News
Hearing Loss News & Help, April 21, 2026
In this issue, your last chance to register for our Community Day, info on over-the-counter hearing aids, hearing-friendly entertainment in Federal Way, a webinar on hearing loss and mental health, and why you might need telecoils and Auracast in your next hearing aids.
Deadline to Register for Our
Hearing Loss Community Day:
April 22, 2026You’ll get hands-on help with hearing tech. You’ll also learn how to ask for the hearing access you need every day: at work, at the doctor, in the theater, and other public spaces. And you’ll learn from our advocates and leaders about the power of building a community.
We’d like to thank our sponsors: Dr. Chad Ruffin, Washington State Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Seattle-Tacoma Airport Disability Team, and partner Town Hall Seattle. You make this event possible!
If you’ve already registered, you’ll receive an email with more details on parking, lunch choices, and more.
During National Volunteer Month, We Say a Huge THANK YOU!
As a volunteer-powered organization, we do what we do because big-hearted people raise their hands to say, “Yes, I’ll do it!” From HOPE to outreach to board service to our emerging committees, our volunteers are growing our organization. Thank YOU, volunteers, for your work and compassion.
Will Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Help You?
Over-the-counter hearing aids aim to help adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. They’re more affordable, more widely available, and can be a helpful way to hear conversations and audio better.
What do you look for in an OTC hearing aid? Where do you find them? Check out our latest webpage for more information, including links to a shopping list to take with you as you shop.
Have you tried an OTC hearing aid? Share your experience with us: webmaster@hearingloss-wa.org.
Hearing-Friendly Live Entertainment: Federal Way Performing Arts & Event Center
A beautiful, newer space and a really good hearing loop: The Federal Way Performing Arts & Event Center is an excellent place to get entertained in a hearing-friendly space.
Coming up this spring…
- April 28, 2026 – Swan Lake by the International Ballet Stars
- May 6, 2026 – Step Afrika!
- May 9, 2026 – Federal Way Symphony- “Big Band Concert II: Celebrating Generations”
- May 16, 2026 – Federal Way Chorale: “The Sounds of Spring – Americana”
For more upcoming events, visit the FWPAEC.
Early Giving for GiveBIG Begins
April 28Our largest Community Day yet, an expanding volunteer program, connections with new communities: more people are finding community and support through our work. Now is the perfect time to help our community connect and thrive.
National Hearing Loss News & Events
Paid Research Study Opportunity
If you identify as having a disability — which includes hearing loss — you may qualify for a paid research study at NYU Langone Health.
Researchers are looking at how to improve questions that screen people with disabilities about their social needs. Participants will have one 60-minute interview via Zoom, and they’ll be paid for their time.
For more info: Elijah.McCray@nyulangone.org.
Reminder: Workplace Hearing Loss Diversity, Identity, and Disclosure
Webinar, April 22, 2026, 11 am PacificHow does your hearing affect your identity, how you disclose your hearing loss at work, and the tech you can use to help? At this webinar led by Professor David C. Baldridge, the HLAA Task Force for Accessible, Inclusive Employment will share how they navigated these variables to succeed and feel confident at work.
Walking, Sipping, and Art-Enjoying in Louisville: Fun Beyond the HLAA Convention This Summer
Get excited about what else you can do while you’re in Louisville for the 2026 HLAA Convention….
- Tour the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory
- Take in shows at the Actors Theater of Louisville (FM Assistive listening systems available; request closed captions if you need them)
- Walk and sip along the Urban Bourbon Trail (we’re craving a mint julep right now)
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.
Find out more this free HLAA webinar. The webinar features two public health experts, Kristel Scoresby and Michelle Niehaus.
Hearing Aids Change a Music Lover’s Life
Kristi Timmons’s story is familiar to many of us: a gradual loss of hearing, denial, grief, and then…hearing aids.
After getting hearing aids, this Nashville music lover is singing in her car once again. And before she goes to a concert, she asks her audiologist to adjust her hearing aids so she can enjoy the music better.
Hearing Technology Spotlight
Looking for New Hearing Aids?
Consider Both Auracast and TelecoilsHearing loops are still widely used all over the world – and you can connect to them directly, wirelessly, by using the telecoil in your hearing aid or CI.
Auracast is an emerging technology that also connects you wirelessly to an audio source. It’s not as widely available as loops, but many people believe it’s well on its way to more widespread use.
Having both telecoils and Auracast can “future-proof” your hearing aids. The Center for Hearing Access (CHA) explains more about “ADA-Access-Ready” hearing aids in this helpful guide.
Hearing Loss Support Meetings
Local, Online Support for Everyone with
Hearing Loss: May 6, 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
May 8, 2026, 1:00 pm, Renton
Renton Support Group
For this meeting only, we’ll be meeting at the Renton Community Center, which has a similar name but is different from our regular meeting space. The Renton Community Center is at 1715 Maple Valley Highway in Renton.
Open to everyone, always free. Simply check in at the front desk.Local, In-Person Support for Hearing Loss: Bellingham – Northwest Washington
May 16, 2026 9:30 – Noon, Bellingham
HLAA-Northwest Washington Chapter
This month: The Cost – Hearing Loss Treatment and Insurance, with Jessia Maasseen, AuD, and Stephanie Santiago, HIS, Whatcom Audiology
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
April 21, 2026, 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.
Hearing Loss News & Help, April 7, 2026
In this issue, we share more Hearing Loss Community Day details, highlight hearing-friendly events coming up at Town Hall Seattle, detail what it means to self-advocate, and more.
Take Charge of Your Hearing Loss on
April 25, 2026.
Seats Are Limited – Register Today!Have your registered for our FREE Hearing Loss Community Day at Town Hall Seattle?
