When I read blogs by people with hearing loss online, occasionally I see people mention, "hearing aids didn't work for me, so I threw them away." I know that people may not mean they literally threw the aids in the trash - they could have stuck them in a junk drawer or donated them - but I want to raise awareness that there are people who can benefit from the hearing aids that aren't helping you.
First, if an aid isn't working for you, check to see if you do have the option to return it or exchange it. Remember, audiologists can't get everything right the first time or even the second time they adjust settings. Depending on the audiologist and/or hearing aid company, you might be able to recoup some of your losses if they definitely aren't working for you.
If that doesn't work out, please consider donating your hearing aid.
The Lions Club has a box set up at my audiologist to take donated hearing aids, and many other audiologists do, too. The aids go to low-income people throughout the United States. There's more info on their website .
The Starkey Hearing Foundation repairs and resells hearing aids, then uses the revenue to help people who cannot afford aids.
Some Rotary Clubs are working to help hearing impaired children. See here .
First, if an aid isn't working for you, check to see if you do have the option to return it or exchange it. Remember, audiologists can't get everything right the first time or even the second time they adjust settings. Depending on the audiologist and/or hearing aid company, you might be able to recoup some of your losses if they definitely aren't working for you.
If that doesn't work out, please consider donating your hearing aid.