Madonna goes inclusive, highlights of our annual meeting, help for sleeping better with tinnitus, and more.
Washington State Hearing Loss News
Annual Meeting and Awards Show We’re Stronger Together
Thank you to everyone who made our annual meeting a wonderful success this year! It was energizing and inspiring to connect with you all.
Special thanks to our generous sponsors ODHH, Dr. Chad Ruffin, and Spencer Norby.
Kudos to the many behind-the-scenes volunteers who made this event possible.
Rep. Tina Orwall.
Come Meet Us at Outreach Events
As part of our community education program, we’re sending our outreach team to a location near you. Come see us, say hi, grab some information, ask questions about hearing loss, and find out how we can help you.
- Federal Way Senior Health & Resource Fair, May 16, 2024,10 – 1, Federal Way Performing Arts & Events Center
- Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) Expo, May 17, 2024, 10 am – 2 pm, Clark College, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, Washington. Free.
- Kennedy Center Leadership Exchange in Arts & Disability (LEAD), July 31 – August 2, 2024, Hyatt Regency Downtown Seattle
If you’d like representatives from HLAA-WA to participate at a community group or event, please contact us: hope@hearingloss-wa.org.
Looking for Peer Support for Your Hearing Loss?
Several support groups are available to you here in Washington State, including online (HOPE), Whatcom County, Renton, and Panorama in Lacey. Visit our website for more information and ideas, or read on below.
HLAA-Whatcom County Meeting
April 20, 2024
Meet Jess Taluth, Field Representative from Dogs for Better Lives, at the next HLAA-Whatcom County chapter meeting.
The award-winning HLAA-Whatcom County Chapter meets the third Saturday of every month at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 2600 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, Washington. Social time starts at 9:30 am and the meeting runs from 10:00 – 11:30 am. Live CART is provided and the room is looped. Everyone is welcome.
Renton Hearing Loss Support Group
Friday, April 12, 2024
You’re invited to our in-person Renton Support Group meeting. This group meets the second Friday of each month (except July and August) at 1 pm at the Renton Senior Activity Center, 211 Burnett Avenue North in Renton. No need to register; simply check in at the front desk.
This group is led by our award-winning HLAA-WA Secretary Glenda Philio. A hearing loop is available, and everyone is welcome. Always free.
Next HOPE Meeting: May 1, 2024
Guest Speaker: Cynthia Moynihan, “Life with a Hearing Dog”
Our May meeting features an opportunity to learn about hearing dogs from our special guest speaker, Cynthia Moynihan. Cynthia is also a Gallaudet-trained peer mentor for people with hearing loss.
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 ask questions, and also to simply relax, listen, and spend time with people who understand what it’s like to live with hearing loss.
We hope you can join us.
Get Excited: The Seattle Rep Announces Their
2024-2025 Season
The very hearing-friendly Seattle Rep Theater has announced their 2024-2025 Season. The Rep has hearing loops throughout their three theaters and at the ticket windows, concierge, and concessions. Also, some shows are captioned. You can check out receivers and headphones at coat check.
- The Skin of Our Teeth, September 26 – October 20, 2024
- Primary Trust, October 24 – November 24, 2024
- Blithe Spirit, November 29 – December 22, 2024
- Blues for an Alabama Sky, January 30 – February 23, 2025
Subscriptions are now available. Single-show tickets will be on sale soon.
Remember, you can always find hearing-friendly events all across Washington State on the events page of our website.
National Hearing Loss News
Latest Hearing Life Magazine Features Tech, Tech, and More Tech
How is artificial intelligence working to help people with hearing loss? What’s the latest must-have hearing technology for workplace accommodations?
HLAA’s quarterly magazine, Hearing Life, has answers.
Madonna Goes Inclusive
Madonna was everywhere in the 80s and 90s and she’s still making audiences dance — including Deaf audience members — on her latest tour.
In this blog post from Deaffriendly Consulting, Melissa Greenlee explains why Madonna’s “Celebration” tour became a “milestone for the Seattle Deaf community.” This concert included two ASL interpreters and performances by Deaf performer Russell Harvard.
For an example of how powerful an experience this can be, you can watch Russell Harvard interpret and perform Madonna’s “I’ll Remember” in this video. We could watch Russell for hours, honestly.
Pssst: Hey, Madonna, how about a hearing loop and captioned performances next?
How to Sleep Better with Your Tinnitus
Tinnitus can sound even louder and be even more bothersome when you’re lying in bed trying to sleep.
On Doctor Cliff’s YouTube channel, audiologist Rachel Cook shares some advice on getting a good night’s sleep with your tinnitus. It starts with a “detox” 2-4 hours before bed.
Find a Walk4Hearing to Cheer and Support
While we don’t yet have a Walk4Hearing here in Washington State, there are many such walks all across the country. You can find one to cheer, share, and donate to.
Proceeds from Walk4Hearing events go to HLAA and to the local or state organization and ultimately, to help people with hearing loss thrive.
School Bus Driver Is Gifted Hearing Aids
In Akron, Ohio, a school bus driver loves his job helping autistic kids get to school. Plus, he also cares for his grandchildren. He needed help hearing them clearly, though.
Hearing Loops & Telecoils Spotlight
Public-Access Ready Hearing Aids: The Past, Present, and Future
Hearing aids can connect you to people, and also — with a little tech help — connect to public assistive listening systems and to phones, computers, and tablets. To easily use public assistive listening systems like hearing loops, you need “public access ready” hearing aids with telecoils — and systems like hearing loops.
In this thoughtful HearingReview article from Thomas Kaufmann, AuD, find out more, and learn why Auracast ALS isn’t quite public-access ready yet.
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 here and across the country?
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.