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
Beethoven's Ears 
*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!
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.
Thanks for the information. I will be calling my state VR for assistances. I will let you knoe the results later.
my husband has profound hearing loss and i was told you could help him with hearing aids
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
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:
Click to access Individuals%20with%20Hearing%20Loss.pdf
Hope I answered your questions! Now I’m going to clarify this blog entry!
Cindy
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
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!
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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…………
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
Thanks, it was the easiest way to get help, I recieved a 3k credit towards the purchase of hearing aids
i need to know how can i register to try and get help with getting 2 hearing aids which i so desperately need?
i need to register on getting help trying to get free hearing aids a.s.a.p. please.
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 !
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
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
Hi Toni:
I’m Richard. Contact me at bbernmari@aol.com and I’ll see how I can help if you haven;t gotten help already.
Richard
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
I am unable to locate the VR in my area. Please help me to locate the address. I live in Lakeland, Florida.
Thanks,
Merle
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!
I have a consumer who is unemployed and has 70% hearing loss in one ear, and 50% in the other. Medicaid paid for one hearing aid in April of this year. However, he is still in need of another hearing aid that he can’t afford. He is trying to get SSDI, as he has other disabilities. His hearing loss is due to being a DJ for a radio station for over 25 years. Is there any way to help him?
It’s so sad…discrimination. A child. Employed.
I am a 67 yr old retiree with a Social security income of $42/mo.
I have no other assets.
I have a hearing loss of less than 50% in one ear and 40% in the other.
Hearing aids will cost $1700. Medicare will not pay.
I cannot find anyone to help me.
My son AARON SHAJAN who is seven years old is a Hearing impaired (Bilateral Severe-Profound Mixed Hearing Loss) child.Although not affordable by me but by the grace of God I have managed to get him a BTE Phone, which helps him to hear. He is a brilliant child and very intelligent as well. He likes Drawing, Painting, Reading and Writing. We sent him to a normal School and want him to mingle with ordinary children, but for this he needs a much more powerful hearing aid (Digital Phone). . I feel depressed when I think of him, because I know if it wasn’t for his disability he would have been a bright child. So I humbly request for help to buy my child a pair of Hearing Aid I and my wife love our only child very much, and we wait for a favorable reply, and pray to God for all those who hear our cry for our child
My son AARON SHAJAN who is seven years old is a Hearing impaired (Bilateral Severe-Profound Mixed Hearing Loss) child.Although not affordable by me but by the grace of God I have managed to get him a BTE Phone, which helps him to hear. He is a brilliant child and very intelligent as well. He likes Drawing, Painting, Reading and Writing. We sent him to a normal School and want him to mingle with ordinary children, but for this he needs a much more powerful hearing aid (Digital Phone). . I feel depressed when I think of him, because I know if it wasn’t for his disability he would have been a bright child. So I humbly request for help to buy my child a pair of Hearing Aid I and my wife love our only child very much, and we wait for a favorable reply, and pray to God for all those who hear our cry for our child
Hi I’m re-tiered and have a saver
Hi ! I am retierd and have a severe hearing loss. I am 68 years old . Can you help me. thankyou Doug.
California-My daughter age 23 has sever loss. Both she and her husband are unemployed so there is no money for aids. They have two small childern. She can not look for a job with out aids as she can not hear. Husband is looking for work-any ideas or help out there?
I am 55 years old and was told about 10 years ago I have 50% hearing loss due to nerve damage. I know it is a lot worse now. I work in an office, answer phones, take minutes for meetings, work with customers,etc. and need to hear. I would like to get a good digital hearing aid. I really can’t afford one but I could pay some of it. Could you possibly give me some information on where I could get some help on paying for one.
My sister is 51 years old and has severe hearing loss. I also have hearing loss…it runs in the family. She is on SSI and can not afford to buy one. Could you tell me where to take her so she can get one.
i am on a set income i am deaf in one ear and haveing a very hard time hearing out of the other one i have trouble with high ppitches i cant afford the hearing aid they want me to get are any i am disabled on a set income can you help me thanks carolyn
hi im caroly i am deaf in my right ear and have a hard timewith trhe other the ear cant afford to get any hearing aids the one they want me to get is 1500 there is no way i am on disabality a set incomeis there any way you could help me carolyn
My mother is 97 years old and she lives with me as I am her caregiver. It is unaffordable to purchase hearing aides for her and I am hoping that we will be able to get hearing aides for her either 1/2 the cost or free. She is very alert and her hearing is so bad it upsets her. She had hearing aids by Beltone and lost them.
Please help in anyway possible.
Thank you
Pauline Fletcher, daughter
Consider reconditioned aids -affordable.
