About Us Site Index
Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) is a non-profit, self-help Organization dedicated to education, advocacy and support for people who do not hear well and those around them
* We are the nation's leading organization representing people with hearing loss.
* As a self-help organization, we assist each other in learning how to adjust to living with hearing loss.
* HLAA is working to eradicate the stigma associated with hearing loss.
* We are raising public awareness about the need for prevention and the importance of regular hearing screening.
* Our advocacy impacts communication access, public policy, research, public awareness, and service delivery.
* Our work at the national office impacts legislation and FCC regulations.
* We provide timely and reliable information through our websites, Hearing Loss Magazine, e-news, the Academy of Hearing Loss Support Specialists, chat forums and our annual convention.
It has been said that because someone invented a wheel, we drive cars. Rocky Stone, SHHH/HLAA founder, lost his hearing. He began a search to deal with living with hearing loss. He invited friends into his home to discuss their efforts and feelings. Then, in 1979, he incorporated Self-Help for Hard of Hearing People, SHHH (the wheel). Since that time, the organization has grown to an international entity with a worldwide impact.
In 1984 three Kentucky women got together to discuss living with their hearing loss. Eventually, they formed Derbytown SHHH, now known as HLAA-Kentuckiana. Over the years, chapters have developed in Northern Ky., Frankfort and Lexington. However, the Louisville Chapter, Kentuckiana, continues to grow with members from the greater Louisville area, LaGrange, Fort Knox, Springfield, Bardstown, and Edwardsville, New Albany and Salem, Indiana.
In 2009, three HLAA commuters from Bardstown and Springfield decided a chapter was needed closer to home. Becky Crawford, Carlene Ballard and Marilyn Fenwick founded the Kentucky Home Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America. In that first year, they brought in speakers on Hearing Aids, Tinnitus, Balance and Meniere's Disease, CapTel Telephones, the Telecommunication Assistance Program, The KY Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Emergency Management for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and many other topics. Under Becky Crawford’s, Doug Hubbard’s and Katie Robertson’s leadership, HLAA Kentucky Home has grown to a community resource. The chapter has participated in health fairs and even held its own “Hearing Fair” three years in a row at the Nelson County Public Library. November 2014, Dave Robertson volunteered as the webmaster and reformulated the website. The www.hearinglosskyhome.org website developed into a hearing loss resource not only for Bardstown, but also for all of Kentucky with many followers throughout the world. HLAA National recognized Dave with its Web Master award at the National Convention in June 2017. In September Dave proposed expanding the website to include all of the chapters in KY. Through his leadership the unified Kentucky Chapter’s website, www.hearinglosskentucky.org made its debut in March 2018 (the car). HLAA Kentucky Home is able to service our community because it is standing on the shoulders of all that have gone before.
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Disclaimer
The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) is a tax-exempt, charitable organization and is eligible to receive tax deductible contributions under the IRS Code 501(c)(3).
The Kentucky HLAA Chapters are tax-exempt under the umbrella of HLAA.
Mention of products or services on this website does not imply HLAA or HLAA Chapters endorsement, nor does exclusion suggest disapproval.
