Hope
I Don’t Speak Mask (or Mock); I Speak HOPE. As hearing loss advocate, I couldn’t stay silent about pandemic-inspired masks. But I’m a procrastinator. I’m… Read More »Hope
Archived Blog Posts
These posts are archived, but still available to you!
The People You Meet at Our Conventions: Liza Sylvestre
Our 2018 SayWhatClub (SWC) convention was held in St. Paul, MN last October and we had a variety of workshops which our members. One such… Read More »The People You Meet at Our Conventions: Liza Sylvestre
From the President
From the President’s Desk Neighbors helping neighbors. It’s what you did in my day. I grew up in the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch County… Read More »From the President
Interview with Cheri Perazzoli/Let’s Loop Seattle, Part II
By Kim Ward Cheri Perazzoli, Let’s Loop Seattle, is the Director of Advocacy for HLA- Washington state. This is Part II of a three part interview on advocacy… Read More »Interview with Cheri Perazzoli/Let’s Loop Seattle, Part II
Interview with Cheri Perazzoli, Advocacy Director Washington State
By Kim Ward This is an interview with Cheri Perazzoli, Director of Advocacy for HLAA – Washington, and founder of Let’s Loop Seattle, which is… Read More »Interview with Cheri Perazzoli, Advocacy Director Washington State
The ABCs of Living with Hearing Loss – Comprehensive Guide & Support
Navigate the complexities of living with hearing loss with our comprehensive guide. We offer a supportive community and resources for those seeking hearing loss support.… Read More »The ABCs of Living with Hearing Loss – Comprehensive Guide & Support
Understanding Hearing Loss and Dementia
Is hearing loss and dementia related? Explore ways of managing your hearing loss more effectively to offset feelings of isolation. Hearing loss and dementia: Is… Read More »Understanding Hearing Loss and Dementia
Disclosing Your Hearing Loss: Why You Should Tell People You Can’t Hear
One of the more frustrating aspects of hearing loss is the constant need to explain it. Frustrating it may be, but disclosing your hearings loss… Read More »Disclosing Your Hearing Loss: Why You Should Tell People You Can’t Hear
Yin Meets Yang: the Benefits of Disclosing Your Hearing Loss
By Michele Linder – Originally posted Dec. 14, 2017 There are both good and bad things related to hearing loss, but the misconceptions that others⎯those… Read More »Yin Meets Yang: the Benefits of Disclosing Your Hearing Loss
Advocacy in the New Political Landscape: A SWC 2017 Convention Workshop
by Chelle Wyatt Our 2017 SayWhatClub Convention was held last August in Savannah, GA. We lucked out with better than average weather (not as hot… Read More »Advocacy in the New Political Landscape: A SWC 2017 Convention Workshop
The Trouble with Hearing Loss Memes
I look for hearing loss memes to post on our work Facebook page. Some are funny, some are true and some are way off base. Let’s take a look at memes.
This happens all the time with people who have hearing loss and there’s a variety of reasons. We can sense the other person’s agitation and we still didn’t hear it so we nod and let it go. Or someone is in deep denial still and afraid to admit they can’t hear.
The Gift: A Story About Hearing Loss in Childhood
SayWhatClub (SWC) is pleased to welcome guest writer and SWCer Elaine Procida who shares the story of her childhood hearing loss and a special someone… Read More »The Gift: A Story About Hearing Loss in Childhood
How I Found the SayWhatClub
By Robyn Carter I was implanted back in 1993. I was the 8th adult in New Zealand to receive the implant. As there were not… Read More »How I Found the SayWhatClub
The Perseverance of Sound: Part II
SayWhatClub (SWC) is pleased to welcome guest writer and SWCer Justin Krampert, a deaf musician, who shares his story of hearing loss, how it has affected… Read More »The Perseverance of Sound: Part II
The Perseverance of Sound: Part I
SayWhatClub (SWC) is pleased to welcome guest writer and SWCer Justin Krampert, a deaf guitarist, who shares his story of hearing loss, how it has affected… Read More »The Perseverance of Sound: Part I
“Meatball Sugar”… Say What?
by Michele Linder When mishearing leads to a good laugh According to Miriam Websters Dictionary, a mondegreen is a mishearing or misinterpretation of a phrase… Read More »“Meatball Sugar”… Say What?
