Personal Stories
Floridians sharing their hearing loss journeys.
Latest personal stories posts
May 26, 2026
Better Hearing Month Spotlight: New Resources from HLAA
For Better Hearing Month, HLAA added a family-focused part to its Hearing Loss 101 Toolkit, for children with hearing loss and their parents.
Learn moreDec 20, 2025
ATTN: HLAA Leaders
HLAA asks leaders to support the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act.
Learn moreJul 17, 2025
🎙️ Upcoming HLAA Leaders Webinar – July 23 at 3:00 PM ET - Strengthening Your Chapter's Voice: Communication Tools & Resources for HLAA Leaders
An HLAA webinar for state and chapter leaders on strengthening your chapter's voice with updated communication tools.
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Jan 31, 2025
2025 Florida Walk4Hearing - Saturday, May 3, 2025
The 2025 Florida Walk4Hearing on Saturday, May 3. You can bring hope to hearing loss.
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Dec 6, 2024
Join Us for Two Exclusive Educational Events with Dr. Anil K. Lalwani!
Hearing Health Foundation hosted two educational events with Dr. Anil Lalwani of Columbia University on hearing loss research.
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May 11, 2024
Celebrate With Us!
Four easy ways to celebrate Better Hearing Month with HLAA in May.
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Jan 22, 2024
R.I.P. Flo Innes
HLAA Florida mourns Flo Innes, a lifelong advocate for people with hearing loss, founder of Advocates for Better Hearing and longtime president of the Sarasota Chapter.
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Oct 23, 2022
HLAA 2022 Awards Ceremony
HLAA honored its national, state and chapter award recipients in person at the 2022 Awards Ceremony.
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Aug 13, 2022
September 13, 2022 - How to form a resilient identity as a person with hearing loss - Michael A. Harvey, PhD, ABPP
Psychologist Michael A. Harvey on forming a resilient identity as a person with hearing loss, September 13, 2022 on Zoom.
Learn moreJul 12, 2022
The Emotional Side of Hearing Loss
A Facebook group where people with hearing loss can share the emotional side of their experience.
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Jul 12, 2022
WHAT A CANDIDATE FOR A COCHLEAR IMPLANT NEEDS TO KNOW
A book by Richard Pocker that guides cochlear implant candidates through the process and clears up common misconceptions.
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Jul 12, 2022
R.I.P. Edward F. Ogiba
The Sarasota/Manatee Chapter mourns Ed Ogiba, a longtime and influential HLAA leader who died in June 2022.
Learn moreJul 10, 2022
July 16-17 2022 - Love music but struggling with it - Come to AAMHL
The Association of Adult Musicians with Hearing Loss invited musicians and music lovers to its July 16 and 17, 2022 event.
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Jul 6, 2022
Recommended Paperback - Sounds of the Heart
We recommend Sounds of the Heart, Dr. Latisha Porter-Vaughn's story of persisting against the odds with hearing loss.
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Jul 6, 2022
Don't Miss The Hearing Life Magazine - Spring 2022!
The spring 2022 Hearing Life magazine, featuring Latisha Porter-Vaughn on living well with hearing loss.
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May 16, 2022
Hurry Register Now - “LOOK BEYOND THE FACE” Register Now!!!
Look Beyond the Face, a workshop on understanding what people mean through body language and expression.
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May 8, 2022
Opportunities for Hearing Help in Florida
Linda Bilodeau on the many ways HLAA Florida and its chapters offer hearing help across the state.
Learn moreMay 6, 2022
The Broad View of Hearing
Linda Bilodeau joins HLAA Florida's first hybrid meeting at the Sarasota library and shares the excitement.
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Apr 30, 2022
Combatting Isolation: Tips to Stay “In the Loop,” Regardless of Hearing Ability
Tips from CapTel for staying connected and avoiding isolation when you have hearing loss.
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Apr 30, 2022
You gotta watch this MOVIE -
Why CODA, the Oscar-winning film about a deaf family, is worth watching.
Learn moreApr 9, 2022
Friends Helping Friends
A dinner with a friend who also has hearing loss reminds Linda Bilodeau how much we help each other.
Learn moreFeb 1, 2022
Honesty with Hearing Loss
Linda Bilodeau on being honest with friends and family about what you can and can't hear.
Learn moreJan 31, 2022
Hearing Resolutions
Instead of resolutions, Linda Bilodeau focuses on what she needs to hear well in 2022.
Learn moreJan 25, 2022
Many Opportunities for Hearing Help in Florida
Linda Bilodeau on the many ways HLAA Florida and its chapters offer hearing help across the state.
Learn moreJan 16, 2022
Hearing Resolutions
Instead of resolutions, Linda Bilodeau focuses on what she needs to hear well in 2022.
Learn moreOct 14, 2021
The Hearing Power of the Mini Mic
Linda Bilodeau explains why her Mini Mic has become one of her most helpful hearing tools.
