How to Cope with Hearing Loss and Your Mental Health Meeting

Accessible Entertainment, Chapter, Meetings

Join Us!

Coping with Hearing Loss: Taking Care of our Mental Health
Date: Saturday, January 22, 2022
Where: Online Zoom Meeting
Time: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. PT (may extend beyond 11 a.m.)
Audience: Open to all for this free event. Please pass along this invite to others!

Hearing loss is an invisible disability; its true disability is a communication disability. The primary disability of hearing loss is a communication disability rather than just not being able to hear. Struggling to understand conversations with lifelong friends and family, hearing music or professional meetings is a constant stress every day and can lead to depression and social withdrawal.

An essential part of dealing with hearing loss is recognizing that stress is inevitable so rather than avoiding it, learning more effective stress communication skills will be more productive and emotionally satisfying. Come learn new coping skills for keeping depression and anxiety at bay with Dr. Alison Freeman, who has a severe, bilateral sensorineural loss herself.

Presenter:

Alison Freeman

Alison Freeman, Ph.D. received her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and theater arts from the University of California and doctorate from International University. She works half-time at California State University at Northridge as a staff psychologist working with students with hearing loss, is an adjunct professor at Cal Lutheran and has a private practice.
Dr. Freeman was diagnosed with a moderate-severe hearing loss at age 3.

Hearing Health Care Impacts from COVID

Advocacy, Better Hearing, News

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.”

HLAA 2022 Convention Registration Now Open!

Convention, Events, HLAA

The HLAA 2022 Convention is back in person and is now open for registration! The convention will be held in Tampa Florida, June 23-25 at the beautiful JW Marriott Tampa Water Street hotel.

As you may know, the last two conventions have been virtual so there is a lot of anticipation and excitement to finally meet in person. Please note that your safety and wellbeing are of the utmost importance so all Covid and vaccination protocols will be followed. You can learn more on the convention page link above.

Additionally, this three-day event includes a research symposium on cochlear implants and a variety of educational workshops, programs and events.

Hope to see you there!

Join our Steering Committee!

News
Steering Committee The LA Chapter is looking for individuals who want to make a difference and shape the future of our organization by joining the steering committee. 2022 promises to be an exciting year of changes and opportunities. We really need your support!
How can I help? 

  • Posting to our social media channels
  • Website help such as posting articles and updating content
  • Meeting planning – including finding topics and presenters
  • Providing Zoom help and support during our meetings
  • Helping to secure a new meeting location. We are ready to meet in person again!!!
Requirements:
  • Have a current membership with HLAA
  • Check and respond to periodic emails
  • Be available for quarterly Steering Committee meetings
  • Approximately 3-4 hours per month of SC involvement
If you can not join the Steering Committee, you can still support us.
There are many tasks to be done! You can tell us your strengths and interests!
Please Contact Us:
info@hlaa-la.org by Friday, December 10!

Stay Updates with the Latest Chapter and HLAA News

Chapter, HLAA, News, Resources

Please see below for many great options to sign up to stay updated on the latest hearing loss and chapter news!

LA Chapter email/newsletter subscription form.
See the right side of any page to submit your email.

HLAA Groups
Link below will take you to various groups you can join and follow.

https://hlaagroups.hearingloss.org/

HLAA Hearing Life e-News
Twice a month HLAA news stories and information to your inbox.

https://www.hearingloss.org/news-media/e-news/

HLAA News and Hear This! Blogs

Latest hearing loss and HLAA news and events sent directly to your inbox.(You’ll find it on any HLAA website page in the lower right corner of the page. Just look for the below and submit your email.)

Consumer Reports Articles to Figure Out Hearing Aids

Better Hearing, News, Resources

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

AMC to add Open Captions

Accessible Entertainment, News

AMC LogoBig news was announced by AMC that 240 of their locations will now offer open captions for their movies at selected times. Keep in mind this isn’t all their locations but it’s a step in the right direction.

Moviegoers at locations offering open captions will be able to search for showtimes via the AMC website or their mobile app. Interestingly, this announcement comes just before the release of Disney’s Eternals film set to debut on November 5. The movie features deaf actress Lauren Ridloff as the first Marvel deaf superhero.

The hope is as people experience and see more of these captioning options, it will gain momentum for more movies and theaters to offer captioning. Let’s see what happens.

Read the full article.

AVA Presents at our October Meeting

Events, Meetings, Resources

When: Saturday, October 23, 2021
Time: 10 a.m. PT – 11 a.m. PT (but we may continue beyond 11 a.m.)
Where: Zoom meeting
Presenter: Pieter Doevendans – co-founder of AVA

AVA Captioning Logo

Come and join us for our October meeting. Join others for an informative and engaging presentation about the powerful AVA captioning app that easily allows you to live in a fully accessible world. Imagine a day when we will live in a 24/7 accessible world. AVA can help us get there!

 

 

Presenter:

Pieter Doevendans headshotPieter Doevendans, a co-founder of AVA, will present so grab some coffee and morning snacks and join us! There will be time afterward for questions and answers.
Learn more about AVA and their mission.

 

Any questions? Just email us at info@hlaa-la.org.

 

Fun at the Beach!

Chapter, Events, Fundraising, Social Event

Volley 4 sound banner

The chapter received wonderful news recently when Volley4Sound decided to make our chapter one of the recipients of a donation from them. Special thanks go to Kelsey Brandin for making this happen for the chapter!

This event will take place at beautiful Hermosa Beach on Sunday, October 10, and should be a wonderful time for all who attend. But, we need your help! We have the unique opportunity to have a booth to set up and provide HOH/deaf information and awareness to those attending. We’ll have printed materials, buttons, candy and big smiles to share but need volunteers to join in the fun and help man the booth!

Please consider volunteering or learn more by emailing us at info@hlaa-la.org.
Date: Sunday, October 10, 2021
Where: Hermosa Beach Pier
Time: Festivities start at 9 a.m. with booth setup time TBD
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