Hearing Loss Association of America 30th Birthday Celebration Banquet

By Cheryl Heppner

The HLAA convention program book had a two-page spread on the 30th birthday celebration with a photo and quote from Howard E. "Rocky" Stone, the organization's founder and a short bio of Rocky as well as brief highlights of the past 6 years.

As people arrived and mingled for the 30th Birthday Celebration on June 19, 2009, photos of highlights from HLAA history were shown on the big screen. This touching, inspiring, and sometimes surprising "Thirty Years in Pictures" program was produced by Richard McCollough of American Abilities Television Network. The project was coordinated by Hollace Goodman with help from Joan Kleinrock and Ann Liming.

The host for the evening was Ray Wathen of Houston, who had some great one-liners as well as two-liners, three-liners and beyond. In addition to the finery worn by some attendees, we had some added flash provided by the many people wearing hat or guitar magnets with colored lights on their clothing. These magnets were a reward given to people who had made donations of a certain amount to support HLAA during the conference. A couple at the table next to me went beyond just dressing up their clothing and attached the magnets to what appeared to be their cochlear implant magnets. One of them had a flashing magnet on each side of the head.

Toni Acton of AT&T, the corporate sponsor of the birthday celebration, gave a brief presentation. She recognized HLAA for its major role in both national and local level advocacy and said that the organization’s issues are important to AT&T. A gift from AT&T for each attendee had been placed at our seats. I opened the box with mine, and inside I found something sleek and cylindrical. Immediately I fantasized that we were receiving miniature light sabers. They turned out to be flashlights that could be attached to a lanyard. Given the weather we'd had earlier in the week, tit was an inspired choice, though Toni said she was not worried about tornadoes after having lived previously in Texas for four years.

Our host introduced of Ahme Stone, Rocky's widow, their son Michael, daughters Jolie and Melanie and others in the family. Tables 4, 10 and 19 on the left and 3, 11 and 18 on the right were the lucky tables that given the go-ahead to hit the buffet first to fill their plates. The buffet had some more unconventional choices such as fried green tomatoes and corn fritters, both of which I can assure you were delicious. A good-looking dessert is always a pleasure but the special celebration mousse which had the HLAA name and logo imprinted was definitely a highlight.


Rocky Stone Humanitarian Award

Following dinner, Ahme Stone was escorted to the stage by Colin Cantlie of Canada, both wearing country hats similar to the one Rocky always liked to wear. They presented the 2009 Rocky Stone Humanitarian Award to Ann Liming. In accepting the award, Ann said it had special meaning to her because she knew Rocky as a mentor, role model and best friend. The foundation he laid is still there, she believes, because Rocky didn't just talk; the values he brought to HLAA were how he lived.

"Whether you knew him or not, he impacts you personally,” Ann told us. She said that the people in HLAA helped mold and make her into the person she is today and all had earned the award with her.

Past winners of this prestigious award include some greats from our Metro area: Marjorie Boone, Joan Kleinrock, George Kosovich, Paul Hopler, and George DeVilbiss.


Tributes to Rocky

Ann Liming, with the Rocky Stone Remembrance Committee, had organized a tribute to for Rocky by people who had seen him through their eyes.

Colin Cantlie, whose ancestors are Scottish, said Rocky was a very magnanimous person who also loved to tease him. When asked by Colin to sign a copy of his book "The Invisible Condition" for Colin, Rocky wrote "To Colin, what can I say? You are a wonderful example of all that is Irish." On another occasion, Rocky remarked "That's great; Irish young adults are the future of our organization."

Marcia Finisdore reminisced about how she discovered HLAA and Rocky, and one week later a huge carton from him arrived on her doorstep. Among the qualities she valued in Rocky were his love of a good argument, his love of raising a glass often, and that though he was very, very smart she was a better gin player.

Richard Twitchell, who was "not originally from Chattanooga, but got there as fast as he could" started a chapter after his wife lost her hearing and recalled how his wife came back full of ideas after attending a convention in 1978. She also came back very impressed with Rocky. Years later Richard attended a conference and was equally impressed. Rocky, he said, made friends of everyone he met.

