Legislation could help hearing impaired

Posted Thursday, June 19, 2008

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LAPEER — Damon McInnes has been hearing-impaired for 20 years. That’s one reason the Lapeer man, 44, is strongly supporting federal legislation that would allow up to $500 in tax credits for hearing aids.

“To me, it’s personal, and I feel everyone has the right to hear.” McInnes said. “My kids have grown up around a hearing-impaired parent, and they’re good communicators.”

The company he works for, HearUSA on W. Nepessing Street, is backing the Better Hearing Institute’s efforts to successfully push the tax credit program through Congress. A national study by the institute reveals that hearing loss affects 30 million Americans — 1 out of 10. Because the average cost of hearing aids, fitting and follow-up care is $1,800, two out of three adults who need hearing aids cannot afford them.

The legislation, if enacted, would provide a $500 tax credit once every five years for hearing-impaired dependents and people age 55 and older. HearUSA encourages anyone affected by hearing loss, or who knows someone who is, to visit betterhearing.org, learn more details under Tax Credits for Hearing Aids-HR2329/ S1410, and urge their representatives in Congress to support the program.

“We need to make people aware of it,” McInnes said. “To help people, that’s part of our mission statement.” — Joyce Bonesteel