HLAA Convention 2010 Special: Opening Session, Keynote- Part 2

[Guest guest]

NVRC News - JUne 19, 2010

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Opening Session and Keynote Address, Part 2

By Cheryl A. Heppner, 6/19/10

Battat gave an impressive and inspiring update on the wide variety of

important HLAA activities during the past year. Just a few of those on the

list were advocacy to oppose a proposed a sales tax on hearing aids,

reversing a decision on security officers with hearing aids, and educating

consumers about what to expect when searching for hearing aids. She cited

the recent addition of the HLAA website video education series,

collaboration with other organizations to get things done, reaching out to

young adults, a wiki for parents, and convention scholarships. Then she

asked, " how can we rest? " and mentioned a few of the challenges not yet met,

such as the dismal statistic that 50% of infants diagnosed with hearing loss

still are not getting care, and there is no availability of accessible

teleconferences.

recognized volunteers in the audience who headed the Walk4Hearing and

their work taking the fundraising and education to the next level. She also

lauded the support of the corporate sponsors who make the convention

possible and a partial sponsorship by Sound for the new listening

system receivers used by conference attendees.

American Academy of Audiology Partnership

Kricos of Florida, President-elect of the American Academy of

Audiology, spoke of the organization's delight to be working with HLAA on

the launch and roll-out of the hearing loop initiative, which arose after

returned from Europe inspired by an international conference on the

hearing loops. The Academy had been wanting to work together with HLAA, she

said, and this project was an ideal match. Critics have asked why such a

project is needed when Bluetooth is available, and 's answer was

that it's so functional. She considers Myers a hero for his Loop

America campaign (www.hearingloop.org). Her list of reasons to embrace

hearing loops is headed by their being simple, cheap and affordable, and she

said a telecoil needs to be included the tiniest of hearing aids to harness

the power of the technology.

Conny Andersson of Sweden, Chair of the International Standards Committee,

is an engineer who has been working in the area of hearing loops for many

years. The standards by this nonprofit organization cover things like

electrical appliances and audio systems around the world. They address

sensitivity of the electronics and ensuring that all systems will work

together, just like a hearing aid must work with a loop system. U.S.

standards are called ANSI; standards in other countries go by different

name. These standards specify field strengths setting how high you will

hear, addressing frequency, response, and background noise.

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