Domestic Options for Used Hearing Aids
Hear Now
If your objective is to help someone in the United States, you can donate your used hearing aid to Hear Now in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, which is part of the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Hear Now takes the donated hearing aids and has them repaired, then resells them. That revenue is used to buy newer hearing aids for people who can not afford them. The Hear Now address isHEAR NOW6700 Washington Avenue SouthEden Prairie, MN 55344Website: Starkey Hearing Foundation
Service Organizations
Many service organizations run hearing aid banks and other hearing aid recycling programs.
Lions Clubs
The Hearing Aid Recycling Program (HARP) enables Lions to provide affordable, refurbished hearing aids for individuals with limited financial resources. Lions currently maintain hearing aid recycling centers in Canada and in the United States.
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus also collect used hearing aids.
Sertoma
Sertoma operates a Sertoma Hearing Aid Recycling Program (SHARP). Some Sertoma clubs have recycling programs; if your local Sertoma club does not have such a program, used hearing aids can be sent to Sertoma International’s Sponsorship Department.
State-specific Options
Individual states also have programs, some run by the state or even county governments. A few examples:
California:John Tracy Clinic accepts used or unwanted hearing aids. The ones that are in good shape are used for children in their program; others are sent to manufacturers for parts re-use and credit towards the cost of refurbished hearing aids. The House Ear Institute of Los Angeles will reportedly accept used hearing aids. Utah: The state government of Utah has a Hearing Aid Recycling Program run by its Hearing, Speech and Vision Services agency in Salt Lake City. Minnesota: Washington County, Minnesota has a “Take it Back” program with the participation of local businesses.
Miscellaneous Options
Some senior citizen centers also have hearing aid recycling programs, and some hearing aid companies will also receive used hearing aids for recycling. The Ear Research Foundation in Sarasota, Florida has such a program in direct cooperation with hearing aid manufacturers.
Canada
Saint John Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Inc. has a program called HARP (Hearing Aid Recycling Program) in New Brunswick.
Australia
Australia has several programs to collect and refurbish used hearing aids. Better Hearing Australia in Victoria; Self Help for Hard of Hearing in New South Wales; Expression Australia (formerly the Tasmanian Deaf Society) in Tasmania, and the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Queensland are examples.
International Options for Used Hearing Aids
Perhaps you prefer that your used hearing aids go to help someone in need in another country. Again, service organizations have programs that provide such assistance internationally.
Rotary Clubs
The Rotary International Foundation has a program, Help the Children Hear, which often works with the Starkey Foundation to provide used hearing aids to recipients in countries such as the Philippines, Argentina, and Honduras. The program collects used hearing aids and also buys refurbished hearing aids from the Starkey Foundation: Help the Children HearPO Box 98Caldwell, NJ 07006
Help the Aged
Help the Aged is a London-based organization that helps recipients in India through their partner organization, HelpAge India. The program can be contacted at HearingAid AppealHelp the AgedTavis House1-6 Tavisstock Square, London WC1H 9NAWebsite: http://www.helptheaged.org
Liga International
Liga International (The Flying Doctors of Mercy) accepts used hearing aids in any condition and provides hearing aids to children and others in Mexico.1464 N. Fitzgerald Hangar 2Rialto, CA 92376Website: http://www.ligainternational.org
Worldwide Hearing
Worldwide Hearing accepts used hearing aids and sends them to countries in Central and South America such as Mexico. Their address isWorldwideHearing.org239 Notre-Dame St. W.Suite 402Montreal, Quebec H2Y 1T4CanadaWebsite: http://www.worldwidehearing.org (The website has a photo album of the usually happy children receiving their hearing aids).
