The Hearing Assistance Outreach Program targets individuals who need specialized equipment, tools to live with hearing loss, and who are 60 years old with low income and reside in Kent County.
We provide consultation sessions, assistive equipment for home or work, presentations and referrals for organizations related to health care or hearing loss.
We are funded through Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM) and private donations.
We are also currently setting up an equipment room where you can test different pieces of equipment. Once you find an equipment (hearing assistance, loop, TV ears, alarm clock, light flashers….) that satisfies your specific needs, we will order for you.
Identifying services for you
Do you have a hearing loss?
Do you miss words or phrases in spoken words?
Do you have trouble using a telephone?
Do you have to increase the volume to hear the TV?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it could be a good time to make an appointment with us. Our staff has first-hand experience with hearing loss and can assist with appropriate technology and advice.
Our staff can help define your needs and refer you to an audiologist for a hearing test or recommend equipment for you at a low cost.
What our staff can assist you with
- Consultation sessions to discuss hearing loss, determination of degree of loss and specific problems in the individual areas of hearing.
- Appropriate assistive equipment for your home or workplace.
- Different types of loan equipment may be borrowed for a given period of time and may be renewed as often as necessary to benefit the individual.
- Presentations and information packets for groups to expand their knowledge of hearing loss and the means for improvement.
- House calls for those who cannot travel and every effort will be made to schedule these visits at the convenience of the individual.
- Referrals to obtain the assistance of an appropriate professional as needed.
Fees & Policies
We have a criteria to follow, which will be based on your income status, hearing loss and purpose of request.
The audiologist testing must be paid for by the individual who receives hearing aids through our services. Based on your income, we can offer hearing aids or equipment for a small fee referred to as “cost share.”
If you are over our criteria for income status, we may provide consultation and order equipment for you at a reasonable price.
In all our programs that provide benefits, we ask that you consider a small donation to help fund others that have hearing loss but cannot afford to contribute. All donations are tax-deductible.