Assistive Listening Device Outreach Grants

Assistive listening devices enrich life for the hearing impaired.ear image by cico from Fotolia.com

More than 30 million Americans suffer from hearing loss, according to the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Hearing aids and other assistive listening technology such as audio looping in public venues and churches, closed-caption devices and TTY-devices for telephones, allow individuals with hearing disabilities to lead independent lives. A number of private and nonprofit organizations offer grants for a variety of assistive listening devices and outreach services for the hearing disabled.

Hear Now

The Hear Now Program, funded by the Starkey Hearing Foundation, offers nationwide assistance for individuals needing hearing aids and other assistive listening devices. The Foundation's mission is to educate and advocate for those suffering from hearing loss. Funding guidelines and application information are on the Foundation website, www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org.

HIKE (Hearing Impaired Kids Endowment), supported by the International Order of Job's Daughters, offers aid for assistive listening devices for hearing-impaired youths up to age 20. HIKE requires documentation of the disability and the need. Find information at www.thehikefund.org or by telephone: 352-688-2579.

To increase outreach to the hearing impaired, the United Methodist Committee on Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ministries offers the Mardy Walker Assistive Listening System Grants, which provide assistive technology for individuals and for the installation of assistive listening systems in churches and meeting halls. Download application information from the committee's website, www.umcd.org.

The University of Cincinnati's Bahmann Foundation supports research and innovation in assistive listening technology and assists organizations offering support to the hearing impaired. The foundation offers scholarship funding to students working with assistive listening technology and supports organizations assisting individuals with hearing loss. Find the Bahmann Foundation's grant criteria and other information at www.bahmann.org.