Resource Guide: CHILDREN’S HEARING AIDS & AUDITORY TRAINERS

Last Updated; August 24, 2009

Dorothy Ames Trust Fund

Trust Client Services
Key Trust Mail Code NY-31-66-0942, Albany, NY
66 South Pearl Street, 9th Floor
P.O. Box 22042
Albany, NY 12201
Edward DeLuccia, Assistant Vice President
1-866-238-8650 (V Toll-free)
(518) 257-9670 (FAX)

Through grants assist deaf children in New England to purchase hearing aids and auditory trainers and to teach them to use their voices as distinguished from sign language. Provide copy of audiologist report, statement of need from parents, estimate of cost for equipment or services requested, and a copy of your most recent signed tax return.

hear ME now!

P.O. Box 896
Portland, ME 04104
Pam Dawson, Executive Director
Tel: 688-4544 (V)
688-4548 (FAX)
info@hear-me-now.org

"A Sound Foundation"

"A Sound Foundation" is a hearing aid loaner program, parent education avenue and support base. The program is designed to educate parents of children with newly identified hearing loss to become informed consumers of hearing technology. "A Sound Foundation" allows families of infants who are deaf or hard of hearing to try various models and manufacturers of hearing aids, and signal processing options under on-going evaluation by an audiologist for a 12-month period. During the hearing aid trial period, parents will team with the habilitation team at "hear ME now!" to learn about various features of hearing aids. They will also learn how to effectively observe, evaluate, and monitor their infant's responses and behaviors as the child uses various hearing devices.

The objective of "A Sound Foundation" is to allow parents to obtain the knowledge and confidence to work with the dispensing audiologist and select appropriate hearing technology for the infant based on their goals and wishes for their child.

Howard & Espa Michaud Charitable Trust

30 Skyway Drive
Unit 100
Caribou, ME 04736
Contact Person: Ginette Rivard
1-800-606-0215 (TTY)
1-800-432-7366 or 493-4132 (V)
493-4168 (FAX)
E-mail: Ginette.Rivard@maine.gov

Contact Person: Judy DeMerchant
Tel: 493-4135 (V)
E-mail: judy.demerchant@maine.gov

This trust is designed to assist “children from the Aroostook County area, with special emphasis on children from the greater Presque Isle area, who are in need of special treatment related to audio disorders or deficiencies." Funds may be used exclusively for the care, treatment and/or furnishing of devices for children with hearing impairments or disorders. All other funding sources must be accessed first.

Miracle-Ear Children's Foundation

P.O. Box 59261
Minneapolis, MN 55459-0261
1-800-234-5422 (V)

The Miracle-Ear Children's Foundation works in cooperation with local Miracle-Ear Centers nationwide to provide free hearing aids, services, and support materials to children age 16 and under whose families do not qualify for public assistance, yet cannot cover the expense of hearing aids. The yearly gross wages required for assistance is under $50,000.00, and the child must live in the United States. The Miracle-Ear Children's Foundation, a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota, receives funding from Miracle-Ear, Inc. and through individual donations.

The Warren Center for Communication & Learning

175 Union Street
Bangor ME 04401-6100
941-2850 (V)
1-877-542-9000 (Toll Free V)
941-4932 (TTY)
941-2852 (FAX)
E-mail: info@warrencenter.org
Web site: www.warrencenter.org
Mary E. Poulin, Administrative Director
MaryBeth B. Richards, MS, CCC-SLP, Program Director

Complete Hearing Aid Services: Hearing aids may be purchased through the Warren Center after a complete diagnostic evaluation. With recommendations from the audiologists, you can choose from a wide variety of hearing aids, including programmable and digital aids. The Warren Center offers a 30-day trial period and a two-year warranty with any new hearing aid. Hearing aid repairs and servicing are available for most makes and models.

The Regional Hearing Aid Bank, ReHAB for short, is designed to provide one hearing aid to those members of our community who are unable to afford them. It utilizes donated behind-the-ear hearing aids that can be refurbished and reprogrammed for use by another person. The ReHAB program is designed particularly for members of the community who are unable to be served by the Veterans’ Administration, Vocational Rehabilitation program, insurances or other third-party providers and whose annual income is less than 200% of the federal poverty level. There is an application process and a waiting list (which can be up to three years long, depending on funding available) for these services. Applications are available by calling the Warren Center at 941-2850 or may be picked up at the Warren Center office at 175 Union Street, Bangor.

Donations of hearing aids to benefit the Rehab program are always accepted. Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids of all makes and models are those used for refurbishment and placement. In-the-ear hearing aids are recycled, and the proceeds are then used to help with the costs of refurbishing the BTE hearing aids. Hearing aids may be dropped off or mailed to the Warren Center office at 175 Union Street, Bangor, Maine 04401.

Note: For Adults needing funds for hearing aids, please see:

Alpha One (listed under Agencies)

Audient (listed under Agencies)

HEAR NOW (listed under Agencies)

Lion’s Club (listed under Agencies)

TRICARE - Family of Armed Service Members (listed under Agencies)

Vocational Rehabilitation (listed under State Offices)

Warren Center for Communication & Learning (listed under Agencies)