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Listen!Up JUNE, 2015 SELF ADVOCACY INITIATIVES FOR THIS SUMMER The Hearing Loss Association of America advocates for equal access for the 48 million Americans with hearing loss. HLAA promotes self-advocacy and empowerment of people with hearing loss to ensure equal opportunity in the areas of telecommunications, employment, health care, education and community life. Here in the Sarasota/Manatee Chapter, we work at self advocacy in our campaign to assist the 145,000 people with hearing loss. Every member is requested to step up self advocacy this summer with three initiatives, the Publix Initiative, the Theatre Initiative, and the Loop Education Initiative. Last month’s Listen Up article by Anne Taylor, “Hear More Clearly with Hearing Loops” was an excellent primer on hearing loop technology. A review of that article at http://hlas.org/gondolier-articles-written-by-anne-taylor/ will assist in your self advocacy efforts. Also, appended below, please find an outstanding advocacy article* by Cory Schaeffer she prepared for “Listen Technologies”. HLAA says “Good advocates are persistent, polite and never forget to thank everyone who helps” The Publix InitiativePublix has looped some of its stores at the pharmacy, checkout and information counters. Two of those stores are in our area, Longboat Key and Venice Commons. The Chapter’s Board, with the assistance of our intern, has made up packets on loop education and business benefits for every Publix manager in our two county area urging them to “get in the loop”.

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Listen!Up

JUNE, 2015

SELF ADVOCACY INITIATIVES FOR THIS SUMMER

The Hearing Loss Association of America advocates for equal access for the 48 million Americans with hearing loss. HLAA promotes self-advocacy and empowerment of people with hearing loss to ensure equal opportunity in the areas of telecommunications, employment, health care, education and community life.

Here in the Sarasota/Manatee Chapter, we work at self advocacy in our campaign to assist the 145,000 people with hearing loss.

Every member is requested to step up self advocacy this summer with three initiatives, the Publix Initiative, the Theatre Initiative, and the Loop Education Initiative.

Last month’s Listen Up article by Anne Taylor, “Hear More Clearly with Hearing Loops” was an excellent primer on hearing loop technology. A review of that article athttp://hlas.org/gondolier-articles-written-by-anne-taylor/ will assist in your self advocacy efforts. Also, appended below, please find an outstanding advocacy article* by Cory Schaeffer she prepared for “Listen Technologies”.

HLAA says “Good advocates are persistent, polite and never forget to thank everyone who helps”

The Publix Initiative—Publix has looped some of its stores at the pharmacy, checkout and information counters. Two of those stores are in our area, Longboat Key and Venice Commons. The Chapter’s Board, with the assistance of our intern, has made up packets on loop education and business benefits for every Publix manager in our two county area urging them to “get in the loop”.

We ask members, when in the area of Longboat and Venice, to stop by the store and thank the personnel for the loop. It is essential that corporate get positive feedback to expand the program.

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We also ask members to comment to the pharmacy counter and customer counter at your local Publix about how much a hearing loop would help them and also, as time permits, ask to speak to manager about it.

READ MORE

The Theatre Initiative—Thirteen of the live performance stages in Sarasota and Manatee County have been looped (some side cabarets have not). If you attend a show at e.g. the Venice Theater, The Manatee Players, the Players Theatre or any other production this summer, please, please, please “thank” the manager or anyone working there for the loop. Positive reinforcement is essential to keep the program going and expanding.

Loop Education Initiative—Frustration!

When attending events, Board members often mention to hearing aid users that a lecture hall, a church or a theatre is looped and that they can use their t-coil. A response of a blank stare is not an unusual response. Even though Florida law** requires audiologists and hearing aid dispensers to educate their clients about the t-coil and loop, some professionals fail to do this. (The Chapter loves the professionals who have a loop in the office to demonstrate the t-coil). Many hard of hearing folks have no clue they have a t-coil setting or, if they do, what it is for.

As part of our advocacy, we make education efforts to assist the hearing aid user to learn that the hearing loop can “open the world of communication to people with hearing loss” (HLAA Mission Statement).

Please take the initiative to open the world provided by the hearing loop to fellow hearing aid users (the cochlear implant users are pretty savvy) and explain the hearing loop and the role of the t-coil setting to them.

* Know the Law on T-coil Hearing Aids

Hearing aids use a microphone to pick up and amplify sounds, like a conversation between people. While this works well when a hearing aid user is in close proximity (3 to 6 feet) and in quiet environments, it doesn’t work as well when the user is in a public space or venue, because of distance from the sound source and interfering sounds like background noise. Their hearing aids amplify all sounds. This is where assistive-listening systems help — add in the use of a hearing aid with a t-coil and it’s magical.

