Audiologist Offers Free Hearing Aids

The Hearing Health Center, which has offices in Chicago, Naperville and Oak Park, has now opened an office in Highland Park, at the Crossroads Shopping Center at 185 Skokie Valley Rd.

As part of its grand opening, the center is offering a new program to help get patients who can't qualify for standard financing a free hearing aid.

"More and more local residents can’t afford hearing aids," said Dr. Ronna Fisher, Au.D, who is the founder of the new center. "I live here, so it’s painful to see on a lot of levels."

Dr. Fisher has been practicing audiology for more than 27 years. It was her father’s hearing loss at an early age that led her to audiology. Dr. Fisher graduated with a Master of Science in Audiology in 1977 from the University of Pittsburgh.

"These aren’t recycled hearing aids," said Dr. Fisher of the free hearing aids. "These are new but unsold devices. We’ve purchased 100 sets of the hearing aids ourselves for $150,000. If patients come in, have a hearing problem, and can’t get financing, we’ll provide the devices for free. Patients will just be charged a small dispensing fee."

All such transactions will be completely confidential.

The program is the latest initiative from the Fisher Foundation for Hearing Health Care, whose mission is to enhance lives through better hearing. For eight years, the foundation has sponsored educational events about hearing protection and provided free state-of-the-art $150 ear plugs to soldiers deployed to combat.

Looping testing

The new enlarged Highland Park location is also a "looping" testing site. Loops are inexpensive electrified wire loops that surround a listening area and give hearing aids users better hearing than ever before, often even better than normal hearing.

The office’s loop will surround the waiting room and connect to a TV set. The result for many visitors will be their best hearing experience in years, according to the center. Recently, similar loops have been installed at the Marriott Lincolnshire and several local churches and cinemas.

Other features of the new facility include the latest in diagnostic technology and a sophisticated balance center.

"We have to keep innovating," said Dr. Fisher. "We were the first center in the world to fit 'in-the-ear' hearing aids and the first in the U.S. to fit the tiny 'in-the-canal' aids. We’ve been peer-judged as one of the nation’s top audiology practices for the last two years."

But all that means nothing if patients can’t afford their services, said Dr. Fisher.

"This new program is my chance to give something back to our community."

To learn more, visit www.hearinghealthcenter.com or call (847) 681-7000.

Submitted by the Hearing Health Center