Learn more![[NEWSLETTER] HLAA Florida State Association News](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2F8lj7sfc2%2Fproduction%2F2f8f8216a04555983349b2112a20e8fd2f7f4c44-1200x628.jpg%3Frect%3D42%2C0%2C1116%2C628%26w%3D640%26h%3D360%26q%3D78%26fit%3Dcrop%26auto%3Dformat&w=3840&q=75)
Sep 27, 2021
[NEWSLETTER] HLAA Florida State Association News
The first HLAA Florida State Association newsletter, September 2021, with news from the state board and chapters.
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Jul 3, 2021
July 20 - “Lessons Learned about My Hearing Loss” RAP Session #2 Summer Session
A summer rap session on lessons learned about hearing loss, led by Eloise Schwarz and Debbe Hagner.
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Jun 11, 2021
Cochlear Implant TIP - Getting “Organized” by Neal Steiger
Neal Steiger shares how getting organized helped him make the most of his cochlear implants.
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Jun 6, 2021
Gallaudet University’s Peer Mentoring by Debbe Hagner
Debbe Hagner shares her experience in Gallaudet University's Peer Mentoring Certification Program.
Learn moreApr 10, 2021
Helping Each Other Hear
With masks making communication hard, Linda Bilodeau finds that small kindnesses help everyone hear.
Learn moreMar 29, 2021
The Psychology of Hearing Loss
Linda Bilodeau shares takeaways from Don Doherty's HLAA webinar on the psychology of hearing loss.
Learn moreMar 18, 2021
The Hearing and Shopping Experience
Fully vaccinated, Linda Bilodeau heads back to local boutiques and shares what shopping is like with hearing loss.
Learn moreMar 10, 2021
March 23 HLAA National Webinar: The Psychology of Hearing Loss
An HLAA webinar exploring the feelings and behaviors that come with hearing loss.
Learn moreMar 8, 2021
What To Do After Purchasing Hearing Aids
Buying hearing aids is only the start. Linda Bilodeau explains what to do next to hear your best.
Learn moreMar 2, 2021
Living the Way You Want With Hearing Loss
Retired and busy, Linda Bilodeau explains how she lives the way she wants despite hearing loss.
Learn moreMar 2, 2021
How You Sound to Others
An interrupted conversation leads Linda Bilodeau to think about how hearing loss changes the way you sound to others.
Learn moreMar 1, 2021
What Is New With Hearing Aids
Linda Bilodeau reviews the new hearing aids released in early 2021.
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Feb 28, 2021
March 26th HLAA Happy Hour Vaccine Booster Shots
HLAA Florida's March 2021 online happy hour offered a dose of laughter, the best medicine for riding out the pandemic with people who understand hearing loss.
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Feb 23, 2021
Wednesday March 10th How to Communicate With a Loved One With Hearing Loss
Ann Taylor and Ed Ogiba on how to communicate with a loved one who has hearing loss, at the Sarasota/Manatee Chapter's March 10, 2021 meeting.
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Feb 23, 2021
Wednesday March 3rd New Technology and Treatment for Hearing Loss - Dr. Jack Wazen, MD
Dr. Jack Wazen on new technology and treatment for hearing loss, online March 3, 2021.
Learn moreFeb 22, 2021
There is Hearing Hope in Research
Linda Bilodeau shares the hopeful hearing research she learned about from Dr. Victoria Sanchez.
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Feb 21, 2021
March Zoom Online Meetings Schedule HLAA Florida Chapters
Please note that here is our March Zoom Online Meeting Schedules for HLAA Florida. You can also Download the PDF here .
Learn moreFeb 15, 2021
Vaccines, Masks, and Hearing Loss
Getting a COVID vaccine meant navigating masks and announcements. Linda Bilodeau shares how it went.
Learn moreFeb 1, 2021
We’re All About Ears The Ida Institute
Linda Bilodeau on the Ida Institute's All About Ears webinar and its focus on person-centered hearing care.
Learn moreJan 25, 2021
Hearing Loops and Assistive Devices
Linda Bilodeau shares what she learned about hearing loops and assistive devices from Dr. Juliëtte Sterkens.
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Jan 19, 2021
Jan 19th - How to Foster a More Hearing Accessible World! By Dr. Juliette Sterkens
Audiologist Dr. Juliëtte Sterkens on hearing loops and how to foster a more hearing-accessible world, for the Sun City Center Chapter.
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When The Words Blur
Even with people who know her well, words sometimes blur for Linda Bilodeau. She shares how she copes.
Learn moreNov 17, 2020
Improving Your Relationship with Music
Linda Bilodeau shares what she learned from Dr. Brad Ingrao's talk on enjoying music again with hearing loss.
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Nov 9, 2020
Nov 17 Hearing Loss & Communications Challenges in a COVID-19 World
Audiologists Sharon Rende and Lynette Dornton on the communication challenges that masks and barriers created during COVID-19.
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