A t-coil or telecoil, is a tiny copper wire found inside most hearing aids and can be used with assistive- listening technology to deliver the sound that is coming out of the sound system, directly to the person’s the hearing aid via the t-coil. Seventy percent of hearing aids are equipped with t-coils and 100 percent of cochlear implants utilize t-coils. When the t-coil switch is on, the hearing aid user hears the desired sound directly in his or her ear without the unwanted background, ambient noise. The sound hearing aid users hear when their t-coil switches are in use is transmitted via induction loop — room hearing loop or personal neck loop with RF or IR technology.

In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that venues and public spaces accommodate people with t-coil equipped hearing aids.

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Many people are unaware about the benefits of hearing aids that come with t-coils, which means they’re also unaware of the benefits that assistive listening systems can provide them when they visit venues and public spaces

Many people with hearing loss are unaware of the ADA requirements, so they won’t know to ask for the technology. To close the gap and to help people with hearing loss enjoy the experience when they are in public venues advocates are spending time educating.

If audiologists and hearing aid specialists educate their patients about the technologies that are available (as required in Florida) like: t-coils, neck loops, room hearing loops, and assistive-listening devices, people with hearing loss will have better listening experiences.

* * Florida state and regulation on telecoil education by hearing aid specialists

Florida Statutes, Chapter 484.044, Authority to make rules.

(1) The board has authority to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this part conferring duties upon it.

(2) The board shall adopt rules requiring that each prospective purchaser of a hearing aid be notified by the attending hearing aid specialist, at the time of the initial examination for fitting and sale of a hearing aid, of telecoil, “t” coil, or “t” switch technology. The rules shall further require that hearing aid specialists make available to prospective purchasers or clients information regarding telecoils, “t” coils, or “t” switches. These rules shall be effective on or before October 1, 1994.

Rule as promulgated

64B6-6.002 Requirements to Inform Prospective Purchasers Regarding Technologies.(1) The hearing aid specialist shall inform each prospective purchaser of a hearing aid at the time of the

initial examination for fitting and sale of a hearing aid, any available information, including information based on personal knowledge and experience, of the telecoil, “t” coil or “t” switch technology. Said information shall include any advantages and disadvantages known to the hearing aid specialist, such as, increased access to telephones and noninvasive access to assistive listening systems required under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

(2) Hearing aid specialist shall make available to prospective purchasers or clients information regarding the telecoil, “t” coil or “t” switch. The hearing aid specialist shall inform each prospective purchaser or client that said information is available.

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Scene & HeardHLAA-SARASOTA/MANATEE NEWS BITESEVENT CALENDAR

JUNE EVENTS

Tuesday, June 9, 20155:00 PM to 7:00 PMHLAA-S/M Board MeetingCenter for Arts and Cultural Alliance 1226 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

Wednesday, June10, 20151:30 PM to 3:00 PMChapter Meeting “Rap Session”3:00 PM – Refreshments and Social Time North Sarasota Library Meeting Room 2801 Newtown Blvd., Sarasota

Friday, June 19, 20155:30 PM to 7:00 PMHLAA-S/M “Happy Hour” Classico Cafe and Bar 1351 Main St., Sarasota

June 24-28, 2015HLAA National Convention Union StationSt. Louis, Missouri

Saturday, June 27, 20157:00 AM to 1:00 PM

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Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market Free Hearing Screenings1920 State Street, Sarasota

Tuesday, June 30, 20154:30 PM—Private Eyes Movie Club Hollywood 20 Theatre 1993 Main Street, Sarasota

JULY EVENTS

Wednesday, July 8, 20151:30 PM to 3:00 PMChapter Meeting “Rap Session”3:00 PM – Refreshments and Social Time North Sarasota Library Meeting Room 2801 Newtown Blvd., Sarasota

Tuesday, July 14, 20156:00 PM to 7:30 PM -- HLAS “After Hours” “Rap Session”Center for Arts and Cultural Alliance 1226 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

Saturday, July 25, 20157:00 AM to 1:00 PMDowntown Sarasota Farmers Market Free Hearing Screenings1920 State Street, Sarasota

Tuesday, July 28, 20154:30 PM--Private Eyes Movie Club Hollywood 20 Theatre 1993 Main Street, Sarasota

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

I feel so fortunate this year that the HLAA National convention is in St Louis. It just happens to be one of my favorite cities to visit! So...I will give you my top ten reasons to not only attend the 2015 National Convention but enjoy the wonderful city of St Louis.

