How can you recycle used hearing aids? The answer is definitely the same whether you decide to upgrade to a more sophisticated model such as cochlear implants or you got them from a deceased family member: your used hearing aids should be donated instead of throwing them away.
There are a lot of people dealing with hearing loss who would benefit from donated hearing aid, and several organizations out there that acquire and distribute those hearing aids to the individuals in need. Keep reading to discover how and why to donate pre-owned hearing aids.
Why You Should Consider Donating Your Pre-Owned Hearing Aids
First, here are some significant stats about hearing loss and hearing aids in the United States:
- Of the total populace, around 14% have some kind of hearing loss
- Of all of the adults who have loss of hearing 91% percent are over 50 years old
- 15% of school-age children suffer from some form of hearing loss
- Almost 29 million adults with hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids, but…
- …only 16% (4.6 million) of them actually make use of hearing aids
- First time hearing aid users have an average age of 70, but again…
- Of those over 70 who require hearing aids, fewer than 30% percent have ever had them
This is extremely troubling. Because health problems like mental decline, increased risk of falling, and depression have been linked to untreated hearing loss. The importance of your hearing to your general health is backed up by new research coming out all of the time. Getting hearing aids can lessen these health issues (and in certain situations even reverse them).
And hearing loss will cost the typical family up to $12,000 each year which should be a very persuasive fact. But that expense can actually be decreased by up to 50% with hearing aids.
For a family that loses out on $12,000 each year, it may simply not be possible for them to pay for a hearing aid.
Your used hearing aid can have a tremendous impact, in the health, quality of life and financial well-being, for a person in need who couldn’t otherwise afford a hearing aid. It may also cost a child the ability to get into college and better their lives because they are unable to hear in school.
Donating Your Used Hearing Aids
Old hearing aids are recycled and distributed by numerous manufacturers and volunteer groups. Come by and we can help you find a recycling program. Or you can just give us a call.