Hearing Aids and Other Assistive Devices:
Where to Get Assistance
People who are deaf and hard of hearing must often pay out-of-pocket for
aids and equipment that are not generally covered by insurance. This can
create financial difficulties for people who need such aids to help them.
As a result, people with hearing loss, their families, and the professionals
who work with them must spend considerable time trying to find financial
assistance for purchasing hearing aids, television decoders, TTYs, or
other equipment. (TTY, TDD, TT are abbreviations used to denote the device—generically
called text telephone—that enable telephone conversations. For the
sake of simplicity, this publication uses TTY).
There are resources available to help defray the cost
of these devices. However, locating such resources can be challenging
for many people. In response to the many questions received on this
topic, PID has surveyed centers serving deaf and hard of hearing people
in selected states throughout the United States, in search of agencies,
organizations, and programs that may be able to provide hearing aids,
TTYs, decoders, and other devices free or at reduced rates. This resource
list is the result of our survey.
Please note that not all of the agencies, organizations, or
programs are found in every state.
You will have to do some preliminary work to find out which of the organizations
and programs on the following list are active in your area. Use your
local telephone directory to find the telephone numbers for these organizations
and contact them concerning specific services and eligibility requirements.
Criteria for eligibility and conditions for obtaining needed devices
will vary from state to state.
We hope that this list will help lead you to the kind of assistance
you need. Please feel free to contact us about this list at: clearinghouse.infotogo@gallaudet.edu.
Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are the most common devices needed by deaf and hard of
hearing people. In certain instances, some of the agencies listed can
provide new or reconditioned aids free of charge or at reduced rates.
Other agencies may offer assistance in obtaining these aids. In some
states, Medicaid will help cover the cost of purchasing a hearing aid.
Check with your health insurance company regarding its policy coverage
for hearing aids. You may also wish to contact the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association (ASHA) for information on insurance coverage of hearing
aids and related service. ASHA keeps abreast of current developments
and change in the coverage of hearing health care expenses by private
insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare. For more information, please contact:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Health Plan Report Card
1081 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
301-897-5700 V/TTY
800-638-8255 V/TTY
http://asha.org/
Text Telephones
(TTYs)
Telephone accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing people has improved
in recent years. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title IV
requires that each state maintain a telephone relay service (TRS). These
services enable TTY users to communicate with non-TTY users and have
been operational since 1993. These programs are usually administered
by the state agency on deafness. The state agency invites applications
from residents that have a hearing loss or speech impediment.
Applicants are screened for medical and financial eligibility. Once
eligibility is established, the agency may give the applicant a TTY
at no charge, or may lease or sell the applicant a TTY at substantially
reduced rates. In some states, the applicant is given a voucher that
may be used to purchase equipment from dealers.
For more information about TTY distribution programs for your state,
contact your local Vocational Rehabilitation office. For information
on an office in your state and what technology services they offer please
refer to the following website:
http://www.larynxlink.com/Library/StatePrograms.htm
For more information on Relay services, please contact:
For Relay service (Voice, TTY, and Video) contact:
http://www.iprelay.com/
For Video Relay services contact:
http://www.sorensonvrs.com/
Sources of Assistance
Rehabilitation Service Administration: Vocational Rehabilitation
(VR) will provide service for VR clients who meet eligibility requirements.
Assistance with hearing aids and devices may be provided to clients
who need such devices to secure or retain employment.
U.S. Veterans Administration: All World War I veterans
are eligible to receive free hearing aids. Other veterans can receive
free hearing aids if their hearing loss is at least 50 percent service-related.
Veterans must first contact a V.A. medical facility near their home.
The veteran’s health care act provides free TeleCaption decoders
to veterans who have profound hearing loss that is service-related.
The V.A. will also provide TTYs and telephone amplification devices
to veterans with service-related hearing loss.
Civic/Service Organizations: Many community service
organizations receive charitable donations to purchase hearing aids
and other devices for low income deaf and hard of hearing people. Clubs
often recondition hearing aids and donate them to needy individuals.
Many of these organizations are listed in your telephone directory.