10. The Gateway Arch - on arrival get a bird’s eye view!! The Gateway to the West. The Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis' role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. The park is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson's role in opening the West, to the pioneers who helped shape its history, and to Dred Scott who sued for his freedom in the Old Courthouse.

9. Flo Innes Welcome Party -- Standing tradition hosted by our very own Flo for over fifteen years. It is always wonderful to meet and catch up with old friends you have met from previous conventions!

8. Get Your Head into The Game - World champions the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium - This promises to be a fun evening - Route 66 Rivalry at Busch Stadium on Friday, June 26. Will you be cheering for the Cardinals or Cubs? This is a tough one for me--I'm a Chicago girl but have some family roots in St Louis!

7. Tours of St. Louis- See some of the sites! Discover your inner child at City Museum - unique all-ages playground filled with caves, slides and climbing apparatus made from recycled and found objects - this is so much fun for adults as well as children!

6. Saturday, June 27th - This first-of-its-kind Symposium: Employment Issue for People with Hearing Loss - moderated by our HLAA-Sarasota/Manatee Board Member Valerie Stafford- Mallis, will be presented from the perspectives of the employer and the employee with hearing loss.

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5. Taste the tradition of St. Louis Breweries - Brewery Tours of St. Louis. For more local flavor, stop by Schlafly Bottleworks or stop at the many craft beer/micro breweries --they are top notch!

4. Attend the incredible Educational Chapter Workshops divided into four tracks - Advocacy; Assistive and Other Technology; Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants; and Relationships and Communication

3. Gooey Butter Cake - the most delicious accident ever created - do NOT leave St Louis without tasting this incredible delicacy!

2. State/Chapter Development Room Workshops - EVERYTHING you need to know on how to build a successful HLAA chapter!

The number one reason at the top of the list - my incredible son Chad and daughter-in-law Ashley live in St Louis and they will be spending time with me and all of my friends from HLAA!

See you in St Louis!

The Spirit of St Louis - Charles Lindbergh's airplane in which he crossed the Atlantic solo, becoming the first person to fly New York to Paris nonstop. The significance of this achievement was that it showed and paved the way for more breakthroughs in technology and air transportation for mankind. How appropriate that HLAA continues to move forward in its mission of education. information, advocacy and support for people with hearing loss!

JoAnne DeVries, President HLAA-Sarasota/Manatee

Website - http://hlas.orgFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/Hearing.Loss.Association.of.Sarasota

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MEMBERSHIP NOTES

RENEWALS AND NEW MEMBERSHIPSOur memberships are dual memberships in both the HLAA and the HLAA Sarasota/Manatee Chapter. Veterans are free!

The cost is $35 for an Individual membership, $45 for a Couple. .

Among the many functions of HLAA National is the lobbying for people with hearing loss to have equal access in public venues. Note—your renewal notices will come from HLAA in Bethesda, if you do not get one, please let us know.

If you have any questions on Membership please feel free to contact Anne Taylor at [email protected]. Membership applications can be found at the Chapter website, http://hlas.org.

Welcome new member:

Mary Lou Shollenberger, Venice

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:

HLAA-SARASOTA/MANATEE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Calling all Volunteers!

Did you know that our HLAA chapter is run completely by volunteers?We could use your help. There are many opportunities to help HLAA become more visible to the community and by doing so; enable others with hearing loss to find the resources that that are available.

Please take a look at the list of volunteer interests - http://hlas.org/volunteer/ - and see if there might be something you would like to do. Most do not require a long commitment of time or energy and provide the added benefit of making you feel more a part of the local chapter. And don't worry; you'll have someone to provide guidance and support.

We hope you would be willing to share your time and talents. And it's a great way to meet new people.

Volunteering can make a positive impact in the lives of others with your time, experience and passion.

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Vinell Lacy and Kathy Combs at Volunteer Appreciation Night

Anne Taylor, Betsy Roberts and Renee Eicher at Volunteer Appreciation Night

Meeting UpdateUPCOMING MEETING PREVIEW, PRIOR MEETING RECAPUPCOMING MEETINGJUNE CHAPTER MEETING

It is summer and some say their favorite HLAA-Sarasota/Manatee meetings---the Summer Rap Sessions---where all questions, concerns, successes and disappointments are shared and discussed. There is no guest speaker, just an open session to focus on your individual needs.The venue is the same as the chapter meetings, the North Sarasota Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd. The same day and time as well, second Wednesday of the month at 1:30 PM.

