Free Hearing Aids

If you live in the United States and have a hearing loss, you MAY be eligible for free hearing aids regardless of your income. You must have a hearing loss and:

  • be 18 or older
  • be employed

OR

  • preparing for employment (college/university/technical school)

Click here and find your state. Contact Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and make an appointment to meet with the deaf/hard of hearing specialist (you may need to attend orientation first).

After you meet with your VR counselor, you will be referred to an ENT and an audiologist to evaluate your hearing loss and determine if hearing aids are useful for your type of hearing loss. If you need your old hearing aids replaced, they will be evaluated, also. Please be patient as the entire process may take several weeks.

If you are interested in going to college/university/technical school, you will go through a more rigorous process, including psychological, IQ, and aptitude testing. Believe me when I say it is well worth it! VR helped me with tuition, books, gas, and general support while I pursued my undergraduate degree. I was on my own for graduate school, but after I finished my M.A., VR bought me two digital hearing aids and a SmartLink, enabling me to hear my Library customers better and participate in staff meetings.

Vocational Rehabilitation exists for the sole purpose of helping people with disabilities (mental and physical) prepare for and retain gainful employment. If you are already employed (or even self-employed) and need new hearing aids, you will probably be eligible for assistance.  VR is NOT a handout for poverty-stricken people, although poor people are among VR’s clients. If you have difficulty locating the VR office nearest you, contact your local Library for assistance, or contact me, your cyber-Librarian! You can reach me at beethovensears (at) gmail.com.

Cindy

37 Comments »

  1. How to get free hearing aids in the US Said:

    on October 8, 2007 at 10:17 pm

    [...] read her blog entry to find out [...]

  2. bookwritegirl Said:

    on October 10, 2007 at 8:29 pm

    *awe* *jaw drop*

    Wow! I had never realized what exactly VR does for hoh people, until somebody told me on my blog. That really is nice! However, I wish I knew this earlier! :(

    Anyway, I sent off an email to them a couple of days ago…haven’t heard from them yet. (of course, in typical fashion, I forgot to put something in the subject box) *goes to email them again*

    Thanks for telling us about this!

  3. frances Said:

    on October 23, 2007 at 7:32 pm

    i am checking sites for free or very low cost hearing aids for my neighbor, a senior age gentleman who lives in Riverhead, LI, NY. He has a bad hearing loss, does not work, and needs proper hearing aids. Can you help? Thank you.

  4. Stephanie Said:

    on November 5, 2007 at 5:56 pm

    Thanks for the information. I will be calling my state VR for assistances. I will let you knoe the results later.

  5. GEORGIA HANSON Said:

    on December 10, 2007 at 8:53 pm

    my husband has profound hearing loss and i was told you could help him with hearing aids

  6. Cindy from Beethoven’s Ears : The Hear Daily Said:

    on February 29, 2008 at 9:05 pm

    [...] with you better.  Also, more HoH people need to know about Vocational Rehabilitation – see http://beethovensears.com/free-hearing-aids/Is there anything you thought you wouldn’t be able to do anymore, but overcame it some how?  [...]

  7. dmsiggy Said:

    on April 19, 2008 at 5:55 pm

    Hi Cindy!

    I’m trying to find out more about Vocational Rehabilitation. I’m a little confused about certain aspects of it — I was wondering: If I don’t need or want job or educational assistance (the advertised mission of the VR program as a whole)..can I still get free hearing aids? I’m assuming they still would because hearing aids help me in any job I work..

    What If I already have an audiologist I am happy with? Do I need to still go through their own system and determine that “I have a hearing loss?”..I already know for sure that hearings help for my type of loss..do I still go to an ENT and audiologist even though I’ve been to one before?..

    Just wanted to clarify some of those things…

    David

  8. Hoh Said:

    on April 20, 2008 at 12:55 am

    Hi David,

    Yes, VR helps people with disabilities RETAIN employment, too; however, they will send you to one of their vendors (providers of service – audiologist, ENT, etc.) for a thorough evaluation. VR has contractual agreements with their vendors, so you will be referred to a vendor after you meet with the VR Counselor.

    Read this PDF for the Florida VR:

    http://www.rehabworks.org/Files/DocumentsLinks/Individuals%20with%20Hearing%20Loss.pdf

    Hope I answered your questions! Now I’m going to clarify this blog entry!

    Cindy

  9. Vishal Ratnakar Said:

    on May 23, 2008 at 10:09 am

    hi i am poor man i have study for computer engineering in collage so i have hearing aids requirements my both ear 70% db loss

  10. sarah Said:

    on June 3, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    Great blog! I did VR for my first pair of hearing aid. they really helped get me a pair that I needed. Now I am a SAHM to 2 children. My youngest is heading into Kindergarten in the fall and I will be entering the work force again.
    Talk about being nervous. My hearing has gotten worse in these 8 years at home.
    I too worried about having children and not hearing them. Everyone has to repeat repeat repeat around here and sometimes its demoralizing.
    I am glad I found this blog, I will be checking back again!

