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Costco audiologists
#hlaa
The list of Costcos with audiologists on staff is mislabelled. It should be Costcos that sell hearing aids. In Massachusetts anyway, few Costcos have audiologists. The hearing aids fittings and sales are handled by Hearing Instrument Specialists (HIS). Other states may have different laws, but in Massachusetts it's like the difference between optometrists and opticians. I don't know how many states allow HIS practitioners to fit hearing aids. It may be that those are the states in which Costco sells hearing aids. In any case, the subject line is inaccurate for Massachusetts.
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Which Costco's have Audiologists on staff?
#COSTCO
Carolyn Odio
In 2021 here is the list I was able to obtain that have an Audiologist on staff. If you have feedback (a correction, for example) you can add it to this stream of postings. See pdf file attached. --
Carolyn J. Odio
HLAA Washington State
Resident Council Rep & Hearing Loss Group at www.panorama.org
(703) 725-8292 iPhone/Text
Residence: 1835 Circle LN SE, Apt 425, Lacey, WA 98503
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How to send COSTCO Hearing Dept Manager an EMAIL
#COSTCO
Carolyn Odio
I believe I have discovered the emails of the Hearing Department Managers at Costco... PLEASE USE WITH DISCRETION...but it you have a serious issue here it is: Here are a couple of examples: W740aid@... = Manager at Lacey, WA Hearing Aid DepartmentW064aid@... = Manager at Tumwater, WA Hearing Aid Department You can see the format here. The number is the Warehouse # of your Costco. You can find that number on Google Internet by searching for the Costco Warehouse. I put in the search term: "Costco, Lacey, WA" The result: Notice in the URL that came up the number 740 below? That appears to be the Warehouse #: https://www.costco.com/warehouse-locations/lacey-wa- 740.html Now you can format the email of the manager of the Hearing Aid Department! Hope that helps! And...having that information you can always advocate for a Portable Hearing Counter Loop, to help customers 1) test their telecoil AND 2) hear more clearly at the counter! (of course they would need a "telecoil only setting" to really hear better at the Counter, so there is less background noise!) --
Carolyn J. Odio
HLAA Washington State
Resident Council Rep & Hearing Loss Group at www.panorama.org
(703) 725-8292 iPhone/Text
Residence: 1835 Circle LN SE, Apt 425, Lacey, WA 98503
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Re: COSTCO Hearing Aid Centers need Countertop Hearing Loops!
Eloise Schwarz, Sun City Center Chapter, FL
By all means - put this on the National Conversation -BECAUSE this needs to be a nationwide effort to let all of the big boxes and stores know that IF they have these Accommodation Tools - they must abide by the ADA rules and regulations and use them accordingly.
Eloise Schwarz, Retired RN HLAA Sun City Center Chapter 414-509-1002 InnoCaption+
"Tell me & I'll forget Show me & I may not remember Involve me & I'll understand" Native American Quote
On Mon, Sep 12, 2022 at 8:28 PM Carolyn Odio < carolyn@...> wrote: REF: Attached document
Here is a continuing conversation with Gerrie Zilinsky about Costco's use of Portable Counter Loops at their Hearing Aid Centers...
Has anyone else experienced the Portable Counter Loop at a Costco Hearing Aid Counter? If so, what is your experience? --
Carolyn J. Odio
HLAA Washington State
Resident Council Rep & Hearing Loss Group at www.panorama.org
(703) 725-8292 iPhone/Text
Residence: 1835 Circle LN SE, Apt 425, Lacey, WA 98503
-- Eloise Schwarz, Retired RN
2020 SCC Community Champion
HLAA Sun City Center Chapter
SCC Committee Leader
3rd Tuesday @ 12:30 PM
414-807-4373 iphone
414-509-1002 InnoCaption+
Member of So Hillsborough Co
- Chamber of Commerce
- Ambassador
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Re: COSTCO Hearing Aid Centers need Countertop Hearing Loops!
Carolyn Odio
REF: Attached document Here is a continuing conversation with Gerrie Zilinsky about Costco's use of Portable Counter Loops at their Hearing Aid Centers...