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Our peer mentors lead the discussions and our professional partners sit in as time permits. Some of the topics from last summer were loop advocacy, theatre captioning, Medicare limitations on audiology, related treatment and products, retraining the brain apps, Bluetooth and FM, pending legislation and local organizations that can assist with hearing aids. In short, the full gamut.

. June 10 at 1:30 PMNorth Sarasota Library Meeting Room

2801 Newtown Blvd. Sarasota

Meeting supported by hearing loop and CART

Refreshments will be served following the program.

MEETING RECAPMAY CHAPTER MEETING RECAP

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Our speaker was Jennifer Hansen, MS, CCC/SLP. Jennifer is a speech-language pathologist working with both geriatric and pediatric populations in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. She addressed strategies for hearing aids users, ways of increasing communication effectiveness, managing conversations and spoke about assistive devices.

Our 45 members in attendance were amazed at the revelation of the “5 minute rule”. The advice could equal the price of a membership over the year. Here it is:

When you need to use new batteries, tear off the tab on the back five minutes before putting them into your hearing aids. This will allow the battery to gain a full charge via exposure to the air. Jennifer said that the battery will last 80% longer by doing this!

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NEXT “AFTER HOURS” MEETING JULY 14

The summer meeting of “After Hours” will be a “Rap Session” with audiologists and other professionals present for an interactive group session. The meeting will be at 6 PM on Tuesday, July 14.

“After Hours” meets at the Center for Arts and Cultural Alliance at 1226 Tamiami Trail, just north of Van Wezel on the east side of 41.

The hosts are member Bob Leonard and Trustee Dr. Lindsey Nalu

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Loud & ClearNEWS FROM HLAA & THE WORLD

HLAA CONVENTION –ST. LOUIS—JUNE 25-28

At last count, 9 HLAA-Sarasota/Manatee Chapter members JoAnne DeVries, Anne Taylor, Vinell Lacy, Kathy Combs, Richard and Judy Williams, Flo Inness, Joan Haber, and Ed Ogiba are heading to St. Louis for the HLAA Convention starting June 25 with our President’s Top Ten (see President’s Message) list in hand in St. Louis.

The entire schedule can be found at http://www.hearingloss.org/content/2015-schedule --and of course, it is never too late to sign up and attend both the seminar and many social functions as well.

The Exhibitors are always friendly, patient and informative. The list of Exhibitors follow and if you are not attending but would like a vendor’s brochures and handouts or have a specific question, contact any of the members attending with that request.

The 50 plus vendors include:

READ MORE

Company/Organization Name Booth #

Advanced Bionics 217

Alternative Communication Services (ACS) 351

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

342

AT&T 349

Blue Ever Blue LLC 343

CapTel Captioned Telephone 214/216

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Caption First, Inc. 337

CaptionCall 234/236

ClearCaptions 344

ClearSounds Communications 338/340

Cochlear Americas 231

Contacta, Inc. 345

Dogs for the Deaf, Inc. 243

Ear Technology/Dry & Store 323

Hamilton CapTel 315/317

HARC Mercantile 324

Harris Communications 311

Hawaiian Moon 245

Hearing Loss Association of America

Helen Keller National Center/iCanConnect 357

hi HealthInnovations 334

HyperSound 225

InnoCaption 339

Intersource OEM 325

Listen Technologies 256

MAXUM 230

MED-EL 255

Missouri Assistive Technology 254

Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing 357

National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) 237

National Institute on Deafness & Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

336

NIDCD National Temporal Bone Registry 241

NOAA Weather Radio 250

Oticon 226

Oticon Medical 228

Phonak AG 217

Regal Entertainment Group 306

Relay Missouri 222

Samsung Electronics 248

sComm 322

SenseArt Solutions 331

Serene Innovations, Inc. 335

Silent Call Communications 235

Sound World Solutions 239

Sprint CapTel® 218/220

T-Mobile 355

Verizon 327/329

Washington University School of Medicine 341

Williams Sound 207

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ZPower 313

HLAA FOUNDER’S BOOK – THE “INVISIBLE CONDITION”

Join us in a yearlong celebration of Rocky Stone, HLAA’s Founder.