Gestures Aid Communication
by Chelle Wyatt I teach a speechreading class at different senior centers through my work with the state. Every time I teach the class I… Read More »Gestures Aid Communication
Traveling, Accents & Hearing Loss
by Chelle Wyatt My husband and I took a belated honeymoon/anniversary trip to Costa Rica a few weeks ago. I decided to go minimal knowing… Read More »Traveling, Accents & Hearing Loss
The Holidays: Including those you love with hearing loss
tby Michele Linder When the answer is “No.”, the holidays and all their festive gatherings can become filled with anxiety and dread. Large gatherings are especially difficult… Read More »The Holidays: Including those you love with hearing loss
The Deaf Music Fan: Screaming Without a Sound
by Kimberly I have to feel music to hear it, and I mean that on every level. When I was around 12 or 13, I… Read More »The Deaf Music Fan: Screaming Without a Sound
The 2016 SWC Boise Convention: Keynote Speaker
by Chelle Wyatt Richard Pimentel was the keynote speaker for the 2016 SayWhatClub Convention in Boise, ID. The convention crew was honored to have him… Read More »The 2016 SWC Boise Convention: Keynote Speaker
2016 SWC Convention: The Welcome Party
The SayWhatClub convention in Boise, Idaho was held at the Riverside Hotel from August 3-6th; our theme Basque-ing in Boise! Boise has the largest Basque… Read More »2016 SWC Convention: The Welcome Party
Boise or Bust!
By Michele Linder Many SWCers are gearing up for travel or are already on their way to Boise, Idaho, our convention city, where we’ll be… Read More »Boise or Bust!
I’m a Lipreader
By Chelle Wyatt I’m a lipreader and I say that to people thinking it’s straight forward. I haven’t said hard of hearing in a few years because… Read More »I’m a Lipreader
A Magic Wand
By Chelle Wyatt There are times I wish I could wave a wand to make others hard of hearing for a day or two. I’m… Read More »A Magic Wand
My Experience with CART
Our guest blogger is SWCer Cristal Alferez. Cristal is a Mechatronics Engineer who works for a Manufacturing Company in San Diego CA. She is Mexican, speaks… Read More »My Experience with CART
Hearing Loss Acceptance
by Chelle Wyatt In 2007 my hearing took a big drop and I knew it because three year old hearing aids were not powerful enough… Read More »Hearing Loss Acceptance
What’s It Like… to experience CART/Live Event Captioning for the very first time? Part II
An excerpt from Gael Hannan’s book The Way I Hear It, used by permission. In 1995, I attended my first gathering of hard of hearing… Read More »What’s It Like… to experience CART/Live Event Captioning for the very first time? Part II
The Words of a Stranger: On Snapping out of Hearing Loss Denial
by Kimberly When I explain to strangers that I have hearing loss, occasionally, people will respond by saying, “Oh me too. I should probably get… Read More »The Words of a Stranger: On Snapping out of Hearing Loss Denial
What’s It Like… to experience CART/Live Event Captioning for the very first time?
This article originally appeared in the SayWhatClub Newsletter, Online Voices, in January of 2011 Michele Linder Copyright 2011 Like a Virgin: CART for the very… Read More »What’s It Like… to experience CART/Live Event Captioning for the very first time?