Claude Stout recalled Rocky’s challenge to the rest of us to understand that one size doesn’t fit all people with hearing loss. He lauded Executive Director Brenda Battat’s effective leadership “a shining example” where Rocky has excelled for HLAA's survival today. He also viewed the Stone family as an example in continuing to preserve the ideals and values that Rocky Stone envisioned, and he commended Mike Stone for stepping up to serve as HLAA President.

Barbara Hunter's attempts to set up a chapter with Rocky's encouragement brought just one person to the first meeting -- her husband. After more ideas and encouragement from Rocky, she held a second meeting. Two more people showed up and the rest is history. The chapter now has been in existence for 24 years.

Patrick Holkins arrived at HLAA in the fall of 2004, at a time he hadn't yet come to terms with his hearing loss. At HLAA he found the power of community and now 35 young adults are attending an HLAA convention for the first time. "Together we'll help grow the organization but never forget the man who made it all possible," he said.


Last Words

Julie Olson, representing the Milwaukee organizers who will be hosting the HLAA convention in 2010, promised us beer, brats and cheese, possibly with a polka band thrown in. She talked about the highlights we could look forward to in near proximity to the convention site in downtown Milwaukee.

Ray Wathen closed the program, joking that it had been fun to emcee with 15 sub-wives telling him what to do.

Following the program, Bruce and Kristi Cline and the Music City Wranglers provided music and the tables emptied as people hit the floor to do some line dancing.

See more of Cheryl Heppner reports of the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at NVRC.

Hearingimpaired.net and MrPAWS

By Bonnie O’Leary

Hearingimpaired.net and MrPAWS by Snow make accessories and signage for people with hearing loss. I was very attracted to the variety of colorful, unique products imprinted with the hearingimpaired.net logo on display at this exhibit – bracelets, pins, desk and car decals, t-shirts, doorknob hangers, hospital packs, combo packs, and athlete’s safety vests. I was also drawn to the gorgeous, white German shepherd dog named Snow, sitting patiently behind the exhibit table, ears perked sharply upwards, wisely appearing as if he could answer questions about the display of service dog supplies such as coats, leashes, collars, and auto decals. He even looked smart enough to read the Law Card – a plastic coated copy of the Federal law permitting a service dog entrance to public places.

A Personal Story

Anne Wicklund, who co-owns this international company with her husband, Wayne, noticed how I was straining to understand her in the din of the exhibit area, so she suggested we move to a seat in the quieter hallway. I was very touched by her immediate and genuine concern for my struggle to listen. And it is this genuine concern for the frustrations of all people with hearing loss that inspired them to launch their company in 2001 when Wayne suddenly lost most of his hearing. The Wicklunds, who hail from Fountain Hills, Arizona, had previously owned other businesses, including a mobile check-cashing company, a real estate business, and a security dog company. In search of others who had hearing loss, they discovered the Sun Lakes chapter of what was then SHHH. They made “hearingimpaired” pins to take to the meeting to give away, and everyone wanted one! That was the first hearingimpaired.net product. It generated such a successful response that the Wicklunds created their website, and the idea took off from there.

Product Line Grows

When Wayne realized he hadn’t heard traffic honking at him from behind, he and Anne developed their second product, the hearingimpaired.net automobile window decal. Suggestions and requests for products poured in through their website. For instance, a marathon runner who is hard of hearing asked if Anne and Wayne could design a vest for her to wear in meets and trainings, and the bright orange hearingimpaired.net athletic vest was created and added to the product line. Anne told me they enjoy hearing from their website visitors, especially if they have an idea for a hearingimpaired.net product that should be created.

Snow

Not long after Wayne lost his hearing, Snow came into the Wicklund’s lives, and Wayne focused his training so Snow would alert him to sounds, dangers, people and situations. Having Snow with him all the time introduced Wayne to the challenges of access to public places with a dog, so the line of service dog products was created and added to the hearingimpaired.net catalogue.

To learn more about the range of products available, suggest new ones, or contact Anne and Wayne, visit www.hearingimpaired.net and www.MrPAWS.com.

See more of Bonnie O’Leary reports of the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at NVRC.

