HLAA – Montgomery County Chapter

Glenda Bilder spoke about biogerontology,  Dr. Bilder teaches a course on The Biology of

Dr. Bilder

Aging. at Gwynedd Mercy University, and has written a textbook on the topic.  Topics included:

• Fundamental understanding of why and how we age.
• What can be done to minimize its effects.
• The potential of caloric restriction (CR).

Dr. Bilder received a  PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Pennsylvania, and has published widely.  She conducted pharmaceutical research for GlaxoSmithKline, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer and other organizations. .  Her text  “Human Biological Aging:  From Macromolecules to Organ Systems”   John Wiley & Sons  was published in 2016.

The audience

Though not specifically about hearing loss. we are well aware of its association with the aging process.

Our next meeting, on June 5, will feature Tim Elbertson, Community Outreach Coordinator, Montgomery County Department of Public Safety

He will speak about emergency preparedness, including the Smart  911 system.
Further details here closer to the date.

Read the full presentation abstract of Dr. Bilder’s presentation:

Continue reading →

Wendy Davis

Wendy Davis, CaptionCall Account Manager, spoke about the Federally-funded captioning phone service established under the ADA. She demonstrated captioning on both the CaptionCall phone and CaptionCall Mobile on an iPad, and answered a wide-ranging variety of questions about the service.

The CART transcript is available on request to hlaamcc@gmail.com

Some of our members will see Spamalot at the UPTOWN Theater in West Chester on 4/6, with spcific interest in the newly installed loop system there.

HLAA-PA Lunch and Learn will be at the Radisson Valley Forge on April 30.  Details at http://hlaa-pa.org/   The speaker will be  Stephen Eliades M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of Otorhinolaryngology, head & neck surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He will discuss “Cochlear Implants: Where Are We, How Did We Get Here, and Where Are We Going?”

Jim Saunders described his experience with the Bose Hearphones, which is mentioned in a recent New Yorker article:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/04/03/high-tech-hope-for-the-hard-of-hearing

At our next meeting, Glenda Bilder will discuss The Biology of Aging.  Dr. Bilder teaches the topic at Gwynedd Mercy College.

Further details soon.

Chapter Vice President Andy Walker led a wide ranging discussion of problems in dealing with hearing loss, with a focus on solutions.  Major topics included:

• Television captioning:  how and when it works, how to use it, where to complain when it doesn’t.  Many comments about accuracy, and timing.  Not discussed, but worth mentioning is the readability  of captions on the screen.  Many TV’s allow control of the size and color of the text, and background color – solid, transparent, semi=transparent, etc. This can make a big difference in readability.
• Using the telephone:  T-coil operation and various other means of direct audio input to the HA or CI.
• The value of alerting others to your hearing loss.
• Remote microphones of many types.

Attendees numbered 18, and included 4 visitors.

Important announcements:

• Contributions have been made to the Jeanes Library and UPTOWN Theater in West Chester.  A number of members will see Spamalot at the UPTOWN next month, to experience their new loop system.
• Applications are being received for two HLAA National Convention Scholarships, one in memory of former member Tony Finamore. The convention is in Salt Lake City in June.   Get the application form HERE
• HLAA-PA Lunch & Learn on April 30 at the Radisson Valley Forge will be addressed by Steven Eliades, MD, PhD of Penn Medicine about cochlear implants. Get the registration form HERE
• The 2017 Walk4Hearing will be on October 22 at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia.
• HLAA picnic at Fort Washington State Park on July 16.  Save the date!
• April 3 meeting –  CaptionCall Representative will speak.

Gina Greco,  Consumer Outreach Manager at MED-EL spoke about  recent developments in cochlear implant technology at MED-EL.  She was joined by Pete Unger, a  MED-EL recipient , who spoke about his experience with hearing loss and the process of getting a cochlear implant.

Topics discussed included:Rondo, the all-in-one version of the MED-EL processor

• EAS, the version that includes a conventional hearing aid function, for recipients with adequate low frequency hearing
• MRI tolerance of the implant
• Music appreciation with a cochlear implant
• and many other questions.

Samples of implants and processors were available for inspection.

Chapter members approved a donation to the UPTOWN Theater in West Chester in support of the hearing loop systems being installed there.

The CART transcript is available on request to hlaamcc@gmail.com

Two Scholarships in support of attendance at the HLAA National Convention is Salt Lake City in June are being offered by the State Office of HLAA.  One of them is in memory of former MontCo member Tony Finamore. The scholarships are in the amount of $500 each. The application deadline is April 10, and the application form is available online at hlaa-pa.org/docs/Scholarship2017.pdf

The March 6 meeting will be a round table discussion of specific problems and solutions for dealing with hearing loss, and will be led by Vice-President Andy Walker.

At 5:30 at the Jeanes Library in Lafayette Hill.  The loop system will be used.

As always, visitors are welcome.

Please join us.

The holiday season was celebrated by seventeen attendees, who shared food, drink, and talk about getting through the season with hearing loss.

We do not meet in January.  Our next meeting will be on February 6, 2017, when Med El representative Jeanne Fredriksen will describe new developments in cochlear implants, including the all-in-one Rondo processor.

Watch for further details on this site.

Our December 5 meeting will be a social event, the annual holiday party.  If you haven’t been to see us for a while, this would be a great chance to renew acquaintances.  If you’ve never ever been to our meetings, even better, a chance to get acquainted with our group.

If you’d like, bring some holiday treat to share.  We’ll provide sandwiches and something to drink. But don’t feel obligated to bring anything;  a small contribution for our expenses will be welcome.

It would help us to know if you are coming and what you might bring.  If you can, please let us know by e-mail to hlaamcc(at)gmail.com  by December 1.  But if you can’t do that, come anyway; there’s sure to be enough for all.

At the Jeanes Library, 4051 Joshua Road, Lafayette Hill, from 5:30 to 7:30 on December 5.

Jennifer Raneri, AuD,  Audiologist at Collegeville Speech and Hearing spoke to 15 attendees.  She discussed a wide variety of topics of interest to the hearing loss community, including

• Connectivity Advances
• T-coil Utilization
• Cost Factors and Distribution Modes
• Cochlear Implant Programming.

She also discussed the new Kanso, the all-in-one processor from Cochlear America.  Collegeville Speech and Hearing is certified by Cochlear America for evaluation, fitting, and programming.  The practice also specializes in speech pathology services.

There was CART for this meeting.  A transcript is available on request to hlaamcc(at)gmail.com.

Dr. Raneri

There was a business meeting at which a 16/17 budget was approved, and a variety of chapter activities were discussed.

The December 5 meeting will be the traditional holiday social event.  Watch this space for further detals.

As always, visitors are welcome.  Please join us.

At the Jeanes Library, 4051 Joshua Road, Lafayette Hill, PA

Attendees had a chance to try out a variety of hearing assistance devices at the meeting. The Phonak Roger Pen system was of great interest. A number of people tried out a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver pair. The TV Ears systems, which is IR-based, was available for test. A Phonak TV system which is Bluetooth-based was shown but not tested.

At our November 7 meeting, we will welcome Dr. Raneri of the Collegeville Speech and Hearing Center, who will speak about the latest in audiology.

We’ll meet on Monday, October 10 rather than the 3rd, which falls on Rosh Hashanah, but at the usual 5:30 p.m. at the Jeanes Library. This meeting is billed as an ALD Workshop, a hands-on show-and-tell session about our favorite hearing helpers. Among them:

The Pocketalker
Various forms of FM systems
The Roger Pen
The ClearSounds Quattro
A Bluetooth transmitter/receiver pair
TVEars system
An IR system
Long cables!
Other devices from members and visitors.

We’ll get a report from Diana Bender about the HLAA national office  programs, initiatives and staff, and there will be a brief business meeting.

As always, visitors are welcome.

Please join us!

                   Note:  October Meeting Rescheduled to 10/10

After the summer break, chapter meetings resumed on 9/12, the second Monday of the month in September, rather than the first.  And in October, we also will meet on the second Monday, 10/10, because the first Monday falls on Rosh Hashanah this year.

The meeting was in round table format, and covered a wide range of topics:

• We had special guests Mary Finamore and Jackie Gallagher, and we spent some time in appreciation of Tony Finamore, who was a member of  our group for an all too brief time.
•  We elected Andy Walker, an accomplished painter, sculptor, photographer and teacher as vice-president.
• A variety of outreach possibilities were discussed, as well up possible meeting topics, such as:
  •  The third CI provider (we’ve heard from two in the past year)
  •  Captioning services.
  •  A presentation on the biology of aging.
  •  An outing to a local theater with hearing assistance. e.g.  Town and Country Players
  •  Interaction with public services, e.g. with law enforcement if hearing impaired

•  Other discussion topics included:
  •  The convention in DC; progress and products for hearing loss.
  •  The Yellow Dot program, which can alert emergency personnel that a passenger or driver is in some way disabled.  Details  HERE
  •  The 2016 Walk4Hearing on October 9 at The Navy Yard.  Patty Cortez is leading the MontCo team. Volunteers are needed to help in a variety of ways on that date.
    You can sign up to help HERE

 Note:  October Meeting Rescheduled to 10/10.  

The meeting will be an “ALD Workshop”, a hands-on show-and-tell session on a variety of devices, such as the Pocketalker, ClearSounds Quattro, the Resound Minimike, the Roger Pen, a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver pair, and a variety of FM  and IR systems, even TV-Ears.  Bring your favorite device and show it off.

We’ll also have an update from Diana Bender about programs and activities a the national office of HLAA

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