The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) is the nation’s leading organization representing people with hearing loss. HLAA provides assistance and resources for people with hearing loss and their families to learn how to adjust to living with hearing loss. HLAA is working to eradicate the stigma associated with hearing loss and raise public awareness about the need for prevention, treatment,
and regular hearing screenings throughout life. The Hearing Loss Association of America has an impact on communication access, public policy, research, public awareness, and service delivery related to hearing loss. Its national support network includes an office in the Washington D.C. area, state organizations, and HLAA Chapters and state organizations across the country. HLAA brings consumers and policy makers together to learn about communication access at the national, state and local levels. HLAA staff works at the national level to affect legislation that impacts people with hearing loss, whether it’s funding for hearing aids and cochlear implants, communication access in public places, or other important issues. HLAA provides timely and reliable information about hearing loss through its website, Hearing Loss Magazine, the online e-News, the Hearing Loss Support Specialists Training, message boards/chat forums and webinars. HLAA also holds annual conventions for people with hearing loss and professionals. HLAA's Walk4Hearing is held in cities across the country in the spring and fall. According to the National Center for Health Statistics 48 million (20 percent) Americans have some degree of hearing loss making it a public health issue third in line after heart disease and arthritis.
