Donate your unused hearing aids

Hearing aids sitting idle in a drawer?

With 1 in 6 Australians suffering from hearing loss (that’s almost 900,000 Queenslanders!) we need to do everything we can to support those people.

While there are some government programs that support people with hearing loss, many people fall through the cracks.

That’s why BHA’s Hearing Access Program was developed. It gives those people who do fall through the cracks an opportunity to address their hearing loss at a lower cost than being fitted with new hearing aids.

BHA has partnered with several audiology clinics ensuring we have as much of Queensland covered so anyone anywhere can access the program.

But now we need your help. We desperately need quality, used hearing aids we can get ready for fitting for those who don’t meet the criteria of existing programs.

You can assist by sending us your unused devices. See below for the devices we can accept.

How we use your donated devices

When you donate used devices to BHA they will end up in the ears of someone who desperately needs them in our community.

• We inspect and grade every donated device.
• Devices not suitable for the HAP but still usable are donated to international aid efforts.
• The device is fully cleaned and sterilised and, where needed, refurbished with new housing, receivers, moulds and tubing.
• Every participant receives a rehabilitative assessment including full case history, otoscopy, pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry and tympanometry.
• Our partner clinic programs, fits, and verify the devices, ensuring they suit the participant’s hearing loss.
• BHA provides ongoing hearing loss support and advice to ensure participants adapt to hearing with devices and get the most out of them.

What devices we can accept

There are limitations to the devices we can accept due to the clinical nature of fitting hearing aids.

We also request that you adhere to this list because every device that doesn’t fit requirements is one that BHA volunteers will need to collect and then dispose of.

If your device is not suitable, please dispose of it responsibly.

WE DO NOT ACCEPT:

• Custom-in-the ear devices, including
  • ITE (in-the-ear)
  • ITC (in-the-canal)
  • CIC (completely-in-canal)
  • IIC (invisible-in-canal)
• Hearing aids estimated to be over 5 years old.
• Devices showing any corrosion, including:
  • Battery compartment rust
  • Green/white residue
  • Moisture damage
• Devices that are:
  • Cracked or physically damaged
  • Missing key parts (battery doors, ear hooks, power supplies, chargers etc)
  • Heavily soiled or unhygienic
  • Non-functional or water damaged

WE DO ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING DEVICES LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD:

• Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids, including:
  • Standard BTE devices
  • Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC/RITE) hearing aids
  • Open-fit BTE hearing aids
• Aids that are clean and in good physical condition including:
  • Devices free from visible corrosion (especially in battery compartment)
  • Hearing aids with intact casing and controls
  • Major manufacturer brands with available programming support in Australia (eg. Phonak, Oticon, Signia, ReSound, Starkey, Widex, Unitron, Bernafon)
  • Devices that power on and appear functional (where able to be checked)

We also accept hearing support accessories and Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) in good working order, such as:

• TV transmitters and TV listening systems
• Personal amplifiers (e.g. Pocketalker-type devices)
• Remote microphone systems
• Alerting devices related to hearing support
• Other simple amplification or listening support systems

These ALDs should be in good physical condition, complete with key components and free from corrosion or battery damage.

How to donate your devices

You can donate your devices by dropping them off or sending them to:

HAP Better Hearing Australia
Level 1, 88 Tribune Street, South Brisbane, QLD 4101

Please ensure they fit the requirements above to ensure BHA doesn’t expend limited resources disposing of these unsuitable devices.

Who is Better Hearing Australia (Brisbane)?

BHA was established in 1946 by members of the local community who were hard of hearing and couldn’t find the support they were looking for. BHA Brisbane maintains this strong philosophy of self-help and draws on the value of lived experience in all its services – from informal, volunteer-led support groups to comprehensive workplace training programs.

We are recognised by the Queensland Government as the peak body for Queenslanders hard of hearing. We are a not-for-profit organisation registered with the Australian Taxation Office.