The following are several organizations that typically offer this type
of assistance:
-National Easter Seal Society: http://www.easterseals.com/
-March of Dimes: http://www.marchofdimes.com/home.asp
-Telephone Pioneers of America: http://www.telephone-pioneers.org/
-Lions Clubs International: http://www.lionsclubs.org/
-Kiwanis Clubs: http://www.kiwanis.org/
-Rotary Clubs: http://www.rotary.org/
-Sertoma Clubs: http://www.sertoma.org/
-Optimist Clubs: http://www.optimist.org/
Statewide Agencies/Programs: These agencies and programs
provide service to residents of their state. Agencies may be able to
provide full or partial assistance depending upon financial circumstances.
Medicaid provides service to eligible recipients only. Crippled children’s
services may provide hearing aids for children up to 21 years of age
from low-income families.
The following are several organizations that typically offer this type
of assistance:
-Medicaid: http://www.cms.gov/medicaid/
-Crippled Children’s Service
-Department of Health and Human Service: http://www.hhs.gov/
-Department of Public Health (Health and Environment, etc.)
-Commission for Handicapped Children
-Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People (Council for the Hearing
Impaired, Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, etc)
-Programs for Individual with Developmental Disabilities
-Family Service Centers
Local Agencies/Programs: Local agencies sometimes
receive donations or private funds to assist with various needs. Speech
and hearing centers may provide hearing aids at a reduced rate for clients
who have used their service for audiological assessment. Some areas
have hearing aid banks that distribute reconditioned hearing aids to
individuals ineligible for finical assistance. These banks are often
affiliated with local service organizations such as:
-United Way: http://national.unitedway.org/
-Child Health Centers
-Speech and hearing centers
-Organizations for older adults
-Deaf community centers
-Organizations for Deaf and hard of hearing people
-Religious organizations/institutions
-Hearing aid banks
Hear Now: This unique national program provides assistance
to individuals and families with limited financial resources. HEAR NOW
maintains the National Hearing Aid Bank, which provides new and reconditioned
hearing aids to deaf and hard of hearing people who cannot afford them.
These hearing aids are distributed through hearing health care providers
in comminutes nationwide. HEAR NOW also has a cochlear implant program
that raises funds to provide cochlear implant and related service to
both adults and children. In addition, HEAR NOW has developed the National
Hearing Assistance Directory (NHAD), which provides state-by-state listings
of financial and social resources offered through government agencies
and private organizations.
For further information contact:
Hear Now
6700 Washington Avenue South
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
800-648-HEAR V/TTY
952-828-6946 FAX
E-mail: nonprofit@starkey.com
http://www.sotheworldmayhear.org/
Miracle-Ear Children’s Foundation: This program
provides new or reconditioned “Miracle-Ear” hearing aids
and service free of charge to families who have hearing impaired children
ages 16 years or younger, with an income level that does not allow them
to receive public support. Dahlberg, Inc. is a corporate sponsor, which
donates hearing aids for needy children and underwrites the foundation’s
administrative costs. Eligibility for hearing aids and other services
requires disclosure of complete financial information for individuals
residing in the same household.
For further information about the service that Miracle-Ear Children’s
Foundation offers, contact:
Miracle-Ear Children’s Foundation
P.O. Box 59261
Minneapolis, MN 55459-0261
800-234-5422
http://www.miracle-ear.com/
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, Inc.: The
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG
Bell) is a lifelong resource, support network, and advocate for listening,
learning, talking, and living independently with hearing loss. Through
publications, outreach, training, scholarships, and financial aid, AG
Bell promotes the use of spoken language and hearing technology. AG
Bell financial aid offers support and resources for people of all ages
that have suffered hearing loss. It also offers a comprehensive list
of other organizations that offer free or financial assistance for hearing
technology, such as hearing aids and TTY technology.
For more information contact:
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf
3417 Volta Place NW
Washington, DC 2007
202-337-5220 V
202-337-5221 TTY
202-337- 8314 Fax
E-mail: info@agbell.org
http://www.agbell.org/
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