SHHH: A friend in need

“The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated,” wrote Mark Twain in an often-quoted telegram to the Associated Press in 1897, 13 years before his actual demise.

As was the case with Twain, Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH) is very much alive, despite any rumors that you may have heard to the contrary. However, it is facing fiscal problems, which, while not life-threatening, are very serious.

Some of the factors that have caused SHHH to run an operating deficit over an extended period of time were largely beyond its control. The plunge in the stock market over the past couple of years hurt it in two ways. Some major benefactors curtailed or ended their support. In addition, SHHH’s own stock investments did poorly, causing its reserve fund to shrink.

In the aftermath of 9/11, charitable contributions were largely channeled toward organizations that provided relief to the victims. That left less for other organizations, including SHHH.

There was also some unfortunate timing. A year ago, before the seriousness of its budgetary problems was recognized, SHHH adopted a new strategic plan that called for major capital expenses. These included an upgrade of its antiquated computer system, and improvements in its web site.

The board of trustees and the paid leadership of SHHH also bear some responsibility for the current situation, as Susan Matt, the president, frankly acknowledged in a recent conversation with the Journal. For too long they allowed expenditures to exceed revenues. Now, however, the board is taking strong action to get SHHH back on a firm financial footing. It has eliminated four staff positions, at least temporarily, and accepted the resignation of the executive director for the past year.

SHHH is hardly the only non-profit organization facing hard times. However, the reason that I bring its plight to your attention is that SHHH is one of the best friends that the hearing industry has.

On the national level, it has allied itself with professional organizations and the Hearing Industries Association on important common concerns. One of these is the battle to prevent state legislatures from passing “lemon laws” that would unfairly subject hearing aids in need of normal adjustments to legal provisions that were intended to protect consumers from truly defective products. SHHH has also worked alongside our industry in a successful effort to persuade the Federal Communications Commission to demand that telephone manufacturers to do their fair share to solve hearing aid-cell phone compatibility problems. In addition, SHHH has long been an effective public advocate for amplification and other solutions to hearing loss.

Backing from SHHH is especially valuable because of the respect it has earned as a champion for hearing-impaired persons. Legislators and other government officials may tend to view industry positions as self-serving, so, when SHHH takes our side on an issue, it lends credibility to these positions.

On the local level, SHHH is a natural ally to all of you who treat hard-of-hearing people. After all, its members are your patients, and you and SHHH share the goal of helping them hear and function better.

That’s an easy one. It needs money to regain its fiscal health and return to full strength. A number of companies in the hearing industry contribute generously to SHHH; I hope that others will join them in response to the current crisis.

While some individual hearing professionals may wish to contribute financially, you can also help in another way: telling your patients about SHHH and the benefits it offers. True, given the organization’s modest dues, even a large increase in its current membership of some 10,000 will do little, directly, to put it back in the black. However, the more people SHHH represents, the more clout it has in seeking the grants and other support on which it depends.

What’s more, when you recommend SHHH to patients, you are helping them. While not all will be interested, those who do join the organization will enjoy many benefits. Its excellent bi-monthly journal and its web site offer valuable information on coping with hearing loss. Perhaps most important are the support and understanding they will receive from other members of their local chapter. Help on getting the most from their hearing aids, information about assistive devices, and advice on advocating for themselves are just some of the rewards of membership.

By teaching its members to manage their hearing loss better, SHHH increases satisfaction among hearing-impaired consumers. That helps all of us in the hearing industry. Let’s do the same for SHHH.