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January 18, 2022

Happy 2022!
 

In our first issue of 2022, we share with you. . . .
  • Why removing the barrier of the access "ask" matters
  • Our annual meeting video
  • Advocacy opportunity: hearing aid coverage for kids and adults
  • Advocacy opportunity for hearing loops at Costco
  • Cliff Olson's review of Starkey Evolv Ai hearing aids
  • Next HOPE meeting February 5, 2022
Washington State Hearing Loss News

The Barrier of the "Ask": Why It's Important to Have Accommodations Ready
 

What's the problem with a system that requires people to ask for disability accommodation? Well, there are a lot of problems, especially for people with hearing loss.

Read more this week on our blog to learn why removing the burden of the "ask" can get us closer to true inclusion and meaningful access.
Miss Our Annual Meeting? Watch the Video
 

Over 50 people attended our  virtual annual meeting last Saturday. Thank you to everyone who attended for your energy and excellent questions and input.

Special thanks to Lindsay Klarman and Brad Ingrao, AuD from the Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center (HSDC) for their presentation about HSDC's services for people of all ages with hearing loss.

Watch the video below to discover how HSDC's unbundled service model and patient-centered approach can help you, plus get updates on our HLAA-WA work and meet our board and other leaders.

Note that the video is captioned, and we're busy improving the caption timing and accuracy.
Watch our annual meeting video on YouTube here
Hearing Loss Action Opportunities
 
Ask For a Hearing on the Washington State Hearing Aid Coverage Bill
 

This year, private insurance hearing aid coverage may be coming for both adults and children. We enthusiastically support this bill!

Our urgent ask now is to contact Rep. Eileen Cody to ask that this bill (HB 1854) gets a hearing and a vote. The legislature has a busy docket this session, so we want to encourage Rep. Cody to get this bill moving. The bill is currently in the Health Care & Wellness Committee.

You can mention...
  • The high cost of hearing aids (up to $3,000 each)
  • How people fall into the gap--they don't qualify for Medicaid, yet Medicare and most private insurance doesn't cover hearing aids
  • The ways hearing aids change people's lives: to hear our friends and family, to succeed at work, and to help children in school
  • The risks of untreated hearing loss, including falls, cognitive decline, under-and unemployment, loneliness, isolation, and depression
  • That other medical equipment is often covered, yet people with hearing loss have long been underserved by our systems
  • How your hearing aids help you every day
Click below for Rep. Cody's contact information.
Click here to contact Rep. Eileen Cody about HB 1854
Ask Costco for Counter Loops
Are you a Costco shareholder--even of one share? If so, you can ask Costco at their annual shareholder meeting to provide counter loops for people with hearing loss at their hearing aid counters. HLAA-WA Trustee Carolyn Odio explains why this is important and how to do it in this blog post. 
Let's Talk Hearing Tech

New Starkey Evolv Ai Hearing Aids
A Review from Cliff Olson
 
Evolv Ai Hearing Aid Review

The ever-entertaining Cliff Olson looks at the new Starkey Evolv Ai hearing aids. One hearing aid in this line has "an incredible feature with an absolutely horrible design." Which one? Watch the video. 
Hearing Loss in the News

Struggling to Hear Conversations in Noisy Places?
You May Have Hidden Hearing Loss
 
 

 
Some people with normal audiogram tests can't understand what's being said in noisy places, like in restaurants, coffee shops, and crowds. In this New York Times article, read about hidden hearing loss and why the problem might not be in the ear's hair cells, but in the brain cells. 
Hearing Loss Events
Next HOPE Meeting February 2, 2022
 
 
Hearing loss isn't an easy diagnosis. But there are ways we can help each other to ask for what we need and find technologies that work for us.

Our Hearing Other People's Experiences (HOPE) meetings provide a safe, encouraging virtual environment for people with hearing loss —and their friends and family—to ask questions and to share tips and support. All meetings are free, captioned, and facilitated by a caring team of hearing loss advocates. Join us as we encourage and support each other and learn to thrive with hearing loss. 
 
Our HOPE Crew hosts valuable and enjoyable Zoom meetings the 1st Wednesday of each month at 4:00 p.m.  We’ll be looking for you!
Register for the February 2, 2022 HOPE meeting
Join the Hearing Loss Association of America and HLAA-WA

Learn From Others Who've Walked the Hearing Loss Journey


HLAA and HLAA-Washington can connect you to the people, technologies, and programs that can help you live your best life, regardless of your ability to hear. Because life is worth hearing.
 
As an HLAA member, your dues help to support our hearing loss programs, boost our advocacy efforts, and help you stay connected. Member benefits include product discounts, reduced convention registration fees, help with the latest hearing loss tech, and HLAA's award-winning quarterly magazine, Hearing Life. 
 
Your HLAA membership automatically includes a membership in HLAA-Washington. Dues start at $45 a year, and veterans can join free for a year.
Join HLAA now
Renew your HLAA/HLAA-WA membership
Subscribe to the HLAA-WA free e-news
Forward this newsletter to someone new to hearing loss
Note: HLAA-WA does not endorse any product we discuss, nor does exclusion suggest disapproval.
We believe each person can review and select products based on their unique circumstances and needs.
We support the full spectrum of hearing technology access. 

For questions, comments, or story ideas, please email us: mailchimp@hearingloss-wa.org.
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Our mailing address is:
P.O. Box 265 
Redmond WA  98073-0265

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