Coronavirus and People with Hearing Loss

Katherine Bouton Healthy Hearing

The new coronavirus COVID-19 is an equal opportunity infector, affecting rich and poor, young and old, healthy and sickly. Among the more prominent victims is an attendee at the annual Conservative Public Action Conference (CPAC), exposure to whom has led President Trump’s new chief of staff to self-quarantine. The head of New York’s Port Authority … Continue reading Coronavirus and People with Hearing Loss

How Fit is Your Hearing?

Katherine Bouton cognitive decline, Healthy Hearing, Hearing Loss and dementia, Insurance coverage for hearing aids, World Hearing Day

Recently, a prominent researcher in the field of hearing loss suggested a simple change in the way we talk about hearing loss. Rather than frame it as a disability, said Dr. Justin Golub of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, “I like the idea of hearing fitness.” “Hearing loss” is a negative term. For people who … Continue reading How Fit is Your Hearing?

He Doesn’t Look Disabled.

Katherine Bouton Healthy Hearing , ,

How many times have those of us with hearing loss been told that we don't look deaf, whatever "looking" deaf means. It's hard enough to make people recognize invisible disabilities. but today's New York Times has an Op-Ed that suggests it's okay to question the disabled status even of someone with visible disabilities. In "The … Continue reading He Doesn’t Look Disabled.

“Volume Control” Entertains, Educates and Will Probably Make You Mad at the Big Six

Katherine Bouton "David Owen, Volume Control", #HLAA., affordable hearing aids.

One of the great things about being a writer is that it lets you pursue your passions and still call it work. Like many people who encounter hearing loss when they don’t expect it, David Owen, author of more than a dozen books, wanted to know what had happened to his hearing and why. So … Continue reading “Volume Control” Entertains, Educates and Will Probably Make You Mad at the Big Six

The Talkies

Katherine Bouton #HLAA., Captions for hearing loss, Movie Captions

For the first time in as long as I can remember, I’ve actually seen – and heard – many of this year’s Oscar-nominated movies. Including the ones in English. What made this possible? The oft-deplored trend to streaming video. When the Oscar nominations came out earlier this week, the news media focused on the showdown … Continue reading The Talkies

Surfer Girl Wears Hearing Aid

Katherine Bouton Healthy Hearing , ,

One of the things that makes wearing hearing aids easier is having a good role model. This is especially true of children. This year American Girl, the hugely popular doll company, named as its 2020 doll of the year Joss Kendrick, who was born with hearing loss and wears a hearing aid in her right … Continue reading Surfer Girl Wears Hearing Aid

Medicare and Hearing Aids

Katherine Bouton Healthy Hearing, Insurance coverage for hearing aids, Medicare and Hearing Aids ,

Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids. This is the one thing about hearing loss that never fails to surprise people new to the field. The fact that Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids even for the most severe and disabling hearing loss is even more shocking. Despite universal agreement among health care practitioners that untreated hearing loss … Continue reading Medicare and Hearing Aids

Noise is a Public Health Issue

Katherine Bouton American Public Health Association, ASHA, Noise-canceling headphones

Noise is bad for your hearing. This will not be a surprise to anyone. But this week the American Public Health Association made it official.  "Noise is not just a nuisance," an APHA statement said, "It's a growing public health hazard and action is long overdue." Noise was a focus at this year's annual APHA … Continue reading Noise is a Public Health Issue

Emergency 911 is still inaccessible for many New Yorkers. How long do we have to wait?

Katherine Bouton Healthy Hearing

In New York City, where I live, the deaf and hard of hearing are out of luck when it comes to calling 911 for help. Text 911 (or Text-to-911) is available in thousands of municipalities and counties across the United States. It can be life-saving not only for those who cannot hear but also for … Continue reading Emergency 911 is still inaccessible for many New Yorkers. How long do we have to wait?

By the Way, She Has a Cochlear Implant

Katherine Bouton Cochlear Implants, stigma of hearing loss

What if hearing aids were as unremarkable as glasses? This is an idea – a goal – that I and others have been tossing around for years. How to remove the stigma and lower the cost of hearing aids so that they are used as casually as glasses. Amazon Prime Video is showing an online … Continue reading By the Way, She Has a Cochlear Implant