Special Education Resources

Hearing loss affects millions of people worldwide. It touches every demographic group, affecting the young, the aged, the wealthy, the poor and people from all ethnic backgrounds. With an accurate hearing assessment and proper fitting by an audiologist, hearing aids can offer many people with hearing loss a second chance. For those who do not gain significant benefit from hearing aids, a cochlear implant may be an option. Once aided, they may be able to effectively participate in educational, social and professional settings.

In the United States, many health insurance carriers cover eyeglasses. Unfortunately, hearing aids are not typically covered. A cochlear implant device and its surgical operation are sometimes covered. With prices ranging from $600 for an analog hearing aid and more than $4000 for digital, hearing aids are financially out of reach for many families. Cochlear implant surgery and equipment ranges from $40,000 to $50,000. Due to their high costs, some people struggle without any device or accept hearing aids that don't offer significant benefit. As a result, adults are often isolated from friends and colleagues, forced to change jobs and are unable to easily pursue further educational and professional training. For infants and young children, the impact of unaffordability can be devastating to the development of their speech and language. Without appropriate access to sounds and speech, they will have great difficulty with comprehension and learning to talk.

Results of a hearing aid insurance poll taken in March 2001 by the Listen Up web site revealed some disturbing facts and comments among its participants. Eleven percent of the adults polled were doing without hearing aids in one or both ears because of the cost. Of the 96 children in the poll, 99% had health insurance coverage, but only 16% had their hearing aid costs covered by a private health insurance plan. One parent commented, "Our son went a very long time--about 3 years--with hearing aids that provided little or no benefit to him. We didn't have the means to purchase appropriate aids without the help of insurance..." View the complete results of this poll at http://www.listen-up.org/poll.htm.

If you are unable to afford hearing aids for yourself or your child or are a cochlear implant candidate and your insurance won't cover it, view the resources below to learn about funding sources that may be able to assist you. No one should be without an appropriate device that can help him hear and participate fully in his community. Remember these important tips when pursuing financial assistance: