People unable to afford hearing aids will benefit from the Sound of Change Initiative, designed to provide refurbished aids to vulnerable and at-risk populations 鈥� including low-income seniors and adults.
Hosted by the Island Deaf and聽Hard of Hearing Centre, the program targets as many as 30,000聽low-income individuals in Greater Victoria suffering from hearing loss 鈥� the most common sensory deficit in North America.
鈥淲e鈥檙e targeting people who can鈥檛 afford the aids 鈥� as well as those who don鈥檛 want to admit they need an aid in the first place,鈥� said Denise Robertson, executive director of Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre. 鈥淚t is a chronic health issue that affects most people starting at age 60.鈥�
The program seeks to overcome the stigma about using refurbished aids.
鈥淭he industry naturally wants to sell rather than give away product. Our job is to demystify the concept.鈥�
Not dealing with hearing loss, especially among the elderly, can have a significant negative impact on everyday life. It affects socialization, often leading to loneliness and isolation.
The Sound of Change initiative, launched in June 2016, removes barriers to getting hearing supports. It provides a full range of services to vulnerable persons dealing with hearing loss, including a hearing assessment by a registered audiologist, hearing-aid fittings, family supports, hearing rehabilitation, communication assistance and employment supports.
The Victoria Foundation has contributed to funding for the initiative in 2018.
Robertson says that since the initiative鈥檚 inception, they have distributed more than 400 hearing aids to hard-of-hearing individuals in need.
Recipients receive audio rehabilitation 鈥� a time to retrain the brain to 鈥渞e-hear.鈥�
鈥淢ost people have learned how to read or write 鈥� but they have never actually learned how to hear.鈥�
The hearing assessment can also lead to recommendations for other assistive devices to improve the quality of life 鈥� television monitors, amplified telephones or other technical aids. There is sometimes no need to buy a device, as some are available on loan.
Donated hearing aids come from individuals, estates, local audiologists and the Lions of sa国际传媒聽Hearing Conservation Society.
Donations of newer aids are always welcome. Typically, newer aids can, through software, be repurposed to help more than one individual; older ones lack this adaptability.
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