History shows that market forces alone are not enough to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities. Legislation, regulations, and standards are necessary for programs, products and services to be accessible to and usable by people with hearing loss. Several laws have been passed to help eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability and to enhance accessibility to public places, work places, telecommunications, schools, government and businesses. HLAA, together with other consumer and professional organizations, works not only to pass legislation to improve the quality of life of people with hearing loss but also works to push for implementation and strong enforcement of the laws.

March 11, 2024

Categories: Advocacy News, Health Care, Hearing Aids, HLAA, HLAA Blog, News, Newsroom

New Hearing Aid Coverage and Class Action Lawsuit in Washington State Could Spark Wider Changes

Law mandating coverage rolls out with Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) help amid anti-discrimination settlement that could guide other states There’s good news for residents of Washington state who...Law mandating coverage rolls out with Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) help amid anti-discrimination settlement that could guide other states There’s good news for residents of Washington state who wear hearing aids—a new law now requires some large group health plans to cover the cost of hearing aids and services. And some Kaiser Foundation … Read More >

May 25, 2023

Categories: ACAA, Advocacy News, Advocating, HLAA, HLAA Blog, News, Newsroom, travel, TSA

Flying with Hearing Loss Can Be Challenging

Planning ahead and knowing your rights can help  A recent news story about a senior woman’s air travel nightmare highlights problems many of us with hearing loss may experience when...Planning ahead and knowing your rights can help  A recent news story about a senior woman’s air travel nightmare highlights problems many of us with hearing loss may experience when we fly. Often announcements and even safety information aren’t accessible. How can we stay safe, remain informed and minimize issues while traveling?  Airport nightmare in … Read More >

May 25, 2022

Categories: Advocacy News, Blog, Health Care, HLAA Blog, News, Newsroom

Clinical Trials of Potential New Therapies for Hearing Loss are Out There. Here’s How to Find Them

Julie Uphoff, Senior Manager of Clinical Operations, Frequency Therapeutics Clinical trials play a critical role in bringing new medicines to people who may benefit from them. With hearing loss, clinical...Julie Uphoff, Senior Manager of Clinical Operations, Frequency Therapeutics Clinical trials play a critical role in bringing new medicines to people who may benefit from them. With hearing loss, clinical trials of therapeutics are a very recent development – only in the last few years have we been testing potential medicines (not devices) to restore … Read More >

April 27, 2022

Categories: Advocacy News, Blog, HLAA, HLAA Blog, News, Newsroom, OTC

Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Will Soon be Available to Millions of Americans

Barbara Kelley Executive Director Hearing Loss Association of America By Barbara Kelley, Executive Director, Hearing Loss Association of America Follow Barbara on Twitter, @Bkelley_HLAA. HLAA Helps Empower People Facing New...Barbara Kelley Executive Director Hearing Loss Association of America By Barbara Kelley, Executive Director, Hearing Loss Association of America Follow Barbara on Twitter, @Bkelley_HLAA. HLAA Helps Empower People Facing New Choices in Hearing Health The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is preparing the final rules for a new class of hearing aids that will … Read More >

February 8, 2022

Categories: Advocacy News, Blog, HLAA, HLAA Blog, News, Newsroom, Technology

We All are Accessibility Leaders

Barbara Kelley Executive Director Hearing Loss Association of America By Barbara Kelley, Executive Director, Hearing Loss Association of America Follow Barbara on Twitter, @Bkelley_HLAA. This January, HLAA was invited by...Barbara Kelley Executive Director Hearing Loss Association of America By Barbara Kelley, Executive Director, Hearing Loss Association of America Follow Barbara on Twitter, @Bkelley_HLAA. This January, HLAA was invited by the CTA Foundation to participate in the Accessibility Leaders Roundtable at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The CTA Foundation is a public, … Read More >

February 1, 2022

Categories: Advocacy News, Blog, HLAA, HLAA Blog, News, Newsroom, OTC

From Rx to OTC

Barbara Kelley Executive Director Hearing Loss Association of America By Barbara Kelley, Executive Director, Hearing Loss Association of America Follow Barbara on Twitter, @Bkelley_HLAA. Drugs that make the jump from...Barbara Kelley Executive Director Hearing Loss Association of America By Barbara Kelley, Executive Director, Hearing Loss Association of America Follow Barbara on Twitter, @Bkelley_HLAA. Drugs that make the jump from prescription to Over-the-Counter (OTC)—known as the “Rx-to-OTC switch”—go through a data-driven, scientifically robust evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Medicines that make this … Read More >

January 25, 2022

Categories: Advocacy News, Blog, HLAA, HLAA Blog, News, Newsroom

Be Careful, The Children are Listening

Barbara Kelley Executive Director Hearing Loss Association of America By Barbara Kelley, Executive Director, Hearing Loss Association of America Follow Barbara on Twitter, @Bkelley_HLAA. About five years ago a high...Barbara Kelley Executive Director Hearing Loss Association of America By Barbara Kelley, Executive Director, Hearing Loss Association of America Follow Barbara on Twitter, @Bkelley_HLAA. About five years ago a high school senior, let’s call him Ryan to protect his identity, did some volunteer hours at the HLAA office. Ryan was a smart kid, good character, … Read More >

January 19, 2022

Categories: Advocacy News, Blog, FDA, Health Care, Hearing Aids, News, Newsroom, OTC

HLAA Promotes Consumer Protection in Comments for New Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Rule

HLAA filed comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its proposed rule establishing Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids.  Once finalized by the FDA, consumers 18 and older with mild...HLAA filed comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its proposed rule establishing Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids.  Once finalized by the FDA, consumers 18 and older with mild to moderate hearing loss will be able to purchase hearing aids at retail and online outlets.  HLAA and organizations that signed onto these comments recommended … Read More >

January 4, 2022

Categories: Advocacy News, Blog, HLAA, HLAA Blog, HLAA Chapters, News, Newsroom

Open-Captioned Movies Coming Soon to New York City!

Carrie Johnson Senior Communications Manager Hearing Loss Association of America By Carrie Johnson, Senior Communications Manager, Hearing Loss Association of America A bill proposed by the New York City Chapter...Carrie Johnson Senior Communications Manager Hearing Loss Association of America By Carrie Johnson, Senior Communications Manager, Hearing Loss Association of America A bill proposed by the New York City Chapter of HLAA to require the city’s movie theaters — to offer weekly open-captioned screenings for every film — was overwhelmingly passed by the New York … Read More >

November 22, 2021

Categories: Advocacy News, Blog, HLAA, Medicare, News, Newsroom

U.S. House of Representatives Expands Medicare to Cover Hearing Aids

HLAA is thrilled to announce that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act of 2021 (H.R. 5376) on November 19, 2021. The Build Back Better Act...HLAA is thrilled to announce that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act of 2021 (H.R. 5376) on November 19, 2021. The Build Back Better Act of 2021 includes the expansion of Medicare to cover hearing aids and services. HLAA has spent years supporting the idea of Medicare coverage of hearing … Read More >