Urgent Hearing Aid Fund for Profound Loss

Hello friends,

My hearing loss journey began at age 20 in 2011. It started with swollen ear drums which led to a downward spiral in both ears. As you probably know, the cost of a pair of hearing aids or even just a single side is $1000+ per ear for the most basic aid. Being in my early 20s, I did not have the funds to afford a hearing aid. There are four levels of hearing loss: Mild, Moderate, Severe, and Profound. I was diagnosed with severe hearing loss. After four years of grieving my hearing loss, struggling with this new depression, dealing with this new challenge at work, and trying to make it through everyday life, I got fitted for my first pair at Beltone in 2015. It would be $5000. At 24, I maxed out a $3000 credit card and got assistance from my parents for the other $2000. I was happy with my new hearing aids and enjoyed hearing leaves and birds and being able to hold a conversation again with less difficulty. In 2022, the hearing aids finally gave out. I tried to make them last but they only have a lifespan of 3-5 years even though I was told they would be good for 10+ years. The company that fitted them shuttered all their locations in Portland, Tigard, and Vancouver. I couldn’t go back to them for help. While still paying off my original set, I was fitted for a new set. Luckily my health insurance covered the cost of $3000. These are nowhere near as good as my original set. I can’t hear as well, there is feedback that can be heard by others in a quiet room, and I’ve suffered from countless ear infections due to the quality of various hearing aid molds I was fitted with. I avoid going out with friends and sit silently at family gatherings while conversations happen around me. My wife who helped me by repeating things and learning basic sign language with me passed away nearly two years ago, compounding this feeling of deep isolation.

I am just 34 years old and have now dropped into the Profound hearing loss range. Basic hearing aids do nothing for me. If I don’t get this set of recommended hearing aids and opt for a lower cost, my audiologist tells me that we would be wasting our time. Because of how active I am, how much I need my hearing, and how severe my hearing loss is, I need the highest tier of hearing aids. My health insurance does not even cover half the cost. With coverage of $3500, I need another $4000 to get the medical device I need to improve my life. I hate to reach out and beg but I don’t know what to do from here. I would love to be able to hold conversations, hear people with my back turned, hear the sizzling while I cook, hear water so I stop accidentally leaving faucets on, hear my customers, listen to music as it should sound, hear a damn smoke alarm. I am missing out on so much and this is no doubt the biggest challenge of my everyday life. Please help if you can. I will be forever grateful. Thank you for your time.