Departments

Hearing Impaired Service and Education Department
Beatrice A. Benedik, Co-Director
1008 Stanton-Lebanon Road
Lebanon, NJ 08833
Phone: (908) 236-6292

Carol R. Evans, Co-Director
170 Woodstown-Daretown Road
Pilesgrove, NJ 08098
Phone: (856) 769-8172

Mission Statement

The mission of the Hearing Impaired Service and Education Department is to:

1. Be of service to hearing impaired individuals and to provide assistance as needed.
2. Provide educational materials to those inflicted with a hearing loss.
3. Promote “signing” to our Junior Grange members.
4. Provide educational materials to schools, other organizations, and members of the community, stressing the importance of preserving our hearing and better hearing health.
5. Provide assistance to the “K-9 Soldiers” program.

Educational Tools

May is designated as “Better Hearing Month,” and we encourage each Grange to have a program relating to deaf education and hearing health. This committee has available for your use a film – “Sound and fury” – about the communication wars of the deaf. To borrow this film, please contact either Carol Evans or Bea Benedik.

Also available is a program entitled “Older Adults with Hearing Loss.” This presentation is by Traci Burton, Field Representative of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. In her presentation, she discusses the technology and services available and conducts equipment demonstrations. Traci may be reached at

Request for your Support

For 2012, we will be seeking you monetary support to provide assistance to the K-9 Soldiers program. These rescue dogs, after training, become certified companion dogs for soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, our recipient will also be hearing impaired as a result of his or her service to our country.

Donations may be sent to Beatrice Benedik, 1008 Stanton-Lebanon Road, Lebanon, New Jersey 08833.

Your continued support is greatly appreciated by all of our recipients.

Hearing Aid Assistance Program

For 2012, this department is continuing our Hearing Aid Assistance Program for Grange members. We also have an allotment for speech therapy as well as annual maintenance on hearing aids and yearly fittings. An audiologist or speech therapist must recommend and certify need for assistance based on their findings. We will assist you as follows: assistance will be given on alternating years with a maximum of three allotments per person.

Please apply for assistance by submitting the following information:

Name, Address, and Phone Number:

Grange:

Number of Years of Grange Membership:

Include a short paragraph about your Grange involvement

Attach a letter from prescribing physician of medical necessity with any other substantiating information and a receipt showing the hearing aid purchase, maintenance, fittings, etc. provided during the period from 11/01/11 to 10/31/12. We will assist you as follows: assistance will be given on alternating years with a maximum of three allotments per person. Please indicate if you have major medical coverage.

Medicare ________ Other __________
Supplemental Coverage? Yes or No

Does any of your insurance coverage offer hearing aid reimbursement? Yes or No

Deadline for application is November 25, 2012 and application should be sent to Beatrice Benedik, 1008 Stanton-Lebanon Road, Lebanon, New Jersey 08833.

Ongoing Project – Starkey Foundation

Since 2000, the Starkey Foundation has distributed more than 200,000 hearing aids around the world. Here in the US, 80,343 hearing instruments have been provided. Hearing loss affects one in ten people in the US – approximately 31.5 million Americans. With hearing impairment affecting one in twelve thirty-year-olds and one in eight fifty-year-olds, the foundation continues to have much work to do.

Hear Now … Providing the Gift of Hearing is a national, non-profit committed to assisting deaf and hard of hearing persons with limited resources. Hearing loss affects all ages and all walks of life. If your Grange knows of anyone who may qualify for assistance under the National Poverty Guidelines, they may contact “Hear Now Aid,” at (800) 648-4327.

For 2011, we will continue the collection of used hearing aids for the “Hear Now” program. Hear Now accepts donations of any make or model, regardless of age. Donated aids are sold to a repair lab and money generated through these sales is used to purchase the aids that are distributed to those in need. If you wish to donate a salvaged hearing aid or other assistance device, please securely package the donation and mail to: Hear Now, 6700 Washington Avenue South, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. All donations are tax deductible and a letter of acknowledgment will be sent to all identified donors.

Legislative Issues

As new bills are introduced into our legislature, we will keep you advised and again ask you to contact the chairman of the committee the bill is assigned to and ask them to bring the bill to fruition. If a bill is not adopted by December 31st, it will be lost and it will be necessary to start the whole process again.

Symptoms of Hearing Loss

• Difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds, such as women’s and children’s voices, as well as birds singing.
• Difficulty hearing at public gatherings: concert halls, theaters, and houses of worship – where sound sources are far from the listener.
• Difficulty understanding conversations within a group of people, or on the telephone.
• Turning up the TV to a volume level that disturbs others.
• Consistently asking people to repeat themselves, or to speak more loudly.
• Avoiding social situations such as restaurants or parties, where noise can make it difficult to hear conversation.
• Turning the head to one side while listening.
• Frequent noises in the ears such as ringing, humming, or buzzing.

TruHearing Hearing Aid Discounts

As announced in the July/August 2011 “The New Grange,” National Grange has secured a no-fee benefit for members from TruHearing Hearing Aid Discounts. National Grange has arranged hearing aid savings of up to 60 percent for the members and their extended families at the three largest manufacturers. For the Hearing Aid Program MEMBERplus, go to http://www.truhearingmemberplus.com. Enter group #MPH1-K755 under “employee.”

Beltone Plan for Members

Beltone continues to offer the following for Grange members:

• Free annual hearing evaluations
• Free audiometric screenings
• A 15% discount off list price on hearing aid purchases, including Tiny Invisa
• Free ear mold impressions with purchases of hearing aids

Beltone has been in business for nearly 60 years and is “the most trusted name in hearing aids,” according to a national survey of adults over 50.

To take advantage of these services, just present your Grange Dues Travel Card or other approved ID badge at the time of your first appointment. If you’re making an appointment for a family member, you must also be present to receive the 15% discount.

For a complete list of Beltone Dealers in New Jersey, please contact Carol Evans or Beatrice Benedik.

The ability to hear is a vital part of enjoying life. Let us help.