New Guide Helps Patients Finance Hearing Aid Healthcare
New Guide Helps Patients Finance Hearing Aid Healthcare
Louisville, KY March 2010 - Hearing loss affects over 34 million Americans and is one of the most commonly unaddressed health conditions in America today, according to the Better Hearing Institute (BHI). Many individuals who should be wearing hearing aids simply do not.
A recent study by BHI indicates that two out of three adults with hearing loss blame financial constraints as the main reason they do not use hearing aids. This is even though more than 95 percent of people with hearing loss could benefit from using them. Steve Barlow, CEO, of Avada Audiology & Hearing Care says this is a common problem that needs to be addressed.
"Although hearing aids improve life for those who have trouble hearing and understanding speech clearly, many people look at the money factor before the health benefit factor. And, the challenges of the current economy don't make the situation any better," Barlow said. "This is something that has been an issue for years now, but thankfully there is now a tool for learning about financial assistance in the purchase of hearing aids."
Barlow refers to a publication recently released by BHI: Your Guide to Financial Assistance for Hearing Aids. According to BHI, this is the first comprehensive guide on how people can get financial help to purchase hearing aids. The guide is designed to help people identify charitable foundations, private organizations, insurance plans, corporate benefits, and government programs that help people access hearing healthcare.
In BHI's press release announcing the publication, Sergei Kochkin, PhD, executive director of BHI, said hearing aids are not covered under Medicare or under the "vast majority" of state health benefit programs. "No one should go without a needed hearing aid because of an inability to pay. Of the thousands of annual inquiries we receive, the most frequent topic concerns financial assistance for hearing aid purchases. Sixty-one percent of hearing aid purchases involve no third-party payment. Yet, today's modern hearing aids hold great potential to positively change the lives of so many," Kochkin said.
"This new guide will show people that they do not have to continue suffering with an untreated hearing loss; there are resources available to them so they can address their hearing loss and improve their quality of life," said Steve W. Barlow, CEO of Avada. "As hearing aid technology continues to rapidly evolve, we continually equip our team with resources and the latest technology. Good hearing health is critical for an overall sense of well-being. It impacts the quality of life, communication abilities and connectedness to the world."
Avada helps individuals in the local community with hearing loss to figure out if they need hearing aids. Many of Avada Audiology & Hearing Care's locations offer free hearing screenings and private consultations. Nationwide, Avada Hearing Care Centers' mission has always been to serve the hearing impaired with the highest degree of professionalism, technology and service available. Everyone over the age of 55 should have annual hearing screenings.
Avada offers free hearing screenings for those interested and operates more than 280 hearing care centers nationwide. For more information about Avada and its services, please visit www.avada.com.
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