The Regional Hearing Aid Bank program is funded through donations and grants, but as the program has grown the number of requests has grown as well. We now have an unprecedented number of residents waiting to receive hearing aids.

The program began seven years ago when the Warren Center for Communication and Learning in Bangor received a letter that said, “My friend has a heart condition and cannot hear. He cannot afford to buy hearing aids and does not qualify for the Vocational Rehabilitation program because he cannot work due to illness. He cannot understand what the doctor is saying and is misinterpreting medication instructions. What can be done?”

This letter, paraphrased here, is the reason the Regional Hearing Aid Bank exists. There was a need, and we believed it needed to be filled.

The Regional Hearing Aid Bank program, better known as ReHAB, is a program that provides reconditioned hearing aids to qualifying Mainers at no charge to them. Those who participate in the program, and can afford it, are asked to contribute between $2 and $25. Hearing aids are one of those items which are not traditionally covered by health insurance and must be purchased out of pocket.

Why should we care? We should care because hearing loss in adults is one of the biggest reasons these folks tend to isolate themselves. It happens slowly over time. People do not realize they have lost hearing, but they begin to stop attending social events, church, going to restaurants, etc.

It is very frustrating to keep saying, “What?” and not knowing why you cannot hear your grandchild or a concert. This in turn causes isolation, and isolation in adults is a major cause of depression. By providing a hearing aid, we are making sure that Maine residents stay connected to families and communities.

This important program has grown over the years. We receive donated hearing aids from across the state, and we receive requests for hearing aids from Fort Kent to South Portland to Calais.

We have more than 100 people on our list. At our current rate of funding, hearing aids this means a wait of more than five years. It costs $500 to recondition, fit and warranty a hearing aid. That may sound like a lot of money, but the cost of buying a new one is $800 to $4,000 per ear. Reconditioned aids provide a needed service. By recycling them, you are helping a fellow Mainer.

Providing each person on our waiting list with a hearing aid today would cost $51,000. We need your help. Every day our list continues to grow and every day an adult resident in Maine is waiting to be able to hear the birds of spring, and their friends at a baked bean supper saying, “Did you hear about … ?”

Please help us help your neighbor. Monetary donations may be sent to the Warren Center, 175 Union St., Bangor 04401.