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 Education and Service Department is to:

1. Be of service to hearing impaired individuals and 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. Assist a New Jersey hearing impaired resident obtain a hearing dog from NEADS.

Goal and Objectives

Goals of the Hearing Impaired Education and Service Department are:

1. Activate pending legislation for assistance to the hearing impaired.
2. Lend support to the “So the World May Hear” program sponsored by the Starkey Hearing Foundation.
3. Continue support to the Lake Drive School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Summit Speech School and NEADS.
4. Promote and assist a New Jersey resident in obtaining a dog from NEADS or Paws With a Cause.

Objectives to achieve our goals are:

1. Ask each Grange to contact their local Senators and Assemblypersons and ask them to seek support from their colleagues for bills affecting the Hearing Impaired.
2. Collect used hearing aids and devices to be sent to the Starkey Hearing Foundation.
3. Assist a New Jersey New Jersey Hearing Impaired Resident obtain a dog from NEADS or Paws With a Cause.
4. Continue our support to the Lake Drive School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Summit Speech School.
5. Conduct a Sign-A-Word contest for the members of the Junior Grange.

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 will have available for your use of a film “Sound and Fury” - about the Communication Wars of the Deaf. To borrow this film, please contact either Carol Evans or Bea Benedik.

Requests for Your Support

For 2008 we will again be seeking your monetary support. If a hearing impaired New Jersey resident in financial need applies to NEADS or Paws With a Cause, we will again endeavor to assist this individual.

In the event no one applies, we will again contact our selected schools and ask them for a proposal of their needs. A letter will be sent to each Grange detailing our recipient/recipients and we will also include the information in The Gleaner.

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

Your continued support is greatly appreciated by all our recipients.

Hearing Aid Assistance Program

For 2008, 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 (3) 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 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 of 11/1/07 and 10/31/08. We will assist you as follows: Assistance will be given on alternating years with a maximum of three (3) allotments per person. Please indicate if you have major medical coverage.

Medicare _____ Other ______ Supplement coverage? Yes or No

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

Deadline for application is November 25, 2008, and should be sent to Beatrice Benedik, 1008 Stanton-Lebanon Road, Lebanon, New Jersey 08833.

On-Going 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 1 in 10 people in the US – approximately 31.5 million Americans. With hearing impairment affecting 1 in 12 thirty year olds and 1 in 8 fifty year olds, the foundation continues to have much work to do.

Hear Now … Providing the Gift of Hearing is a national, non-profit program 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 under the National Poverty Guidelines for assistance, they may contact “Hear Now Aid” at (800)648-4327.

For 2008, 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 acknowledgement 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 31, it will be lost and it will be necessary to start the whole process again.

Sign-A-Word Contest

For 2008, we will again be conducting a Sign-A-Word Contest for the members of the Junior Granges in New Jersey. The contest will be oral and will be conducted at state session on Saturday, December 6, 2008. Time to be announced at a later date. Awards will be presented at the conclusion of the contest. Registration of the Junior Grange’s participation is requested by November 15, 2008 to Beatrice Benedik or Carol Evans.

Five Rules for Better Hearing

1. Have your hearing tested once a year.
2. Keep ears clean without using match sticks, metal objects or sharp objects. Let a physician clear your ears.
3. At first sign of ear pain or discharge, consult a physician. Many cases of hearing loss can be prevented if infection is detected early and treated properly.
4. Never swim in uninspected pools or stagnant waters. Ear infections can start from water remaining in the ear.
5. Avoid violent blowing of the nose or blowing of one nostril while closing the other. This can lead to infection in the middle ear.

Beltone Plan for Members

Beltone continues to offer the following for Grange Members:
• Free annual hearing evaluations.
• Free Audiometric Screenings.
• 15% discount off list price on hearing aid purchases, including Tiny Invisa.
• Free ear mold impressions with purchases of hearing aid.

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.