Has anyone else experienced the Portable Counter Loop at a Costco Hearing Aid Counter? If so, what is your experience? --
Carolyn J. Odio
HLAA Washington State
Resident Council Rep & Hearing Loss Group at www.panorama.org
(703) 725-8292 iPhone/Text
Residence: 1835 Circle LN SE, Apt 425, Lacey, WA 98503
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Action Alert - Email and Call in Support for Ally's Act H.R. 477 and S. 41
Terri Shirley, CO
Hi HLAA Advocacy,
HLAA supports Ally's Act, H.R. 477. HLAA Boulder is close to the bill author, who lives in Broomfield, CO. We have also met Ally, the little girl who the bill has been named for. Ally wears a BAHA. We have been delivering news fresh from the source. We have posted Action Alerts for several months now. We are in the final days of August when the original lead co-sponsor, Congressman McKinley, will leave office because he lost the midterm elections.
Congressman McKinley is the only congressman wearing a cochlear implant and we feel he is the best person to rally the bill to a hearing before he leaves office. In addition, his grandson wears a BAHA and would benefit from this bill. The bill covers people from birth to age 64 and does not discriminate against people who need these devices. It doesn't matter whether the person was born with hearing loss or how they acquired it at any time during their life to age 64.
While some private insurers cover these Cochlear Implants (CI) and Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHAs) (the processors, surgery, appointments, accessories, etc…), many others continue to deny coverage for these hearing devices. Even though these hearing devices are expensive, we are only talking about the hundreds of thousands of people who are left out and often overlooked by their private insurers. This bill is NOT an expensive bill – we are not talking about the 48 million people who require traditional hearing aids. About 350,000 wear a CI or BAHA in America.
If you haven't read about Ally's Act in our e-News, we would like to see a last-minute effort to flood Congressman McKinley's office to show support for him to rally for a hearing for Ally's Act before he leaves office.
If you have a moment, please call Congressman McKinley's office at 202-225-4172 or email his assistant Jeannine.Bender@... to ask him to lead and support H.R. 477 to get a hearing.
If you have more time, please write and ask these congresspeople to co-sponsor Ally's Act:
- Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA),
- Congressman (Dr.) Greg Murphy (R-NC)
- Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-W.VA)
For full details, please read the featured article at the top of our Boulder Chapter August 2022 e-News.
Thank you!
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Health Care and the ADA - Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities
HLAA
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Re: advocacy projects - Airline
Carolyn M. - Texas
Great suggestion! Thanks, Carolyn.
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Re: advocacy projects - Airline
Carolyn Odio
Whenever we travel, normally the Airline asks for an evaluation. It comes to my email. I forget to mention about my "not been able to hear" experience but WE SHOULD address that EVERY TIME. There are two parts to this "evaluation": 1) At each gate...was there telecoil available? I can't hear the loud speaker at the gate...what if there were an emergency? I would be "toast"... 2) Inside the airplaneI used to try out my telecoil neck loop and plug it into the audio jack but there are problems with that. Once it did work, however. I cannot hear the airline instructions over the PA system. Again if there is an onboard emergency, I would be "toast". Nowadays, in SW and Alaska I notice that onboard entertainment comes through your "device" (iPhone, etc.) once in the air--and I use telecoil with all my devices. However the announcements don't. That is the problem. Do the cabins of the Airlines get looped? We need that! I would hope that National HLAA would look into the situation and provide a handout of what airline cabins & airports are looped. I would use a reference sheet such as this one to help me, when booking flights! Let us advocate!--Evaluate your flight--Ask HLAA National to provide a Reference Sheet...that is my 2 cents worth ;)
Carolyn J. Odio
HLAA Washington State
Resident Council Rep & Hearing Loss Group at www.panorama.org
(703) 725-8292 iPhone/Text
Residence: 1835 Circle LN SE, Apt 425, Lacey, WA 98503
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Carolyn M. - Texas
I am trying to make a list of small local advocacy projects that our Chapters can do. I have a pretty long list right now, but would like more ideas. I would appreciate any ideas. Just brainstorming here, so throw out as many ideas as you can think of.
I am planning to include the list in the next state office newsletter.
