The Hearing Loss Association of America's (HLAA) Walk4Hearing is the largest walk of its kind taking place in multiples cities across the country. Every spring and fall thousands of walkers - children and their families, young adults, young at heart and everyone in between - form teams and walk in their communities to increase public awareness about hearing loss, help eradicate the stigma associated with it and raise funds for programs and services.
Who Walks?
- People with a passion for hearing loss issues get involved because either they have a hearing loss themselves or they want to show support for someone they know with hearing loss.
- Parents of children with hearing loss walk as families and meet other parents along the way and share experiences.
- Company teams walk to build workplace camaraderie.
- Alliance groups such as schools for children with hearing loss, hospitals, universities and other nonprofit hearing loss-related organizations join the Walk4Hearing to raise money for their own projects.
- Hearing health care professionals walk because they support our cause.
Why We Walk?
We walk because hearing loss is a public health issue in the United States.
- 36 million (17 percent) Americans have some form of hearing loss
- 26 million have noise-induced hear loss that could be prevented
- 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children are born deaf or with a hearing loss
- 60 percent of the people with hearing loss are either in the work force or in educational settings
Many people do not know where to find information and support they need to adjust to living with hearing loss. When someone has a hearing loss it affects everyone they interact with - family, friends, co-workers, employers, neighbors - we all need to understand the impact of hearing loss and how to communicate with people with hearing loss.
How Are the Walk Funds Used?
Since 2006, over 35,000 walkers have stepped up and helped raise money for programs and services for people with hearing loss and their families. Money raised is shared between the national organization and local Walk sites. Some examples of how funds are used include:
National Programs and Services
- Provide timely and reliable information about hearing loss through HLAA’s website, Hearing Loss Magazine, HLAA e-News, the Hearing Loss Support Specialist Training, message boards/chat forums and annual conventions
- Advocacy at the national level to affect legislation that impacts people with hearing loss, whether it’s funding for hearing aids, cochlear implants, communication access in public places or other important issues
- A nationwide network of chapters and state organizations providing peer support
- Support for parents of children with hearing loss at www.kidsandhearingloss.org
- Outreach to veterans returning with hearing loss
- Social networking site for young adults with hearing loss at www.hearinglossnation.org
Local Programs and Services
- Captioning and hearing assistive technology at HLAA chapter meetings to make them accessible
- Scholarships toward college tuition for students with hearing loss
- Funding for hearing aids and assistive listening devices for people who cannot afford them
- Installation of hearing assistive technology in public places, such as community rooms and public libraries
- Captioning of live theater productions
- Seminars on coping with hearing loss
How Do I Get Involved?
You can register to walk as an individual, to start a team or join a team at a Walk site near you by
clicking here. If you would like to donate to someone who is walking, please
click here. There are other ways to get involved, such as recruit local sponsors, team up as an Alliance group, volunteer on Walk day or distribute posters and brochures to spread the word in your local community. If you are interested in getting involved, go to our
contact us page and send us your inquiry.
National Sponsors
There is a variety of national sponsorship opportunities to showcase your company through the Walk4Hearing. For more information about national sponsorship opportunities please visit the
national sponsors page.
About the Hearing Loss Association of America
The Hearing Loss Association of America® (HLAA), founded in 1979, opens the world of communication to people with hearing loss through information, education, support and advocacy. In addition to the Walk4Hearing, HLAA publishes the bimonthly
Hearing Loss Magazine, holds annual conventions, hosts online learning with the Hearing Loss Support Specialist Training, and more. HLAA has 200 chapters and 14 state organizations. The national headquarters is located at 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1200, Bethesda, MD 20814. Phone: 301.657.2248.
