Two Free Webinars on Accessibility in Healthcare Our friends at the ADA National Network are hosting two important free webinars focused on accessibility in healthcare. One is designed for community members advocating for their rights, and the
Hearing loss doesn’t just affect our ears – it also impacts our emotional well-being and mental health. This effect is often overlooked despite research showing a connection between hearing loss and mental health. Hearing loss
Hearing Aid Coverage Added to EHB Proposal – Public Comments Needed! California is finalizing its new health insurance benchmark plan, and a proposal to add hearing aid coverage for kids and adults is now on
Public spaces are purposefully designed around bringing people together – a café, a lounge, or a local theater. For those with hearing loss, however, these spaces can be difficult to navigate. Factors like background noise,
The Department of Managed Health Care will hold a public meeting to share the Essential Health Benefit (EHB) analysis and cost estimates. There will be an opportunity for public comment on the analysis and the
Hearing loss is very common as we age. Don’t be defensive, be proactive. You don’t have to be an old fuddy-duddy!
Written by HLAA Board Member – Janna Rovniak – you can follow along with her hearing journey at www.hardofhearingmama.com Have you ever considered navigating a store or the airport without using your voice? I was
We may be biased considering Sacramento is our hometown and that we have been fierce Kings fans our whole lives, but the Sacramento Kings have one of the most passionate and loyal fan bases in
Eric Brody, a Deaf advocate from Santa Barbara, has dedicated much of his life to strengthening his local Deaf and hard of hearing community. Through his advocacy work, teaching sign language, and his deep belief
October is a month dedicated to raising awareness about hearing loss and promoting the importance of protecting our hearing. Audiology Awareness Month and National Protect Your Hearing Month are both celebrated in October, making it
HLAA of California has partnered with California Hands & Voices to spread awareness about their invaluable programs for parents of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) children. If you’re a parent in this community, you
CCHAT opened its doors in 1996 with the singular mission of teaching children who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) to develop the necessary listening and spoken language (LSL) skills required for lifelong success.
Adding captions to your live phone calls is a built in feature on most iPhone and Android smartphones. Did you know you can turn it on easily? iPhone Operating System: Settings > Accessibility > Live
Husbands with Hearing Loss… and the Wives Who Love Them Husband: I don’t enjoy going out anymore. People aren’t as much fun as they used to be. Wife: My husband is getting anti-social. Husband: I
My name is Betty Vosters Kemp, I am a Licensed Hearing Healthcare Provider in the State of California. Since 1989, I have owned and operated Avalon Hearing Aid Centers, Inc. in Sacramento, CA, and has
Despite the scorching heat, the 2024 HLAA Convention in Phoenix was a success. It was wonderful to greet people I hadn’t seen since 2018. The workshops were great and I came home with ideas for
A series of unfortunate events happened to me last week. My Mac laptop bit the big one. I knew it was coming; so I prepared. I moved all my files to my external hard drive.
LivingWithHearingLoss.com My hearing loss story began in my mid-20s when I was a graduate student. Fairly quickly into the first semester, I began to miss things in class — a comment that was made under
Hearing loss can affect people of all ages, making communication and daily activities challenging. Fortunately, smartphone technology offers a range of innovative apps specifically designed to support those with hearing loss. These apps go beyond
I don’t know why I have hearing loss. I do have theories though. For more than forty years, I thought my hearing was very good and never had reason to question it. I studied languages
HLAA-CA Board Member, Stuart Steene-Connolly with his two daughters, and Michelle Marciniak of Let CA Kids Hear, and Kasey Cain of CA Hands & Voices organization. Debate kicked off last week on proposed legislation to
Falls are the leading cause of injury related death in adults 65 or older. In the United States, around $50 billion is spent annually on medical care related to falls in older adults. Data from
My name is Gail Dolson and for all but four of my almost 77 years I have either been hard of hearing or deaf. I was born with normal hearing and had a happy life
Join HLAA for the second event in its OTC 101: Ask the Experts Webinar Series sharing important information about over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. This exciting new class of products may provide another pathway to treatment for some
As we come together for family, friends, and some football, the HLAA California State Association is proud to highlight an extraordinary Californian artist, Priscila Soares, who has created many beautiful mixed media art inspired by
In the Beginning… It’s hard to imagine the world of hearing loss without the internet, texting, cell phones, and assistive listening devices. But those of us who had to deal with it had to be
Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids are now available directly to consumers without a prescription. They are designed for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss only. What’s Your Hearing Health Experience? TAKE OUR OTC SURVEY Could
by Rizwana Jmari – HLAA Los Angeles Chapter Los Angeles, CA – October 8, 2023 – The Hearing Loss Association of America – Los Angeles Chapter (HLAA-LA) recently participated in the Black Health Matters Health
By Katie Wright “Mom! Mom!” my daughter’s text read. “Connor didn’t pass his hearing screening! My heart dropped. My grandson was 4 years old, still in pre-school. He and his mom were at his physical
By Kasey Cain, B.S. I never imagined that someone else’s hearing loss would completely change my life. This happened with my first-born son. Everyone says that becoming a mother changes your life, but if you
