Sign of the Times? (No Pun Intended)
Thursday October 16, 2008
Normally, I receive "I can't afford hearing aid" type emails on average, once every few months. Now just in the past week, I have already received two emails of this type. Each person was referred to the article on Financial Aid for Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants, but I wonder if the increase is due to the economy?
Here are the emails that I received this past week:
(1) "I already found out that I have hearing loose so I have to use hearing devices for the rest of my life but I can not afford it, they are too expensive. Could you tell me if you guys help to people like me to get money or any discount or the hearing aids as well paying less or maybe free."
(2) "I recently received used hearing aids from a friend who had upgraded
his. Our local hearing aid office said that they cannot/will not adapt
used hearing aids to fit new ears. Is there any way I can have this
done as I am unable to afford new hearing aids myself but have
received this perfectly good pair which I could use if I could get
them fitted to my ears."
Comments
As you may remember my mentor was Dr. Daniel Ling who devoted his life to the auditory verbal method.Since receiving new hearing aids which cost $12,000 which I’m told is $4000 more than any other countries price. I don’t feel that I have the right to condem a family to poverty due to the cost of hearing aids by recommending them for a child. I have had a battle with Phonnak for a long time over their expectation of hearing aids, and they get more expensive.
My new cell phone (SAmsung SPH-800)has 2000000 more technology than the hearing aids do, and perhaps we need to stop buying hearing aids and look at alternative technology.
I wonder… do these circuits cost that much money or are these companies profiting over this universal condition. Do the upper management forget that they will become deaf later in life? Being d/Deaf and hard of hearing are social and medical issues, and should not be a financial burden. It shouldn’t be seen as asking for a luxury, like cell phones (and you can get free cell phones when you sing up for a new phone account). I believe that these companies (manufacturing or sales) are being immoral if they are being extremely lucrative. Sadly we live in a too much capitalist world… hence, we have to cope with this immorality of high prices and theft (which is more of a mugging and an ambush than a simple theft).
my new phonak exalia blank out with electronic noise in many malls.Yesterday driving up a street I got someone elses conversation right in my ears and someone else turned the FM on as I went by something, I was in another program before that. The sound from the hearing aids is terrific. I think $300 is a fair price for hearing aids, that’s about how I see them in the world of sound.
My cell phone is a web browser, sheduler,camera and video, it plays music, tv and radio and has usb to the computer, and a phone, it can do maps and locations. My only problem with the phone is that its loudest volume is my threshold of hearing. So I’m looking for another 30 db in earphones. So far the phone has not picked up someone elses conversation. THe aids came with an ipod they call it but it doesn’t do anything but control the hearing aids. What does work very well is the handimike omnidirectional setting. I was able to hear every one at a 30 foot long table.
I agree that hearing aids shouldn’t be looked upon as a ‘luxury’. The ones I have now cost $5000 and I’m going to need a new set in another year. These are about 5 years old. It takes quite a while to save up the money. The insurance we have is good but doesn’t pay for aids. I can’t understand this. If enough hearing impaired people protessed against this maybe we could get help.
Both myself & my school aged daughter wear hearing aids. We tried (unsuccessfully) to get them covered (at least partially) thru our insurance. It is so frustrating to have “glasses/eye exams” covered under insurance but not hearing aids. It seems like there are more services/assistance/aid out there available for those that have vision/sight problems than those that are HOH or deaf. It is certainly not a “luxury” to have hearing aids, but a necessity especially for a child.
I guess I am the fortunate one, as Kaiser Hospital,here in California covers a portion of hearing aid costs,every two years. And my payment is always less than $2,000. But take under consideration that there are many health plans they offer. I happen to have the more generous one. I am a retired senior, and there are other advantages also.
I purchased Songbird, when the were on sale, and they offered little help for me. They are for people with mild hearing loss, I have come to believe. And you have to keep buying them, as they are disposable after a certain amount of hours use.
MagniEarPlus also,was of little help. I am not belittling their usefulness, but for me, my hearing loss is considered one of the hardest to make Hearing Aids for. I have a pair of Siemens, digital aids, and they are the best that can be fashioned for me. And they are up to date too. Nothing will give anyone who has lost their hearing, the perfect hearing they had before,so it is wishful thinking, if not foolish to believe it can be done. If you need hearing aids, I suggest one saves up enough for half the payment, and make monthly payments on the balance. Waiting until one has all of the cash, is not such a smart move. If you are working, carry lunch. I you have been eating out, cook at home. Any way you are able to save money, might allow one to double the monthly payments of the balance. And even when the bill is paid, start saving for the next ones, you will definitely need in a few more years. Paying in cash, at that time, will save a lot of interest costs.