I wish I had better 'news'. HLAA is a relatively small organization compared to many others. HLAA depends highly on volunteers. Lobbyists are generally paid advocates. HLAA can only do so much. If more people would get involved HLAA could do more.

There is so much disinformation about hearing loss and the stigma that surrounds it prevents people from getting the correct information. Just look at some of the advertisements that push 'hearing aids so small no one will know you're using them'. That invisibility thing has stumped a lot of advocacy and involvement because people think they should be ashamed of having hearing loss. When you're ashamed of something you don't talk about it much less lobby for it.

Medicare is all about money and money to pay for whatever is needed thorough Medicare has to be available. Not a good reason, but it's the truth. Other issues trump hearing loss.

Sadly, people with hearing loss AND the general public do not know enough about hearing technology to educate, advocate and make personal decisions. HLAA has done a ton to educate those who are willing to come to the table to talk about it and learn.

Volunteerism is hurting badly all over the place. Sadly.

I am aware of fully implanted hearing aids, but they are not really there yet. My cochlear implant gave me my life back. I only regret waiting as long as I did to get it. I fear that many people who think there will be something better down the line will wait too long to benefit from it. Not sure if I said this before but will say it again. I had two friends who were in the medical field who became profoundly hard of hearing as they aged. They didn't want to get cochlear implants because they felt something better was coming. Both have passed away. Both could probably have had much better last decades had they gone the CI route. Who knows??