New Jersey Hearing Project Audiologists Recognized for Helping Make Hearing Aid Program a Success

N.J. Human Services Commissioner Johnson Offers Thanks for Participating in Program that Helps Older New Jerseyans with Low-Incomes  

Oct. 12, 2018

(MONTCLAIR) – New Jersey Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson on Friday recognized and thanked audiologists who have participated in the New Jersey Hearing Project, which provides free refurbished hearing aids to eligible older residents.

Johnson thanked the audiologists from throughout New Jersey during the New Jersey Academy of Audiology’s annual conference at Montclair State University.

“This program has been a great success, providing hundreds of refurbished hearing aids to consumers aged 65 years and older with low-incomes,” Johnson said. “Our audiologists are crucial to our efforts to assist New Jersey residents who are deaf or hard of hearing, and we could not have accomplished this program’s success without their help. I thank them for their participation.  We’re so excited by the benefits this program brings to our residents, and we’re working to build upon that success to help even more people.”

The New Jersey Hearing Aid Project provides free refurbished hearing aids to residents over the age of 65 with low incomes. Used hearing aids are donated to the program and reconditioned to meet the needs of the consumer. Earlier this year, Johnson announced that the Murphy Administration had boosted the reimbursement for audiologists participating in the program from $150 to $300.

“Some older New Jerseyans with hearing loss are not able to afford the cost of a hearing aid,” Johnson said. “The Hearing Aid Project is an important program to help meet these needs and while we thank the audiologists who have made this program successful, we also hope to keep expanding it and creating easier access for residents in need of hearing aids.”

The program was launched by the Department of Human Services’ Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Montclair State University and Sertoma/Hearing Charities of America.

The project involves collecting used hearing aids, reconditioning the devices and dispensing them to eligible residents. When the hearing devices are no longer needed by project participants, they are returned to the project and made available for another consumer. All used hearing aids are accepted – any age, any brand and any model.

Individuals who are at least 65 years of age, are New Jersey residents and have an income not exceeding $27,189 if single or $33,334 if married are eligible for the program.

“Not only do hearing aids help people with hearing difficulties, but they can boost social interactions, improve income security and enhance overall quality of life,” said Deputy Commissioner Elisa Neira. “This program has been invaluable in so many ways, which is why we thank the audiologists who have participated. Their efforts go a long way to improving the lives of so many residents.”

The Department recognized the following audiologists’ participation in the program:

• AUDSLP Diagnostics and Rehabilitation Clinic, of Paterson;
• The Center for Audiology and Speech Language Pathology at Montclair State University of Montclair;
• Hackensack Audiology and Hearing Aid Associates of Hackensack;
• The Hearing Group of West Orange;
• New Jersey Hearing Health Center of Brick;
• Speech and Hearing Associates of Bridgewater;
• Sophisticated Hearing Aids of Ho-H- Kus;
• Speech and Hearing Associates of Cliffside Park;
• Speech and Hearing Associates of Denville;
• Speech and Hearing Associates of Little Falls;
• Speech and Hearing Associates of Park Ridge;
• Speech and Hearing Associates of Roseland;
• Speech and Hearing Associates of Secaucus;
• Speech and Hearing Associates of Westfield; and
• Dr. Jennifer Srour of Your At Home Hearing Doctor of Jackson