How can you get rid of used hearing aids? The answer is always the same whether you decide to update to a more sophisticated model such as cochlear implants or you got them from a departed family member: your pre-owned hearing aids should be donated versus getting rid of.
There are several organizations that collect and circulate used hearing aids to individuals who need them, and there are lots of people who need them. Read on to discover why it’s important to donate your pre-owned hearing aid and learn how you can do it.
Why It’s Important to Donate a Pre-owned Hearing Aid
First, here are some significant stats about loss of hearing and hearing aids in the United States:
- Of the total population, around 14% suffer from some type of hearing loss
- 91% of adults who have hearing loss are over the age of 50
- 15% of school-age children suffer from some kind of hearing loss
- Hearing aids would help approximately 29 million adults with loss of hearing, but…
- …hearing aids are actually utilized by only 16% (4.6 million) of them
- First time hearing aid users have an average age of 70, but again…
- Less than 30% of people over 70 who need hearing aids have ever used them
I think we should be concerned. Because health issues like mental decline, increased risk of falling, and depression have been linked to untreated hearing loss. As a matter of fact, new studies come out on a regular basis showing how crucial hearing is to your general health. These health problems can be eliminated and in certain cases reversed by hearing aids.
And hearing loss will cost the typical family up to $12,000 every year which should be an extremely compelling point. But hearing aids can actually mitigate that cost by up to 50%.
For a family that loses out on $12,000 every year, it may simply not be feasible for them to afford a hearing aid.
Your used hearing aid can make a huge effect, in the overall health, quality of life and financial stability, for an individual in need who could not normally afford a hearing aid. It could also help a child in school that has a hard time hearing, which could impact their ability to enter into higher education and make a livable wage when they get older.
Donating Your Used Hearing Aids
There are lots of volunteer groups and manufacturers who help recycle old hearing aids. Stop by and we can help you find a recycling strategy. Or give us a call.