Get ready, walk! All about the Hearing Loss Association of America Walk4Hearing
The Hearing Loss Association of America Walk4Hearing is already looking ahead to the 2018 walk season, which promises to be bigger and better than ever. CapTel is proud to be a long-standing sponsor of the event, supporting Walk4Hearing since its first inception more than 12 years ago. Today Walk4Hearing has become one of the most significant events nationwide to impact fund-raising, awareness, and advocacy for people with hearing loss.
Read on to learn more about hearing loss, the Walk4Hearing and ways you can get involved:
Hearing Loss is more common than you think
Because you can’t “see” hearing loss, many people assume it is not very common or that it only impacts seniors. This is nowhere near the truth of the matter – in fact, it’s likely you know someone with hearing loss. Hearing loss affects 48 million people in the U.S., which is 20 percent of the population, according to statistics from the Hearing Loss Association of America.
It is true that hearing loss can gradually present itself as we age. One out of three people who are 65 years old have hearing loss. However, hearing loss is not limited to older adults – nearly 15 percent of children age 6-19 have some level of hearing loss. There are medical conditions that can cause hearing loss as well as work-related incidents that may lead to hearing loss (think loud construction sites, rock bands, or those serving in the military).
While hearing loss can present unique challenges to every day life. statistics show that 60 percent of people with hearing loss are either employed or in school,. Access to resources, support and assistive devices that can help people with hearing loss communicate effectively, can greatly alleviate stress and promote greater success on the job or in the classroom.
Raising awareness, reducing stigmas
The Hearing Loss Association of America Walk4Hearing was established in 2006 as a way to raise awareness about hearing loss issues. In addition, the Walk4Hearing raises money for research into hearing-related conditions as well as for the funding of national, state and local organizations, workshops, initiatives and support groups for people with hearing loss.
Each year, dozens of walks are hosted in cities across the country. Since the event’s inception, more than 90,000 participants have raised upward of $13 million to improve access to resources for people with hearing loss.
Some of the resources that receive funding from the Walk4Hearing include:
- Advocacy for new laws and legislative changes that can positively affect people with hearing loss and their quality of life.
- College tuition scholarships for students with hearing loss.
- Support for veterans with hearing loss.
- Funding for the purchase of assistive listening devices for people who cannot afford them.
How can you get involved?
The Walk4Hearing needs people like you to continue raising awareness of hearing loss and expanding access to support and resources for people with hearing-related concerns. There are several ways you can participate:
Walk: Register for a 2018 walk taking place in a city near you. In 2018, walks will be held in 22 cities across the country. You can also team up with a partner or group and pledge to walk. There is no registration fee to participate!
Donate: If you aren’t able to participate in a walk yourself, you can make a donation to Walk4Hearing.
Become an ally: Talk with your employer, church group or school about becoming an alliance group for the Walk4Hearing. Alliance groups are community organizations that join together to support Walk4Hearing.
Join the #HearingLossChallenge: Whether you walk, call on your local movie theater to use captioning devices or share hearing loss communication tips with family and friends, use the hashtag #HearingLossChallenge and share your outreach efforts on social media.
With your help, you can improve access to support and resources for people with hearing loss across the country. Register for the Walk4Hearing today!
