How can you recycle used hearing aids? The answer is always the same whether you choose to upgrade to a more sophisticated model such as cochlear implants or you got them from a deceased family member: donate your used hearing aids versus throwing them away.
There are several organizations that collect and distribute used hearing aids to people who could really use them, and there are lots of people who need them. Read on to discover why it’s important to donate your used hearing aid and find out how you can go about it.
Why You Should Think About Donating Your Used Hearing Aids
First, here are some significant statistics about hearing loss and hearing aids in the United States:
- Of the overall populace, about 14% suffer from some kind of hearing loss
- Of all of the adults suffering from loss of hearing 91% percent are above the age of 50
- 15% of school-age children suffer from some type of hearing loss
- Approximately 29 million adults with hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids, but…
- …hearing aids are actually utilized by only 16% (4.6 million) of them
- The general age for first-time hearing aid users is 70, but again…
- Of those people over 70 who require hearing aids, fewer than 30% percent have ever used them
I think we should be worried. Because untreated hearing loss has been associated with numerous health issues from a greater risk of falling to cognitive decline and depression. The relevance of your hearing to your overall health is backed up by new research being released regularly. Getting hearing aids can lessen these health issues (and in some instances even reverse them).
And the final compelling fact is that hearing loss can cost the average family $12,000 in income every year. But hearing aids can actually mitigate that cost by as much as 50%.
For a family that loses out on $12,000 every year, it may just not be possible for them to pay for a hearing aid.
Your pre-owned hearing aid can make a big effect, in the health, quality of life and financial stability, for a person in need who could not normally afford a hearing aid. It could also help a child in school that has difficulty hearing, which could impact their ability to enter into college and make a decent living when they get older.
How to Donate Your Used Hearing Aid
There are numerous volunteer organizations and makers who help recycle old hearing aids. Come by and we can help you find a recycling program. Or you can simply give us a call.