  11. carol robinson Said:

    on July 30, 2008 at 3:03 pm

    i have an uncle 78 yrs old who cannot hear about 3 yrs now. does not have any money for hearing aids i myself have no money. how do i get him a hearing aid . i would love to see him participate in the events at the bldg. he lives he just sits and watches and he would like to be active can anyone give me information . thank you

  12. Anonymous Said:

    on August 11, 2008 at 11:02 pm

    HI CINDY
    I WAS DIAGNOSIS WITH WEGENER’S GRANULOMATOSIS DISEASE . WHEN I GOT SICK IT EFFECTED MY EARS,MOUTH AND NOSE LIKE A UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT.ANY WAY AFTER I GOT BETTER IT HAD DAMAGE MY LEFT EAR BUT I CAN HEAR OUT OF MY RIGHT EAR BUT IT IS STILL HARD TO HEAR THE KIND OF JOB I HAVE IS HELPING PEOPLE AND MOST OF THE TIME ITS HARD TO HEAR THEM.DO U THINK I CAN GET HELP GETTING A HEARING AID FROM THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION.

  13. Carl Said:

    on August 12, 2008 at 12:47 am

    My wife was diagnosed with nerve damage in both ears and has lost 50% of her hearing. We cant afford 3, 4, 5 or $6,000 for the hearing aids. We both worked all our lives but medical costs are crippling us. I just had Quintuple Bypass. My insurance left me paying $20,000
    of the $100,000 medical costs. The average person doesnt have that to pull out of a hat and we cant work anymore. Can you suggest where I can take her to get her what she needs?

    Thank You.
    carlvsr@peoplepc.com

  14. T Said:

    on September 3, 2008 at 6:43 pm

    Those of you looking for assistance for the elderly- who are not working. You can use Friends of Man (www.friendsofman.org), Hear Now (through Starkey), Audient (www.audientalliance.org), Lions Clubs, Kiwanis, Sertoma etc.

    There are more sources for kids under 18.

  15. Melinda Mosier Said:

    on September 24, 2008 at 10:47 pm

    Please help me. I need hearing aids. My old one broke several yrs. ago and now I constantly have to ask people to repeat themselves. It does get old and I know they get aggravated at me. I can’t afford to buy them because they are so expensive. I would appreciate any help from you regarding this. Thanks.

  16. Matthew Groff Said:

    on November 15, 2008 at 4:22 am

    I am trying to find my mom help to get hearing aids. She works but cannot afford the cost of the hearing aids and her insurance does not cover hearing aids either.

    She has troble hearing the customers where she works. I had found a place that might be able to help, but we lost the information. We live in PA and need information on if there are any places or groups that can help get my mom hearing aids. She is 64 years of age.

  17. Aaron R Said:

    on November 22, 2008 at 3:38 am

    There is a waiting list that is at least a year long before you can see anyone at DVR in Washington State. Dont get your hopes up to get a hearing-aid through them either. They sent me to have my old one evaluated, and they said my old one is fine, when it’s not.

  18. carolyn j Said:

    on December 8, 2008 at 6:06 pm

    i am hopeing you can help a friend of ours.she is hoh and is oin need of a hearing aid. she cannot afford one . and due to her being a foster child when she was young no one ever taught her any thing about her disability. or even tried to get her to learn sign lanquage. she can hear alitle but you have to talk directly to her. can you help me?

  19. Dee Said:

    on December 29, 2008 at 11:36 pm

    My husband has had a hearing problem for quite some time. He has ignored the problem and dealt with it until now. He finally admitted he needed help and went to an ENT who cleaned out the ears and then did a hearing test. He was way below on the chart and she told him he needed hearing aids. He had an MRI done today and goes back to the ENT in a few weeks. He says that he will just have to deal with this because we can’t afford hearing aids, then a friend told me about free hearing aids through Vocational Rehab? What do we need to do to get these? He has to hear with his work. He is an instructor, teaching people how to drive semis. He can retire next year, but will not be able to due to finances. He is under my insurance and they do not cover hearing aids. Please let me know what to do to help him. Thank you.

  20. Julia Said:

    on January 6, 2009 at 10:45 pm

    My sister is 21 years of age. She had two strokes in 2008 and was diagnosed with a disease named MELAS Syndrome. She has been disabled since February 2008 and has Medicaid, but they do not have a hearing aid provider for those over the age of 21. Our family has very low income. Please give me any advice on where to go to get the help that she needs in Spartanburg, SC. Thank you.

  21. Frank Said:

    on January 12, 2009 at 10:01 pm

    I have a 22 yr. old grandson, who has down snydrome,unemployed (cant find him one, tried everywhere), has speech impedement, living on assistance (not much money), Had ear operation last month, adv by doctors, he needs 2 ditigal hearing aids. Have been looking on internet, yellow pages and etc, no luck. can you steer us and give any info..deeply appreciate it…………

  22. Richard Said:

    on January 13, 2009 at 12:58 am

    I’m a hearing professional in CA and sell lower cost
    reconditioned aids for those who can’t afford the newest technology.
    I’d be happy to field inquiries

  23. Larry Brackett Said:

    on January 15, 2009 at 3:22 pm

    I have real bad hearing in both ears…I and my wife are both on Social Security and that is our only income…Not quite old enough for Medicare..( I’m 64).
    Is there any help for me and my hearing since I can’t afford them but DESPERATELY need them?

