2011 HLAA Convention Less Than a Week Away!

Wow, time is going by like nothing! I cannot believe that I will be leaving for the HLAA convention in less than a week. I downloaded the convention Program and Exhibit Guide and have looked at all of the interesting workshops, demonstrations, and events. There is so much to see and do.

The Research Symposium's The Impact of Noise on Hearing seems interesting (Friday, June 17th, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Sponsored by Deafness Research Foundation).

The demonstrations (page 9 and 10 of program book) I am most interested in are:

• ReadMyQuips: An Innovative Way to Improve Speech Understanding in Noise (presented by Sense Synergy, Inc., Saturday, June 18th, 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.)
• EARtrak: Building a Chorus of Consumer Opinion to Sing to the World (Saturday, June 18th, 3:00 - 3:45 p.m.)
• Oticon: Maintaining Connections with Family and Friends (Saturday, June 18th, 4:00 - 4:45 p.m.)

There are so many workshops to choose from! I wish I can attend them all. The workshops (schedule on page 14 and 15 of program book) I am most interested in are:

•  The Looping of America Begins With YOU!
• Communication Therapy: An Integrated Approach
• Biological Restoration of Hearing: Are We Getting Any Closer?
• Surviving the Stress of Hearing Loss: What You Can Do
• Dare to Be Different
• What Children with Cochlear Implants Need at School
• Coaching Parents Through the Early Years
• Movie Access, The Battle Continues
• Minimal Hearing Loss-Not a Big Deal, Right?
• Recognition of Self-Advocacy Skills for the Young Adult or Teen with Hearing Loss
• Common Pitfalls of Parenting Your Child with Hearing Loss
• Dementia: Misdiagnosis and Hearing Loss

It is a shame that some of these workshops share the same day and time. I would really like to attend the "Dare to be Different" workshop, but I would also like to go to the "What Children with Cochlear Implants Need at School" workshop, which starts at the same time. I am going to have a tough time choosing.

To those who are attending, I would recommend looking at the program book. With so much to do and see, it can be overwhelming. Looking at the schedules and trying to decide where to go and what to do, before going to the convention, should make it less stressful.

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