Linda Heller, President
Linda S. Heller, M.A.,C.M.,CAP-S
M.A.C.C.C.A.(RET)
Contact: or (302) 388-9459 (V/C/Text/711/Captel)
Ms. Heller was born with a hearing loss and has worn hearing aids since she was 17. She is a dedicated advocate and a strong proponent of information, education and training for consumers with disabilities, especially speech, hearing and language disorders. That’s why, as Supervising Audiologist/Speech Pathologist at the VA Hospital in Wilmington, she founded the Delaware Chapter of Self-Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH) IN 1984 that is now the Hearing Loss Association of Delaware (HLADE) and is currently the volunteer President.
Ms. Heller has over 20 years of proven clinical, managerial, operational and leadership experience with hospitals and healthcare, profit and non-profit companies, government and private organizations. She has significant experience in national and state health, aging and disability businesses. She has done projects and/or given lectures or initiated clinical projects for people with hearing loss in the British West Indies, South America, Asia, Anguilla and Canada. She had assignments with the World Health Organization for the governments of the Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan. Currently, she is a consultant for a company in Brazil. She obtained national certifications in Audiology (C.C.C.A.), the Americans with Disabilities Act, Conflict Resolution and Mediation, Aging in Place Specialist (CAP-S), Assistive Listening Technology, Grant Writing, Leadership and Planning, Auditory Evoked Response, etc.,etc. She serves on several Delaware government state boards and councils and served on the Federal Communication Commission Advisory Panel for captioning. Some of awards include the “Delaware First State Award,” the highest civilian award given to a citizen, the Oticon Corporation in Sweden’s, “Focus on People” Award and special commendations from the Veteran’s Administration for the “Outstanding Employee of the Year” and the “VA Innovation Award.” She received the “Custie-Straughn Award from the Delaware State Council on Persons with Disabilities and several awards from the State of Delaware as a Senior Policy Advisor/Planner IV at the DHSS/Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities.
She is also President/Chair of the Board President of the Delaware Ecumenical Council on Children and Families and active in other community organizations. As a health, aging and disability leader and former rehabilitation audiologist, her passion is doing consumer health education and advocacy and enjoys helping organizations to be outcome driven and effective. In her spare time, she loves to kayak, read, write poetry and collects Delacardian horses, etc.
Mary Ann Komorny, Vice-President
I, Mary Anne Maloney-Komorny, was born with the bilateral hearing loss of moderately hearing loss. My hearing loss was not diagnosed until I was ten year and two months old (official diagnosis dates was May 10, 1960). Initially, I wore analog hearing aids for many years. My first digital hearing aids were Star Key in 2001 or 2004. I have been wearing hearing aids for 57 years. Mask wearing does not work for me due to hinder to my severe hearing loss and extubates my health.
I have worked in numerous fields including dental lab technician, residential counselor, vocational rehabilitation counselor, psychosocial evaluator, case manager for developmental delayed adults, mental health worker, drosophila caretaker, teacher assistant, sales representative, and instructional tutor 11. I am a lifelong learner in various colleges and universities because I enjoyed learning, interacting with students and professors.
I volunteer for HLADE because I want to make a difference in people in all ages with various types of hearing loss, to be well informed for rapid hearing aid technology, and to stay in touch with HLADE. I only have a few hobbies due to time constraint including reading, studying, gardening, dancing, hanging out with my wonderful husband, family, and friends.
Carolyn Doerr, Treasurer
Cathy Powers, Secretary
Board Members
The Board meets periodically. If you are interested in helping HLADE in any way, please contact or email .
There are many opportunities to serve and we would welcome your interest!!
Carolyn Doerr, Parent/Family Representative
Dr. Jeanne Oliver, NCC/Newark Support Group
Mrs. Betty Martin, Kent County/Dover Support Group
Mrs. Gina McGlammery, Sussex County/Milford Support Group
Carin Hannorford, Young Adult Representative
Jean Hill, New Castle County Representative
Phil Komorny, Family Representative
Betty White, Consumer
Ellen Pringle, Consumer
Fred Williamson, Consumer
Trevor Henry, Teen Representative
My name is Trevor and I am 17 year old senior at Aspira Academy High School in Newark DE. I previously attended Delaware School for the Deaf and then went to The Pilot School, West Park Elementary and Gauger Middle School.
I was diagnosed in 2005 with moderate to severe hearing loss and have worn hearing aids my whole life. I communicate by speaking and listening.
At Aspira I excel in English Literature and Music. I play the drums and guitar and am an avid reader. Other favorite pastimes are visiting museums, jumping waves at the shore, video games with friends across the country.
Trevor is proud to be a Board member of the Hearing Loss Association of Delaware (HLADE) as they have assisted and advocated for me through out his school years. I look forward to graduating in 2024 and attending Delaware Technical Community College, Stanton Campus.
Dr. Michael Teixido, Otolaryngologist
Medical Advisor
Michael Teixido is an otolaryngologist with a special interest in medical and surgical conditions that affect hearing and balance. He was born in Wilmington, Delaware and developed an interest in ear surgery because of a hereditary hearing condition in his family. He actively pursues his goals to advance the study and understanding of problems involving hearing, balance and general otolaryngology through his participation in many national professional organizations and through frequent lectures to his professional colleagues and the public. In collaboration with the Delaware Biotechnical Institute Dr. Teixido has created unique 3D materials for teaching anatomy, surgery, and pathophysiology. Dr Teixido has taken a leadership role in Otolaryngology in education on migraine, and in BPPV, and has established teaching tools and foundations to improve patient care. He also has an interest and active participation in education policy as relates to the education of children with hearing loss.
Dr. Teixido has an active neurotologic practice. He is the director of the Delaware Otologic Medicine and Surgery Fellowship, director of the Balance and Mobility center of Christiana Care, and co-director of the Pediatric Cochlear Implant and Auditory Rehabilitation Program of the Nemours duPont Hospital for Children. He teaches residents in otolaryngology regularly at Thomas Jefferson, University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dr. Rebecca Castro, Audiologist (AuD)
Audiology Advisor
Dr. Rebecca Castro grew up in a small town in South Jersey. She attended speech therapy as a child and had planned on pursuing that career path when she first learned of audiology in her undergraduate coursework. After the brief introduction, she was positive that audiology was what she wanted to do. She received her undergraduate degree at Hofstra University and her doctoral degree at Gallaudet University. Additionally, while attending Gallaudet, she was an instructor for the Peer Mentoring Program.
Rebecca works at a Hearing Life clinic in Delaware where she is committed to providing the tools and support necessary for the deaf and hard of hearing community to meet their communication goals.
Rebecca is a member of the American Academy of Audiology and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She maintains an ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology. She is also a CAOHC Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist.
Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her husband and dogs, playing board games, and being creative whether it is scrapbooking, DIY-projects for the home, or the latest craft she finds on pinterest!