While various disabilities exist in humankind, our main focus is the matter of the ears and hearing or, rather, lack thereof; indeed, we intend to acknowledge that there are people who are hearing-impaired and note that there are degrees of hearing impairment. But we especially intend to inform HIPs (i.e. hearing-impaired persons) that they can find relief in their individual situations.

Our main offering of help herein, apart from showing understanding and empathy, shall be to guide the needy to affordable hearing aids.

Importantly, "hearing-impairment" is a designation meant to encompass all the issues with the outer and inner ear that lessen or totally defraud of hearing, issues that humans had begun experiencing millennia ago as well as those of more recent history. Therefore, whereas, say, "hard of hearing" isn’t truly represented by the term "deaf," being that "deaf" is generally intended to pertain to total hearing loss, "hearing-impairment" encompasses both conditions.

So, yes, as is insinuated by these remarks, differing sorts or stages of hearing-impairment exist, ranging from mild to moderate to severe and each having to do with the lowest range of decibels of which sound can actually be heard by an individual. Whether or not to go the hearing aid route may depend on one's degree of hearing impairment, but, notwithstanding, who wouldn't want such that would improve personal hearing?

In a 1960 episode of the television Western series Bonanza called "Silent Thunder," we get a glimpse into the plight of deafness when a young woman named Annie (Stella Stevens), a deaf-mute, was being eyed for sexual assault by a brutish neighbor named Albie (Albert Salmi), but was a couple of times rescued by Little Joe Cartwright (Michael Landon). Furthermore, Little Joe did his best to also convince her sheepherder father that he Little Joe could teach Annie from a book of sign language how to communicate with others. Surely all of the parties involved, except, of course, the miscreant, would’ve been elated had Annie access to any of the technologies we have today that are dedicated to aiding the hearing impaired, especially access to, perhaps, a hearing aid device!

Atop the problems for a congenitally deaf person -- as opposed to one who lost the ability to hear after having learned for years to speak -- is that the deaf cannot hear to thereby learn to speak, which was the abovementioned Annie's case.

Other challenges of and dangers to a HIP are too many to list currently, but all hope isn't gone! Possible healing aside, there are various technological helps which have been developed to help the hearing-impaired cope with their disability. But some HIPs may well be pleased enough with only hearing aids, therefore let's investigate the costs of this particular type of empowering device.


Seeking Affordability of Hearing Aids

Of course, there is a variety of hearing aids on the market today and likely several more being developed at this very moment. After noting, among other things, that most of those who are medically eligible aren't acquiring and employing them, WebMD does proceed to note that simply acquiring a hearing aid device via mail-order isn't advisable due to possible difficulties with regard to fitting, which in turn diminishes the device's functioning. It’s preferable, therefore, that an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist assist from the outset with the choosing, purchasing, and fitting of the hearing aid.

The average cost of hearing aids? The consensus appears to hold such a figure isn’t exactly known, but a number of organizations, foundations, funds, etc, are extant for providing guidance and monetary assistance to HIPs and their loved ones; moreover, these resources and the medical world emphasize that the benefits far outweigh the cost.

Several avenues of financial assistance to acquire hearing aids are as follows: Medicare Part B/Medicare Advantage Plans may provide help under certain circumstances; Medicaid (according to a state's eligibility requirements; however mandatory coverage exists for children); the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; private insurance coverage (but not all insurance companies provide such); Individualized Education Program (through the Free and Appropriate Public Education's power stipulating that a child suffering hearing-impairment needs such help); state-based agencies tasked with vocational rehabilitation; and hearing aid banks and programs run by local agencies dedicated to helping HIPs.

Essentially, there’s no reason the hearing-impaired ought to go on without the available help.