The UW Speech and Hearing Clinic Hearing Aid Assistance Program (HAAP) assists adults on a low income to obtain appropriate hearing healthcare. Patients are fit with refurbished behind-the-ear hearing aids which have been donated to the program. Services are provided by AuD graduate student clinicians under the supervision of a licensed audiologist.   

How do patients qualify?

  • Individuals must have a documented hearing loss based on an examination by a qualified hearing healthcare professional. There is no minimum hearing loss requirement.
  • Low income or low financial resources
  • Due to the nature of this clinic, those on Medicaid/WA Apple health do not qualify.

What kind of hearing aids does the Hearing Aid Assistance Program provide?

  • Behind the Ear (BTE) hearing aids 
  • Receiver in the Canal (RIC) hearing aids 
  • HAAP hearing aids come with a 6-month repair warranty.

What are the responsibilities and cost to the patient?

  • Non-refundable administrative fee of $100 to be paid at the time of the initial consultation appointment.
  • Hearing aid copayments at the time of the fitting appointment will be due:
    • $250 monaural or $550 binaural hearing aid, and
    • $80 per earmold if applicable 
  • The total cost to the patient varies based on what the fitting audiologist determines to be appropriate
  • The professional fitting fee covers the following: hearing aid fitting and evaluation (programming, Real-ear measurements), counseling and instruction on the device, and two follow up adjustment appointments: one within 2-4 weeks post fitting;  one- six months post fitting).
  • Hearing aids may be returned during the initial trial period (30 days) with a partial refund. The administrative fee of $100 is non-refundable.

Overview of the HAAP

To Apply: 

UW Speech & Hearing Clinic
ATTN: HAAP
4131 15th Ave NE 
Seattle, WA 98105 

  • After receiving your application, You will be contacted about your candidacy for the HAAP. If you are a candidate for our program, you will be added to our waitlist.
  • The program coordinator will contact you to schedule an initial consultation when there is availability.  
  • During the initial consultation, the fitting audiologist will conduct a hearing evaluation, if needed, and obtain information about your lifestyle and hearing goals to identify the appropriate hearing aids for you.  
  • Following this initial consultation, a hearing aid fitting and orientation will be scheduled (approximately 3 weeks later).  
  • After the hearing aid fitting, there are two follow-up appointments where the audiologist will make adjustments to fine tune your hearing aids. These occur at two  weeks post fitting, and six months post fitting.  

 

Community Audiologists

  • At this time, the HAAP is unable to accommodate community audiologist participation. Please contact the HAAP office with any questions.

Donations

Our clinic relies on donations to provide hearing aids to those in need, and HAAP donations are tax-deductible. At this time, our clinic is only accepting hearing aid donations that fit the following criteria:

  • Less than 5 years old AND receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) / behind-the-ear (BTE) style
  • CROS/BiCROS devices
  • Oticon Exceed devices
  • Phonak Naida devices

Please DO NOT donate batteries, dry aid kits, or other accessories.  

We appreciate your interest in supporting our program, and we ask that you only send us items that fit the descriptions above. We currently have a large inventory of other hearing aids, however, the ones above are high-need items. Thank you for your understanding and generosity.

Contact Information

For Questions, please email shclinic@uw.edu or  call 206-543-5440 and leave a message with the receptionist.  Your email/call will be returned within 48 hours.