The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) has named Juliëtte Sterkens, AuD, as its new HLAA hearing loop advocate. Sterkens has been a passionate proponent for hearing loops for many years.

The appointment is a natural choice for HLAA. As an audiologist in private practice, Sterkens has led a successful hearing loop initiative in her community of Oshkosh and the Greater Fox Valley area of Wisconsin, resulting in nearly 200 hearing loop installations in the state. She is also a member of the HLAA-American Academy of Audiology "Get in the Hearing Loop" National Task Force, and has published and spoken publicly about hearing loop technology and hearing aid telecoil programming. (Sterkens has also been a contributor to The Hearing Review, most recently, “Are we missing an incredible opportunity to help our patients hear—and to grow our industry?”).

Among her notable hearing advocacy awards, Sterkens won Beltone’s 2011 Larry Mauldin Award for Excellence in Education for her hearing loop efforts.

In her role as hearing loop advocate for HLAA, Sterkens will collaborate with HLAA volunteers in the United States to further the organization’s mission and increase awareness about hearing loss, and the need for an increase in the use of hearing loops to improve hearing accessibility. She will offer her public speaking and advocacy skills to help HLAA chapters start hearing loop initiatives of their own.

Brenda Battat, executive director of HLAA, commented about Sterkens’ appointment, “We are delighted that Dr Sterkens will devote her sabbatical year to working with HLAA volunteers to become effective advocates for hearing loops and to expanding the number of hearing-friendly places.”

Sterkens will write a blog of her looping activities. A link to the blog can be found here and on HLAA’s Loop Resources Web page.
 

SOURCE: The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)