Hearing Life Magazine Fall/Winter 2024

As we celebrate HLAA’s 45th anniversary, the theme of our Hearing Life magazine fall-winter 2024 issue is, appropriately, community. In the cover feature, Building a Hearing Loss Community by Janna Rovniak, find out how a unique Girl Scout troop is growing a deaf/hard of hearing community for young girls and their families. Learn about the importance of connection for mental health in The Emotional Side of Hearing Loss by clinical psychologist Ivette Cejas, Ph.D. Read contributions from HLAA Chapter members and others who share the value they have received from our nationwide network of support, and highlights of local book clubs and library programs for people with hearing loss. Get the inside story from a pioneering Olympic athlete, Aaron Small, who wears hearing aids and made history in Paris. On the advocacy side, we celebrate a big regulatory win decades in the making, which requires all phones to be hearing aid compatible. Plus, our brand-new website, the 2024 Walk4Hearing season wrap-up, a sneak peak at the HLAA 2025 Convention, holiday socializing strategies and a message from Executive Director Barbara Kelley.

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A Note from our Executive Director

Barbara Kelley shares why HLAA is celebrating 45 years of changing lives, through the power of our nationwide community of support.

Building a Hearing Loss Community

By Janna Rovniak

A unique Girl Scout troop in southern California is breaking barriers and creating a community of peer support for young girls with hearing loss and their families. Co-founder and co-troop leader Janna Rovniak relates the challenges and rewards they experienced along the way.

The Emotional Side of Hearing Loss

By Ivette Cejas, Ph.D.

The clinical psychologist who moderated our HLAA 2024 research symposium, Ivette Cejas, Ph.D., explores the emotional impact of hearing loss and the importance of community in this article.

HLAA Launches New Website to Expand Reach

Our newly redesigned website is now live, with user-friendly navigation, more advanced features and valuable resources.

After 50 Years, 100% of Phones Will Soon Be Hearing Aid Compatible

By HLAA Director of Public Policy Neil Snyder

After 50 Years, 100% of Phones Will Soon Be Hearing Aid Compatible

Olympic Athlete with Hearing Loss Makes History

By HLAA Director of Strategic Communications Meredith Resnick

Aaron Small, a 23-year-old Seattle native, made history this summer as the first Team USA sprint kayaker with hearing loss to compete in the Olympics. He’s excited to be a role model and advocate for hearing health.

Walk4Hearing Season Wrap-Up

2024 was another successful year for our nationwide community of support in action. Find out how many people participated and how much was raised to bring awareness and funds to hearing health across the U.S.

HLAA Convention 2025: Indianapolis, Start Your Engines!

Start planning your visit to Indy next June, with Early Bird Registration opening in January 2025. Book your spot, reserve an exhibit, propose an educational workshop and more online.

Turning the Page on Hearing Loss

Several HLAA Chapters are making book clubs more inclusive for people with hearing loss, and a growing number of public libraries are improving accessibility with assistive listening systems for community rooms and programs. Here’s a look at this important work in their own words.