Veterans and their families are invited to join monthly Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter (VAAVC) meetings which are free and captioned. The VAAVC meets online every 3rd Tuesday of the month. Please check upcoming meetings by going to the Calendar and view past meeting recordings below.
Recordings
May 18, 2021
Speaker:
Michelle Anderson
Veterans Benefit Specialist, Bayfield County Veterans Service Office, Michigan
Topic: Hearing Loss and Benefit Administration Claims
Michelle Anderson presents on service connecting hearing loss and Veterans Benefit Administration claim submission.
April 20, 2021
Speaker:
David Schible, Vice-President, VAAVC Chapter
Industrial Hygiene Technician, Department of Defense, United States Medical Command, Fort Stewart
Topic: Noise Measurement
David Schible presents on how noise is measured in the military and how to resolve loud noise exposure.
November 17, 2020
Speaker:
Juliëtte Sterkens, Au.D.
Topic:
What’s in Your Hearing Rucksack?
Most people with hearing loss will say they can hear just fine but that they have difficulty understanding speech, particularly in background noise, watching TV or while attending religious services, a lecture or theater performances even when using the most modern, up-to-date hearing aids. This lecture goes beyond hearing aids and will help you become an informed consumer to get the hearing care and technology from the VA that will work for you.
Juliëtte Sterkens is the HLAA Hearing Loop Advocate and professional advisor to HLAA on Hearing Loop Technology.
October 20, 2020
Speaker:
Don Doherty, President of VAAVC
Topic:
The Psychology of Hearing Loss
This presentation explores the biological, psychological, social and idiosyncratic aspects associated with hearing loss. Hearing loss challenges faced by all ages are addressed along with the skills and assistive technology needed to successfully thrive with a hearing loss. The session ends with a review of physical, social and psychological consequences of untreated hearing loss.
Don Doherty is a retired Marine Corps combat veteran (1965-1987) who lost his hearing during his 1965-1966 tour in Vietnam. He has worn hearing aids since June 1970. Mr. Doherty is retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs after 25 years of service. He was the education specialist for the National Chaplain Training Center. His specialties included education, curriculum development, instruction, technology and hearing loss. Don and his wife, Melanie, reside in Moyock, NC
September 15, 2020
Guest Speakers:
Kate Helms Tillery, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is a clinical associate professor in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University. As a speech-language pathologist who specializes in issues related to hearing loss, she researches variability in treatment outcomes for cochlear implant recipients, and prepares future clinicians to serve individuals with complex communication needs across the life span.
Maria Adney is a graduate student in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University. Upon graduation, she plans to work as a speech-language pathologist with school aged children. Prior to attending Arizona State University, Maria was a military helicopter pilot and retired after serving in both the Air Force and Coast Guard.
Topic: Self Advocacy: Strategies for Successful Communication
August 18, 2020
Speaker:
David Schible, Vice-President of VAAVC
Topic:
USO Resources: Transition Assistance Program
Watch Recording View Presentation
David Schible talks about his work with the USO Transition Assistance Program and how they can help aid veterans in the transition process as they exit service.
July 21, 2020
Topic: Open meeting with chapter members sharing their status during the pandemic with updates from Don Doherty, president.
June 16, 2020
Guest Speaker:
Brad Ingrao, Au.D.
Topic:
Thank you for your service: A review of V.A. hearing services
Watch Recording View Presentation
The Department of Veterans Affairs is the largest single customer of the hearing aid industry. While there is a great deal of variability between VA locations, there are some standardized benefits and procedures that All Veterans are eligible to improve hearing and communication. This presentation presents a brief review of VA benefits followed by an open Question and Answer session for Veterans and their families.
Brad Ingrao has been involved with HLAA since 1988 while still in his undergraduate program. He has worked in private practice, for the hearing aid industry, at the VA and has taught at three universities. He has presented at HLAA chapters all over the US as well as national webinars and conventions. Dr. Ingrao is known as an early adopter of technologies, a computer geek and an author and lecturer who makes complex topics understandable. He has been around hearing loss all of his life and has several family members with hearing loss.
May 19, 2020
Guest Speaker:
Jennifer Schuck, FAPR, RDR, CRC, CRR
Topic:
Global Alliance of Speech-to-Text Captioning
Global Alliance of Speech-to-Text Captioning is the only organization that has as their specific mission to be the leading professional authority on speech-to-text captioning, representing all captioners, consumers and industry.
Jennifer Schuck is president of Caption Pros, and provides captioning for any venue, no matter how large or how small. She is committed to providing the best captioning for every consumer, whether one-on-one or in a convention center. She has served as a member and chairperson of the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) CART Community of Interest Committee, a member of the NCRA Certified Realtime Captioner Certification Committee, and chair of the Arizona Court Reporters Association’s CART committee. She co-chaired the NCRA Captioning Ethics Task Force which created the ethical guidelines for captioners. Most recently, she was appointed Treasurer of the Global Alliance of Speech-to-Text Captioning.
April 21, 2020
Guest Speaker:
Lindsay Shroyer, Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA, PASC, clinical audiologist, Arizona Hearing and Balance Center, a division of Valley ENT
Topic:
Discovering Your Audiogram
Dr. Shroyer received her Doctorate of Audiology degree from the University of Louisville in 2012 following completion of a four year residential program. She received her Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders from Western Kentucky University. She completed her externship at Arizona Hearing and Balance Center and has been practicing since that time. Dr. Shroyer provides both pediatric and adult services including diagnostic testing, hearing aids, cochlear implant evaluations and mapping, Baha evaluations and programming and evoked potentials. She maintains a Dispensing Audiologist license from the state of Arizona is certified by the American Speech Language Hearing Association and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology.
March 17, 2020
Guest Speaker:
Michael Kurth, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A, Staff Audiologist, Twin Ports VA CBOC
Topic: The Aural Rehabilitation Tree
Michael Kurth is an audiologist working at the Twin Ports Clinic in Superior, Wisconsin. He has been with the VA for 3 years. Prior to the VA, he was working his PhD in Connecticut in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences in the area of aural rehabilitation (treatment for hearing loss). Outside of work, he enjoys hiking and bad movies.
February 18, 2020
Guest Speaker:
Tony Strong, Williams Sound AV
Topic:
Veterans with Hearing Loss, How You Can Make Life Better
Tony W. Strong is the National Sales Manager for Williams Sound, a global designer and manufacturer of wireless communication technology serving personal and professional listening needs worldwide since 1976. Tony is a hands on presenter who has worked in the Pro Audio industry for many years as an integrator, sound engineer and sales management professional. He offers extensive experience speaking about the benefits of differing technologies for hearing assistance, ADA compliance and simultaneous interpretation in a multitude of applications.