Our goal is to enhance the quality of life for people who are hard of hearing. We are proud of the efforts of our 250 affiliates located in towns like yours and mine advocating, educating and helping one another with hearing loss. We provide much needed social activities to those with a very isolating disability. We have great members and fun times! Please join us as we grow stronger and closer.
Hearing Loss Association opens the world of communication to people with hearing loss by providing information, education, advocacy and support.
We value:
Education: Our primary purpose is to educate ourselves, our families, friends, co-workers, teachers, hearing health care providers, industry, government, and others about hearing loss.
Hearing Loss Association provides adults and children with tools for self help; sensitizes the general population about the special needs of people who are hard of hearing; and promotes understanding of the nature, causes, complications, and remedies of hearing loss.
We provide information on many aspects of hearing loss, from technological and medical advances to coping and parenting strategies.
We want to help you become an informed consumer on what options are available to you to help you make the best decisions on how to deal with hearing loss.
Advocacy: Hearing Loss Association is a leading voice in improving communication access for people with hearing loss. We advocate for communication access in the workplace, hotels, schools, court systems, medical, and entertainment facilities. Hearing Loss Association promotes new technology, medical research, and legislation that will alleviate the effects of hearing loss. We encourage and participate in research to improve hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and other technology needs of consumers with hearing loss. We push for research on understanding the causes of hearing loss and for development of new treatments. We testify before federal, state, and local legislative bodies on issues concerning people with hearing loss. We help implement federal and state laws which benefit people with hearing loss.
Support: Hearing Loss Association believes people with hearing loss can help themselves and one another to participate fully and successfully in society. Hearing Loss Association promotes self-confidence; empowers individuals with skills to improve their lives; and provides an opportunity for affiliation among people with hearing loss, their friends, families, and professionals.
We work to develop options for ourselves and open doors for others.
We provide support in setting up local support groups.
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Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)
(Formally SHHH)
Nashville Chapter
Welcome to the Nashville Chapter of HLAA. We are a chartered chapter of the National HLAA, which consists of approximately 250 Chapters and 12 State Organizations with total membership in excess of 10,000 members. The Chapters also serve roughly 5,000 additional people who have not attained National HLAA membership.
Self Help for the Hard of Hearing (SHHH) was formed in November, 1979 by Howard E. “Rocky” Stone, of Potomac, MD. His goals were to educate the public and the government on the number of people in America with hearing loss, and the problems they encounter. Within 25 years SHHH is recognized as the largest organization for people with hearing loss of America. Mr. Stone passed away in August, 2004. He received tributes from all over the world in recognition of his contributions.
SHHH announced a name-change to Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) in November, 2005. Conversion to the new name was completed April, 2006. You may see references to the original SHHH name in older periodicals and other documents.
Our mission is to open the world of communication for people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy, and support.
We strive to serve all people who experience hearing loss, their friends and families, as well as those who work in relative hearing health fields. Although there are members within our ranks that are affiliated professionally with hearing health, we are largely non-professional by nature, and informal by choice. We share acquired and communicated information, personal experiences, and interpersonal relationships in an effort to ease the difficulties of hearing loss to ALL that are affected. This includes the fully hearing, those experiencing different degrees of hearing loss, and the deaf. We also try to do this in such a manner that we can have fun doing it. Sometimes the best therapy is having a day where one does not have to constantly strive to comprehend all on the terms of the hearing world. Sharing communication with those that understand the difficulties of hearing loss provides a rare occasion where an individual can have statements repeated or re-worded without embarrassment or stress.
National HLAA membership is $35/single or $45/couple per year.
Professional membership is $60 per year.
Local Chapter assessments are $10/ single or $15/couple per year.
Membership enrollment can be transacted through the Chapter Treasurer.
The Nashville Chapter averages 40-50 members (includes several spouses) and conducts a year-round program. Our meetings are held:
HLA Nashville Chapter
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
1003 Hickory Hill Lane
Hermitage, TN 37076-1906
Date: Second Saturday Monthly
Refreshments: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Meeting: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Spouses and guests are welcome and encouraged. Our meeting place is fully accessible. We have both Contact Sigh interpretation and CART, which allows us enhanced communication and comprehension for everyone throughout the meeting.
Members usually bring a dish to share for the meeting, and we have “pot luck” style snack and lunch while we visit enjoy a period of fellowship. Our actual membership meeting begins at 1:00, where we have quest speakers/programs, generally pertaining to hearing loss related topics. The program is followed by membership meeting announcements, discussions, and reports. We normally finish between 3 & 4 p.m., then those who care to, adjourn to one of the local restaurants for dinner, refreshments, and additional fellowship.
The 2009-2010 Chapter Officers are:
President: Jeffrey Johnson
Vice-President: Kathy Minogue
Secretary: Vicki Wathen
Treasurer: Jim Minogue
Several members serve on various committees and appointed tasks for the continued success of the Chapter. There are always openings for those that wish to volunteer.
The official web sites for HLAA are:
National: www.hearingloss.org
Chapter: www.nashhhville.org
The sites have additional information pertaining to their respective entities. We also have a every month web-master, 2 monthly newsletter, distributed by email. A free subscription may be obtained by contacting Newsletter Editor by Bob Geldreich.