What to Do With Old Hearing Aids
Hearing aids can make all the difference in your life; opening you up to more meaningful social interactions and a better quality of living. But what do you do with your old hearing aids once you upgrade or replace them? Rather than sitting in a draw gathering dust or being thrown in the bin, can old hearing aids be donated or recycled to benefit others? Repurposing your hearing aids means you are doing your part for the planet as well as helping out those who don’t have the means to purchase new hearing devices.
Can old hearing aids be donated?
Hearing impairment can have a huge impact on the lives of those affected. For adults, having a hearing deficit can greatly limit their interaction with others, cause them to miss out on some of life’s simple pleasures, and even affect their ability to get or keep a job. In children, hearing loss can mean diminished uptake of language skills and delayed development. Unfortunately, The World Health Organization estimates that with 278 million people around the world experiencing moderate to profound hearing loss, and the production of hearing aids only meets a tenth of that need. With little access to hearing aids for those in developing countries and those with limited financial means, donating your old hearing aids can make a big impact on someone’s life.
How to donate hearing aids
Donating your old hearing aids is a simple, three-step process.
- Contact your local Bay Audio clinic to check that they can accept your donation
- Drop your devices at your local Bay Audio clinic
- Your old devices will be donated to our volunteer initiative in Samoa
Where to donate hearing aids
In partnership with Attune Hearing, you can donate your hearing aids to our own charity initiative:
Samoan hearing aid donation program: Samoa is a remote island in the South Pacific with few resources for hearing impaired children. Bay Audio is involved in providing donated pre-loved hearing aids to be used by the volunteer audiologists to assist children with hearing impairments.
This volunteer team of audiologists have fitted more than 240 children with hearing aids, and are continuing to help more children on the island with their hearing health. Attune has also provided volunteer staff and IT resources to this cause, which has been in operation since 2008.
You can get involved in this program by donating your pre-loved hearing aids.
Need to replace your old hearing aids?
Bay Audio offers the latest in hearing aid technology to keep you connected to the world around you. While upgrading, consider donating or recycling your old hearing aids to make a difference for those in need. Book an appointment today at one of our locations in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, or Canberra. Start with our online hearing check to explore your options.
Can old hearing aids be recycled?
Hearing aids can be recycled to assist those in need in various ways, being delivered to different groups of people.
- Repurposing for those struggling financially: This involves used hearing aids being donated to hearing care professionals and being cleaned, serviced and adjusted to suit the specific needs of its recipient who was unable to afford a new hearing aid.
- Refurbishment for developing nations: Some donated hearing aids are repaired and refurbished and sent with volunteers and healthcare professionals on health missions to developing countries, where those in need are fitted with their new hearing aid. Bay Audio participates in a program of this nature in Samoa (see above).
- Components donated to manufacturers: Working components of old hearing aids can be utilised in the manufacture of new ones, with the price of the useful parts being discounted from the completed unit. This makes the end price of the hearing aid cheaper for those with limited ability to pay.