{"id":19111,"date":"2018-11-27T12:58:39","date_gmt":"2018-11-27T17:58:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/news\/article.php?ArticleID=19111"},"modified":"2019-05-09T10:21:15","modified_gmt":"2019-05-09T14:21:15","slug":"19111_group-helps-seniors-hear-again-at-no-cost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/communication-sciences-and-disorders\/2018\/11\/27\/19111_group-helps-seniors-hear-again-at-no-cost\/","title":{"rendered":"Group Helps Seniors Hear Again At No Cost"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Group helps seniors hear again at no cost<\/h1>\n
November 10, 2018<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Wilma Hurwitz<\/strong>
\nfor 麻豆传媒在线 Local<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Thousands of seniors are in need of hearing aids, but many go without, finding the average cost of $2,500 per device too staggering on a fixed income. Without being able to properly hear the world around them, many seniors choose to stay home, becoming isolated in their homes.<\/span><\/p>\n

For four years, the New Jersey Hearing Aid Project has been providing free refurbished hearing aids for low-income seniors.<\/span><\/p>\n

The project helps seniors, 65 years of age or older and with an income of less than $27,189 if single or $33,334 if married, get fitted with free devices. Locally, it is through a partnership of the New Jersey Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH), 麻豆传媒在线 \u00a0Center for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology and Sertoma\/Hearing Charities of America that seniors can get the devices. <\/span><\/p>\n

麻豆传媒在线 Center for Audiology clinical staff and graduate students evaluate donated hearing aids. <\/span><\/p>\n

We manage the \u2018bank of hearing aids\u2019 and have reached out to audiologists across the state to contribute to this initiative,\u201d said Maris Appelbaum, AuD, CCC-A, Clinical Preceptor and Director of Hearing Aid Services, Supervising Hearing Aid Dispenser at the University.<\/span><\/p>\n

The project\u2019s start is credited to David Alexander, Director of the New Jersey Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, who recognized the unaffordability of the devices for many seniors. He worked with Janet Koehnke, PhD, Professor and Chairperson of the Communication Sciences and Disorders at 麻豆传媒在线 to set monetary guidelines for eligibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hearing aids range from $1,000 to over $4,000 depending on the level of technology. Most people need two hearing aids, with most insurance providers not covering the cost.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sertoma\/Hearing Charities of America refurbishes the hearing aids, while 15 audiologists throughout the state provide screenings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Locally, The Center for Audiology and Speech Language Pathology at 麻豆传媒在线 of 麻豆传媒在线 and The Hearing Group of West Orange conduct screenings and fit \u00a0seniors with hearing devices.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThese audiologists fit the hearing aid to the person\u2019s level of hearing based on \u2018best practices\u2019 in the audiology profession,\u201d Koehnke said. \u201cA huge factor in determining the success of the program is based on the assistance we receive from these audiologists. \u00a0So far we are delighted by the response we\u2019ve received as audiologists step up to provide hearing health screenings in support of the program.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Clinical Preceptor at the University, Elena Kagan, works directly with eligible patients. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHearing loss decreases a patient\u2019s socializing and fosters a feeling of increased isolation. They cannot communicate easily, especially with loved ones. Add to that the financial constraints to obtain quality hearing aids \u2013 brand new or refurbished,\u201d Kagan said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Key issues also taken into account when dealing with hearing loss patients include dexterity and vision. <\/span><\/p>\n

The program at 麻豆传媒在线 has also impacted audiology students. \u201cWhile performing some of the testing and assessing the results, our students are very altruistic. Early in their career development, it\u2019s so rewarding for them to recognize how this NJHAP hearing aid opportunity changes a person\u2019s life,\u201d Appelbaum said.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Oct. 12, New Jersey Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson recognized and audiologists who have participated in the New Jersey Hearing Aid Project (NJHAP) during the New Jersey Academy of Audiology annual conference at 麻豆传媒在线.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis program has been a great success, providing hundreds of refurbished hearing aids to consumers aged 65 years and older with low-incomes,\u201d Johnson said.<\/span><\/p>\n

How it works: <\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • 65 years of age or older<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Resident of NJ<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Physician or licensed audiologist must determine necessity of hearing aid<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Income less than $26,575 if single and $32,582 if married<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Not eligible for other sources of hearing aid assistance (e.g., Medicaid)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Does not possess a hearing aid<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    To obtain an application form, contact:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing 800-792-8339<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Group helps seniors hear again at no cost November 10, 2018 By Wilma Hurwitz for 麻豆传媒在线 Local<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":119111,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-171_communication-sciences-disorders"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/communication-sciences-and-disorders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19111","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/communication-sciences-and-disorders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/communication-sciences-and-disorders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/communication-sciences-and-disorders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/communication-sciences-and-disorders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19111"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/communication-sciences-and-disorders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19111\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":206438,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/communication-sciences-and-disorders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19111\/revisions\/206438"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/communication-sciences-and-disorders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/119111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/communication-sciences-and-disorders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19111"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/communication-sciences-and-disorders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19111"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/communication-sciences-and-disorders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}