Meet My Friend (Blank)
By Chelle Wyatt Chelle, this is my friend (Blank)… (Blank) meet Chelle. Conversation continues after introductions so I don’t stop to ask for a repeat. I’m… Read More »Meet My Friend (Blank)
Talking to a Hard of Hearing Person
by Chelle Wyatt Talking to a hard of hearing person is easy! Follow these communication guidelines to improve conversations and cut back on repeats. Always… Read More »Talking to a Hard of Hearing Person
A Tribal Fling
by Chelle Wyatt Most of us who are hard of hearing live among the hearing and probably don’t have hard of hearing friends to hang… Read More »A Tribal Fling
Why I Don’t Identify with being Hearing Impaired
by Chelle George-Wyatt I had to back up and think about my statement on Facebook the other day. I don’t identify with being hearing impaired… Read More »Why I Don’t Identify with being Hearing Impaired
Super Accommodations for the Super Bowl
by Chelle George-Wyatt For years I have mostly stayed home to watch the Super Bowl because I want to watch it the way I want… Read More »Super Accommodations for the Super Bowl
The SWC Convention Committee Part 4
Debbie Mahoney has been with SWC for ever a decade on the Vistas list. She says, “SWC is a great place to connect with people… Read More »The SWC Convention Committee Part 4
How Families Deal With Hearing Loss
by Chelle George-Wyatt My family accommodates my hearing loss and I don’t acknowledge that enough because it’s my normal. So I want to say right… Read More »How Families Deal With Hearing Loss
The SWC Convention Committee Part 3
This year we have many wonderful people working on the SWC Convention Committee. Here’s a continuation of meet the crew. Erica Penn told us: I joined… Read More »The SWC Convention Committee Part 3
How Did You Lose Your Hearing?
by Kimberly “How did you lose your hearing?” This seems like an innocuous question to most people, but as a person who hears it… Read More »How Did You Lose Your Hearing?
Oral Interpreting: There’s more than one way to see what’s said
Last year, at the SayWhatClub Convention, held in Madison, Wisconsin, those of us who signed up for the Wisconsin State Capitol Tour had the pleasure… Read More »Oral Interpreting: There’s more than one way to see what’s said
2013 SayWhatClub Convention
SayWhatClub conventions are special. Those of us who attend, leave with uplifted spirits on a natural high. After four days together, we feel like family.… Read More »2013 SayWhatClub Convention
Working With Hearing Loss
When I was 13 years old, someone taught me how to french braid hair and that pretty much sealed my fate. I practiced and practiced… Read More »Working With Hearing Loss
Hearing Loop
My first hearing loop experience was at the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) convention in Rhode Island last year. At my first workshop, one… Read More »Hearing Loop
Tweaking a Hearing Aid Program..and Cookies
Yesterday was another trip to the audiologist to get my hearing aids programmed. For the last three months, certain sounds made me cringe, clench my… Read More »Tweaking a Hearing Aid Program..and Cookies
Hearing Loss and Interdependence
I’m always reading and have at least two books going at the same time. Right now, one of those books is The 7 Habits… Read More »Hearing Loss and Interdependence
An Interview With Lip Reading Mom
The SayWhatClub conducted an interview with lip reading mom, Shanna Groves, author of two books on hearing loss. She was diagnosed with progressive hearing loss… Read More »An Interview With Lip Reading Mom
Beautifully Broken by Michele Linder
Broken or Beautiful Lipreading Mom, Shanna Groves, wants to know “Would you describe hearing loss as brokenness or beautiful?”, and I feel compelled to answer:… Read More »Beautifully Broken by Michele Linder
Hearing Ear Cats?
Animals have always been a part of my life. Growing up, we always had a dog around and at least one cat. We also had… Read More »Hearing Ear Cats?
