It does not take many years in the hearing industry to realize that not all patients can afford the help they need. Hearing aids allow people to hear those things that are essential to an enjoyable life. Phrases such as “I love you”, “I miss you” and “It’s time for dinner” are all important. One of the things that I have always tried to do is make it possible for all people to obtain a hearing aid. I want to eliminate cost from the equation when possible.
Through generous donations of patients and philanthropic organizations we at Desert Valley Audiology have been able to help over 20 people in the past three years obtain hearing aids. Twenty people may not seem like many, but it is 20 people that are hearing that would not be otherwise.
How do these people get their hearing aids?
Our first method is through generous donations from our patients. We have patients who donate their old hearings or those of a deceased loved one. With these donated hearing aids we give them to qualified recipients. The majority of people we have helped is through this means.
The second method is using a third party organization that provides hearing aids to those that qualify. Starkey Hearing Foundation, Help America Hear and The Lions Club all provide hearing aids to people who cannot afford them. Over the past five years Starkey Hearing Foundation has fit over one million people with hearing aids worldwide. Follow Starkey Hearing Foundation on facebook or twitter to see where they are and where they have been.
Each of these methods require demonstration of financial need.