Beyond Your Ears: The Wider Impact of Hearing Loss | HLAA HearingU Webinar

Although hearing loss is a physical condition, it is considered primarily a communication disability. It can have profound effects beyond just your ears—ranging from emotional well-being and personality traits to relationships, social connections and employment. The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) presented a Q&A format webinar on May 21, 2025, featuring three dynamic panelists, moderated by HLAA Executive Director Barbara Kelley, discussing this important topic that affects a growing number of people. This webinar was part of HLAA’s "Beyond Your Ears" campaign to raise awareness of the importance of treatment and support for hearing loss in May—coinciding with Better Hearing Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. PANELISTS: Ivette Cejas, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist Dr. Cejas is the director of family support services and professor, Department of Otolaryngology & Psychology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She moderated HLAA’s 2024 Research Symposium, The Emotional Side of Hearing Loss and wrote an article with the same title for the fall/winter issue of Hearing Life magazine. Ibrahim “Ib” Dabo Ib Dabo is a commissioner for the Georgia Commission for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing, past HLAA Board Member and hearing health advocate. He will be a panelist at the HLAA 2025 Research Symposium, Hearing Loss Stigma: Making the Invisible Actionable. Ib was diagnosed with hearing loss as a young adult. Alison Freeman, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist Dr. Freeman is a clinical psychologist at California State University at Northridge and in her own private therapy practice. A longtime HLAA member with severe bilateral hearing loss, she wrote the latest cover feature for Hearing Life magazine spring 2025 issue, Hearing Loss Affects More Than Your Ears. MODERATOR: Barbara Kelley, HLAA Executive Director A well-known leader in hearing health, Barbara Kelley has been with HLAA for 37 years. She sits on top health, communications and regulatory boards across the U.S. and globally, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Council of Councils (DPCPSI). NOTE: HLAA does not offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for participation in our webinars. The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) believes that information about products and services that could benefit people with hearing loss should be made available to help them make informed decisions about their hearing health care. ​We do not endorse products or services, but educate and advocate for a range of assistive technology options to help people understand, connect and stay engaged in their lives. Reference to specific products, services, organizations or claims made in HLAA HearingU webinars, online meetings or discussions does not constitute endorsement, recommendation or favoring by HLAA, nor does exclusion suggest disapproval. While we make every effort to provide accurate and reliable information, HLAA does not control or guarantee the accuracy, completeness or efficacy of information conveyed by presenters. HLAA HearingU webinars are intended for general information only and do not constitute medical or mental health advice. Please consult a health care professional with any concerns. #hearingloss #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness