Table of Contents
In this issue of Hearing Life, Latisha Porter-Vaughn demonstrates that living well with hearing loss consists of persistence, willing to continue learning about it, finding support, staying active and engaged and taking advantage of assistive listening devices. In The Heart of Hearing, broadcast meteorologist and author Meaghan Thomas shares her passion project focusing on young children with hearing loss. Stephen O. Frazier writes about handy smartphone apps that will benefit people with or without hearing loss when traveling in To Hear When Traveling, Educate Your Smartphone. Amanda Watson lists highlights of the HLAA 2022 Convention, which is June 23-25 in Tampa, Florida. In A Saga of an Older Adult with Hearing Loss, Bruce L. Douglas shares how it has taken him almost his entire adult life to recognize that he never had normal hearing. In Better Speech Recognition with Vision, authors Lynne E. Bernstein, Edward T. Auer, Jr., Silvio P. Eberhardt and Nicole Jordan reveal how lipreading ability is not an inborn trait. Their research on adults who were deaf before learning language and who did not use cochlear implants has shown that most learned to be very good or excellent lipreaders. Finally, in his poem Silent Blessings, Kevin Medlin reveals how he appreciates silence as much as sound.
HLAA Chapters Sow Joy Every Day
By HLAA Director of Development Marilyn DiGiacobbe and HLAA Development Manager Alissa Peruzzini
How Will HLAA Chapters Celebrate Better Hearing Month?
By HLAA Senior Communications Manager Carrie Johnson
May is Better Hearing Month. HLAA wants to highlight what HLAA Chapters plan to do to celebrate and encourage hearing health and how to live well with hearing loss.
My Journey with Undiagnosed Sensorineural Hearing Loss
By Latisha Porter-Vaughn
The author demonstrates that living well with hearing loss consists of persistence, willing to continue learning about it, finding support, staying active and engaged and taking advantage of assistive listening devices. She is the first African American president of the HLAA New Jersey State Association and chair of its Scholarship Committee.
Health Care Communication Access
Effective Communication in Medical Settings: Your Rights Under the Law
By Andrew Webb
Tips for Communication Access After an Accident
By Wynne Whyman
News and Notes
The Heart of Hearing
By Meaghan Thomas
This broadcast meteorologist, a bilateral hearing aid wearer, is the author of Heart of Hearing, a true passion project focusing on young children with hearing loss. She also created a nonprofit — The Heart of Hearing — to raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with hearing loss.
HLAA Weighs in on the FDA’s Over-the-Counter Proposal
By HLAA Public Policy Associate Brian Meyer
To Hear When Traveling, Educate Your Smartphone
By Stephen O. Frazier
Don’t let age or hearing loss keep you from the grand adventure that travel can and should be. If they’ve not already done so, traveler or not, people with or without hearing loss should get a smartphone and download some of the great apps now available. They’ll face far fewer challenges when traveling and even in their daily lives with the help of a smartphone.
Why I Like the HLAA Rochester Chapter
By HLAA Chapter and Membership Coordinator Carla Beyer-Smolin
HLAA 2022 Convention is Fast Approaching!
By HLAA Meeting Planner Amanda Watson
HLAA is dedicated to bringing you a fun, safe and enlightening in-person Convention in beautiful Tampa, Florida this June at the brand new JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. You’ll be busy with exhibitors in the Exhibit Hall, a riveting opening session, fantastic workshops to attend, demo presentations, social events, a symposium presented by top researchers in the field — and more!
A Saga of an Older Adult with Hearing Loss
By Bruce L. Douglas
The author shares how it has taken him almost his entire adult life to recognize that he never had normal hearing. He finally emerged from denial when he started college. Looking back, he realizes that his sensorineural hearing loss was unconsciously balanced by some residual cognitive energy that gave him the coping skills to get good grades.
Walk4Hearing Reunites This Spring
By HLAA Walk4Hearing Senior Manager Ronnie Adler and HLAA Walk4Hearing Manager Ann Rancourt
Better Speech Recognition with Vision
By Lynne E. Bernstein, Edward T. Auer, Jr., Silvio P. Eberhardt and Nicole Jordan
Lipreading ability is not an inborn trait. Our research on adults who were deaf before learning language and who did not use cochlear implants has shown that most learned to be very good or excellent lipreaders.
Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss
By Shari Eberts and Gael Hannan
Hearing health advocates, consultants and speakers Shari Eberts and Gael Hannan offer a new skills-based approach to hearing loss that is centered not on hearing better, but on communicating better.