Katherine Bouton

President

I’ve had progressive bilateral hearing loss since age 30. The cause is unknown. In 2009, I got a cochlear implant in my left ear after ten years with a hearing aid. I continue to wear a hearing aid in my right. Shortly after getting the implant, I left my decades-long job as an editor at The New York Times, so that I could concentrate on relearning to hear with a cochlear implant. I wrote a memoir of my experience with hearing loss called “Shouting Won’t Help” (2013) and later a guide to living with hearing loss called “Smart Hearing” (2018). I write a weekly blog called “Smart Hearing.”  I am the immediate past president of the New York City Chapter of HLAA and served on HLAA’s national board of trustees from 2012 to 2020. I’m a frequent speaker on hearing-loss issues.

Sophie Racine

Vice President

Dr. Sophie Racine earned her Clinical Doctorate in Audiology (Au.D.) from The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY) in June of 2020. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Gender Studies from Hamilton College in 2013.

Dr. Racine gained her experience in a variety of clinical settings. Prior to joining ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP, Dr. Racine was a clinical audiologist at Montefiore Medical Center and Seattle Children’s Hospital. Dr. Racine has experience in comprehensive diagnostic testing, electrophysiological assessments (Auditory Brainstem Response), otoacoustic emissions, and vestibular assessments, for pediatric, geriatric and neurodivergent populations.

Dr. Racine was diagnosed with bilateral severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss at age of 2.5 years. She began wearing hearing aids shortly thereafter and consequently developed a deep personal understanding of how hearing loss can affect a person’s education, relationships with others and quality of life.

On her personal time, Dr. Racine enjoys hiking, baking, cooking and spending time with her dog Rhubarb “Ruby”. She is currently working on a comic strip documenting anecdotal experiences as an audiologist with hearing loss.

Marcia Adelson

Secretary

is an attorney who lost her hearing two years ago. She is interested in community outreach and in advocacy, and would also like to join our peer-support group. She has agreed to serve as secretary to the board, and she served on the 2026 Scholarship committee. 

Myra Schreibman

Treasurer

I believe I was born with hearing loss, although I didn’t start wearing hearing aids until I was five years old, beginning with one body aid and then two digital behind-the-ear hearing aids.  I mainstreamed in public school and high school, where I was given speech and lipreading therapy through New York Eye and Ear. I received my BA from Pace University.  Now I am semi-retired as a bookkeeper.  I have been involved with HLAA for 20 years, starting with the Westchester chapter - where I was Program Chair from 2004-2006.  In 2007 I joined the NYC chapter, was involved with the programming committee, then was elected Treasurer.  I was heavily involved as co-treasurer for the Westchester / New York City Walk4Hearing, first started by Anne Pope years ago.

Dr. Sophie Racine earned her Clinical Doctorate in Audiology (Au.D.) from The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY) in June of 2020. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Gender Studies from Hamilton College in 2013.

Dr. Racine gained her experience in a variety of clinical settings. Prior to joining ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP, Dr. Racine was a clinical audiologist at Montefiore Medical Center and Seattle Children’s Hospital. Dr. Racine has experience in comprehensive diagnostic testing, electrophysiological assessments (Auditory Brainstem Response), otoacoustic emissions, and vestibular assessments, for pediatric, geriatric and neurodivergent populations.

Dr. Racine was diagnosed with bilateral severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss at age of 2.5 years. She began wearing hearing aids shortly thereafter and consequently developed a deep personal understanding of how hearing loss can affect a person’s education, relationships with others and quality of life.

On her personal time, Dr. Racine enjoys hiking, baking, cooking and spending time with her dog Rhubarb “Ruby”. She is currently working on a comic strip documenting anecdotal experiences as an audiologist with hearing loss.

I have had a hearing loss since I was 6 years old. Despite some academic struggles due to difficulty hearing teachers, I graduated from CCNY, where I was editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, and I earned a master’s degree in social work from Fordham University. I worked in the publishing industry for many years—as a writer for TV Guide and an editor/writer for Collier’s Encyclopedia. During my tenure as a writer for Medical Economics, a magazine for physicians, I won three Neal Awards, which are presented annually to business media journalists. Since 2009, I have been an Adult Protective Services worker for Nassau County. Because writing articles and procuring information from social-work clients usually requires telephone interviews, my jobs presented hearing challenges that I have done my best to surmount—most recently by obtaining a captioned telephone. As an HLAA-NYC board member, I am co-editor of the chapter’s award-winning newsletter, News & Views.

Committees

NEWS & VIEWS EDITORS

Gail Weiss

ADVOCACY

Speakers Bureau:  Ruth Bernstein

Looping: Jerry Bergman and Ellen Semel

Healthcare:  Toni Iacolucci and Ruth Bernstein

Communication Access: Katherine Bouton, Chair

Community Outreach: Maura Olson, Carol Karasick, Lyssy Pastrana

FINANCE

Myra Schreibman, Treasurer

PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS