LOANER HEARING TECH PROGRAMS
Hearing tech comes with unique challenges for families who choose to use them. The devices get dropped, or lost, or become a chew toy for the family pet. (Trust us, we’ve been there!)
FHSR understands the importance of maintaining access to sound. We’ve stepped up to fund loaner hearing tech banks at pediatric clinics in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs – and provided loaner tech kits to our partner schools across the state. Â
It’s crucial that children with hearing loss never miss a beat in the ordinary rhythm of their lives due to broken or lost hearing aids
Loaner Hearing Aid Banks
in Pediatric Clinics
FHSR provides grants to Chicagoland pediatric hearing clinics to assist in the purchase of loaner hearing aids.Â
Pediatric loaner hearing aid banks provide temporary help for hearing aid users while they wait for repairs, replacement, or insurance approval. Time is of the essence – every day a child goes without access to sound, their learning and language acquisition suffers.
In addition to hearing aid users, children who are considered candidates for cochlear implants must go through a waiting period, during which the child will wear hearing aids. Cochlear implant candidates are also able to utilize loaner hearing tech so that families do not incur the expense of purchasing hearing aids that their child will not use permanently.Â
A single hearing aid may be loaned out many times, ensuring all children have the equipment they need to thrive as they grow.Â
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Loaner Equipment for Schools -
FHSR's LEAP Program
As part of our commitment to promote the full inclusion of deaf and hard of hearing children (DHH) in all aspects of life, we partner with DHH cluster schools across Chicago and its surrounding suburbs, providing services that include classroom-based music education, academic support, and professional development for teachers and professionals.
In conversations with teachers and audiologists, many mentioned a troubling issue: DHH children arriving at school with batteries that were missing, dead, or not fully charged. Without a full battery, children have no access to sound, and miss an entire day of classroom instruction.
In response, FHSR created the LEAP (Loaner Equipment for Academic Progress) program. This new initiative provides batteries and chargers (for both cochlear implants and hearing aids) to school-based audiologists, ensuring students remain safe and have full access to classroom instruction.
FHSR LOANER HEARING AID BANK GRANT RECIPIENTS
HEARING TECHNOLOGY
Hearing tech changes rapidly – from captioning to cochlear implants, loops to language software. Staying up-to-date helps families and children affected by hearing loss stay connected to the world of sound.
Visit our blog to learn more, and donate to the Loaner Hearing Tech program to help keep the technology available for all children with hearing loss.