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Re: Re-Purpose Hearing Aids- COSTCO
Carolyn M. - Texas
Thank you for asking this question and getting the feedback from Costco! I wasn’t even aware that Costco did this. Outstanding advocating! You rock!
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Re: Re-Purpose Hearing Aids- COSTCO
Carolyn Odio
Here is an update from Christian on this topic, attached as a pdf file. --
Carolyn J. Odio
HLAA Washington State
Resident Council Rep & Hearing Loss Group at www.panorama.org
(703) 725-8292 iPhone/Text
Residence: 1835 Circle LN SE, Apt 425, Lacey, WA 98503
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Re-Purpose Hearing Aids- COSTCO
Carolyn Odio
I have a situation where I am asking COSTCO what their policy is regarding previously donated hearing aids and reusing them for another resident here at Panorama.
Has anyone had this kind of situation before?
Any advice?Here is my letter to Christian Anthis, who is in charge of the US Operations of Hearing Aid Departments at COSTCO:
From time to time the Benevolent Fund at Panorama obtains Hearing Aids to give to residents. This time I have a Costco Kirkland Ver 9 pair of Hearing Aids to give to a resident who cannot otherwise afford to purchase hearing aids on their own.
Since Costco Kirkland Hearing Aids are "locked" I realize that they cannot be taken to any Hearing Aid clinic to be "repurposed" for a new owner.
Will Costco re-purpose these hearing aids? What is your policy for this? Is there a charge connected to this? I would appreciate the details.
I have appreciated your help and feedback in the past.
Thanks so much, Christian!
Carolyn J. Odio
HLAA Washington State
Resident Council Rep & Hearing Loss Group at www.panorama.org
(703) 725-8292 iPhone/Text
Residence: 1835 Circle LN SE, Apt 425, Lacey, WA 98503
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Re: VISOR COMMUNICATION CARD for TRAFFIC STOPS
melissa.bell@...
I like that this card has pictures! Texas has a visor card issued by the State of TX Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services that drivers can carry in their vehicle to identify themselves as being deaf or hard of hearing. They can choose the one that says "Driver has Hearing Loss" or "Driver is Deaf." They are free to Texas residents with a valid drivers license. The attachments show sample of each card, and click here for the link to the application.
--
Melissa Bell, MPA
Outreach Development Specialist
Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
Rehabilitative & Independence Services
Health, Developmental & Independence Services
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
512-438-4827 (voice) | 512-900-5445 (videophone)
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COSTCO Hearing Aid Centers need Countertop Hearing Loops!
Carolyn Odio
Here is the background of this Counter Loop Telecoil advocacy effort: Advocacy OpportunityThe Costco Annual Meeting is coming up on Jan 20, 2022. If you have at least one share of COSTCO stock, would you be willing to attend the on-line meeting and put a question in their Q&A box? It would just be submitting a question. You would not be seen by the other participants. And the response, to that question, comes after the meeting is done. See the details in the link above. Let's Loop COSTCO ;)
Carolyn J. Odio
HLAA Washington State
Resident Council Rep & Hearing Loss Group at www.panorama.org
(703) 725-8292 iPhone/Text
Residence: 1835 Circle LN SE, Apt 425, Lacey, WA 98503
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Re: VISOR COMMUNICATION CARD for TRAFFIC STOPS
We’re glad to know these chapters are providing visor cards! In researching, there are various iterations including some jurisdictions (Eg Chesterfield VA) providing to law enforcement and constituents.
Personally, I was stopped by a rookie officer a couple years ago and the incident could have readily escalated. Now I keep the visor card in my car.
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HLAA will be filing comments to the Food and Drug Administration on its proposed rule establishing over-the counter hearing aids due January 18, 2022. Once finalized by the FDA, consumers 18 and older with mild to moderate hearing loss will be able to purchase hearing aids at retail and online outlets.
In our comments, HLAA told the FDA that the labeling both outside and inside the package needs to inform consumers whether a smartphone or other technology is needed to set up and use the OTC hearing aid. The comment letter also asks the FDA to require labeling that informs consumers about OTC hearing aid compatibility with wireless phones and audio connectivity options such as telecoil or Bluetooth. HLAA also asks FDA to require a free 45-day trial period for purchasers to receive a full refund if the OTC hearing aid does not meet their needs.
