Hearing Associates of Northern Virginia, Doctors of Audiology

10/01/2025

Finding out that a bug has crawled into your ear can be a very unsettling experience. While it’s not very common, it does happen—and knowing what to do (and what not to do) can make all the difference in keeping your ear safe and comfortable. Read more: https://bit.ly/3p0LLRb

09/19/2025

For children, hearing is the foundation for learning, communication, and social interaction. When hearing loss goes undiagnosed, it can affect not only academic performance but also confidence and social development. Read more: https://bit.ly/3p0LLRb

09/05/2025

If your loved one has hearing loss, know that hearing aids won’t magically fix the problem. You should still work to practice good communication techniques to make sure you’re heard as well as possible by everyone!

08/31/2025

Ear wax, or cerumen, is a natural substance your body produces to protect your ears. Normally, ear wax works its way out naturally through chewing, talking, and other jaw movements. However, sometimes it builds up and becomes impacted, leading to discomfort and hearing problems. Read more: https://bit.ly/3p0LLRb

08/22/2025

If you’ve ever finished a workout and noticed a faint ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sound in your ears, you might have experienced exercise-induced tinnitus. Understanding what’s going on can help you manage it and know when it might be time to check in with a healthcare professional. Read more: https://bit.ly/3p0LLRb

07/19/2025

When we think about the effects of heavy alcohol consumption, hearing and balance aren’t usually the first things that come to mind. However, research shows that excessive drinking can significantly impact both. Read more: https://bit.ly/3p0LLRb

07/12/2025

Getting water stuck in your ear is a common—and often frustrating—experience. Whether it happens after swimming, bathing, or even just washing your hair, trapped water can cause discomfort, muffled hearing, and even set the stage for infection if not handled properly. The good news is that, in most cases, it’s easy to manage at home with a few simple techniques. Read more: https://bit.ly/3p0LLRb

06/20/2025

Hearing loss caused by gunfire is more common than many people realize. Understanding how gunfire affects your hearing—and how to protect your hearing health—is key to preventing long-term problems. Read more: https://bit.ly/3p0LLRb

06/13/2025

Hearing plays a vital role in a child’s speech, language, and social development. So when a child experiences temporary hearing loss, it can be worrying for parents. Fortunately, many cases of hearing loss in children are short-lived and treatable with the right care. Read more: https://bit.ly/3p0LLRb

06/10/2025

The American Academy of Audiology, Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA), and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) are pleased to announce the introduction of the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act (MAAIA), S. 1996, in the United States Senate! We applaud Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) for championing this legislation to remove unnecessary barriers to access to audiology services for seniors and other Medicare Part B beneficiaries.

The Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act (H.R. 2757/S. 1996) will:

*Eliminate pre-treatment order requirements so beneficiaries have streamlined access to audiologists, saving seniors out of pocket costs for extra office visits.
*Support continuity of care by authorizing audiologists to be reimbursed for the Medicare-covered diagnostic and treatment services that they are licensed to provide.
*Reclassify audiologists as practitioners under the Medicare statute, enabling services to be furnished through telehealth beyond the current September 30, 2025, expiration of such authority.

We look forward to working together and with bill champions to advance the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act in Congress, so that Medicare Part B beneficiaries have timely access to the audiology care that they need, when they need it the most.*

05/27/2025

In 2020, Reese Hamsmith tragically lost her life after swallowing a button battery—a small but powerful hazard found in many everyday household items. Reese’s Law, passed in her honor, has made important strides in protecting children by mandating safer packaging and compartments for products containing these batteries.

However, as we honor Reese’s legacy, we must also acknowledge unintended hardships the law has created for elderly and disabled hearing aid users, many of whom have low vision, limited dexterity, or cognitive impairment. These individuals depend heavily on button batteries to power their hearing aids, crucial devices for their daily communication and quality of life.

New safety measures, such as difficult-to-open child-resistant packaging and complicated battery compartments, while necessary for child safety, have made battery replacement daunting or nearly impossible for many elderly and disabled users.

Real stories from the Hearing Aid Forum illustrate the severity of this issue:

“I can't open the new battery dispensers. It isn't safe because I have to cut them out on the counter and hope to find them all.” — maryL
“Child Resistant Packaging is almost impossible to open… Even if you get past cutting them open like cutting a pie, the plastic holding the battery is hard to open.” — hearer2024
“I have arthritis in my right thumb… now, it’s a frustrating pain situation to get the little devils out for my son.” — Sue_O
“I guess I should forget using my hearing aids, is what I’m feeling.” — Bob_P
“I don’t carry scissors in my car… it takes FOREVER to get them out of the packaging and I pray I don’t shoot it across the room or cut myself.” — MFox
“Even with stainless steel kitchen scissors, the battery package is super hard to cut open… I can’t begin to imagine what others are going through who do have arthritis.” — blazingsword
We believe there is a compassionate middle ground that honors Reese's memory while also accommodating the practical needs of hearing aid users. We urge Senators Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn to revisit Reese’s Law and consider amendments or exemptions specifically for hearing aid batteries—such as zinc-air batteries, widely used in hearing aids—balancing critical safety needs with accessibility concerns.

Call to Action

By signing this petition, you join us in respectfully calling upon lawmakers to:

Engage with hearing aid users and advocacy groups to better understand the impact of Reese’s Law.
Explore specific exemptions or adjusted packaging standards for hearing aid batteries.
Ensure accessible yet safe solutions for elderly and disabled individuals who rely on hearing aids.
Together, we can honor Reese's legacy through compassionate legislation that protects both our children and our elders.

Please sign this petition to make your voice heard.

Thank you for your compassion and support.

Stop Impossible Hearing Aid Battery Packaging!