Miss-Delectable
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Plea falls on deaf ears
THE high cost of hearing aids is forcing some people to go without the devices.
The Federal Government needs to develop a fairer package for hearing impaired or the situation will worsen, according to a group of people with hearing loss who approached the Central Western Daily.
The group was angered by an announcement last month that a hearing loop had been installed in the Federal Parliament to assist Prime Minister John Howard in hearing his colleagues.
Mr Howard has had partial deafness since he was born.
"This stinks," Ken Frame said.
"That was paid for by taxpayers."
Mr Frame wears two aids.
His hearing has been diminishing since he was a child.
Central West Audiology principal Susan Christie said hearing aids for people under 21 or for pensioners were virtually free, thanks to federal funding.
She said the price for two hearing aids ranged from $2000 to $10,000.
They needed to be replaced every four to five years, she said.
Mr Frame said the government did not seem to care.
"There's been questions asked. Will they support us? Will they help? Will they do this, will the do that? They don't want to know us," Mr Frame said.
"The Prime Minister has hearing problems; you'd think he'd want to support us."
Cheryl Annis-Brown said it was tough to find enough money to raise a family and find the money for aids.
She said her husband David Purdie went without one aid because of the high cost.
"He's been without one for about 10 years. We try to save but with three boys it's not easy," she said.
Kathy Hayward, a teacher of children with hearing difficulties, said one in 10 people had hearing problems.
Ms Christie said there was a huge gap in the support system for people needing hearing aids.
"There is no government support for low-income earners who have lost their entitlement once they turn 21," she said.
She said many people could not afford health insurance and in many cases the funds only cover ed about $400 per aid.
"I think the [Federal] Government should be giving these people a lot more support," she said.
I agree and sympathise with these people. The Medical insurance coverage for hearing aids truly sucks. Since CI is free for anyone; I wouldn't be surprised that's why people are turning to CI because it's free and it's readily covered by insurance. It's a lesser evil rather than going around in silence just because you cannot afford a pair of hearing aids. I can see myself in this situation after I turn 26 *sigh*..
THE high cost of hearing aids is forcing some people to go without the devices.
The Federal Government needs to develop a fairer package for hearing impaired or the situation will worsen, according to a group of people with hearing loss who approached the Central Western Daily.
The group was angered by an announcement last month that a hearing loop had been installed in the Federal Parliament to assist Prime Minister John Howard in hearing his colleagues.
Mr Howard has had partial deafness since he was born.
"This stinks," Ken Frame said.
"That was paid for by taxpayers."
Mr Frame wears two aids.
His hearing has been diminishing since he was a child.
Central West Audiology principal Susan Christie said hearing aids for people under 21 or for pensioners were virtually free, thanks to federal funding.
She said the price for two hearing aids ranged from $2000 to $10,000.
They needed to be replaced every four to five years, she said.
Mr Frame said the government did not seem to care.
"There's been questions asked. Will they support us? Will they help? Will they do this, will the do that? They don't want to know us," Mr Frame said.
"The Prime Minister has hearing problems; you'd think he'd want to support us."
Cheryl Annis-Brown said it was tough to find enough money to raise a family and find the money for aids.
She said her husband David Purdie went without one aid because of the high cost.
"He's been without one for about 10 years. We try to save but with three boys it's not easy," she said.
Kathy Hayward, a teacher of children with hearing difficulties, said one in 10 people had hearing problems.
Ms Christie said there was a huge gap in the support system for people needing hearing aids.
"There is no government support for low-income earners who have lost their entitlement once they turn 21," she said.
She said many people could not afford health insurance and in many cases the funds only cover ed about $400 per aid.
"I think the [Federal] Government should be giving these people a lot more support," she said.
I agree and sympathise with these people. The Medical insurance coverage for hearing aids truly sucks. Since CI is free for anyone; I wouldn't be surprised that's why people are turning to CI because it's free and it's readily covered by insurance. It's a lesser evil rather than going around in silence just because you cannot afford a pair of hearing aids. I can see myself in this situation after I turn 26 *sigh*..