Hearing News for Consumers
TENNESSEE MOVES TO COVER HEARING AIDS FOR KIDS
NASHVILLE—The Tennessee House of Representatives has approved legislation that would require insurance companies to cover hearing aids in their policies for individuals up to 18 years of age. The measure passed 82-12. The State Senate is considering a similar law.
Under the proposal, insurance companies would be required to pay up to $1000 per hearing aid every 3 years. Sponsors of the bill say the new benefit would add, at most, 2 cents to health insurance premiums. If enacted, the law will take effect January 1.
TEENS INVITED TO ENTER HEALTHY HEARING CONTEST
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES–The House Research Institute (HRI) is holding a video essay contest as part of its “Sound Rules! Sound & Hearing Celebration Events” for teens, which will occur at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Theater in New York on May 4 and Los Angeles on May 12.
As more teens use handheld electronic devices and mobile music players, making the right choices to preserve their hearing becomes increasingly important. HRI’s contest encourages teens to visit the EarBud site [http://www.earbud.org] to learn about healthy hearing, and then submit entries via YouTube describing the importance of maintaining healthy hearing practices.
A selection of the videos will appear on the SoundRules.org site prior to the event, and winning entries will be eligible for prizes, including a custom electric guitar signed by Paul Stanley of the legendary band Kiss, a VIP package to see Rihanna in concert, and a pair of Sennheiser noise-cancellation headphones. Stanley will personally introduce the winning video.
SPECIAL OLYMPIANS TO GET HEARING HELP
CHICAGO–Special Olympics athletes with hearing impairments will be able to enjoy the roars of the cheering crowds as they compete, thanks to a 3-year agreement between Phonak US and the Special Olympics Healthy Hearing program.
Phonak will donate hearing aids for distribution during free hearing screenings provided at Special Olympics events across the United States, and also enable athletes to visit local hearing centers for fittings and calibrations of the devices. The official signing event took place on April 8, at the American Academy of Audiology Convention in Chicago.
Nearly a third of the Special Olympics athletes in the United States fail basic hearing tests, and many who are candidates for hearing aids did not previously have access to care.
