Alumni Spotlight: Michai Lombardi

My name is Michai Lombardi, and I attended LDOS (Louisville Deaf Oral School) from 1995-1997. I was born deaf and raised by a single mother as the oldest of five children. I learned sign language and how to speak while a student at LDOS. I remember great times going on field trips, Halloween parties, Thanksgiving,…
HHLA 1/2 Day Summer Camp

Heuser Hearing & Language Academy will be bringing the farm to the academy from June 5-9! Please register for the HHLA 1/2 day summer camp by scanning the QR code on the flyer or clicking here. The camp is available to current, incoming and past HHLA students and their siblings aged 3-7. If you would…
Town Hall With Rep. McGarvey

On June 3, please join Rep. McGarvey at Heuser Hearing Institute for a discussion about the impact of gun violence in our Louisville community and the policy solutions needed to address it.
Michai Hanley
Heuser Patient Sherry Martinez Credits the Institute with Giving Her Hope for Recovery
My vestibular dysfunction journey began with a vision loss event while I was at work. Though it was temporary, it was one of the scariest things I’ve ever experienced. What followed were many symptoms including dizziness, difficulty with balance, visual processing issues, motion related issues, cognitive function deficits, severe light sensitivity, multiple sensory issues, a…
We are Hiring: Patient Care Coordinator at Heuser Hearing Institute
Heuser Hearing Institute (HHI) is a multi-specialty, not-for-profit campus promoting the needs of children and adults with disorders of hearing, balance, and communication. HHI includes four outpatient facilities, a research center, a school for children with disorders of speech and hearing. KY HEARS: a community outreach initiative to remove hearing healthcare barriers, mobile units for…
Internships at Heuser Hearing Institute
We are looking for interns. Opportunities: Join us at Heuser Hearing Institute, where we’re committed to promoting the wellbeing of our community through exceptional hearing care. Interested in becoming part of our team? Please call us at 502-584-3573.
Careers
Heuser Hearing Institute is a comprehensive community that empowers those with hearing loss or speech, language and communication disorders to reach their full potential and effectively participate in the community. If you are interested in applying for any of our open positions, please read below for details and contact information. Open Positions Patient Care Coordinator…
Here’s How You Can Protect Your Ears While Exercising Outdoors

Nicer weather means you’ll want to spend more time outdoors, even to exercise. However, when doing so, it’s important to take measures to protect your ears and hearing. We review tips for this below. Wear Hearing Protection If you’re going to be going for a run through Levy Park on Eastside Street where they could…
In Remembrance
Tiffanie Fuller
It is with sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you of the death of our colleague and friend, Tiffanie Fuller. Tiffanie was on her way to work on Friday, March 30, 2023 when she got into a tragic motor vehicle accident that claimed her life. She has been part of our Heuser family for…
Alumni Spotlight: Grant Scheynost

My name is Grant Scheynost and I graduated from the Louisville Deaf Oral School in 2000. After LDOS, I attended JCPS schools and graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2016 with a degree in management information systems. I currently work as an Informaticist for Humana analyzing pharmaceutical data. During my free time, I’m either…
Fuel Member Access
Vacation Packing Essentials for People with Hearing Loss
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reports, “Approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) aged 18 and over report some trouble hearing.” If you’re among this population and you’re preparing to go on vacation, you may need to do a little extra preparation. Below we review your vacation packing essentials for people…
Speech Camp

When: April 3-7, 2023 Help your child spring into speech at our speech therapy camp! From April 3-7, participants ages 3-7 will focus on verbal communication, mastering emotions, sensory exploration and expressive dance. Camp starts at 9 a.m. and continues through 4 p.m. each day, with before and after care available. Admission is $200. To…
Speech Therapy Camp

Speech Therapy Camp Ages: 3-7 Admission: $200 More Information: speechcamp@thehearinginstitute.org When: April 3-7, 2023 9:00am – 4:00pm Donate Volunteer
Mayor’s Give A Day 2023 | Metro United Way’s Volunteer Connection

Heuser Hearing Landscaping & Gardening – Mayor’s Give A Day 2023 | Metro United Way’s Volunteer Connection. Help Heuser Hearing & Language Academy get our campus ready for spring on Mayor’s Give A Day! Volunteers will help with weeding, mulching, and planting flowers on our downtown campus. Gloves and gardening tools will be provided. Lunch…
Alumni Spotlight! Abby Baker

Abby Baker graduated from HHLA in 2014. She is now 13 and a seventh grader at Christian Academy. Since leaving HHLA, Abby has done exceptionally well—she’s a great student, friend and very outgoing. One of Abby’s favorite pastimes is field hockey. She plays field hockey for her school team and is also a club player for IFHCK. However, don’t let…
How To Choose a Cell Phone When You Have Hearing Aids

Hearing aids have evolved over the years to not only improve your listening experience but connect with other technology as well, including cell phones. If you’re in the market for a new phone and want to make sure they work well with your hearing aids, let’s examine what you should look for before you head…
Tips for Planning a Cruise with Hearing Aids

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “In 2019, 7.1% of adults aged 45 and over used a hearing aid; use was higher among men than women in all age groups.” If you’re among this population who wears hearing aids and you’re planning a cruise with your family or friends, below we…
Alumni Spotlight! George Payne Sr.

