How can you recycle used hearing aids? Whether they were owned by a departed relative or you chose to update your hearing aids to something fancier like a cochlear implant, the answer is the same: your pre-owned hearing aids should be donated versus getting rid of.
There are plenty of people suffering from hearing loss who would benefit from donated hearing aid, and a number of institutions out there that collect and circulate 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 a few significant statistics about hearing loss and hearing aids in the US:
- Around 14% of the total population, suffers from loss of hearing
- Of all of the adults suffering from loss of hearing 91% percent are above 50 years old
- There is evidence of hearing loss in 15% of school aged children
- Hearing aids would help almost 29 million adults with hearing loss, but…
- …only 16% (4.6 million) of them actually utilize hearing aids
- First time hearing aid users have an average age of 70, but again…
- Of those people over 70 who need hearing aids, less than 30% percent have ever had them
I think we should be worried. Because untreated hearing loss has been associated with several health problems from an increased risk of falling to cognitive decline and depression. The relevance of your hearing to your general health is backed up by new studies being released all of the time. These health issues can be avoided and in certain cases reversed by hearing aids.
And the final compelling point is that loss of hearing can cost the ordinary family $12,000 in earnings each year. But hearing aids can actually reduce that cost by up to 50%.
It might not be possible for families who lose $12,000 a year to afford to buy hearing aids.
Your pre-owned hearing aid can have a huge effect, in the health, quality of life and financial well-being, for a person in need who couldn’t otherwise afford a hearing aid. It might also cost a child the ability to go to college and make their lives better because they can’t hear in school.
Donating Your Used Hearing Aids
There are numerous volunteer organizations and makers who help recycle old hearing aids. Come and talk with us so we can guide you on the correct recycling choice for you. Or give us a call.