Email me for added info
I am currently unemployed living on social security. I recently applied for a government position but was turned down due to a high frequency hearing loss. I am told if I retake the test with a hearing aid I may be reconsidered. The problem is that I have no insurance and am unable to pay the high cost for the new test or a hearing device! Is their any program out there that would assist me in this situation?
i dont have any money far hearing aid is there away you can help me thanks carolynbeaver59@yahoo.com
The first time I wore hearing aide was about 22 years ago,(I’m 44) I’ve worn them off and on but they always hurt so bad i couldn’t wear them now I am having problems hearing people at work. We make a comfortable living but are very extended due to other situations. My husbands insurance will pay $1000.00 per ear after the deductable. I can’t wear the aides that fit in the ear because my ear has not movement or flexability. , I really need aides but can’t afford them and have bad credit . Can
I still get help
please notify me i need assistance im 53 i an ive loss nearly all my hearing as of today it began gradually in one ear unfortnately as of 5/13/10 the prodressoin seems to have increased to consume both i see people lips moving with liitle to no sound is an understatement ive recently was laid off from one of my employment position which was a five figure income but im still employed due too i worked two full time positions for five years i do have insurance but its too little help regarding this matter please help if you can thankl you
Hi, I am a geriactric nurse. I have 3 patients who are in need of hearing aides. Medicare wont pay, and patient unable. If anyone can suggest a way to get them hearing aides, we would truly apprecieate it. Thank you.
Check with local Lions and other service related organizations
if patient has no ability to pay- they may help
for patients who have some ability to pay but can’t afford newest technology-reconditioned aides are available (a gentler way of saying used) at affordable pricing for most budgets
wrong email. thanks
I’m in the industry and reconditioned aids are a lower cost option for those on a limited budget. They come with warranties also.
I’d be happy to lend advice to anyone who might consider this option
if no other alternatives work..
VR helped me, but I was wondering if VR will sponsor a second pair. I lost my hearing aids (had for a long time) accidentlly. When I went to see if I could get another pair, I was told that my name had to be placed on a waiting list. After not hearing the counsellor, I went back to check to see if she had gotten my information from the doctor (months) she she no. The truth was she had never put my name on a list and was just leading me on. What I want to know, is it possible to get help through VR agan or is it one time only. Thanks
I am partially deaf, my doctor recommends that I should continue to wear hearing aids, but I can’t afford them, the ones I had, the warrenty expired, I tried to get them fixed,but they are not fixable
Can someone help me!
hearing aids can be fixed- regardless of age-what is the problem with them -and description of aid -and I can quote repair for you. Repair comes with a 6 month warranty on the aid.
I have VR but, VR saying , cannot help me to get hearing aid, What should I do???
My grand-daughter is 18 and has just been diagnosed with high frequency hearing loss. She lives in Vermont. She is getting ready to go to college and I am searching for assistance to get her hearing aids in both ears. The audiologist said she needs aids in both ears and when the doctor put aids in her ears, she cried, because she had never heard so clearly. I have been searching the net for help.
i am a 63 year old person that my hearing is gone i am socisl suculity please help i can not afford hearing aid
There are programs available which provide for greatly reduced costs on hearing aids if one’s income meets federal guidelines.I am in California and offer
such a program to my patients – I’d be happy to help
answer any questions or provide information to assist where I can.
email is bbernmari@aol.com
hello to you ; I need help i am losing my hearing ; but been told by the doctor that medicare and medicade will not let me have my hearing aids so that I can hear ; i don’t have money to get anything really at all i need help with a lot of things right now that i just can’t seem to find anyone at all to help me ; i have no money at all because all of my disablity money all goes to my house payments each and every month ; my daddy just died and there for i have no help at all i tried to take care of my daddy that is one of the reasons that i got my home our home & i don’t know what to do to get the help that i need ; i can’t even get my eye glasses that i need please help me thank you kindly for your time & understanding please have a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all of you . thanks for listening to me here i just pray & hope that someone can help me i am tired of not getting all of what people say to me and i have to have the phone on speaker phone on high vaulme all the time ; and then i have to have the phone close to my face and no noise around me or the othter person on the other end of the phone they get mad because i don’t understand them when they talk ; and i get only part of what people say all the time now. that is the way that it is for me please help me thank you for your time
i need a hereing aid bad for school l ear
I am 63 female who is on social security which just pays my rent. I have had my ears tested 3 times and every doctor says my ears can’t be operated on and if I don’t get hearing aids soon I will lose my hearing in both ears. I also have gone to miracle ears and loved them but could not afford them, I really need help soon.
You may want to check into reconditioned aids (aids that the manufacturers can’t sell as new and are fully reconditioned) Our office sells them for those who can;t afford new aids so depending on where you are located in the country you might be able to get a pair at a much lower cost. We also offer programs for those who are low income qualified -again depending on where you are there may be such programs in your area
hi there, to whom it may concern, i have nerve damage in my left ear due to vestibular neuritis , and im on social security disibility, can you please tell me who can help . God Bless.
A good friend of mine has 7 family memebers that live with her 3 children, 1 gandchild her husband and her son girlfriend whom is expecting, none of the adults work except my friend. Her grand son was diagnosed with Johanssen eratic disorder and know he needs hearing aids that cost $7000. She is a very good person who always puts other people first. We live in Austin Texas,are there any charities or organizations or even anybody that can HELP! she is in dire straits. Kim