Wisconsin HLAA Supports the National 'Get in the Hearing Loop Project'!

READ IT HERE! Learn what this is about.

Hearing Loop Movement Accelerating Rapidly!

May 7, 2012

NOTE: The article above is a composit of recent articles that have been published about hearing loops in the United States. There are links to other articles. The master article is from the May2012 issue of Audiology Online.

Please copy and share with your hearing healthcare professionals and others.

 MORE GOOD NEWS ABOUT LOOPS

Sertoma, a national service organization which promotes hearing health through its 540 local clubs (much as Lions Clubs focus on vision), has launched a national campaign to introduce hearing loops to their communities (see here). In support of this effort, they have developed 3 videos.   Feel free to share this information with others.

Education is the key to managing hearing loss. The whole world needs educating about this technology! Thank YOU for spreading the word.

HLAA-WI supports the installation of Hearing Loops in venues where hearing & listening are vital to participation. The HLAA National website has extensive information about hearing loops. For more information and materials, visit our Get in the Hearing Loop page.

Helpful articles on hearing loops may be found at this non-profit website: www.hearingloop.org

A list of venues in Wisconsin that have hearing loops can be found HERE.   NOTE: If you are aware of others, please contact the webmaster so we can add them. Thank you.

 Wisconsin is a front runner in this project! Let's keep this list growing!

Why this project is so important...

"Get in the Hearing Loop" is a collaborative effort to enlighten and excite hearing aid users, as well as audiologists and other professionals who dispense hearing aids. It is all about Telecoils and hearing loops and their unique benefits.

FACTS...

Hearing loops transmit the audio from a PA system directly to telecoil equipped hearing aids and cochlear implants. The telecoil functions as an antenna that relays sounds directly to the ear while bypassing background noise. Some people describe this as “having binoculars for their ears”. Even for people with serious to profound hearing loss, the sound received this way is crisp and clear.

A telecoil allows a hearing aid to become a wireless receiver for use with telephones and hearing assistive listening systems. The addition of a telecoil to a hearing instrument, gives the user far more ‘bang for the buck’ as it’s like having 2 separate devices built into a single unit.   69% of all hearing aids sold in the United States today have built in Telecoils, yet far too few consumers know about them and too few dispensers recommend them. All too often, they are there, but they have not been activated by the seller.

 This means educating clients on the value of this component while providing instruction on how to use it. This does not always happen, so it’s important for hearing aid users to use a consumer approach to purchasing hearing aids.

HLAA-Wisconsin has been a front runner in promoting Telecoils and hearing loops. The theme of the HLAA-WI state conference in 2008, was ‘Let’s Loop Wisconsin’. HLAA-WI brought in Dr. David Myers, PhD as a keynote speaker. Dr. Myers inspired HLAA members, along with audiologist Juliette Sterkens from Oshkosh.

Dr. Sterkens was further inspired to establish a hearing loop business in tandem with her audiology practice. Her husband Max Maxfield, a recently retired engineer is her business partner and loop installer. Together, they have promoted hearing loops in Wisconsin’s Fox Valley region, and have trained several installers in other parts of the state.

In 2010, HLAA-WI, in partnership with HLAA-Fox Valley Chapter, planned and held a highly successful state conference on hearing loops.

SEE Educational Hearing Loop Conference Page

We hope that similar conferences will be held in other areas of the state. The model is available. All you need is a group of enthusiastic volunteers.  If you would like to plan a Hearing Loop Conference in your area, please contact Fox Valley HLAA Chapter % Julie Olson for information:  julieo@athenet.net  



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 How Hearing Loops Can Help

April 2012 Article  Washington Post       

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List of Loop Venders/Installers in Wisconsin

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 Recent Articles on Hearing Loops, Installations, etc.

(Click on date)

April 4, 2012

April 27, 2012

Chris Prust brought Fox Valley Chapter's Outreach Award from National HLAA home to present to chapter president, Rhonda Clancey. The conference was planned and chaired by Julie Olson, founder of the chapter. She was unavailable for the presentation.

Congratulations

HLAA Fox Valley!