Continue reading »]]> The Treasure Coast Chapter, Hearing Loss Association of America, recently held a “Name Our Newsletter” contest We are excited about our first newsletter, which will be emailed with its new name, upon completion. With about 90,000 people on the Treasure Coast who have hearing difficulties, there is a lot we can do, but
we need help. A newsletter is one way of getting the word out, and the contest for the name seemed to be the best way to start!

Congratulations to our contest winner! Patricia Dielmann of Port St. Lucie won $100 in gas cards for submitting the winning entry! Sound Waves of the Treasure Coast.

Thanks to our great panel of judges: Ted Dyer, Sr. Manager, Environment, Health and Safety, Piper Aircraft, Inc., Pastor Gene Johnson, Grace Lutheran Church, Port St. Lucie; Sydney Liebman, Editor, Luminaries and Joe Tufo, General Sales Manager, Arrigo Dodge, Chrysler Jeep Ram in Fort Pierce. Please remember that you are invited to our meetings the 3rd Friday of the month (through May) in the meeting room at Saint Lucie Lanes Bowling Alley, 6759 S. US 1, Port St. Lucie, at 11:00 a.m., and the 3rd Saturday of the month (through May) in the History Room at the Indian River County Library, 1600 21st Street, starting at 10:30 a.m.. Watch our website http://www.treasurecoastflhlaa.com for announcement of speakers and topics. We are excited to announce that Project Endeavor will be our presenter at the May meeting in Vero Beach! You can bring a neighbor, friend or relative to our meetings and share the information, too.
– Cheryl & Bill Nolte

Continue reading »]]> Our March meeting was a success in that we had eight attendees. Our guest speaker was Cindy Simon, Au.D. of South Miami Audiology, who spoke to us about CaptionCall phones and her experience with them. She offered any one in the group to stop by her office and try it out. Cindy also spoke on different types of technology available to help us hear. These include FM systems, Blue-tooth, and the Telecoil /Hearing Loop system. Many manufacturer’s include these as add-ons and some are more expensive that others. Many times you can get these types of devices on the Internet to augment your hearing aids. The important thing to remember is: “If it makes your life easier then it may be worth the cost.”

At our April meeting we heard from Elizabeth Janovsky, Outreach Manager for CaptionCall who demonstrated the CaptionCall phone and discussed in detail the specific features  available.  I met Elizabeth at the Statewide Meeting meeting last month in Sarasota and asked her to visit our chapter. I also met LeAnn Boone, Au. D. of MED EL. LeAnn will speak to our group at our May meeting about “Advances in Implantable Hearing Technology” Cochlear Implants, Combination CI/HA and Middle Ear Implants, plus a review of the anatomy and physiology of hearing loss.

                             – Joe Dashiell, President

Continue reading »]]> HLA-Sarasota honored as BEST CAUSE for Loop Advocacy Work
SRQ Magazine named the Hearing Loss Association of Sarasota as the community’s Best Cause in its’ annual Best of SRQ Local awards. The Chapter was cited for its advocacy efforts in convincing 15 theaters, 12 houses of worship and a total of 40 local venues to add the loop system in the past 12 months. Sarasota became the first city in the US where more than four theaters were looped, as all the major play- houses in both Sarasota County and adjoining Manatee County have added the system. In addition, HLAS was instrumental in securing grants to un- derwrite the cost for the loop system at 1 4 theaters , 6 churches, 2 temples, 2 libraries as well as the Ear Research Foundation and 3 other prominent community meeting venues. A total of 27 venues received financial support from the grant writing and lobbying efforts of HLAS. Most of the grants covered not only a performance hall loop, but a box office loop and up to 5 loop receivers as well.
In addition, SRQ Magazine named Sarasota chapter president, Ed Ogiba, the Best Visionary for his strategic plan that has convinced many local community leaders and organizations to support and buy into the broad-­based need to make Sarasota a Hearing Friendly City with the Let’s Loop SRQ! movement as the lead opportunity.

Continue reading »]]> Jacksonville held its regular monthly meeting. However, it was different this month in that our meeting room was looped!

Our installers, Ray Lauria and Bob Pelepake, of Monte Brothers Sound Systems in New York, came early to check everything out and laid the loop. Ray has settled in nearby Ponte Vedra and we look forward to him installing in the Jacksonville area. They are a distributor for Ampetronic equipment, a company which is a good friend of HLAA. Here are a couple of excited comments from members who had not experienced the loop previously:

I didn’t have my telecoil switch on, and I switched it on and I could hear Judy so much better. It was amazing to me.

And the loop is really nice also. It’s amazing. It is much clearer. I can – I was switching back and forth turning them (tcoils) on and off, and I was watching the floor. And I can understand her much better looking right at the floor, not even looking at her face with the loop on.

Two people, one with a hearing loss but no hearing aid and one with a hearing aid but no t-coil, use earphones.They were very impressed with the clarity of sound.

Continue reading »]]> Visit the Hearing Loss Association of America website for information on the public education campaign in partnership with the American Academy of Audiology. This website not only explains hearing loops but also provides guidance and resources to help you advocate for hearing loops in your area!

Get in the Hearing Loop

Continue reading »]]> Planning for the HLAA 2012 National Convention, June 21 – 24 in Providence, Rhode Island, is well underway. For all the information about the convention, go to www.hearingloss.org and/or the Convention page.

