FAQ

• Hear for Kids is a local charitable program providing services for financially eligible children in need of hearing evaluation, hearing aids, cochlear implant repairs or medical clearance for hearing aid fitting. 
• Eligibility is based on income criteria and available funds. 
• Hear for Kids was founded and administered by The Arizona EAR Foundation for 27 years. Desert Voices is honored to carry on their legacy. Desert Voices will continue to operate Hear for Kids as historically run. 
• Hear for Kids is made possible through generous funding provided by the Vitalyst Health Foundation.

• Ear molds
• Hearing aids
• Hearing aid repairs
• Hearing aid fitting
• Cochlear implant repairs
• Cochlear implant programming 
• Medical clearance for hearing aid fitting

• Arizona children, ages birth to 18 years, or 21 if enrolled in school, whose household income is less than 250% of the poverty level. 
• Services must be provided in Maricopa County. 
• Children who are eligible for AHCCCS will need to obtain hearing aids using the AHCCCs insurance. 
• Children with insurance may be eligible to use the Hear for Kids program if the insurance does not cover hearing aids, and the family financially qualifies based on the stated income criteria. 

• The household income must be at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level.  

• Download the Hear for Kids Applications on the Desert Voices website. 
• The parent will fill out the Parent Section of the application. The audiologist or referring provider will fill out the Audiologist/Referring Provider Section of the application. 
• The audiologist or referring provider will submit the application to Desert Voices via email at hearforkids@desert-voices.org or fax to 602-224-2460
• Online applications are coming soon.

• The referring provider should help you find a provider in your area that takes the Hear for Kids voucher. If they are unable to help you find a provider, please contact Desert Voices at 602-224-0598 for assistance. 

• Your child’s managing audiologist will determine the most appropriate hearing aid. Hear for Kids asks that the audiologist choose the most economical hearing aid, ideally mid-level technology, to allow for more children to be served. 
• Bone conduction hearing devices (BCHD) can be covered by Hear for Kids based on eligibility and funding.
• Bone conduction implantation surgeries are not covered. 
• Hear for Kids can purchase hearing aids from all major hearing aid manufacturers, including 
  • Cochlear Americas
  • Oticon
  • Oticon Medical
  • Phonak
  • Resound
  • Starkey

• Your child’s managing audiologist will determine the most appropriate earmold. Hear for Kids asks the audiologist to choose the most economical earmold that fits the child’s need to allow for more children to be served. 
• Hear for Kids can purchase earmolds from all major manufacturers, including
  • All American
  • Emtech
  • Microsonic
  • Westone

• New earmolds will be covered as needed, given the child's age and audiologist’s discretion. 

• Cochlear implant repairs and programming appointments can be covered by Hear for Kids depending on eligibility and available funds.
• New cochlear implants, replacement cochlear implants, and cochlear implant surgeries are not covered. 
• Hear for Kids can assist with covering repairs for all cochlear implant manufacturers, including 
  • Advanced Bionics
  • Cochlear Americas
  • MED-EL

• Your child can be seen by any participating audiologist. Please contact the specific audiologist to see if they take the Hear for Kids voucher. 
• Please contact Desert Voices for an up to date list of facilities known to take the Hear for Kids voucher.

• We are excited to partner with all clinics in the valley willing to take the Hear for Kids voucher. Please email hearforkids@desert-vocies.org if your clinic is willing to take the following payment options to be added to a list of participating clinics. As a reminder, services must be performed in Maricopa County. 
• As a participating clinic, you agree to the following payment fees.
  • Diagnostic testing: the audiologist agrees to accept $100 as payment in full and not bill the family any additional amount. 
• Hearing aid fitting: the audiologist agrees to accept $300 as payment in full for the fitting and one year of services, and not to bill the family any additional amount. 
• Cochlear implant programming: the audiologist agrees to accept $100 as payment in full and not bill the family any additional amount. 
• Medical evaluation for hearing aid fitting appointments: the provider agrees to accept $100 as full payment and not to bill the family any additional amount. 

• Yes, if the family still meets the financial eligibility criteria and there are available funds. The Audiologist/Referring Provider Section of the application needs to be filled out when requesting new services or devices. The Parent/Guardian Section of the application needs to be filled out once a year, or if the information has changed. Submit the application to Hear for Kids via email at hearforkids@desert-voices.org or fax to 602-224-2460.

• If the Hear for Kids Voucher for the diagnostic hearing evaluation was issued in the past year, the family does not need to resubmit the Parent/Guardian Section of the application, unless their information has changed. The audiologist will need to fill out the Audiologist/Referring Provider Section of the application with the requested device information. Submit the application to Hear for Kids via email at hearforkids@desert-voices.org or fax to 602-224-2460.

• Yes, Hear for Kids has a small inventory of loaner hearing aids available for short term use. Loaner devices will only be given to the audiologist fitting the device, not directly to the family. Loaner devices can be used for 3- 6 months. Contact Desert Voices for more information on device availability. 

• We take referrals from audiologists, medical providers, school health, early intervention providers, community members, and families.  

Contact Desert Voices to receive a new voucher. 

Yes, we are happy to accept donated devices to help other children.

• Take care of the hearing aids so that they are not lost or damaged.
• Return the devices no later than 6 months from the fitting date. 
• Keep and attend all follow up appointments as scheduled
• Contact the audiologist if you have any questions or concerns.
• Release your child's medical information, related to the hearing loss, to Desert Voices Hear for Kids. This information, including this form, may be sent via electronic mail, fax or other means of data transmission. Information specific to your child and his/her hearing loss may be shared with other medical, audiology and early intervention professionals or agencies. Information that doesn’t specifically identify your child may be published, reviewed for utilization, quality assurance or used to pursue funding for the program.

• Call a provider to make an appointment for your child (voucher expires in 60 days).
• Ask if they will accept a Hear for Kids voucher as payment in full for the office visit.
• Keep and attend all scheduled appointments.
• Follow through with recommendations.