18th ANNUAL EARLY HEARING DETECTION & INTERVENTION MEETING
March 3-5, 2019 • Chicago, IL
10/24/2016 | 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM | Increasing Accessibility to Amplification for Low-Income Individuals in the United States: The Role of Hearing Aid Banks | BGPOP Building 4A/B/C
Increasing Accessibility to Amplification for Low-Income Individuals in the United States: The Role of Hearing Aid Banks
An estimated nearly 50 million Americans are affected by hearing loss, yet only about 15-20% of the hard-of-hearing adult population pursue amplification. The impact of untreated hearing loss in adults includes high rates of depression, anxiety, and other psychosocial disorders. In children, the impact is even greater, including negative effects on language and speech acquisition, cognition, and overall educational achievement.
One of the greatest obstacles to low-income individuals with hearing loss is the high cost of hearing aids. The average cost of a pair of hearing aids in the United States is over $4,000, placing hearing aids out of reach for many.
Hearing Aid Loaner Banks are a resource available in over half of the states within the U.S. The banks assist in providing access to amplification for low-income individuals who otherwise would not have the financial resources to purchase hearing aids. The University of Nebraska, in collaboration with numerous organizations, hosts three hearing aid banks. This number includes one of the oldest in the country, in existence for 35 years. This collaborative effort has served thousands of low-income individuals across the lifespan.
This presentation addresses the role that hearing aid banks play in the United States, with a focus on the state of Nebraska, and the steps necessary to successfully establish a sustainable program.
- Identify the role hearing aid loaner banks play in the United States
- Describe some of the steps in building a sustainable hearing aid assistance program
- Discuss the model used at the University of Nebraska
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Presenters/Authors
Stacie Ray
(), University of Nebraska - Lincoln, stacie.ray@unl.edu;
Dr. Stacie Ray teaches audiology at the University of Nebraska. She is the administrator of the Hearing Aid Banks of Nebraska and founder of HearU Nebraska and HearU International, organizations that fund amplification for children. She is a Board Member of the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and a member of the Nebraska Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Committee. Due to her experience of raising a Deaf child, she is committed to ensuring all individuals, regardless of age or financial means, have accessibility to audiology hearing care.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -