FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HEARING AIDS AND
PERSONAL ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

• Check your health insurance as it sometimes provides limited coverage of hearing aids. Do first check out whether you might be eligible for the following sources of financial assistance.

• Children with hearing loss may be able to receive assistive technology at no cost if their Individualized Education Program specifies that they need the assistive technology (such as hearing aids or FM systems) in order to receive a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). For more information, see “How the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Applies to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students,” at http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/kidsworlddeafnet/e-docs/IDEA/index.html

• In some states, people with very low income may qualify for hearing aids through Medicaid. People with higher income may temporarily qualify for assistance with medical expenses, including hearing aids, through the “medically needy program” administered by the county social service agency. Look in the Government section of the telephone book under County Social Services, and request an appointment to determine your eligibility for Medicaid.

• Prospective and current college students and other people of working age may qualify for financial assistance for hearing aids, assistive technology, and other rehabilitative services from state vocational rehabilitation agencies (look under State in the Government section of your local telephone book). If you are working but concerned you may lose your job because of your hearing loss, you may be eligible for services on that basis.

• Veterans of military service may qualify for assistance with hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and other rehabilitative services; contact the medical facility for the appropriate branch of the military.

• State telephone equipment programs can be found via http://www.tedpa.org. These programs vary quite widely in what they provide and what their eligibility requirements are, but some provide free or low-cost telephone equipment to eligible residents.

• Local agencies serving deaf and/or hard of hearing people may also know about local hearing aid banks and other resources, such as clinics that provide services on a sliding scale basis according to income, state assistive technology loan programs, and state financial assistance programs for children with disabilities.

• In many situations, organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, and employers are required by federal or state law to provide auxiliary aids and services for communication access (but not hearing aids). Some of these situations are: employers with 15 or more employees, hotels, hospitals, senior centers and residential facilities. If you are inquiring about communication assistance in one of these situations, call the Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center at (800) 949-4232 (V/TTY) for more information or visit their website at http://www.adata.org.

The following are national or regional resources for assistance:

AUDIENT ALLIANCE
An affiliate of the Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight & Hearing
221 Yale Ave N, Suite 450
Seattle, WA 98109-5490
(206) 838-7194 Voice
(206) 838-7195 Fax
1-877-283-4368
E-mail: info@audientalliance.org
Website: http://www.audientalliance.org

BETTER HEARING INSTITUTE
1444 I Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 449-1100 Voice
(202) 216-9646 Fax
1-800-EAR-WELL
Website: http://www.betterhearing.org

CHILDREN OF THE SILENT WORLD
Assists low-income children with purchasing hearing aids.
P.O. Box 2425
Cridersville, OH  45806
Website: http://www.metroevents.com/silent/

DISABLED CHILDREN’S RELIEF FUND
Provides assistance to families of children with disabilities, with preference for children with physical disabilities and little or no health insurance.
P.O. Box 89
Freeport, New York 11520
(516) 377-1605 Voice
(516) 377-3978 Fax
Website: http://www.dcrf.com/

DOROTHY AMES TRUST FUND
Assists children in New England states with hearing aids and assistive technology.
Christine L. Cook, Assistant Vice President Trust Officer
Key Trust Company of Maine
P.O. Box 1054
Augusta, ME 04332-1054
(207) 623-5527 Voice
(207) 623-5662 Fax

EASTER SEALS
Over 400 local service centers with varying services; some assist low-income adults and children with hearing aids and other rehabilitative devices. 
230 West Monroe Street, Suite 1800
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 726-6200 Voice
(312) 726-4258 TTY
(312) 726-1494 Fax
1-800-221-6827 Toll-free
Website: http://www.easter-seals.org/

FOUNDATION FOR SIGHT & SOUND
The Foundation for Sight & Sound has partnered with EarQ Group to provide hearing aids to individuals with limited financial resources.
P.O. Box 1245
Smithtown, NY 11787
(631) 366-3461
E-mail: info@foundationforsightandsound.org
Website: http://www.foundationforsightandsound.org/projects.html

HEAR NOW
Provides recycled and used hearing aids to low-income persons.
6700 Washington Avenue South
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
1-800-648-4327 V/TTY
Website: www.sotheworldmayhear.org/forms/hearnow.php

HELP KIDS HEAR.org
Founded by parents of hard of hearing kids and is dedicated to helping parents find the information and resources they need in dealing with a deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) child.
E-mail: info@helpkidshear.org
Website: http://www.helpkidshear.org/index.html

HIKE FUND, INC.
Provides low-income children from birth up to the age of twenty years with hearing aids and assistive devices. (Supported by Job's Daughters International)
The Hike Fund Inc.
c/o Hike Board Executive Secretary
10115 Cherryhill Pl.
Spring Hill, FL 34608-7116
(352)  688-2579 Voice and Fax
E-mail: ceterrill1@aol.com
Website: http://www.thehikefund.org 

HOPE FOR HEARING FOUNDATION AND HEARING AID BANK
(has moved to JOHN TRACY CLINIC)
Offers hope, guidance and encouragement to families of infants and preschool children with hearing losses by providing free, parent-centered services worldwide.
806 West Adams Blvd
Los Angeles, CA  90007-2505
(213) 748-5481 Voice
(213) 749-1651 Fax
(213) 747-2924 TTY
Toll-free in U.S: (800) 522-4582
Website: http://www.jtc.org/

LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL
Assists low income individuals with purchasing hearing aids.
300 West 22nd Street
Oak Brook. IL 60523-8842
Website: http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/programs_hear.shtml

MIRACLE EAR CHILDREN’S FUND
Assists low-income children and families with purchases of hearing aids from this manufacturer.
P.O. Box 59261
Minneapolis, MN 55459-0261
1-800-234-5422
(763) 268-4295 Fax
Website: http://www.mnplan.state.mn.us/star/program.html?Id=18

OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL
Provides aids and services to hearing impaired youth.
Optimist International Youth Program
Help Them Hear Program
Contact your local Optimist Club
1-800-500-8130
Website: http://www.optimist.org/default.cfm?content=/districtdirectory.cfm

SERTOMA
Assists low-income persons with purchasing hearing aids.
1912 East Meyer Boulevard
Kansas City, MO 64132-9990
(816) 333-8300 Voice
(816) 333-4320 Fax
Website: http://www.sertoma.org/

STARKEY HEARING FOUNDATION
Assistance for low-income individuals permanently residing in the U.S. with no other resources to acquire hearing aids.
6700 Washington Avenue South
Eden Prairie , MN 55344
800-328-8602 (voice-ask for Hear Now)
(952) 947-4997 Fax
Website: http://www.sotheworldmayhear.org

TRAVELERS PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FOR THE DEAF AND NEAR-DEAF
Provides assistance for mechanical devices, medical care, and/or specialized education or treatment, to those who demonstrate financial need.  U.S. citizens only.  Grants may be used to purchase hearing aids, assistive listening equipment, or may help with the cost of a cochlear implant.
3755 Lindell Boulevard
St. Louis, MO  63108
(314) 371-0533 Voice
(314) 371-0537 Fax Website: http://www.tpahq.org (click on “Scholarship Trust” link)

Many of your local civic organizations, such as the Kiwanis, may be able to provide financial assistance to purchase or acquire hearing aids and other assistive devices. Check your local phone directories or the Chamber of Commerce for a listing of civic organizations in your area.

The following link, "Statewide Services for People Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing," should lead to information about state and local resources for people with hearing loss:
http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/infotogo/501.html