HSF Fits Over 200 Aids in 2010
Amanda Womac

Since 1981, we have provided the gift of sound to thousands of individuals in East Tennessee. In 2010, we continued to fit aids and approve clients thanks to the support of our community. Although our numbers are down slightly from 2009, we still helped nearly 200 individuals obtain the services they need to live in the hearing world.

Through our hearing aid assistance program, we fitted 231 aids on clients in 2010 and approved over 100 individuals in East Tennessee for new services. In addition to the 105 new clients, we renewed 71 clients for a total of 193 approved clients in 2010.

In 2010, we saw an increase in donations to our Hearing Aid Recycling Program (HARP) from 157 aids in 2009 to 271 in 2010. We were able to fit 84 of our recycled aids on clients, saving us over $15,000 in hearing aid costs in 2010.

Last year also saw the addition of our Hope and Hearing Program. The goal of this program is to identify newborns and children with hearing loss and assist them with the hearing services they need to develop speech. During the first year, we approved 17 children for the Hope and Hearing Program. Through increased awareness of the program and education about hearing loss in children and infants, we hope to help more children with communication disorders in 2011.

In addition to the expansion of our Hope and Hearing Program, we plan to begin offering therapy services for clients in August 2011 and increase the number of clients approved each month.

Our 2010 Annual Report will be published online in the spring. To stay up-to-date with the latest from HSF, sign up for our monthly e-newsletter, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @giftofsound.