At the September 17 meeting of the New York City Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America the focus will be on hearing aids. Topics discussed will include the following: telecoils, how to care for your hearing aid, when and how to change the ear mold, hearing aid insurance, return policy for newly purchased hearing aids, how long to wear your new hearing aids, smartphone as an assistive device, and a guide to assistive devices by hearing aid brand. Our speakers will be Dr. Michele DiStefano, who will speak about hearing aids, and Dr. Claire Bernstein, a professor at Gallaudet University, who will talk about auditory rehabilitation as it applies to both cochlear implants and hearing aids.

Dr. DiStefano is Director of the Shelley and Steven Einhorn Audiology Center and Berelson Hearing Technology Center at the Center for Hearing and Communication.  She joined the CHC in 2017 with expertise in pediatric audiology honed at Beth Israel Medical Center, Clarke Schools, and New York Eye and Ear. A graduate of the audiology program at CUNY-Brooklyn College, Dr DiStefano sees children and adults at CHC with a focus on comprehensive diagnostic testing, fitting of amplification/FM systems, post-fitting counseling and early intervention. With her pediatric clients, Dr. DiStefano partners with the families to help them ensure their child achieves his or her goals. As an audiologist working with clients of all ages, her approach is to treat people exactly as she would want one of her own family members treated by a health care professional. Dr. DiStefano is a Certified Dementia Practitioner with specialized training and certification for caring for individuals with dementia. Additionally, she is on the Board of Directors of the NY State Speech-Language-Hearing Association, a professional organization that represents the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology and individuals served by members of these professions. Dr. DiStefano serves as VP of the Audiology Board and is a member of the Government Affairs committee.

 Dr. Claire Marcus Bernstein is a Co-Principal Investigator at the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing at Gallaudet University.  She received her Ph.D. in Audiology from Columbia University. Her clinical, teaching, and research work focus on rehabilitation with adult cochlear implant users and older adults with hearing loss. Dr. Bernstein directs a series of multi-site randomized controlled studies aimed at developing and evaluating the effectiveness of aural rehabilitation interventions for adult cochlear implant users. The goal is to use aural rehabilitation to maximize outcomes, improve communication, psychological and social function, and quality of life for adult CI recipients. The research is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. Dr. Bernstein was an invited Keynote Speaker at the American Cochlear Implant Alliance Conference in DC leading a forum session devoted to aural rehabilitation with adult cochlear implant users- from research to clinical practice. Additionally, Dr. Bernstein served as Past President and Board Member of the American Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology.

If you would like to join us for this captioned program, register here. After registering, you will receive an email with the Zoom link.

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU MAY REQUEST A LINK FOR CAPTIONING IN SPANISH WHEN YOU REGISTER.

Can’t Hear? We are here for you!
The New York City Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America is a vibrant, diverse community dedicated to helping people with hearing loss lead more satisfying and productive lives. At the chapter’s monthly meetings, speakers address topics such as hearing aids and hearing-aid alternatives, assistive technology, interpersonal strategies, and advocacy initiatives. Those of you who are interested can find information about our organization on our chapter website by clicking here.