Happy HEARversary! Celebrating Twenty Years of Hearing With A Cochlear Implant
Last month, our own Robyn Carter celebrated a big anniversary – two decades with a cochlear implant! Back in February of 1993, she was the… Read More »Happy HEARversary! Celebrating Twenty Years of Hearing With A Cochlear Implant
What’s That Pig Outdoors? A Book Review by Dorothy Black
WHAT’S THAT PIG OUTDOORS? A Memoir of Deafness By Henry Kisor At the time of writing this book, Henry Kisor worked for the… Read More »What’s That Pig Outdoors? A Book Review by Dorothy Black
Hearing Loss Cause Unknown
“Does anyone in your family have a hearing loss,” the doctor asked. “Yeah my 80 year old grandma.” That didn’t count. “Have you been around… Read More »Hearing Loss Cause Unknown
Gael Hannan at the SayWhatClub Convention
Gael Hannan is one of our favorite hearing loss advocates and she will be a workshop presenter at the 2013 SayWhatClub convention in Williamsburg, VA… Read More »Gael Hannan at the SayWhatClub Convention
SayWhatClub Convention 2013 Banquet Keynote Speaker
Mark your calendars for the SayWhatClub convention this year from May 15-18 in Williamsburg, VA. We are excited to announce this year’s banquet keynote speaker… Read More »SayWhatClub Convention 2013 Banquet Keynote Speaker
Tolls of Hearing Loss by Pearl Feder
It seems as though I’ve had hearing loss all my life but I didn’t. I’ve only forgotten what it’s like to hear conversation without saying,… Read More »Tolls of Hearing Loss by Pearl Feder
ONE ROAD… by Kayla Siebold
Kayla on her wedding day. A new journey… a new life and new challenges. Is it worth it? I think so!! Sometimes life isn’t… Read More »ONE ROAD… by Kayla Siebold
Progressive Hearing Loss
Progressive hearing loss creates big dips in hearing. Other times, it chips away at hearing little by little. Either way, it means constant adjusting to… Read More »Progressive Hearing Loss
WE ALL HAVE DREAMS by Pearl Feder
Last night, I attended the Nalaga’at Deaf-Blind Theatre Ensemble, Directed by Adina Tal, at the NYU Skirball Center. Nalaga’at has a permanent home located in Jaffa, Tel Aviv in… Read More »WE ALL HAVE DREAMS by Pearl Feder
Captions Are Essential for Hard of Hearing Movie-Goers
By Shanna Groves / LipreadingMom.com And the nominees for best captioned movie for the Deaf and hard of hearing are… Okay, the Oscars don’t actually… Read More »Captions Are Essential for Hard of Hearing Movie-Goers
Miracle Workers
In 1979, television aired a remake of “The Miracle Worker.” I sat on the floor as close as I could get to TV watching this… Read More »Miracle Workers
Cutbacks for the Deaf in Israel and the Consequences for the Israeli Deaf Population by Nena Bar & Boaz Ahad-Haam translated by Omer Zak
The Hebrew version of this article can be accessed on the below link http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4326134,00.html The Deaf (in Israel) struggle against cutback in interpreting hours ===================================================================… Read More »Cutbacks for the Deaf in Israel and the Consequences for the Israeli Deaf Population by Nena Bar & Boaz Ahad-Haam translated by Omer Zak
A Natural Disaster by Pearl Feder
High Tide Before Hurricane Sandy It was October 29th, 8:30 a.m. Monday morning and high tide had flooded the streets of the Rockaways before Sandy made… Read More »A Natural Disaster by Pearl Feder
Hard of Hearing, Just Like Me
Most of my life consists of hearing people; hearing parents, hearing sister, hearing kids, hearing friends and past hearing significant others. They all know I’m… Read More »Hard of Hearing, Just Like Me
Black Friday, Cyber Monday and now, Giving Tuesday by Pearl Feder
As we head into November, many people begin to prepare for the holiday season. Every year I attempt to take my mind off the burdens and… Read More »Black Friday, Cyber Monday and now, Giving Tuesday by Pearl Feder
THE SOCIAL WEB by Jeffrey Swartz
Spiders I can live without, but spider webs I can look at all day long. Spiders are such wonderful artists, the way they spin such… Read More »THE SOCIAL WEB by Jeffrey Swartz
Show Me Your Ears
Fellow blogger and hard of hearing advocate, Lip Reading Mom, has a great campaign going this month called Show Me Your Ears. http://lipreadingmom.com/show-me-your-ears/. (You can… Read More »Show Me Your Ears
Who Should We Be Educating? The Hearing Person or the Hearing Impaired Individual?
