Advances in Age-Related Hearing Loss Research and Community Support

Better Hearing, Meetings, Research
Noah Linder speaking in front of the group and on Zoom

Noah Linder presenting to the chapter and on Zoom!

Our chapter held its July 2026 meeting for the first time in a hybrid format! Additionally, remote participants watched our feature presentation by Noah kinder, a fourth-year UCSB graduate researcher.

Noah shared current research focused on treating and potentially preventing age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) through regenerative medicine and stem cell technologies.

Key topics included:

  • How hearing works and the role of auditory hair cells in the inner ear.
  • The impact of aging on hearing cell damage and loss.
  • Research exploring the regeneration of damaged hearing cells using supporting cells already present in the cochlea.
  • Stem cell-based approaches aimed at replacing damaged auditory cells.
  • Preclinical studies showing promising hearing improvements in animal models.
  • Efforts to understand cellular rejuvenation mechanisms that could potentially slow or prevent age-related hearing decline.

Noah also provided an overview of the clinical trial process, explaining the goals of Phases 1 through 4 and emphasizing the importance of participant involvement in bringing future therapies to market.

Discussion on Clinical Trials and Hearing Restoration

During an extensive Q&A session, attendees discussed:

  • The potential for regenerative therapies to help individuals whose hearing loss resulted from viral damage.
  • Differences between age-related and genetic forms of sensorineural hearing loss.
  • Eligibility criteria for hearing loss clinical trials.
  • Current recruitment efforts for stem cell-based hearing restoration studies.
  • How hearing restoration therapies are delivered, including minimally invasive cochlear implantation procedures.
  • The role of artificial intelligence in medical research and data analysis.

Noah noted that while several therapies show promise, many remain in early research or recruitment stages and are not yet approved for widespread clinical use.

HEAR Center Partnership Strengthens Community Resources

Marison Perez, executive director of the HEAR presenting

Marisol Perez, executive director of the HEAR Center.

After our presentation, Executive Director Marisol Perez welcomed attendees and highlighted the HEAR Center’s commitment to expanding community partnerships and improving services for individuals with hearing loss.

Key initiatives include:

  • Facility improvements and expanded family-friendly spaces.
  • Increased collaboration with hearing health and disability organizations.
  • Hosting educational and support programs that connect individuals and families with valuable hearing loss resources.

Upcoming HLAA Los Angeles Events

The chapter announced several upcoming activities:

  • August 22, 2026: Summer Family Picnic and social gathering in the Culver City area. More details to come.
  • September 26, 2026: Educational meeting featuring a guest speaker (to be announced).
  • October 2026: HOPE (Hearing Other People’s Experiences) support group meeting focused on peer discussions and shared experiences.

Walk4Hearing Success

We celebrated the success of the Long Beach Walk4Hearing, the chapter’s primary fundraising event. The chapter’s team, LA Stars, raised approximately $12,000, making it one of the chapter’s top fundraising years.

Read more about the event.

National Recognition and Youth Leadership

The chapter also shared highlights from the 2026 HLAA National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. Several chapter members attended, and the Los Angeles Chapter received recognition for excellence in chapter engagement and community impact.

Special recognition was given to Fabiola Ramirez, the chapter’s Young Adult Ambassador, who continues to advocate for hearing accessibility, captioning, and awareness while pursuing a future career in audiology.

Community Voices

Hasbro figureSeveral new and past attendees shared personal experiences living with hearing loss, emphasizing the value of:

  • Peer support.
  • Self-advocacy.
  • Accessible communication tools.
  • Hearing aids and assistive technology.
  • Community connections through HLAA and the chapter.

Members expressed appreciation for having a welcoming environment where individuals can openly discuss challenges and solutions related to hearing loss.

To learn more, please contact us at info@hlaa.la.org.