By John Waldo Most health-insurance policies exclude coverage for hearing aids. A case in federal court in Seattle may change that. In 2017, two hearing-aid users sued Kaiser in Seattle, asking that the exclusions be
By Heather Lehr One if the banes of living with hearing loss is the high cost of hearing aids. Advanced technology is great IF you can afford it. And so many of us can’t. Of
The HLAA 2023 Convention is June 29 – July 1 in New Orleans, Louisiana! A timeless city with a unique way of life, New Orleans is steeped in European traditions and Caribbean influences. This picturesque
Frustrated with the high cost of hearing aids? You could get some relief in just a few weeks! As soon as this October, Americans with mild to moderate hearing loss will be able to buy
An Exciting Update!May, 2022 Thanks to the ongoing efforts of Janice Armigo Brown, BATF Vice Chair and HLAA-CA Director, the BART system in the Bay Area is nearing completion of its efforts to have all
By John Waldo The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has opened the door to much of public life for people with all manner of disabilities, but unfortunately, ADA is too often portrayed as nothing more
We’d love to see you at our fun-filled, family (and dog!) friendly events in two beautiful California Locations. Bay Area Walk Alameda, CA Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach – Map It! Saturday, June 4th
The Los Angeles Chapter gets together for their first meeting IRL Leave it to HLAA-LA to live up to its reputation as the party chapter! Just days before the full lifting of pandemic restrictions, the
By John Waldo The U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear argument on a case called Cummings v. Premier Rehabilitation. The decision could significantly impact the interests of deaf and hard of hearing (D/HoH) people. A
By Dr. Alison Freeman When we talk to someone who is wearing glasses, we don’t give any thought to what it is that they need in order to see. Vision is easily measured in finite
Los Angeles has a special place in my heart. It is where I had my first internship at the former House Ear Institute (AKA House Research Institute, now part of UCLA). It is where I
By Trevor Finneman In an emerging trend in employment disability rights cases, there has been a sizeable uptick in discrimination cases involving Deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HoH) job applicants over the past few years. For example,
The Audiology Clinic at San Diego State University, operating as part of the School of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, serves children and adults who have hearing problems and communication disorders due to hearing
By Katherine Bouton Mine are getting a workout. And the batteries are showing it…I have an Oticon Made for iPhone hearing aid, which means that whatever I hear via the phone is channeled by Bluetooth
By Zina Jawadi Throughout my life, I have found that proactive self-advocacy has been crucial to success in any academic program. My approach to accommodations did not change after I was accepted to medical school.
with the many frustrating technology challenges and stepped up to participate in online meetin
A California Nonprofit that Supports the Hearing Loss Community The Maryjane Rees Language, Speech and Hearing Center (MRLSHC) is part of the the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Sacramento State University. According to
Ten Years of HLAA-DV Advocacy Effort in Walnut Creek In 2010, Ann Thomas, president of the HLAA Diablo Valley Chapter, began advocating for communication access for people with hearing loss in the Contra Costa County
When John Butchko was an eighth grader in Santa Monica, he needed a community service project for school. A chance meeting with Nanci Linke-Ellis, former HLAA-CA SoCal Chapter Coordinator, gave him the inspiration to advocate
Melissa Billingsley first encountered hearing assistance dogs while working at her family’s veterinary hospital where she is a registered veterinary technician and practice manager. Lee G, one of her regular clients, had a hearing loss.
A few years ago, during the early days of the Get In The Hearing Loop campaign, the HLAA-Santa Barbara Chapter was meeting in the library at Wood Glen Hall Retirement Community. At that time, a
By Lou and Joy Shaup Because of Lou’s severe hearing loss, he could not hear what was being said during services and other functions at our church, First United Methodist in Upland, California (www.uplandfumc.org). It
By Lynn Rousseau and Debbie Mohney Have you ever watched people on the dance floor having a great time and pictured yourself out there with them? And then you thought, “But wait, I’m not like
Providence Speech and Hearing Center (PSHC) is the leading service provider to those with speech and hearing impairments in Orange County, CA, and beyond. Since 1965, this regionally renowned non-profit has assisted hundreds of thousands
By Teri Breier As the only nonprofit 501(c)3 audiological and speech therapy clinic of its kind in the greater Los Angeles region, HEAR Center provides state-of-the-art speech and hearing services for anyone who needs it, regardless of the
A group of cochlear implant users offered insights about their CI journeys—what went well and what could have made their experiences much better. Some received implants more than a decade ago, some have only had
Hearing and Speech Center of Northern California (HSC) celebrated its 100-year anniversary in May, 2017. Situated in downtown San Francisco, the building is home to an extensive range of services created to address communication challenges
By David G. Myers In 1999, I had an amazing experience while worshiping at Scotland’s Iona Abbey. As a person with hearing loss, I could understand virtually none of the spoken word as it reverberated
By Dr. Ray Goldsworthy I am fortunate to conduct hearing research at the University of Southern California (USC) where the various professional schools provide a rich environment for multidisciplinary research. Hearing research combines expertise from
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