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May 29, 2026: Would you like open captioning on a schedule at your local movie theater? NYS is considering requiring it with the following bill:
Senate Bill S2269: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2269
Contact your NYS Senator: https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator and your NYS Assembly member: https://nyassembly.gov/
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May 14, 2026: A brain-controlled system may help listeners with hearing loss cut through the noise
Scientists developed a real-time, brain-controlled system that can help listeners pick out one voice in a noisy environment (the “cocktail party” problem). Using intracranial electrodes in four patients being monitored for epilepsy, researchers decoded attention-related brain waves from auditory cortex to identify which of two simultaneous conversations a person was focusing on; the system then amplified that target speech and attenuated the other. It detected the attended speaker up to ~90% of the time, improved comprehension, and reduced listening effort. Authors say this provides proof-of-concept for brain-guided hearing devices (hearing aids, cochlear implants), though effectiveness for people with hearing loss remains an open question because their neural signals may be weaker. The study appears in Nature Neuroscience.
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May 1, 2026: May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month.
Why National Speech-Language-Hearing Month Matters
Hearing loss is a common condition that affects millions of Americans, particularly older adults. Approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss. May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month because we need this dedicated time to:
- Raise awareness about hearing loss and its impact on daily life
- Reduce the stigma of using hearing aids and assistive devices
- Encourage regular hearing screenings, especially for seniors
- Highlight the advances in technology that make communication easier
When we address hearing concerns, we maintain stronger connections with family and friends, stay more engaged in our communities, and often enjoy better overall health.
Taking Action This May
National Speech-Language-Hearing Month is about awareness and action. Here are practical steps you can take right now to support yourself or someone you love:
- Schedule a hearing check-up with your doctor or a hearing care professional
- Learn about communication strategies for difficult listening situations
- Explore hearing assistive technologies that might work for you
Recognizing Signs of Hearing Loss
- Frequently asking others to repeat themselves
- Difficulty following conversations in noisy environments
- Turning up the volume on the TV or radio louder than others prefer
- Trouble hearing on the telephone
- Feeling that others are mumbling when they speak
- Avoiding social situations because of hearing difficulties
Many Local Hospitals, senior centers and health clinics offer special events during National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, often including hearing screenings.
The Benefits of Better Hearing
Addressing hearing concerns isn’t just about hearing better—it’s about staying connected to what matters most. Better hearing means enjoying conversations with friends and family, understanding important medical information, maintaining independence in daily activities, and feeling more confident in social settings.
As we recognize National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, remember that taking care of your hearing health is taking care of your overall well-being. The connections we maintain through better hearing enrich our lives in countless ways.
This month, and every month, consider taking one step toward better hearing and better living.
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April 26, 2026: HLAA recently added a NY State Action Alert to our advocacy section on our website. This alert allows NY residents to voice their support of expanded Open Caption Movies. The link below will take you to directly to the Action Alert. Please share this with your chapters, family and friends. If you have any questions, please feel free to email advocacy@hearingloss.org
Click Here for More Information
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April 16, 2026: The American Red Cross is giving away free bed shaker smoke alarms as part of their “Sound the Alarm” event. Simply fill out a form and someone from the Red Cross will contact you. Inform them you or someone in your household is hard of hearing and they will provide you with a free bed shaker smoke alarm.
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March 26, 2026: Check out this article about Auracast, a new wireless technology. Auracast has the potential to do more than add a new feature to hearing devices—it could help hearing care providers expand access to better hearing across their communities. Auracast systems act like a “radio station” for Bluetooth LE Audio, allowing users to tune in to audio in public venues via an unlimited number of hearing devices (hearing aids, cochlear implants, or compatible earbuds).
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March 11, 2026: Check out the recent HearingU Hearing Loss at Work webinar, “Thriving in Sound-Intensive Workplaces: Strategies for Inclusion, Communication and Success” conducted on Feb. 18. Professional panelists discussed how to navigate noisy environments and make them more inclusive, as an employee, employer, HR manager or company leader.
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March 9, 2026: Sanskruti Deshpande is an MFA User Experience Design student at the Savannah College of Art and Design. She is conducting research for her thesis focused on improving everyday communication experiences for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals.
She has created a survey to gather information. The survey is brief, participation is completely voluntary, and responses are strictly confidential.
Her email is deshpandesanskruti4@gmail.com for anyone wishing to reach out.
The goal is to understand real everyday communication challenges and identify design opportunities for tools or support that can make communication easier and less exhausting for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals.
Survey link: https://forms.gle/DAomCEJ1pAaQ8ZNz7
She is also asking if any individuals would like to speak for a brief follow-up conversation to learn more deeply from their experiences.
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Happy New Year!
We’ve turned the page to 2026. It’s time for fresh starts, new goals and renewed commitment to what matters most, you and our community. Thank you for being part of our journey and sharing yours. Together, we show what’s possible when we harness the power of us. Keep the momentum going this year by engaging with us in new ways! Here are some ideas to get started:
- Connect with an HLAA Chapter: Share and learn with others in your community.
- Attend the HLAA 2026 Convention: Experience learning, networking, and advocacy like never before.
- Support a Walk4Hearing: Join us to raise awareness for hearing health at events across the country.
- Advocate for better hearing health policies: Use your voice to support the creation and passage of legislation that improves the lives of people with hearing loss.
Start the year by setting your goals and act on hearing health for yourself or others. The Hearing Loss Association of America is always here to help you!
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November 3, 2025: The Watervliet Library has a drop of food items for local pantries that are struggling to keep up with the recent demand. People can drop off donations of rice, pasta, or sauce – or any non-perishables – at the Watervliet library, or call Redemption Church of Christ in Watervliet at (518) 272-7848 to make arrangements. Please consider donating.
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May 17, 2025: The 2025 Westchester/Rockland Walk4Hearing was held on Saturday, May 17, at beautiful Harbor Island Park & Marina in Mamaroneck on Long Island Sound. Hundreds of walkers came together to build awareness of the issues of hearing loss and raise funds for valuable services provided by the HLAA Westchester Chapter, the HLAA New York State Association, and the national HLAA organization. HLAA Executive Director Barbara Kelley joined us for an exciting and full-filled day marked by exhibitors, entertainers, food, free hearing tests and, of course, a 5K (3.2) mile walk.
This was the 20th anniversary of the first Walk4Hearing, and the Westchester/Rockland event is one of twenty Walks across the country that, to date, have raised more than $20 million. And, for the fourth straight year, Westchester/Rockland has the distinction of being the #1 Spring Walk in money raised in the entire nation!
Congratulations to local Walk chairs Jessica Nin and Steve Wolfert.
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April 4, 2025: The HLAA-NYSA Advocacy Committee has completed a video infomercial explaining the need to pass Open Captioning on Movies in Cinemas that has been introduced in the New York State legislature (NYS Senate bill S.2269 and NYS Assembly bill A.4628). The video features deaf and hard of hearing individuals from throughout New York State. You may view the video on YouTube:
We Need Your Help:
– Please post the video link on social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
– Send the link to as many of your friends and contacts as possible – especially to state legislators
AARP New York State is the latest organization to provide a memorandum in support of the legislation — see attachment.
Change.org has a petition circulating that has already gathered more than 26,000 signatures; if you haven’t already signed go to: change.org/ocmoviesnow
Thanks to the Spectrum Theater on Delaware Ave in Albany who have regular open caption programs scheduled!
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February 13, 2025: Would you like open captioning on a schedule at your local movie theater? NYS is considering requiring it….with these two bills this year:
Assembly Bill A04628: https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A04628/2025
Senate Bill S2269: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2269
CONTACT your NYS Senator: https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator and your NYS Assembly member: https://nyassembly.gov/
To join the HLAA NYS advocacy group to support this and to help lobby other HLAA advocacy topics in Albany – send an email to jerbergman1@me.com, head of Advocacy in NYS for HLAA.
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December 17, 2022: Meet Cole, a Pitbull mix, who is a Deaf therapy dog making an impact with veterans and students by providing comfort and lessons about tolerance.
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November 3, 2022: Thanks to recent congressional action, hearing aids for those with mild to moderate hearing loss can be purchased over the counter. This could save consumers $2,800 on an average pair. Congressman Paul Tonko joined the HLAA Albany Chapter and CDPHP at ConnectRx in Watervliet to promote this change.
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April 27, 2022: HLAA Albany Chapter has compiled an array of statistics and information about hearing loss with relevant hyperlinks.
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April 16, 2022: Bewildered by the array of options available when choosing hearing aids? The audio site SoundGuys now features a comprehensive guide to hearing aids.
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November 1, 2021: On October 20, 2021, the New York State Assembly held a Public Hearing to examine the availability of employment opportunities for people with disabilities, with a specific focus on the availability of services to assist individuals in accessing employment. HLAA members Michelle Othon (Albany), Peter Fackler (Rochester), and Marc Safman (New York City) provided testimony.
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October 30, 2021: On October 27, 2021, HLAA Albany hosted a discussion on new technology in hearing aids, cochlear implants, and anchored hearing aids (BAHA). Use passcode ^L3b2FxD to access the recording.)