    Larry

  24. sandy Said:

    on January 23, 2009 at 6:11 am

    I would really like to get in touch with Richard who is a hearing professional in california that sell lower cost hearing aids. please contact me, very important and very urgent. This is for my brother in law who has no insurance and is 90% deaf in one ear and about 60% in the other, I think that is accurate, well anyway his hearing aids broke and it so costy to get another one, cannot afford it. He needs it to go to work. Would appreciate any form of help.
    thank you
    Sandy

  25. Cynthia Waight Said:

    on February 26, 2009 at 10:37 pm

    I tried contacting my local VR in Tacoma Washington. They said I had to come to an orintation. It was during the day. I said I can’t take off work to attend they said sorry we can’t help you, unless you come to our orintation. Any sugestions?
    I am 68 and still working. The company I work 35 years for went broke and I had no retirement. So of course I am still trying to make end meet. However, my hearing loss is starting to affect my job. Any help you can suggest will be appreciated.
    Cynthia

  26. Frank Said:

    on February 27, 2009 at 7:48 pm

    Hi I am the Frank with the Down syndrome grandson, after spending weeks searching for assistance for him, I found several sites that will help you, such as Easter Seals, and If you contact Childrens Hospital (they wont help any adult) but the also know of places that you can contact for assistance in ur state..Calif people can contact Dick Jones Clinic in L.A. they can help so…The journey for assistance is long, but theres help out there..I was on the phone weeks…Good Luck

  27. Steve Mccoy Said:

    on March 6, 2009 at 6:34 pm

    I am total deaf and cannot hear nothing without hearing aid.I can’t not afford to buy them is there help out there .if so please let me know.

  28. Cynthia Waight Said:

    on March 12, 2009 at 11:16 pm

    Has any one heard of the SongBird Hearing Aids?. The are digital and disposable. About $80.00 for 400 hours of use. Has anybody tried them?
    Almost sounds to good.

  29. rick Said:

    on March 14, 2009 at 7:21 pm

    Thanks, it was the easiest way to get help, I recieved a 3k credit towards the purchase of hearing aids

  30. vicki babbert Said:

    on March 30, 2009 at 3:27 pm

    i need to know how can i register to try and get help with getting 2 hearing aids which i so desperately need?

  31. vicki babbert Said:

    on March 30, 2009 at 3:28 pm

    i need to register on getting help trying to get free hearing aids a.s.a.p. please.

  32. Benhur Said:

    on May 7, 2009 at 6:58 pm

    I just got my audio test today and results requires hearing aids.
    It started to affects my works and i can’t afford to buy it because
    i am the only one works and my wife just lost her job due to
    disability. Is there any government agency that provide a free
    hearing aids ? I would highly appreciate if somebody could help me.
    Thanks !

  33. Mitchell White Said:

    on May 12, 2009 at 4:13 pm

    My husband is a paster and he had a free hearing test done they said his hearing is so bad that he would have to have the aids that go behind the ear they cost 5000.00 for two we lost our church and i am on ssi so he needs help bad . I don’t know who to ask help from are who to go to .Can someone please help .I have to yell at him for him to hear me it is sad .I hope we get to paster soon but we only get little church that don’t pay much . if you can help it would me a blessing to him and me . thank you jan white

  34. Toni Said:

    on June 9, 2009 at 7:15 am

    I am trying to get in touch with Richard, Hearing Professional from California in reference to low cost hearing aids. I am in desperate need of a hearing aid as mine is so old – I bought it several years ago when I was working and able to afford to buy a hearing aid. I am on Social Security Disability now and as such have practically no money left after a couple of utility bills, rent and car payments are made.
    With much appreciation, I remain,

    Sincerely,
    Toni Cruz
    mcallisterring@aol.com

  35. TARA GARNER Said:

    on June 19, 2009 at 8:42 pm

    Hello Im Tara, and I was born with Wildervanck syndrome, which affects muscles of certain parts of the body, and face, especially the right side of the face, it has cause me to be death in my right ear and hard of hearing in my left ear. my fathers insurance doesnt cover hearing aids, because it is not medical, so they claim. i am a college student, and i do not work, please someone help me find free hearing aids. thank you

  36. merle rogers Said:

    on July 1, 2009 at 7:03 pm

    I am unable to locate the VR in my area. Please help me to locate the address. I live in Lakeland, Florida.

    Thanks,
    Merle

  37. Kathie Hubbard Said:

    on July 1, 2009 at 9:38 pm

    I’m having the same problem as Merle above. When I click on “here”, I get the message: Page cannot be found.

    I find no other way to contact Beethoven’s Ears at the site here where I’m typing this comment. PLEASE help!


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