Volume 21 Issue 2 Summer 2022
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Support and Advocacy
since 2001
for Pennsylvanians
with Hearing Loss
in This Issue

Nancy's Message
State Happenings
Auditory Neuropathy
Sponsors
Donors
About HLAA-PA

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Note:  This issue of HearSay is designed for screen reading.
For a text-only printer-friendly .pdf version of this HearSay, click HERE.

 

Sponsors








 
HLAA

The Nation's Voice for People
with Hearing Loss
Note: 
Images outlined in red are clickable links.
 
Recent Donors
to HLAA-PA
 
Cassett Foundation
Alice Dungan
Walk4Hearing
James Meyer
      in memory of Joe Meyer
HLAA-PA

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DISCLAIMER
 
Opinions expressed in HearSay are those of the authors.  Mention of goods and services in articles and by sponsors does not mean HLAA-PA endorsement, nor does absence suggest disapproval.

To reach readers of HearSay, contact
Dale Long
Sponsor Coordinator
(long@hlaa-pa.org)
for information.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!

Assist the HLAA-PA State Director by serving on the Advisory Council or one of its committees. The Council meets periodically at locations convenient to its membership.  But committees conduct most of their business by e-mail and occasionally meet in various parts of the state. If you think you would like to serve on the council or any of its committees, please contact one of the state leaders listed here:

State Director:    
Nancy Kingsley
(kingsley@hlaa-pa.org)
Editor: HearSay and HLAA-PA Website:
Don Groff
(groff@hlaa-pa.org)
Advocacy:   
Nancy Kingsley, Chair
(kingsley@hlaa-pa.org)
 Sponsor Coordinator:
Dale Long 
(long@hlaa-pa.org)
Outreach Coordinator:
Carolyn Meyer, Chair
(meyer@hlaa-pa.org)
ALD Demo Kit:
Bill Best, Chair 
(best@hlaa-pa.org)
Chapter Coordinators::
Mike Miles,Eastern PA 
(miles@hlaa-pa.org)
Dale Long, Central PA
(long@hlaa-pa.org)
Teresa Nellans, Western PA
(nellans@hlaa-pa.org)
 
HearSay Articles
    HLAA-PA  welcomes articles of interest to the hearing loss community for publication in HearSay, as well as suggestions for topics.  Send e-mail to editor@hlaa-pa.org 
Message from Nancy
by Nancy Kingsley, State Director

     

     Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids are expected to become available shortly, after the FDA finishes developing the necessary regulations. However, only those with a mild-to-moderate hearing loss will be able to purchase these hearing aids, which are expected to cost several hundred dollars apiece.  For people with limited incomes, a program called Hearing the Call is available through some audiology practices in a number of states, and it includes hearing aids for more severe losses. The aids are refurbished and typically cost $150 each. Recipients are asked to provide 20 hours of community service in return.
 
     Pennsylvania currently has five local Hearing the Call programs, four of which accept applicants with incomes up to 250% of the Federal poverty level. The areas served are central Pennsylvania (Union, Snyder, Columbia, and Montour counties and surrounding areas); Bucks and Montgomery counties (the provider for these two counties only serves those at the Federal poverty level); Berks, Lehigh, and Chester counties; Delaware County; and Lancaster County. For more information, check the website at hearingthecall.org or contact the organization by mail or phone: 
   
     Hearing the Call
     PO Box 10311
     Fort Wayne, Indiana 46851 
     260-494-0231     
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State Happenings Carolyn
by Carolyn Meyer
Outreach Coordinator
 



STATE HAPPENINGS     
     With the sunshine and warm weather, chapters are moving activities outdoors. A welcome relief after a long winter inside.. The pandemic is not over but we are working our way through it to renew acquaintances and friendships that have been on hold a long time.
 
CHAPTERS IN THE NEWS
     May 14 :The ChesCo Chapter(Chester County) invited other chapters and friends to join them at a local park for an Ice Cream Social. Though the weather was undecided, there was adequate shelter for all. Diana Bender and Alice Dungan enjoyed the chance to socialize after many months. It was well attended. Surely other chapters over the summer may extend invitations to outdoor events. Keep us informed.
 
AWARDS
     The Joe Meyer Memorial Grant Award  winner 2022 is Asong Fonge, a graduating senior from Downingtown, PA.   From her application:  “When I was 5 years old, I was diagnosed with a moderately severe hearing loss and know firsthand the impact good doctors and nurses can have on the life of a patient.”  Asong is in a nursing program currently at the Technical College High School in Downingtown.  She will be studying nursing in the Fall of 2022 at Immaculata College.  Good luck to you, Asong.

     The Chester County Chapter(Chesco) will award the Mortimer Bauer Memorial 6th Annual Scholarship to Anaiyah Jarrett in a Zoom Event on June 14,2022 at 6:30 PM.  At this event attendees will learn about her hearing loss and challenges. She is a graduating senior at Downingtown East High School. She plans on studying Psychology at Delaware County Community College this fall.
 