George Payne Sr. was born in 1949. His mother found out about Louisville Deaf Oral School (now Heuser Hearing & Language Academy) through a newspaper article in 1952 and was then enrolled in 1953. At LDOS, he learned to speak, read and write in the carriage house behind the Woman’s Club of Louisville. The carriage…
Evan Wagner

Evan Wagner joined the Heuser team in January 2023. He received his bachelor’s degree in sociology and business administration from Transylvania University before getting his MBA from the University of Louisville. He brings five years of finance and accounting experience from his previous roles. Outside of work, Evan is an avid tennis player and a…
Adryann Watkins

Adryann attends the University of Louisville as a social work major in hopes of one day opening her own youth center to create new opportunities for kids. Outside of the office, she operates a nail business, spends time with friends and family and enjoys shopping.
How Do Our Brain’s Expectations Influence What We Hear?

Our ears and our brains work together to help us hear. Soundwaves from your environment are captured by the outer ear and travel down the ear canal, which leads to the eardrum. When the soundwave hits the eardrum, a vibration is created, which passes through three tiny bones within the middle ear called the malleus,…
Julia Watson

Julia Watson joined the Heuser team in January 2023. She earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, spending time with family and playing with her Australian Shepherd.
Alumni Association Social
Save the Date for an Alumni Association Social! For questions contact Will Frentz at wfrentz@thehearinginstitute.org.
Take Advantage of Our Conservation and Occupational Safety Program
Want to protect your resources and keep employees safe through protection, prevention and training? Heuser Hearing Institute now offers a special Conservation and Occupational Safety Program that exceed Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA)/Mining Safety and Health (MSHA) Guidelines. Our program is flexible and convenient—we provide testing at any time, day or night, to accommodate your…
Is It Safe to Sleep with Headphones or Earbuds?

Whether you live in the city and you’re trying to drown out the noises or you find listening to music or a sleepcast to be relaxing, you may be tempted to sleep with headphones or earbuds in. But is doing so safe for your hearing? We answer this question below. What the Research Shows A…
Will Frentz

Will Frentz joined Heuser Hearing Institute as a philanthropy coordinator in November 2022. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Centre College with a minor in political economics. He is also a 1997 graduate of the former Louisville Deaf Oral School (now Heuser Hearing & Language Academy). Born profoundly deaf, Will has bilateral cochlear…
How Do Audiologists Diagnose Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a phantom ringing, roaring, hissing, whistling, humming or buzzing sound in the ears with no external source, especially in quiet environments like Louisville Free Public Library. For some, it is a mild nuisance, while for others, it is a debilitating experience. Getting diagnosed is key to improving your quality of life. However, because…
Faith Clanton
Grace Fons

Grace was a public school teacher of the deaf and hard-of-hearing for three years before joining the Heuser team in 2022. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Transylvania University. Her first experience in the field of deaf education came after she graduated college; she was an instructional assistant at the Kentucky School for…
Darricka Collier

Working in the health care field has always been a dream of Darricka’s. She is currently pursuing an associate degree in health information technology and a certificate in medical coding from Jefferson Community & Technical College. She enjoys spending time with her fiancé, two boys and fur baby, Luna. In her spare time, she likes…
Sara Royalty
Introducing KY HEARS Healthcare Initiative
KY HEARS is a statewide hearing healthcare initiative designed to increase access to hearing care, especially in rural areas throughout Kentucky. The initiative began through a collaborative effort between Heuser Hearing Institute, Kentucky lawmakers, the executive branch and other stakeholders. The goal of KY HEARS is to remove barriers to care, helping Kentuckians gain equal…
Get into the Spooky Spirit with Your Hearing Aids

Hearing loss is common. In fact, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, two to three of every 1,000 babies in the U.S. is born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears, and one in eight people ages 12 and older has hearing loss in both…
Betsy Lasley

Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Lasley, Ph.D. has returned to Louisville, her hometown, after years of teaching in several other states. She earned her teacher certification in deaf education and a doctorate in learning disabilities and behavior disorders from Texas Woman’s University. Elizabeth’s major academic focus is on early childhood development, language and literacy. Her teaching experiences extend…
Taivya Todd

