Check out the Hearing Loss Association of America Inc. http://www.hearingloss.org It is a consumer based organization. This is a huge issue. HLAA is our advocate. If more people would get involved in HLAA, the organization could do much more than it has done.

We have seen change in this area, but it's slow going. The 'over the counter' hearing aids (OTC) that were recently approved should be on the market in mid to late October. While this type of hearing aid will not help people with severe/profound hearing loss, it will help many who have mild/moderate hearing loss.

One huge point in advocacy is awareness of research at major research bodies that now associates untreated hearing loss with cognitive decline. That has begun to get mental healthcare providers to start promoting hearing health.

The age-old, ridiculous stigmas about hearing loss have created barriers to treatment for millions of people. That has also kept people with hearing loss from becoming their own advocates.

It's the hard of hearing population that has to get on this. The culturally Deaf population chooses not to use personal technology, and while they are a tiny piece of the entire population with hearing loss, they are very vocal about discounting research in technology and medicine and promoting manual communication as a norm.

According to the National Institutes of Health, there are nearly 50 million Americans who experience hearing loss. Fewer than 2 million of that number are of Deaf culture. How can we get more people actively involved in advocacy?

@lsammartino Before my husband retired and we were on his company's insurance they covered $1000 a year towards hearing aids. Twice when I got new hearing aids I got one the last week in December and the second one in January. It still didn't cover the whole cost but it sure was helpful. It's too bad more companies and Medicare do not cover HAs.
JK