WALK4HEARING 2022  
 
It’s Time To Step Up For Hearing Health

            Sunday, October 16
            Location: The Navy Yard
            4747 South Broad Street
            Philadelphia ,PA
            Time: Registration Starts  9:00 AM
            10:15 Walk begins  (3.1 miles)
    Want to volunteer ?
              Contact BethAnnRejonis  baf@fast.net  
               or Mitch Bilker  mbbilker@gmail.com
               Walk Manager: Ronnie Adler  radler@hearingloss.org
 
Our goal  : $150.000.00
 
HLAA CONVENTION June 23-25
Where: Tampa , Florida, JW Marriott Hotel Water Street
It is not too late to plan to go
Check the  hearingLoss.org website for complete information
The room block is  now is sold out but there are many hotels in the area

From all of us at HLAA-PA  Enjoy your summer: Stay well and safe !
   
 
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What to Know About Auditory Neuropathy

     Auditory neuropathy is a hearing disorder in which the inner ear successfully detects sound, but has a problem with sending sound from the ear to the brain. It can affect people of all ages. Current information suggests that auditory neuropathies play a substantial role in hearing impairments.
     People with auditory neuropathy may have normal hearing or hearing loss ranging from mild to severe. They always have poor speech-perception abilities, meaning that they have trouble understanding speech clearly. People with auditory neuropathy have greater impairment in speech perception than hearing health experts would predict based upon their degree of hearing loss on a hearing test.
     In some cases, the cause may involve damage to the inner hair cells—specialized sensory cells in the inner ear that transmit information about sounds through the nervous system to the brain. In other cases, the cause may involve damage to the auditory neurons that transmit sound information from the inner hair cells to the brain. Other possible causes may include inheriting genes with mutations or suffering damage to the auditory system, either of which may result in faulty connections between the inner hair cells and the auditory nerve or damage to the auditory nerve itself.
     Outer hair cells help amplify sound vibrations entering the inner ear from the middle ear. When hearing is working normally, the inner hair cells convert these vibrations into electrical signals that transmit as nerve impulses to the brain, where the brain interprets the impulses as sound.  Outer hair cells seem to function normally in people with auditory neuropathy.
Otolaryngologists, pediatricians, and audiologists use a combination of methods to diagnose auditory neuropathy. These include tests of auditory brainstem response (ABR) and otoacoustic emissions (OAE). The hallmark of auditory neuropathy is an absent or very abnormal ABR reading together with a normal OAE reading. A normal OAE is a sign that the outer hair cells are working normally.
     An ABR test uses electrodes placed on a person’s head and ears to monitor brain wave activity in response to sound. An OAE test uses a small, very sensitive microphone inserted into the ear canal to monitor the faint sounds produced by the outer hair cells in response to auditory stimulation. ABR and OAE and ABR testing are painless.
In people with auditory neuropathy, hearing sensitivity can remain stable, get better or worse, or gradually worsen, depending on the underlying cause.
     Some professionals report that hearing aids and personal listening devices such as FM systems are helpful for some children and adults with auditory neuropathy. Cochlear implants may also help some people. No tests are currently available, however, to determine whether an individual with auditory neuropathy might benefit from a hearing aid or cochlear implant. Adults with auditory neuropathy may benefit from learning how to speechread. Researchers are examining why cochlear implants may benefit some people with the condition but not others.
 
Condensed from National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders NIDCD Fact Sheet “Auditory Neuropathy,” NIH Pub. No. 03-5343, September 2016.
     
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Meet Our Sponsors
 
      HLAA has a sponsorship program with platinum, gold, and silver levels. Sponsors are listed in HearSay and the HLAA-PA website for one calendar year, and we would love to include your organization. Information about becoming a sponsor is available from our sponsor coordinator, Dale Long, at long@hlaa-pa.org. 

     We are pleased to recognize the these HLAA-PA sponsors:
 
Platinum Level



Platinum Level

     Jefferson Balance & Hearing Center: Physicians and doctors of audiology offer comprehensive evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation, including hearing aids, cochlear implants, implantable devices, and custom ear pieces. A musician services program provides evaluation and custom musician devices. Financing for hearing aids is available through Care Credit and the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 215-955-6760.
 
   Platinum Level


 
      Olelo Captioned Calls: This easy-to-use 100% private app was developed by MachineGenius, a telecommunications company founded in Holliston, Massachusetts in 2017 to help people with hearing loss have a seamless calling experience via advanced speech recognition technology, The app is free for those with hearing loss and is supported by the Federal TRS / IP CTS fund. Website: www.olelophone.com. 
 
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About HLAA and
its State Office, HLAA-PA
 
     The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), founded in 1979, is the nation’s foremost membership and advocacy organization for people with hearing loss. HLAA opens the world of communication to people with hearing loss by providing information, education, support and advocacy.  The national support network includes the Washington, DC area office, 14 state organizations, and 200 local chapters.  HLAA is a 501(c)3 non-profit  organization.
Hearing Loss Association of America
116 Executive Blvd., Suite 320 
Rockville, MD 20852
hearingloss.org
 
     HLAA-PA is the all-volunteer state office of Hearing Loss Association of America.  We were established in 2001 to carry out the mission of HLAA for Pennsylvanians with  hearing loss, their families and friends.
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