Hear Your Best with Telecoils and Auracast Presentation
In this insightful and engaging session, audiologist and advocate Dr. Juliëtte Sterkens explores why assistive listening technology—like telecoils and Auracast Broadcast Audio—remains essential, even with the most advanced hearing aids and cochlear implants.
Discover how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) can support your hearing needs, and get access to practical templates for making effective accommodation requests. Learn how to engage your audiologist, use Google Maps to locate accessible venues, and advocate for broader hearing access in your community.
Presenter:
Juliëtte Sterkens, AuD
Juliëtte Sterkens, a Wisconsin-based audiologist with over 40 years of experience, is a nationally recognized advocate for assistive listening. Since 2012, she’s championed hearing accessibility through HLAA, earned top audiology awards, and serves on the board of HEAR-in-the-Fox Cities, supporting children in need.
It was standing-room only at our Hearing Other People’s Experiences (HOPE) meeting on February 22, where about 15 people gathered, including several new to HLAA. Attendees shared their heartfelt hearing loss stories and supported each other for two hours and many stayed afterwards to continue the conversation, while enjoying the brunch feast provided by our “hostess with the mostess” Georgia Fleischer. The theme of our sharing seemed to be “We are all family and never alone.”
HLAA National even sent a photographer to shoot some photos for their upcoming magazine and other channels, with Communications representative and longtime HLAA-LA member Teri Breier present to relay the latest updates.
Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 are poised to serve a dual purpose, not only as wireless earbuds but also as over-the-counter hearing aids. This new feature is designed for Americans suffering from mild to moderate hearing loss, providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional hearing aids, which often carry a stigma and high price tag. Experts are optimistic about the potential for AirPods to make hearing assistance more accessible, especially following FDA authorization of the Hearing Aid Feature (HAF) software. The AirPods Pro 2 will include features like hearing protection, a built-in hearing test, and hearing amplification, making it easier for users to manage their hearing health discreetly.