Panasonic

By Cheryl Heppner

My first stop was with Panasonic, which has its booth located right inside the entrance to the Exhibit Hall. It was great to reconnect with Tony Jasionowski, Sr. Group Manager for the company’s Accessibility Technology Liaison and Alliance Group. Tony introduced me to some of the company’s newest line of digital cordless phones whose boxes all displayed the logo for meeting TIA standards for hearing aid compatibility.

The models on display included the KX-TG6441 with one handset at $69.95 retail and the 2-handset KX-TG6432 model at $79.95. Panasonic’s cordless line now has lots of options with features such as conference capability, Ringer ID, lighted handset keypad, speakerphone on handset, handset locator, handset intercom, and Call Waiting Caller ID. There are 27 different cordless phone choices. All have DECT 6.0 (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication), which operates on the 1.9GHz frequency and is designed to offer excellent sound quality, reduced interference, long range and extended battery life.

Panasonic is one of the companies I have pestered to make it easy to access captions on their line of televisions by having a caption button on the TV remote control, as well as one on the TV itself in case the remote is lost or the battery dies. Tony proudly showed me the remote for the sleek 42” Panasonic TV that the company has donated for a drawing here at HLAA, and even more proudly handed me the remote control. There in the top row of buttons was a clearly marked “cc”. Of course that merited a big hug! The cc button’s addition to the remote has now become a company standard. If you’re as delighted as I am, you can send your thanks to Tony at jasionowskit@us.panasonic.com.

See more of Cheryl Heppner reports of the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at NVRC.

Silent Call Communications

Silent Call Communications attended the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. The Silent Call wireless alerting system allows a deaf, deaf/blind, or any other user to be discreetly alerted to the activation of any one of a number of common household devices such as a doorbell, telephone ringer, smoke detector, sound monitor, door or window activity, etc. Use it whenever you cannot hear the doorbell. No need to miss a visitor because you were out gardening or could not hear the doorbell or phone.

A typical system consists of one or more transmitters and one or more receivers. There is no limit to the number of receivers and/or transmitters in a system. Transmitters are available that will interface to a doorbell, telephone ringer, smoke detector, fire and/or intrusion alarm panel, sound monitor, door or window activity, etc.

Basically, you would purchase a Sidekick II Signature Series that will detect a signal from doorbell, telephone ringer, smoke detector, CO detector, fire and/or intrusion alarm panel, sound monitor, door or window activity transmitters, it alerts you by flashing the strobe light and activating the bed vibrator (if used), the colored indicator light for that signal will illuminate and a symbol for that specific transmitter will display on the screen!

ZVRS LLC

ZVRS formally known as CSDVRS, the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. ZVRS is a nationally recognized Video Relay Service provider. Head over there and create a free account and get on the waiting list for the new wireless video phone!

The Z™ Model 340 is, quite possibly, the perfect videophone! It is small, lightweight, supports H.323, and delivers high-quality video over broadband or WiFi connections. With a stunning seven-inch screen that can be closed for safe traveling, this sleek videophone can be placed on your desk, mounted on a wall or connected to your television for larger screen viewing. The rechargeable external battery provides up to two hours of video; if you need more time — simply attach another battery!

ZVRS Services include:

ZVRS - Video relay service (VRS) allows deaf and hard of hearing individuals to have telephone conversations with hearing people. Using a videophone with real-time video connection, an interpreter relays the conversation between the two parties. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ZVRS calls may be placed anywhere within the U.S. and to over 45 countries around the world. (For Spanish-speaking individuals, we also offer HolaVRS.)

Z VCO - (I LOVE THIS!!!) Voice carry-over (VCO) users can place calls using single-line Z™ videophones without needing an additional landline or cellular telephone. Use your own voice to speak to the other party, and the video interpreter will translate what they are saying back to you using one of three communication options: American Sign Language, English-based sign language and English-based sign language with lip reading. Simply dial (888) 888-1116 to use Z VCO today!

Z Meeting - Introducing our brightest idea yet! Z Meeting is the solution for bringing multiple parties into the same telephone conversation — at no charge to anyone! Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing individuals can all participate equally in conference calls when using Z Meeting via video interpreters. The Z™ makes it easy to schedule telephone meetings through a simple sign-up form online, allowing you to meet with anyone, anywhere, any time — without travel! Conducting meetings from home or office has never been so simple! For more information, send an email to zmeetingATzvrs.com.

