Hearing loss advocacy hits TEDx! Congratulations to HLAA adviser and hearing loop advocate Juliëtte Sterkens, Au.D. Her TEDxOshkosh talk, Hearing Loss: Beyond Hearing Aids, has over 225k views on the national TEDx Talks YouTube channel and views continue to grow! In the 18-minute talk, Juliëtte explains what it is like to listen with hearing aids and details Continue reading
Disability
Powering Up the Patient Perspective
One of my favorite things to do is to talk about hearing loss! I guess that comes with the territory as an advocate. Considering hearing aids? Come sit by me. I am happy to share my experiences. Complaining about the volume of the music? I’ll join you in asking the manager to lower the volume. Continue reading
Changing Mindsets about Hearing Loss
Societal misperceptions about hearing loss can prevent people from seeking the help that they need. And even when we do look for help, our doctors may minimize the condition, sidelining it as a normal part of aging. The same goes for policy makers who have historically left hearing care out of many public insurance plans. Continue reading
Interesting Reads: Soundtrack of Silence by Matt Hay
Sharing stories of loss and resilience help us feel connected. They give us strength and teach us tricks for living better with our challenges. Most importantly, they help us feel less alone. Matt Hay’s story, which he eloquently shares in his new book Soundtrack of Silence, is no exception. I met Matt in the early Continue reading
What Is It Like to Wear Hearing Aids?
Before I had my first hearing aid impression made, I had never put anything into my ear. Maybe a Q-tip, occasionally, before that was proven to do more harm than good, but never a gel that would harden into a 3-D model of my ear canal’s twists and turns. And never anything solid, for 10+ Continue reading