In addition, people who are looking for a roommate to help share the cost of the hotel can join/login the HLAA Message Boards and post a message in the Convention 2012 section.

HLAA also offers complimentary registrations to veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

HLAA is grateful to all its Convention sponsors who are listed on the Convention page along with a new video where sponsors’ answer the question, “Why do you exhibit and sponsor HLAA Conventions?” Free entrance passes are available at the HLAA Convention Registration Desk on site for people who want to visit the Exhibit Hall only.

Convention Outing for Young Adults to a Pawsox Baseball Game — Calling all young adults! Join us for Convention 2012 and as an extra bonus, you will attend the Pawtucket Red Sox (Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox) game at McCoy Stadium on Friday, June 22. Young adults (age 18-35) will arrive in plenty of time to socialize and eat dinner before enjoying the game against the Louisville Bats. Many thanks to Starkey for sponsoring this event as well as six young adult scholarships. March 1, 2012, is the deadline for the scholarship applications/nominations. See the Scholarship page for details.

We are excited about the Research Symposium (June 22, 9 a.m. – Noon), How the Brain Makes Sense of the World of Sound, moderated and presented by professionals from Johns Hopkins University. Summaries of the presentations as well as the workshop schedule can be read on the Convention page of the HLAA website. There will also be an outstanding line-up of speakers presenting on the following topics: Advocacy; Assistive & Other Technology; Hearing Aids & Cochlear Implants; and Relationships & Communication.

Convention goers will want to bring their smart phones because all convention activities – program, events, updates, and exhibits will be on a mobile app which is funded by CTIA-the Wireless Association®.

Continue reading »]]> If you know of others, please email the information to HearYeHearYe2006@gmail.com

• Anna Maria Island – Episcopal Church of the Annunciation
• Bradenton – Neel Performing Arts Center (Main Stage)
• Bradenton – Neel Performing Arts Center (Pinkerton Stage)
• Bradenton – Manatee Players
• Clearwater – Our Lady of Lourdes
• Clearwater – St. Michael Church
• Coral Springs – Broward County Library (Multi-Purpose Room)
• Dade City – Church of Christ at Trilacoochee,
• Dover – First Baptist Church
• Dunedin – The Kirk of Dunedin Community Church
• Dunedin – Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
• Fort Lauderdale – The Center for Hearing and Communication (Meeting Room)
• Gainesville – Grace Presbyterian Church
• Gainesville – Oak Hammock at University of Florida
• Jacksonville – Whole Foods Market
• Largo – City of Largo Public Library
• Largo – Largo Community Center
• Longboat Key – Christ Church of Longboat Key
• Lutz – Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
• Marco Island – Marco Presbyterian Church
• Marco Island – St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
• Melbourne – Melbourne 7th Day Adventist Church
• Merritt Island – Redeemer Lutheran Church
• Merritt Island – St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
• Miami Shores – Miami Shores Presbyterian Church,
• Naples – Moorings Park Retirement Community
• Naples – Naples United Church of Christ
• St. Petersburg – St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral
• St. Petersburg – Westminster Presbyterian Church
• Pinellas Park – Venue Theatre and Actor’s Studio
• Sarasota – Asolo Theatre
• Sarasota – Alderman Oaks Retirement Community
• Sarasota – Caragulio’s Restaurant
• Sarasota – Ear Research Foundation
• Sarasota – First United Methodist
• Sarasota – Glasser Schoenbaum Human Services Center
• Sarasota – North Sarasota Public Library
• Sarasota – Owen’s Fish Camp
• Sarasota – Sarasota Opera
• Sarasota – Sarasota Orchestra
• Sarasota – Selby Auditorium, USF
• Sarasota – Florida Studio Theater (Gompretz Stage)
• Sarasota – Florida Studio Theater (Keating Stage)
• Sarasota – The Players Theater
• Sarasota – Unity Church of Sarasota
• Sarasota – Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
• Sarasota – Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe
• Sarasota – Whole Foods Market, Cash Register #1
• Sun City Center – St. Andrew Presbyterian Church (Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall)
• Tallahassee – Westminster Retirement Communities Foundation
• Tampa – First Baptist Church
• Tampa – First Presbyterian Church
• The Villages – Ashley Wilkes Room, The Savannah Center
• The Villages – Community Development District Boardroom
• Venice – Venice Community Center
• Venice – Venice Presbyterian Church
• Venice – Venice Theater (Main Stage)
• Venice – Venice Theater (Pinkerton Stage)
• West Palm Beach – Hope Lutheran Church Parsonage
• Williston – First United Church of Williston
• Winter Haven -Village Church of God

Continue reading »]]> We invite you to take advantage of an unprecedented opportunity on March 24 to promote your services or products to all our members, as well as our state and national leaders. We will be hosting the first statewide membership meeting in seven years, anchored by Hearing Care Expo and the first-ever Chapter Collaboration Workshop. All our state membership, as well as the public, is invited to this all-day event in Sarasota. We have created a portfolio of sponsorship packages that start at $100 to give you every opportunity to get your message out. We are offering you a chance to advertise in the Program and State Guide, as well as exhibit at the Expo. Packages close February 17, so plan ahead and get all the details today by contacting Judy Martin at judygmartin@bellsouth.net or 904-778-2265. Sponsorships are also available for an evening reception (Hearing Loss Affects Everyone) by calling  941-706-4312 or ed@groupefo.com.