Did you know the last week of September is Deaf Awareness Week? For quite some time, many Deaf organizations put on festivals, lectures and focus… Read More »Who Should We Be Educating? The Hearing Person or the Hearing Impaired Individual?
Tinnitus
What is tinnitus Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of external stimuli,meaning a person affected by tinnitus hears sounds no one else… Read More »Tinnitus
Hearing Aids Ten Hours A Day
While I lived in Salt Lake, I wound up shopping around for an audiologist I respected. It took four tries but I found one who… Read More »Hearing Aids Ten Hours A Day
Banquet at the 2012 Convention Banquet
The convention banquet started off with a lot of socializing. We mingled and took pictures, enjoying the last night of each others company. A silent… Read More »Banquet at the 2012 Convention Banquet
SWC Convention Workshops
Thanks to Listen Technologies, the workshop area was looped for our convenience. For those who didn’t have t-coils in their hearing aids, assistive listening devices were… Read More »SWC Convention Workshops
The SayWhatClub Convention
It’s like meeting long lost friends, even on the first meeting. Last night we opened with the Welcome party. A few scenes… Not everyone is… Read More »The SayWhatClub Convention
The Phone and Hearing Loss
The phone is all about being social and getting information. It’s one of the first places hearing loss is recognized. Repeats are more common than… Read More »The Phone and Hearing Loss
A Hard of Hearing Hairstylist
At 13 years old, someone taught me how to French braid at school and from that moment on, I knew I wanted to be… Read More »A Hard of Hearing Hairstylist
Hearing Aids Made New
Proper programming of hearing aids is so important. It’s been over a year so it was time for me to get a hearing test.… Read More »Hearing Aids Made New
Our World
In 1998, I gathered with about 30 other SayWhatClub members in Rocky Mountain National Park for a long weekend camp out. That was the first… Read More »Our World
High Frequency Hearing Loss
I have a high frequency hearing loss, diagnosed in my early twenties but it probably started as a teenager. For a long time I didn’t… Read More »High Frequency Hearing Loss
Say WHAT?: the inadequacy of transcribed captions by Michele Linder
A few months ago, Cathy Zimmerman, a fabulous lady from my SayWhatClub home list, Connect, shared with our group her recent honor at being nominated,… Read More »Say WHAT?: the inadequacy of transcribed captions by Michele Linder
The Lighter Side of Hearing Loss
Trying to find the positive in hearing loss came up on the SayWhatClub Connect list. We’re not saying hearing loss isn’t a serious matter. It… Read More »The Lighter Side of Hearing Loss
Social Meltdown with Hearing Loss Turns into Success
Three years ago after moving to Salt Lake City, I attended a banquet with my boyfriend honoring ski patrol. He volunteers at the ski resort… Read More »Social Meltdown with Hearing Loss Turns into Success
Volunteer
I started doing volunteer work in my early twenties. My ex-husband joined the Marine-Corps as soon as we got out of high school. Not long… Read More »Volunteer
The Things I Can Hear
Those of us who are hard of hearing often get bogged down in what we can’t hear. Last year I decided to go the positive… Read More »The Things I Can Hear
Cause I Can’t Make My Ears Hear If They Don’t
I just read a great article, written by Barbara Kelley, on Charles Mokotoff from the January/February 2010 issue of Hearing Loss Magazine. In the article,… Read More »Cause I Can’t Make My Ears Hear If They Don’t
Hard of Understanding
How often do I tell people I’m hard of hearing? Not often these days because they only speak louder which distorts word discrimination. Now I… Read More »Hard of Understanding
The Salt Lake Convention 2012
I moved to Salt Lake City three and a half years ago from the Arizona/California desert area along the Colorado River. I have to admit,… Read More »The Salt Lake Convention 2012
Deaf at the Deli by Michele Linder
I spent yesterday shopping and running errands. It was a good day, as I didn’t really run into any particular difficulty… I wasn’t doing things… Read More »Deaf at the Deli by Michele Linder