You’ll get hands-on learning on the latest tech:
- Pocketalkers
- Hearing loops and Auracast
- Your smartphone as a remote control app for your hearing aids
- Caption calls and caption apps
Plus, you’ll learn how to ask for the hearing access you need every day: at work, at the doctor, in the theater, and other public spaces. And you’ll learn about the power of building a community from our advocates and leaders.
You can read more about the day in our blog post.
Free, including lunch, but registration is required. A hearing loop and live captions will be provided — plus we’ll show you how to access both technologies, so we can all hear each other.
How to Become a Google Accessibility Trusted Tester
Google is building a panel of trusted testers who can provide feedback on the accessibility of its products. If you’re accepted into the panel, you’ll be able to try out new Google software and hardware before the general public sees it, and you’ll be able to participate in user research studies.
Most participating testers will receive thank you gifts, such as gift cards from VISA, Mastercard, and other retailers.
If you frequently use Google products and you’d like to help improve accessibility for everyone, including people with disabilities, apply to be a tester here.
You’re Invited to a Benefit for WWU’s Hearing Clinic
In our guest blog post from Andrea Reed last month, you no doubt read about Western Washington University’s terrific audiology program and hearing clinic. Now you have the chance to tour the clinic, plus support their work, at a benefit on May 14, 2026. Tickets are just $25.
Find out more and register for their first Annual Hearing Clinic Benefit.
Hearing-Friendly Live Entertainment in the Puget Sound Area: Town Hall Seattle
Town Hall Seattle offers all kinds of events, from author talks to political dialogues to music of all kinds.
Coming up this spring…
- April 17, 2026 – “As Many Weirdos as Possible: Celebrating the Pacific Northwest Music Scene (1985-1995)”
- April 18, 2026 – An Existential Meet Cute, author talk with Maria Semple (Go Gentle, a novel about a woman in midlife)
- April 21, 2026 – Straight Talk on Wills, Trusts, and Your Legacy
- April 23, 2026 – Lori Matsukawa, “Being There: Memoir of an Asian American Journalist”
Hearing loops are available in all three event spaces. If you also need captions or ASL, make a request: access@townhallseattle.org
For more upcoming events, visit the Town Hall Seattle events page.
National Hearing Loss News
Reminder: Workplace Hearing Loss Diversity, Identity, and Disclosure
Webinar, April 22, 2026, 11 am PacificHow does your hearing affect your identity, how you disclose your hearing loss at work, and the tech you can use to help? At this webinar led by Professor David C. Baldridge, the HLAA Task Force for Accessible, Inclusive Employment will share how they navigated these variables to succeed and feel confident at work.
Why You Should Consider Attending an HLAA Convention
Attending an HLAA convention can be life-changing, maybe in ways you might not expect. Kimberly Parker, who attended her first convention in 2011, explains why in this thoughtful 2025 blog post.
This year’s convention is June 10-12, 2026, in Louisville, Kentucky. Several of us will be there. Will you?
George the Cartoon Pig Gets a Hearing Aid
Parents today know Peppa Pig, the cartoon geared toward very young kiddos. Peppa has a younger brother named George who happens to have a hearing loss. In this episode, George rejoins his friends after receiving his hearing aid.
HLAA is partnering with Hasbro, Peppa Pig’s creator, to raise awareness of hearing loss and help reduce the stigma, especially among kids. The next Hearing Life magazine will be geared toward families and will include a special appearance by Peppa Pig characters.
How Do You Self-Advocate?
Here’s a Checklist from Hearing Loss LiveWe have the right to ask for the hearing access we need. But sometimes we don’t know how. Other times, there might be something holding us back–but what? How do we move forward?
The wise and warm folks at Hearing Loss Live! offer some suggestions, such as defining the obstacle, making a choice, feeling what you feel, and stop apologizing.
You may find their checklist reassuring and inspiring — we sure did.Hearing Technology Spotlight
“Auracasting” Your Community for Hearing Accessibility
This Hearing Tracker article is geared toward audiologists, but we still found it to be a helpful look at Auracast, the Bluetooth Low Energy assistive listening and audio system.
Though it’s still only an emerging technology, Auracast holds much promise for people with hearing loss. We encourage you to learn about both Auracast and hearing loops and to ask for access when you need it. You can also talk to your audiologist about hearing aids with both Auracast and telecoil capability.
Accessible Workplace Tech: A New Device Captions Your Work Calls
A new device called Bridge is…well, it’s the bridge between your work phone and your smartphone or tablet. This small black box live-captions your work calls and sends the text to your personal device. Bridge, which is made by the folks at InnoCaption, is specifically designed to be compatible with workplace phone systems.
Read more from the Bridge press release, or check out the Bridge webpage. And as always, let us know if you try it and if it works for you.
Hearing Loss Support Meetings
Local, Online Support for Everyone with
Hearing Loss: May 6, 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
April 10, 2026, 1:00 pm, Renton
Renton Support Group
Our Renton Hearing Loss Support Group meets the second Friday of each month at the Renton Senior Activity Center, 211 Burnett Avenue North.
Looped, open to everyone, and free. Simply check in at the front desk.Note: In May, our meeting will be moved to the Renton Community Center, which has a similar name, but it’s a different place. Stay tuned for details.
Local, In-Person Support for Hearing Loss: Bellingham – Northwest Washington
April 18, 2026 9:30 – Noon, Bellingham
HLAA-Northwest Washington Chapter
This month: “BEWARE! Don’t Let Noise Insidiously Steal Your Hearing” with Neil Bauman, PhD, Founder, Center for Hearing Loss Help
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
April 21, 2026, 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
April 15, 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.