Other issues in the comment letter address the classification of self-fitting hearing aids and the importance of usability without professional intervention. It also notes the need to pay particular attention to the needs of two populations that stand to gain from OTC hearing aids: underrepresented minorities (low income and people of color) and older Americans.
Anyone can file comments with the FDA in this proceeding. If you would like to file your own comments, go to Regulations.gov. If you would like an advance copy of HLAA’s draft comments to help you draft your own comments, contact LHamlin@...
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Re: VISOR COMMUNICATION CARD for TRAFFIC STOPS
Eloise Schwarz, Sun City Center Chapter, FL
Hello, We had them in Wisconsin and will be making them here in FL for our communities. They are a terrific tool for the deaf/hard of hearing people. Our own 55+ community police dept love them as do the citizens
Eloise Schwarz, Retired RN 2020 SCC Community Champion HLAA Sun City Center Chapter SCC Committee Leader 3rd Tuesday @ 12:30 PM 414-807-4373 iphone 414-509-1002 InnoCaption+ Member of So Hillsborough Co - Chamber of Commerce - Ambassador
On Thu, Jan 13, 2022 at 12:21 PM Carolyn Odio < carolyn@...> wrote: Thanks so much for sharing Judy! I know that Michigan and Washington also have a visor card. Washington was handing them out to the Police Officers to carry with them for traffic stops! I will attach both as well just as an FYI. I am wondering if other states have one as well?
--
Carolyn J. Odio
HLAA Washington State
Resident Council Rep & Hearing Loss Group at www.panorama.org
(703) 725-8292 iPhone/Text
Residence: 1835 Circle LN SE, Apt 425, Lacey, WA 98503
-- Eloise Schwarz, Retired RN
2020 SCC Community Champion
HLAA Sun City Center Chapter
SCC Committee Leader
3rd Tuesday @ 12:30 PM
414-807-4373 iphone
414-509-1002 InnoCaption+
Member of So Hillsborough Co
- Chamber of Commerce
- Ambassador
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Re: VISOR COMMUNICATION CARD for TRAFFIC STOPS
Carolyn Odio
Thanks so much for sharing Judy! I know that Michigan and Washington also have a visor card. Washington was handing them out to the Police Officers to carry with them for traffic stops! I will attach both as well just as an FYI. I am wondering if other states have one as well?--
Carolyn J. Odio
HLAA Washington State
Resident Council Rep & Hearing Loss Group at www.panorama.org
(703) 725-8292 iPhone/Text
Residence: 1835 Circle LN SE, Apt 425, Lacey, WA 98503
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VISOR COMMUNICATION CARD for TRAFFIC STOPS
Hi all,
Thanks to Lisa Yuan, HLAA-DC Board Member for creating this Visor Communication Card. We researched various iterations and think you will find this very up-to-date and user-friendly. The Visor Communication Card is not copyrighted. You are welcome to share with your chapters. It is a very useful tool to for self-advocacy in an often stressful situation. Please let us know if any questions.
HLAA-DC has created car visor communication cards to help people with hearing loss communicate with and understand law enforcement officers if they are pulled over while driving. The cards can facilitate clear communication and reduce misunderstandings between you and the officer.The visor communication card is free to download and print here: HLAA-DC police visor card.pdf. Use regular letter-sized paper to print, then fold at the center dotted line and trim along the borders. You should end up with a two-sided, 3.75”x9.75” card.Place the card on your automobile’s sun visor above the driver’s seat, so that if you flip down the visor, the card will be visible. You can use clips or rubber bands to secure it in place.How to Use the Visor Card If You are Pulled Over
Stay calm. Place card in window, or flip down your sun visor so the visor card is clearly displayed. Remain in the car with your hands on your steering wheel at 10 and 2, until you have established communication with the police officer. Make sure the officer notices your visor card.
Do not make quick gestures or reach for your license and information before you have a clear request from the officer. Police can misconstrue your actions as reaching for a weapon if they cannot see your hands.
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