If you missed our June 2024 HOPE hearing loss online support meeting, here are the notes and some helpful links.

Notes from HOPE meetings are always available on our blog shortly after the meeting. You can read more about our HOPE program here.

HLAA National Convention Highlights

Participants shared highlights from the national HLAA convention in June in Phoenix.

• Cliff Olson’s advice and videos: Audiologist Dr. Cliff Olson presented on audiologists’ best practices, how to pick the best hearing aids for you, and more. Watch his videos on his YouTube channel, which is highly recommended by attendees. You can even get a consult with him.
• Emotional side of hearing loss and self-empowerment were also well-received presentations.
• Meeting people: Meeting new and old friends was a convention highlight.
• Get in the Hearing Loop/Industry Lunch: This meeting brought together hearing loop advocates and industry representatives, including an audiologist and folks from Bluetooth and hearing aid and hearing loop manufacturers. The goal was to collaborate to develop hearing aids that are public assistive listening system ready.
• Hearing assistance: Hearing assistance at the convention hotel could be improved by offering a hearing/assistive listening kit and an assistive listening device at the check-in desk. Some Washington State hotels do offer these kits.
• Feedback is encouraged. Please send constructive feedback to Melissa at HLAA so we can continue to improve our conventions.

Hearing Loss Tech Tips

• Magnetic field concerns: Hearing loops are not generally considered to be a harmful source of electrical or magnetic fields. But if someone is concerned about the magnetic field around a hearing loop or another source, they can use a radiofrequency (RF) meter, available on Amazon.
• Speech-to-text apps for smartphones: Android users can try LiveTranscribe to see their calls as text; iPhone users can use LiveListen or LiveTranscript. LiveCaptions are available in FaceTime. Otter and AVA are other downloadable apps that will show speech as text. One participant has had billing problems with Otter.
• Experimenting with Auracast: Auracast is an assistive listening system powered by low-energy Bluetooth audio. Testing of Auracast was offered at the convention. One participant said when she tried Auracast with her ReSound hearing aid (which has the tech needed to receive Auracast), it felt immersive, like surround-sound. Another participant said she had to use the generic hearing aids they gave her, and the Auracast signal was weak. Another participant said that when testing Auracast through headphones, the signal was loud but she got a lot of feedback from her hearing aids, so she was constantly adjusting them. For her, it was similar to an FM system. The idea behind Auracast is that everyone, even people without hearing loss, will benefit from this technology. But today, we still need telecoils.

Staying Connected with Others When You Have a Hearing Loss

One participant talked about an experience at a “Paint & Sip” event. It wasn’t easy for him to hear the teacher, even with small speakers around the room. So he appreciated having someone with good hearing go with him, so that they could repeat and clarify what the teacher said. The participant suggested that bringing someone along to these types of events can be a huge help.

Also, the participant noted that that it’s tough at times for him to get out and connect with others, but he’s going to try to do so, because it helps him with his mental health challenges. Other participants sympathized with these challenges, especially participants who live alone and participants who long to connect with family but can’t hear them well.

Participants shared ways that they connect with others:

• Walking the dog and chatting with neighbors
• Going to a dog park–even if you don’t have a dog. Watching the dogs play and chatting with others.
• Playing card games like cribbage
• Playing cornhole
• Bringing a mini-mic like a RogerPen wherever you go. You can network several Roger Pens.
• Going to book clubs
• Maintaining a sense of humor
• Continuing to ask for accommodations