South Pacific
Utah-CAN worked hard to get a play captioned for us and I wanted to support their efforts. I dreaded using the phone to buy tickets… Read More »South Pacific
SayWhatClub Convention, then and now
In the late 90’s I started an internet search late one night for a hard of hearing support group. I felt alone in my hearing… Read More »SayWhatClub Convention, then and now
Vacation with a Hearing Loss
The airplane A few weeks ago I went to Maui with my aunt and her grand daughter. After having so much trouble hearing on the… Read More »Vacation with a Hearing Loss
Making Our Holiday Season Accessible
The holiday season is upon us and many of us with hearing loss and late deafness have to figure out strategies to get us through… Read More »Making Our Holiday Season Accessible
Listening and Hearing
You would think listening and hearing go hand in hand but they don’t. For those of us with hearing loss, we listen with our whole… Read More »Listening and Hearing
Going to the Movies
I used to be an avid movie buff, going to the theater once a week at least There were times when I knew almost every… Read More »Going to the Movies
Never Mind vs Deaf Nod
We try our best to hear in most situations. We want to hear. If we miss something, we ask for a repeat and still can’t… Read More »Never Mind vs Deaf Nod
Hearing Aids 101
I belong to a writing group here in Salt Lake City. The writing center had it’s 10 year celebration last night and I was asked… Read More »Hearing Aids 101
AN IDENTITY CRISIS OF MY OWN! by Michele Linder
I’ve been a “Better Hearing Consumer” follower since Gael Hannan began writing this blog, and Gael’s latest article, “Lament for a Hoh: My Hard of… Read More »AN IDENTITY CRISIS OF MY OWN! by Michele Linder
“Transcribe Audio”, by Michele Linder
I subscribe to the “Now Norma Knits” blog. Norma is not only “one L short of normal” (Love it! Makes me want to change my name to… Read More »“Transcribe Audio”, by Michele Linder
ACTION, CAMERAS, CAPTIONS
Summer is here and some of us are spending some hard earned money to take a vacation. Some of travelers are also hearing impaired and… Read More »ACTION, CAMERAS, CAPTIONS
Meet TED, Dave, Kelly, and Brian
By Michele Linder This started out to be a simple post to Connect, my home list on the SayWhatClub, but grew into something more upon… Read More »Meet TED, Dave, Kelly, and Brian
Greetings from the SayWhatClub Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, by Michele Linder
I’m attending the 2011 SayWhatClub Convention in Baltimore, Maryland — another first experience (who would have thought that at age 51 I’d still be losing… Read More »Greetings from the SayWhatClub Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, by Michele Linder
Is the SayWhatClub for You? by Michele Linder
Is the SayWhatClub for You? If you or someone you love has a hearing loss and is saying “What?” much of the time, then the… Read More »Is the SayWhatClub for You? by Michele Linder
Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay for Hearing Aids by Dr. John S. Ford
This article was written by John S. Ford MD, MPH Los Angeles, California, who is a full time assistant professor at UCLA. This article was… Read More »Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay for Hearing Aids by Dr. John S. Ford
Hearing Loss and Border Scrutiny: A Personal Saga By Lorne Smith
Is the SayWhatClub considered a subversive organization? More specifically, is there a way to enter the United States for a SayWhatClub convention without arousing… Read More »Hearing Loss and Border Scrutiny: A Personal Saga By Lorne Smith
The King Speaks, But Not to Everyone by John Waldo
This article was written on February 14th, 2011 by John Waldo*, prior to the Academy Awards ——————————————————————————————————— The King Speaks, But Not to Everyone By… Read More »The King Speaks, But Not to Everyone by John Waldo
Drunken Sailor Syndrome – Living and Working with Vertigo
Vertigo, commonly known as “the spins” is a condition where a person loses their sense of balance, so the world seems to spin around… Read More »Drunken Sailor Syndrome – Living and Working with Vertigo