Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Equipment
Equipment For People In Need:
- MADHH and Local Lions Clubs are working together to provide Assistive Equipment* for people who are low-income.
- These programs are only for those individuals who meet the financial requirements.
- If your income exceeds the financial limit requirements, please contact the MADHH office for more information about other programs for which you may qualify.
Hearing Aid Resources:
Hearing Aid Purchasing Alternatives
Download a PDF document that outlines various resources that may help with the cost of purchasing hearing aids in the Documents section. These options are aimed at those who are truely needy, and not just reluctant to spend their money on hearing aids. About 20% of insurances will cover these costs, and Medicaid will also cover them with limitations. Please help us advocate with your legislators to push for mandated hearing aid coverage via insurance and Medicare.
Hearing Aid Loaner Program
- Children 18 and under often have difficulties securing "loaner" hearing aids, while theirs is being repaired, replaced or purchased for the first time.
- The child is expected to have a custom ear mold already, or have a temporary one provided by the hearing care specialist or audiologist(MADHH is not responsible for supplying ear molds).
- MADHH works with the school’s or the child’s audiologist or other hearing health care professional to provide loaner behind-the-ear hearing aids to children. MADHH expects to be paid nominal costs ($7.00) by the requesting party to ship and deliver the aid(s).
- When a child is identified who needs a loaner hearing aid, the parents, hearing health care professional or audiologist should contact MADHH to start the process. A Hearing Aid Loaner Request form must be filled out and submitted to MADHH as soon as possible.
- MADHH will provide a list of hearing aids currently available to the attending hearing health care professional (i.e. brand, model and serial numbers(s)). Since these are gently used hearing aids, and a battery check only indicates that they power up. MADHH cannot guarantee the usability for each child. We will make every attempt to provide functioning aids. MADHH encourages hearing health care providers to reprogram the aids as needed for the child to receive the most benefit.
Hearing Aid Repairs
We have received a few distressing complaints from people that their hearing aid provider is no longer repairing analog hearing aids, and that they must purchase new digital ones! Some older digital aids are also not being repaired by manufactuers. This is very unfortunate in today’s economy, where many people’s budgets are very tight, and hearing aids are not always covered by insurance. If your hearing loss itself has not changed and the hearing aid generally worked quite effectively for you, it might be worthwhile to have it repaired. Repairs cost a few hundred dollars compared to thousands for new hearing aids.
*You must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level to qualify. 100% or below, generally there is no charge, 100%-200% there is a sliding fee. Over 200%, you must show an extenuating need. Call MADHH for a free phone consultation at (V/TTY) 517-487-0066, (VP) 517-507-5353 or email info@madhh.org