Hearing Health Care Impacts from COVID

But like so many aspects of life, hearing health care was impacted by COVID, sometimes causing radical changes that could prove to be permanent. Four people deeply involved in the world of hearing health care—Sydlowski; Kate Carr, president of the Hearing Industries Association (HIA); Barbara Kelley, executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA); and Donna Sorkin, executive director of the American Cochlear Implant (ACI) Alliance—provided personal insights into these changes, as well as initial expectations, surprises, hopes for the future, and silver linings.

Kelley also hopes the heightened awareness of hearing caused by facial coverings will lead to more patients getting the care they need.

“I want to drive more people to hearing health care. Hearing health is part of overall wellness.”

Consumer Reports Articles to Figure Out Hearing Aids

Consumer ReportsSee the below articles from Consumer Reports outlining advice and tips for hearing aids, including shopping for them. Over-the-counter hearing aids are not far away so now is the time to get yourself informed!

It’s Confusing and Difficult to Shop for Hearing Aids. Here’s How to Figure It Out.

If you buy a direct-to-consumer (DTC) hearing aid and it doesn’t work for you, don’t give up, urges Barbara Kelley, executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America. “It might just not be a good device,” she says. Return it and try again—or consider consulting an audiologist. There’s almost surely something out there that can help.

It’s likely that just as with DTC hearing aids, some makers of PSAPs will seek approval for their products as OTC hearing aids once the FDA finalizes the rules, says Kelley.

Your Guide to Hearing Helpers

Don’t Miss the “We Hear You” Documentary!

HLAA is proud to host a Talkback with the filmmakers of the award-winning documentary, “We Hear You.” Executive produced by HLAA members Holly Cohen, Shari Eberts and Roxana Rotundo, and also featuring HLAA member Toni Iacolucci, “We Hear You” was named Best Film on Disability in the June 2021 awards of the Cannes World Film Festival.

Important Note: You must register for the event first and then you will receive a link two weeks prior to the talkback event to watch the documentary. The documentary will not be shown during the September 23 Zoom Event.

REGISTER

Panelists
Holly Cohen

Holly Cohen

Sheri Eberts

Sheri Eberts

Toni Iacolucci

Toni Iacolucci

Roxana Rotundo

Roxana Rotundo

Moderated By
Gael Hannan

Gael Hannan

The Talkback will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the documentary and give the filmmakers the opportunity to hear from you—the hearing loss community. You will receive a link to the Zoom Event when you register. We look forward to a fun and lively conversation about the film.

Learning About Wireless Audio Streaming for Modern Hearing Aids

Hearing Tracker Logo

Hearing Loops and Bluetooth are hot topics of today for people with hearing aids that can support those technologies – which many do now. Do you know how they work and the latest developments with those technologies? Check out the insightful podcast from HearingTracker.com.

About the podcast:

In today’s episode, we speak with two hearing aid experts to learn about wireless audio streaming in modern hearing aids. Today’s hearing aids can stream multimedia and calls from your phone, but also have the ability to tap into shared audio streams through magnetic induction loops, or “hearing loops”, which are installed in public spaces like auditoriums and churches. While hearing loops are the current state of the art, we’ll also learn about the Bluetooth future of shared audio streams.

Speakers:

  • Andrew Bellavia – Director of Market Development at Knowles Electronics, a supplier of hearing aid hardware.
  • Dr. Juliëtte Sterkens – An audiologist and strong lifelong advocate for hearing loops and people with hearing loss.

Watch Podcast

The Essentials for Caring for Hard of Hearing and Deaf Seniors

Caring for hearing of hearing elders imageAccording to the National Institute on Aging (NIH), approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing loss, and nearly half of those older than 75 have difficulty hearing. Yet for those who care for an elderly loved one, the additional challenges of their hearing loss is sometimes an afterthought.

Learn how to address these challenges beforehand to ensure your elderly loved one have the care and support they need while giving you peace of mind.

Special thanks to Noelle Bennett, a teacher and advisor at Learning Haven, for sharing this resource from her student Anna. Thank you Anna!

What Losing My Hearing and Getting it Back Taught Me

From a TEDx Talks presentation, Angela Irwin shares her journey from the hearing world to hard of hearing. Insightful thoughts and perspectives are shared by Angela as she dives into the challenges and transitions experienced between hearing and not. If you have a little time, have a view and see how these relate to your own personal hearing loss journey. Or perhaps someone you know with hearing loss.

May 22 Chapter Presentation – Finding Balance

Join us for an informative and interactive presentation about the vestibular system and how it impacts balance. How does hearing loss potentially factor into this disorder? Join us and find out!

Register

Date: Saturday, May 22
Time: 10 a.m. PT
Duration: 90 minutes

Speaker:
Alaina Bassett

Alaina Bassett
AuD, Ph.D., CCC-A, Assistant Professor, Division of Audiology at USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and Director, USC Balance Center.

Overview: Finding Balance: Exploring the vestibular system
In this session, we will focus on the vestibular system which is responsible for encoding the position of the head in space relative to gravity.  This portion of the inner ear can be a mystery to many yet, plays a pivotal role in everyday activities. Topics will include anatomy and physiology of the vestibular system, auditory and vestibular disorders, vestibular diagnostic tests, and functional outcomes following changes in vestibular function.

The Reality of Listening Fatigue in a World of Masks

Man with mask

From hearinglikeme.com—The concept of listening fatigue has been around for quite some time; but could it be even more prevalent in a world of face masks? The short answer is—absolutely—for both those with hearing loss and those without.

Read more »

For more information on hearing and masks, visit the Hearing Loss Association of America resources page.

Watch our webinar, Face Masks and Hearing Loss: Practical Tips and Strategieshere.

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