Lifetone

Lifetone Technology was at the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.

Standard fire alarms and smoke detectors may not wake up people with hearing loss. The first of its kind; the Lifetone HL™ Bedside Fire Alarm and Clock uses a 520 Hz square-wave sound pattern proven by the Fire Protection Research Foundation to be more effective at alerting and awakening people with hearing loss, seniors, children, and heavy sleepers than standard fire alarms. The Lifetone HL is both a state of the art fire alarm and an attractive and easy to use alarm clock. The patented Lifetone HL™ sensor listens for your existing smoke detectors (smoke alarms) and then broadcasts its low frequency, 520Hz square wave sound pattern. Be protected. The Lifetone HL™ helps ensure a life-saving environment for you and the ones you love.

Steve and Debbie Bottles getting drawn at the Lifetone Technology booth.

This next part is extremely important to note. The upcoming 2010 edition of NFPA 72® National Fire Alarm Code has made significant changes to the code especially concerning people who have mild to severe hearing loss. It has been shown that a low-frequency (520 Hz) square wave fire alarm effectively awaken and alerts people who have mild to moderately-severe hearing loss and should be installed in sleeping and guest rooms. If you have a profound loss, this new code requires the use of tactile or vibration in addition to high-intensity strobes in sleeping and guest rooms.

Now, I am one of those in the profound category which means without my cochlear implants, I can put a standard 3100 Hz pure tone sound of current smoke detector to either one of my ears and I can't hear it. Then again, a F-16 fighter jet can take off in my driveway and I wouldn't hear that either. So this is a very real concern for people in my position. When I did the demo of the Lifetone Fire Alarm, I could not hear obviously the low-frequency (520 Hz) square wave but people with a milder/moderate loss were able to hear it without hearing aids or cochlear implants. Thus people in my profound position, must rely on the high-intensity strobes and bed shaker as the new National Fire Alarm Code suggests. Lifetone lacks the strobes for me and it would be perfect if they did.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) conducts and supports biomedical and behavioral research and research training in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech and language. The Institute also conducts and supports research and research training related to disease prevention and health promotion; addresses special biomedical and behavioral problems associated with people who have communication impairments or disorders; and supports efforts to create devices which substitute for lost and impaired sensory and communication function.

Deafness Research Foundation

Deafness Research Foundation attended the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center and was the proud sponsor of the Research Symposium: An Update on the Latest Hair Cell Regeneration Research.

For more than 50 years, DRF has worked to make hearing health possible for everyone through quality research and education. As the leading national source of private funding for research, our grants have resulted in treatments for hearing and balance related conditions helping those living with hearing loss and protecting those at risk.

Over 37 million adults and over 1 million children in the United States suffer from some degree of hearing loss. Of adults who suffer from hearing loss approximately:

* 55% are male
* 45% are female
* 8.4 million are between the ages of 18 – 44 years
* 14.3 million are between the ages of 45 – 64 years
* 6 million are between the ages of 65 – 74 years
* 8.3 million are 75 years and over

These numbers are increasing every year due to aging baby boomers (ages 41-59) and Generation Xers (ages 29-40).

In addition to being the leading national source of private funding for research in hearing and balance science, DRF also publishes Hearing Health magazine. Our publication has a circulation of approximately 30,000 and recently won an APEX 2008 Award of Excellence for Magazine & Journal Writing. This valuable consumer resource provides information on technology, treatment, research and issues affecting people with hearing loss.

Teltex

Teltex joined us at the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. Teltex is setting the mark when it comes to providing equipment for the deaf and hard of hearing. They specialize in amplified phones, TTY’s, unique notification and Smoke Detection Systems they provide extra support after the purchase answering any questions you may have.

Purple

Purple attended the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. Purple provides a variety of communication services tailored for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Video Relay: Hands On VRS® service is the nation's second largest video relay service, and has an unmatched track record for providing its users high-quality communication experiences. Available on videophone, and through customized software called VideoSign, Hands On VRS enables customers choose how and when they make a VRS call. Hands On VRS is also available in Spanish on a videophone through espanol.hovrs.tv.

