Help raise awareness of the great work these organizations do!
Are you looking to become more active in the hearing loss community this year? There are plenty of ways to get involved! With so many national and local hearing loss organizations to work with, there are opportunities at all levels for you to help make a difference.
Whether you want to attend a conference, help with a fundraiser, take a board position, or simply become a member, there are plenty of great options to become more active. Here are four fantastic ways to get involved in hearing loss organizations this year.
Travel to the HLAA Convention
If you’re looking for a traditional convention environment to mix and mingle with new people, check out the Hearing Loss Association of America convention in New Orleans this summer! From June 29-July 1, HLAA will showcase different vendors with new hearing devices, exciting research developments, and more. You’ll be able to connect with various hearing loss organizations here, too.
Create awareness within a volunteer organization
Working with other people in your local community can help you meet new people and make lifelong friends in your area, all while supporting a good cause. You can create teams for the Walk4Hearing or collaborate on awareness campaigns during the year. For example, you could work on a project for March 3rd, World Hearing Day, which is a day dedicated to raising awareness about hearing loss and how to prevent it. Check with your audiologist or local Outreach Educator for organizations in your area dedicated to hearing loss issues. Start a flyer campaign or work with a local news station with your group to raise that awareness!
Another thing you could do is help plan an event or fundraiser in honor of Better Hearing and Speech month, which is in May.
Take a board position
If you’re looking for a greater role in setting the direction and priorities for hearing loss advocacy, consider accepting a board or leadership position at a hearing loss organization. For example, HLAA has leadership roles available within their local chapters — this is a great way to get more involved in your community while working with hearing loss organizations both locally and nationally. If that seems a bit intimidating at first, don’t worry! You can always start as a member and later move on to a leadership role when you feel more comfortable.
Attend a tech expo
If you have a special interest in hearing loss-related technology, check out the HearTECH Expo 2023 in Seattle. You’ll be able to see new technology that’s been released, and that is being developed, see the latest treatments for hearing loss, talk with healthcare professionals and get to meet others in the hearing loss community. This event is put on by the American Academy of Audiology which is another excellent hearing loss organization to be involved with.
Whether you prefer taking a leadership role in your search to meet new members of the community or enjoy doing something physical like a walk for awareness, there’s a hearing loss advocacy activity out there for everyone!
For more information about hearing loss organizations and events, check out our recent post on 2023 hearing loss events and keep reading the CapTel blog!
