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Who are the appropriate users of OTC aids and how do you know?

In ALDA Archives Newsletter, News by ALDA News

Part one of this series was a discussion of the “unintended users” of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids and how they should be anticipated and accounted for. But who are the appropriate users, and why might they benefit from OTC aids? Cost is generally thought to be the factor that prevents people with hearing loss from using hearing aids. However, hearing aid use is…

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OTC Hearing Aids: Who Needs Them? (Hint: Maybe You!)

In ALDA Archives Newsletter, News by ALDA News

You may have heard that President Biden recently signed an Executive Order regarding “Over the Counter (OTC) hearing aids”. Why was this necessary? Don’t we already have OTC hearing aids? This is the first of two articles that will discuss this confusing issue. Unregulated amplifiers have been sold for many years. True hearing aids are classified as medical devices, regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and provided/adjusted by licensed professionals. Unregulated amplifiers must be labeled “Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAPs)”, and the quality varies greatly. Some are essentially like turning…

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Ask The Nurse: Caring for yourself before, during, and after hospital procedures

In ALDA Archives Newsletter, Ask The Nurse by ALDA News

Summer is almost over. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, soon the days will become shorter, nights will be longer, and winter will be upon us. We have seen a lot of turmoil in the news lately. From the medical and nursing point of view the most upsetting information is the rise in COVID-19 cases across the U.S. and in the world. Sadly, this was cautiously predicted. Keeping our distance from one another, taking better care of ourselves and others, and staying safe and mindful of our environment dictates where we go…

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ALDAcon Memories: A Personal Journey

In ALDA Archives Newsletter, ALDAcon by ALDA News

I’ve officially been a member of ALDA since 2010 when I moved to San Jose, CA. Prior to that I had been loosely involved with ALDA many years before in Chicago but never actually attended a meeting or subscribed. I had attended one of the famous Chicago Christmas parties that are a part of ALDA folklore but at the time I had no idea I was attending a well known event. I found the Chicago event after I had lost my hearing a few years before and was exploring hearing loss options. A mentor/friend whom I met…

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Meandering Through A Hearing World: Good Hearing Friends

In ALDA Archives Newsletter, Meandering Through the Hearing World by ALDA News

During the summer months, my husband and I like to catch up with our local friends who live in our Southwest Florida town full-time. The other night we were invited to someone’s house for dinner and were served a fine meal, pork tenderloin with apricots, couscous, asparagus, and a delightful French rosé. We spent a lively evening talking about our shared interest in movies, books, and politics. As friends we agree on most things. My husband and his friend met as medical school classmates many years ago, and the men lost track of each other after graduation….

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Advocacy Corner – Summer 2021

In ALDA Archives Newsletter, Legal Updates by ALDA News

Three cases that have occurred since the last newsletter are worth mentioning. Two of them involve deaf or hard of hearing people, and the one that does not still has the potential to significantly affect us. The first case (Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller) involves a deaf woman who was referred to a rehabilitation office for physical therapy. The office refused to provide interpreters and said the woman must bring her own interpreter at her expense, a blatantly illegal claim. She sued, asking for damages to compensate her for the injury of being excluded…

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Treasurer’s Report – Q2 2021

In ALDA Archives Newsletter, Treasurer's Report by ALDA News

Where has the summer gone? It seems like it just started, but now it is almost Labor Day! By now, ALDAcon planning is completed and the schedule is available on the website. We are looking forward to the Niagara Falls Con this October. Hopefully, we can still have our usual fantastic event and many of you will be vaccinated and able to attend. This report reflects the second quarter end (July 31, 2021). Our total funds in the bank accounts increased by $22,810 during this past quarter. This was due to ALDAcon registrations as well…