To celebrate Rocky and the 35th birthday of the Hearing Loss Association of America, our Chapter will be remembering Rocky and getting to know his legacy. Here is a quote from 1985:

“As a self help organization, we are primarily indebted to our members for survival. We need your submissions (stories of coping, your inventions, how you get along at work, technology you use, etc.) We need your financial help. And above all, we need your enthusiastic response to our philosophy that we have only lost our hearing, not our humanness. Make no mistake, it is you who sustain us!”

Rocky Stone Jan/Feb 1985

For more on the founder, see http://www.hearingloss.org/about-us/founderIn his book, “An Invisible Condition, The Human Side of Hearing Loss”, Rocky wrote: “the most pervasive physical handicap in America today is an invisible condition – hearing loss”.

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LEGAL NEWS—HLAA ADOPTS POLICY STATEMENT ON MEDICARE COVERAGE OF HEARING AIDS AND AURAL REHABILITATION

At its last Board meeting in Bethesda, HLAA issued a 7 page white paper addressing legislation to cover hearing aids and aural rehabilitation under Medicare. They summarized that “Medicare covers hearing evaluation only if a physician orders the tests, and the purpose of the test is largely diagnostic, that is, to select the type of medical or surgical treatment needed for a hearing loss or other medical issues.Medicare explicitly excludes ‘hearing aids or examinations for the purposes of prescribing, fitting, or changing hearing aids.’ Because hearing aids are statutorily excluded under Medicare, any coverage for Medicare beneficiaries will require amending Title 18 of the Social Security Act”. The position taken was stated: “The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) supports amending Title 18 of the Social Security Act to include coverage of hearing examinations for the purposes of prescribing, fitting or changing hearing aids, coverage of the hearing instruments themselves and aural rehabilitation”.

One of the points made to encourage the legislation was: “Numerous studies have also linked untreated hearing loss to other serious conditions which are significant issues for people, especially older Americans who rely on Medicare and who are more like to have hearing loss. It has been demonstrated that the symptoms of depression are reduced, and quality of life improved for people with hearing loss who use hearing aids.In addition, research has indicated that the incidence of dementia can be up to five times greater for with hearing loss. Untreated hearing loss is connected to a tripling of the risk for falling, which is of particular concern to older Americans”.

The seven page policy statement with 16 footnotes can be found at:

http://www.hearingloss.org/sites/default/files/docs/HLAA_POLICYSTATEMENT_M edicareCoverage_HearingAids_AuralRehab.pdf

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MEDICAL NEWS –HEARING LOSS LINKED TO OSTEOPOROSIS

Could Weak Bones, Sudden Hearing Loss Be Linked?

Last month, HealthDay News reported that although the reason for the connection isn't clear, osteoporosis and sudden, temporary hearing loss often occur together, a new study from Taiwan finds”.

According to the U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, more than 40 million Americans have osteoporosis or are at risk for the condition. Much more has to be done in regard to the linkage found but clearly, anyone with osteoporosis who is suffering a hearing loss should schedule an appointment with an EMT as soon as possible.

The summary of the study follows:

“A team led by Dr. Kai-Jen Tien, of the Chi Mei Medical Center in Tainan City, looked at more than 10,000 Taiwan residents diagnosed with the bone disease osteoporosis between 1999 and 2008. The researchers then compared them with nearly 32,000 people without the condition.

By the end of 2011, people with osteoporosis had a 76 percent higher risk of developing sudden deafness -- an unexplained, rapid loss of hearing that typically occurs in one ear.

This type of hearing loss can occur all at once or over several days and is often temporary. According to background information from the researchers, about half of people who experience sudden hearing loss will regain their hearing, and about 85 percent of people who are treated for the condition recover some hearing.

The study was published recently in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Whatever the connection, "a growing body of evidence indicates that osteoporosis affects not only bone health, but the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems," Tien said in a journal news release.

Sudden hearing loss may simply "be another broader health problem connected to osteoporosis," Tien said.

While the study couldn't prove cause-and-effect and the reasons for the link remain unclear, the study author theorized that heart risk factors, inflammation and bone demineralization may each contribute to the association between weakening bones and quick loss of hearing.

.

SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, news release, April 16, 2015

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HLAA WEBINARS

HLAA conducts educational webinars for its members and constituents. There is no cost to attend webinars. All webinars are captioned and archived for access at the HLAA website.The May Webinar featured Lise Hamlin who is HLAA’s national staff director of public policy and state development. Ms. Hamlin is HLAA’s representative on the FCC’s re- chartered Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC) and the FCC’s Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC).