Text Relay: Introduced in 2004, i711.com is relatively new to the relay industry. With its suite of enhanced calling tools such as a built-in phone book, one-click dialing and other conveniences, i711 quickly grew to be come the second largest text relay service. i711 blends its core communication services, with exclusive video and text content tailored to the interests of the deaf community. i711 provides a great call experience, and a great online gathering place for community content.

Community Interpreting: Purple Language Services combine industry-leading interpreting services, with video remote interpreting (VRI) and communication access real-time translation (CART) services. With convenient online scheduling and billing, and interpreting and translation services available nationwide, Purple Language Services is the ideal partner for your communication and accommodation needs.

Some happy Purple people!

Purple services!

Advanced Bionics

Advanced Bionics attended the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.

Advanced Bionics is dedicated to improving the quality of life for hearing impaired individuals from around the world. As the only American manufacturer of cochlear implants, AB has over 15 years of experience designing and producing high technology devices that enable adults and children with severe to profound hearing loss to hear. Advanced Bionics developed the Harmony™ HiResolution Bionic Ear System to help cochlear implant recipients maximize their hearing potential beyond words and to experience as much of the full spectrum of natural sound—and life—as possible. Click to learn more about AB and its revolutionary cochlear implant technology.

Quick Caption

Quick Caption attended the at the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. QuickCaption offers reliable and high-quality real time captioning services nationwide, both onsite as well as remotely via the Internet, and is currently providing services to a number of HLAA chapters! Additionally, QuickCaption offers prompt and professional video/media captioning. If it can be captioned, we can caption it! Some of their services include Realtime Captioning, Video Captioning, Transcription, Stenography Related, and Proofreading.

Two happy little Quick Captioners :)

American Abilities Television Network

American Abilities Television Network joined us at the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. American Abilities Television Network (TM) is a television network devoted to creating, producing and distributing quality programming for and about the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Special thanks to Richard McCollough of the American Abilities Television Network for producing “Thirty Years in Pictures.” We are forever grateful to Hollace Goodman who coordinated the project and to helpers, Joan Kleinrock and Ann Liming for their hard work. And,to the many others who submitted photographs - THANK YOU!

Mirusmedia.net produces television programming for Deaf & Hard of Hearing, this service is called (AATV) or American Abilities Television Network (on CW/13 WHAM Time Warner Cable Channel 16 in Rochester, New York) as well as on our website. Lastly we provide meteorological forecasting services for 103.9 WDKX-FM in Rochester, NY. This service is called Weatherfield and is located on the Weatherfied Farm page.

Phonak

Phonak showed up at the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. Phonak is a global leader in the development and manufacture of digital hearing systems. Using state-of-the-art technology, we strive to produce solutions for both adults and children with a hearing loss in the most challenging of listening environments. The ultimate goal of the experts at Phonak is to make a key contribution to the quality of life of those with a hearing impairment, their families, and their friends.

Phonak has a new hearing model called Naída. It is the innovative offering in the Power segment, designed for moderately-severe to profound hearing losses. All Naída models offer exceptional levels of audibility and clarity, an esthetically appealing design and are water-resistant. The complete PowerHearing solution includes SuperPower (13) and UltraPower (675) models, now at three price points. For more details please visit: www.naida.phonak.com.

Phonak FM System Even with the best hearing instruments, most hearing-impaired people notice that they have difficulty hearing in certain situations such as using a telephone, watching television, during a business meeting, or in a restaurant. Using an wireless communication system (FM system) makes communication in all these difficult situations much easier.

• Dialog - At home, in a busy street, at the shopping center, or in a restaurant.
• Group conversations - Family get-togethers, noisy restaurant, at business meetings or conferences.
• Making telephone calls - Phonak wireless systems provide access to all capabilities of modern telecommunication devices.
• Watching TV and listening to music - Phonak wireless systems provide access to the entire spectrum of today's information and entertainment technologies.
• Schools and further education - In classes at schools and universities, on outings and excursions, in lectures, or on museum tours.
• Transportation - Cars, trains, trams and buses.
• Sports - Cycling, playing golf, skiing, jogging or hiking.
• Events - Theater, in concerts, at the movies, in church services, or at community meetings.
  

Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)

Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) was at the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. They are the leading trade association representing the global information and communications technology (ICT) industries through standards development, government affairs, business opportunities, market intelligence, certification and world-wide environmental regulatory compliance. With support from its 600 members, TIA enhances the business environment for companies involved in telecommunications, broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite, unified communications, emergency communications and the greening of technology. TIA is accredited by ANSI.

This is TIA's logo that identifies for consumers telephones compliant with TIA's latest standard for reduced noise and interference when used with T-Coil-equipped hearing aids and cochlear implants!


So when shopping for a telephone and you use the telecoil feature on your hearing or cochlear implant, look for that logo and you will most likely experience less static and/or interference than a non-compliant TIA-1083 phone.

Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA)

Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA) was at the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center! The mission of the Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA) is to support the empowerment of late-deafened people. Late-Deafened Adults are people who have lost the ability to understand speech with or without hearing aids after acquiring spoken language. ALDA is committed to providing a support network and a sense of belonging by sharing our unique experiences, challenges and coping strategies, helping one another find practical solutions and emotional support, and working together with other organizations and service providers for our common good.

In ALDA, we find people who share the same experience and work together to find solutions to the everyday challenges of living with hearing loss. When ALDA members get together communication barriers disappear. ALDA's communication philosophy is "Whatever works, works!"

Geemarc Telecom

Geemarc Telecom is a world wide distributor of specialist communications equipment for the deaf who attended the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.

The Geemarc representative flashing his assorted array of telephones!

Geemarc identified a special needs market in 2001. This market targets hearing impaired phone users, to whom finding the right phone or compatible device is extremely important to maximize clarity, minimize feedback and increase usefulness. You can purchase Sound Alert products from them as well!

Verizon

Even though someone was noticeably absent from the Verizon booth, they were at the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. They were the sponsor of the 2009 HLAA Convention Program Guide (<--- click to download the green version).

Verizon is a global leader in delivering innovation in communications, information and entertainment. We offer consumers, businesses and government first-in-class voice, data and video services over superior wireline and wireless networks. We believe that, by delivering the innovation customers want, we will win in the marketplace, create value for shareowners and make a positive impact.

If you happen to live in the northeast section of the United States, you can take advantage of the Verizon Wireless Accessibility Plan. It gives users unlimited domestic text messaging (including instant messaging) with 100 monthly voice minutes for $39.99 monthly access with a one- or two-year customer agreement. Customers can also subscribe to an optional feature for their BlackBerry or PDA/Smartphone that provides unlimited data usage on the company’s NationalAccess data network for an additional $40 monthly access.

Verizon customers who are deaf or hard of hearing and live in Delaware, New Jersey or Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island can now use American Sign Language and either a videophone or Web camera to communicate directly with the company about service-related issues.

ICantHearYou®

ICantHearYou®’s came to the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. Their goal is to improve safety and communications between the diverse deaf and hearing populations. ICantHearYou® is the one-stop resource for people who have questions about deafness, safety, cultural, and other related topics.

You can purchase different accommodation devices such as: Alarm Clocks, Doorbell, Door Signs, Safety Alarms, Signalers, Telephone, Headset for the Television, Watches. You can take a look at the variety of books, clothes and jewelry for you and your dog they have to offer!

HearUSA Care Network

HearUSA Care Network joined us at the 2009 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. HearUSA is a professional, independently accredited hearing services organization doing business as HEARx, the Hearing Care Network, and HearUSA. We promote consumer awareness, education and utilization of hearing care products and services. Our goal is to provide affordable access to quality hearing care across the country and to bring new standards of care and service in a professional setting.

HearUSA works with people like you — employers, managed care organizations, insurers, unions and other benefit sponsors — who understand the advantage of offering a hearing benefit to their members. If you are an employee, you might want to bring this information to the human resource department. They will help you select the hearing benefit program that best meets the needs of your organization and members. Your hearing care program can provide full or partial coverage for professional hearing services and hearing aid fittings.