Independent research has estimated that nearly 29 million Americans currently suffer from some form of hearing loss. About 24 million Americans continue to live with their untreated hearing loss, with the majority being of school or employment age. Hearing is a critical component to our daily lives and essential for daily communication.
A study performed by the Better Hearing Institute showed that an untreated hearing loss can cost a family up to $12,000 a year in lost income. When this lost income per household is multiplied by the 24 million Americans who live with an untreated hearing loss, the amount of lost income is staggering.
The vast majority of private insurance plans do not cover any portion of the cost of hearing aids and many working Americans cannot afford the cost of the hearing aids they need to treat their hearing loss. Two out of three persons with hearing loss cite financial reasons for not wearing hearing aids, yet hearing aids would improve their daily communications with co-workers, friends, and family members and increase job security.
The current hearing aid tax credit bill introduced to the House of Representatives (HR1646) and to the United States Senate (S1019) offers some much needed relief for working Americans. If passed, these proposals would provide a $500 tax credit for one hearing aid and up to $1000 for two hearing aids purchased every five years for adults and dependents.
I implore you to contact your state legislators and urge them to support the hearing
aid tax credit bill. Visit the Better Hearing Institute's Web site at http://www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org to voice your support. I also urge you to please contact a local audiologist to schedule a hearing evaluation if you feel you may have a hearing loss.
Ryan Pratt is an Audiology Extern at the Ohio University Hearing, Speech, & Language Clinic.
4 Opinion