The Webinar—and all past Webinars-- can be accessed at: http://www.hearingloss.org/online-community/webinars/transcripts-replay-webinars

Gaining Greater Access for People with Hearing Loss

HLAA is dedicated to gaining greater access for people with hearing loss. The webinar addressed:: HLAA’s public policy agenda and how your local advocacy can dovetail with our work

on the national level;

HLAA’s new policy statements;

Recently introduced federal legislation HLAA supports that provides Medicare coverage of hearing aids and another that provides tax credits for hearing aids;

HLAA’s support for affordable and accessible hearing health care;

HLAA’s work in looping in public places; and

Collaboration with other organizations for movie captioning

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Chapter’s Vice President’s Monthly Column in The Venice Gondolier[Anne Taylor is a bilateral cochlear implant user, a Gallaudet Certified Peer Mentor for the Hard of Hearing. She is Vice President of the l Hearing Loss of America - Sarasota/Manatee Chapter and writes a monthly column. Here is last month’s column].

Closed Captions at the Movies, on the TV and on the Phone

Can’t Hear? So, See What They Say! Have you not been to the movies in many years because you can’t hear well enough to

understand the movie?

Do people around you complain that you turn up the volume on the television?

Do you have trouble hearing on the phone?

Closed Captions let you see what you have been missing!

Closed captions put the spoken words right on the screen. For us folks with hearing problems, closed captioning is a life-changer. From feeling excluded, we are now included. We understand what is being said because we can see it.

Captioning has improved the quality of my life. I remember the joy of seeing captions for the first time on the television. About 22 years ago, my husband surprised me with a new television with captions. Can you imagine my joy at being able to read what I was missing? I was almost in tears– partly because I was so happy to finally understand what was said - and partly because the captions made me realize how much I had been missing all those years.

Would my life have been different had I always been able to read captions? I probably would have sat on the back row at school, instead of on the front row – right under the teacher’s nose. At least, I behaved myself! If captioning had been available then, would I have had a different job, a different personality? Who knows?

But, now I have captions, the joy continues with television, telephones and accessibility at the movies.

Closed Captioning Glasses at the Movies

I had not been to the movies in many years as I could not hear well enough to understand the movie. Now, thanks to Regal Cinemas and SONY glasses, I am ecstatic to be able to go to a movie I want to see and when I want to see it.According to NPR’s “All Tech Considered”, Regal Cinemas have distributed SONY closed- captioning glasses to its 6000 theaters across the country. Sony Entertainment Access Glasses

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are similar to 3-D glasses, but are for captioning. Bright green captions appear to be on the screen.Randy Smith Jr., the chief administrative officer for Regal Cinemas, says he worked for more than a decade to develop a technology that would allow accessibility to the deaf and hard of hearing for every film shown.

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Smith’s son, Ryan is deaf and was a willing guinea pig to try out the technology as it developed. Smith said he couldn’t put into words what it felt like to finally be at a point where the captioning actually worked.

A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of being able to take my grandchildren to see a movie for the first time. We saw Airplanes and I could understand every word with the help of the SONY glasses at the local Regal Theater. Previously, animated movies had always been just ‘noise’, owing to cartoon lips being unreadable. It was a pleasant surprise to find they were actually saying something!

The glasses fit over your eyes or eye glasses and are included in the price of the movie ticket. Simply, go the service desk in the lobby and tell the clerk which movie you would like to see. The clerk programs the movie into the glasses. When your movie starts, the captioning will appear.

Many AMC theaters have a hearing assistive device called Captiview. This is a personal captioning device which fits into the cup holder. It has a screen attached to a type of goose neck device.Regal Hollywood 20, Sarasota carries twenty SONY glasses and three Captiviews. The local theater in Venice carries six headsets which amplify sound

Closed Captions on the Television

All televisions have access to captioning to be in accordance with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). On your television remote, there is a button marked CC (closed captions) which allows access to the captions. As with DVD players, you may need to go to the menu.

A highly trained professional captioner transcribes the word into print with phonetic codes on a court reporting machine. Often the transcript is fast-paced. Now we understand why amusing mistakes appear sometimes.

Closed Captions on the Phone

Captioned phones make a world of difference to people who struggle to understand on the phone. The captioned phone has a screen where the text of the spoken word appears. It is easy to read and comes in fonts of different sizes.

Captioned phones are supplied free to Florida residents.For more information contact www.HamiltonCapTel.com

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1-888-514-7933www.CaptionCall.com 1-877-557-2227

Sources:http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2013/05/12/183218751/new-closed-captioning- glasses-help-deaf-go-out-to-the-movieswww.hlaa.org