@daveshaw I concur with Julie's response, in particular there is only so much a small national HQ can do. We rely on the local Chapters in the States. I am an HLAA member and it is a real struggle getting people with hearing loss to come to meetings, let alone volunteer to be a Chapter leader. I've dedicated my retirement (I actually started in my 50's due to my hearing loss) to trying to educate as many people as possible on how hearing loss can affect your life in so many ways - in particular mental health. I am the outreach coordinator for my Chapter and State (PA). I go to senior centers, retirement communities and senior expos to get the word out. It can be frustrating at times, but I persist because I can and someone needs to get the ball rolling. It makes me feel so good when I connect with someone at one of these events and they contact me later for information or to join our Chapter. Today I helped present at a retirement community on Technology and Alerting Systems. Had 2 people come up afterwards for information on the Roger mic I was using. Next week I have 2 presentations. We are trying to help overcome many of the roadblocks (like Medicare!!!!). I feel strongly that the Millennial generation will be much more open to wearing hearing aids or CI's and will speak up much better than us Boomers. They are already wearing a form of hearing aids in their earbuds.

Your comments are spot on. I wish I had a genie in a bottle to put a spell on everyone with hearing loss to do something about it and to speak up. BTW I am getting activated with my 1st CI this Friday. I won't be embarrassed to wear it - when someone comments on it I hope I can educate them on HL