Taivya Todd joined the Heuser Hearing & Language Academy team in 2022. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Human performance from the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. Taivya pursued that degree because of her love for the human body and how it works. Her post-degree goals include helping to close…
Tinnitus Workshop

Tinnitus Workshop Visitors will learn about tinnitus, the causes of tinnitus, and treatment strategies from equipment to therapeutic. In-person and Zoom options are available. In-person meeting will take place at Heuser Hearing Institute, 117 East Kentucky Street, Louisville, KY 40203. Register for in-person here. Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3739482455?pwd=MWJqRmRGMDZzamhYRTNJS0lMWEZwZz09 Meeting ID: 373 948 2455 Passcode: 133659
Tinnitus Workshop

Tinnitus Workshop Visitors will learn about tinnitus, the causes of tinnitus, and treatment strategies from equipment to therapeutic. In-person and Zoom options are available. In-person meeting will take place at Heuser Hearing Institute, 117 East Kentucky Street, Louisville, KY 40203. Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3739482455?pwd=MWJqRmRGMDZzamhYRTNJS0lMWEZwZz09 Meeting ID: 373 948 2455 Passcode: 133659
Protect Your Hearing During These Fall Activities

Undoubtedly, you’ve seen the return of pumpkin spice lattes and noticed the sun setting a little earlier each day. That can only mean that fall is upon us. As you look forward to your favorite fall activities, it’s always good to know how to care for your hearing health during this season. Popular Fall Activities…
Dayiaone Bibb

Dayiaone joined the team at Heuser Hearing & Language Academy in 2022. She received her bachelor’s degrees in public health and Pan-African studies from the university of Louisville in Kentucky. She entered the health care field to help POC in vulnerable communities find resources to improve their overall health and social determinants. In her spare…
Heuser Hearing Institute Receives $3 Million from Commonwealth of Kentucky for Approved “KY HEARS Healthcare Initiative”
LOUISVILLE, KY (August 30th, 2022): The Heuser Hearing Institute is thrilled and honored to announce the approval of the “KY HEARS Healthcare Initiative,” a program aimed at closing the education and employment gap for Kentuckians who are deaf or hard of hearing. The initiative is the result of a collaborative effort by Heuser, Kentucky lawmakers,…
Heuser Hearing Institute and Heuser Hearing & Language Academy Voted “Best” for Second Straight Year
Louisville, Ky. (Aug. 18, 2022) – Both Heuser Hearing Institute and Heuser Hearing & Language Academy were recognized for a second straight year in the Courier Journal’s 2022 “Best of the Best” Community Choice Awards ceremony. Community members vote on these lists to honor businesses, organizations and people throughout the state of Kentucky. The “Best of…
Over-The-Counter Devices
Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Increase Accessibility to Treatment If you’ve heard of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, then you may have also heard you don’t need a prescription to purchase them. While they are convenient to buy and often cheaper than the prescription hearing aid alternative, patients will benefit from a licensed medical professional’s oversight. They can…
Myth vs. Reality: Hearing Loss, OTC Hearing Aids & You
On Oct. 19, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a landmark proposal intended to improve access to and reduce the cost of hearing aid technology for millions of Americans. The agency proposed a rule to establish a new category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. When finalized, the rule will allow hearing aids…
Fighting Fires and Hearing Loss

Everyone knows that fighting fires can be a dangerous job. The men and women of the Louisville Fire Department put themselves at risk every day to keep those in our community safe. While some risks are obvious, one that may surprise you is that firefighters are at a higher risk of hearing loss. The…
August is National Make-A-Will Month

August is National Make-A-Will Month. Do you still need to make your will? Whether you’ve been too busy or simply don’t know how, here are the top ten reasons to make a will. 1. Save your loved ones time, money, and stress. Most estates go through probate to start the legal process for distributing assets upon…
So Eun Park

Dr. So Eun Park received her Ph.D. in audiology from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2018. Right after completing her doctoral program, she gained additional experience in her clinical audiology program and graduated in 2022. Dr. Park’s expertise is in electrophysiological assessment for adults. Her long-term plan is to develop an objective testing tool for outcome…
United Auto Workers Program
Heuser Hearing Institute is committed to serving the community’s hearing healthcare needs. We are proud to support the hearing health of United Auto Workers and offer UAW members and their families exclusive discounts. Program Benefits Program benefits for you and your family include: Free annual hearing screenings Risk-free hearing aid trial 10% off hearing aids…
Understanding Sounds: How Do Amplitudes & Frequencies Impact Hearing?

The word “sound” describes a type of energy that travels in waves. You can measure these waves in two ways: amplitude, which is reported in decibels (dB), and frequency, which is reported in Hertz (Hz). In this post, we review how amplitudes and frequencies impact your hearing. What Is Amplitude? Amplitude refers to the pressure…