Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1989-05-16, Page 1071t41.:mrrit(915.??,rwi„utqc, . ' •Ar . ••5.,i4,0•41li, Page OA - The Wingham Adveince-Timea, May 10, 1989 Heating aid'u4.6: may apply for grant May is Speech and Hearin 1 Month and access to provincial grants is now available to adult users of hearing aids. In January, 1989, the provincial government expanded the Assistive Devices Programs (ADP) to cover hearing aids for adult clients. It is possible to obtain the ADP application form by calling 963-1956, 1-800-268-6021 or 1-800-268-6023 (TDD). The ADP office will provide the client with a list of registered authorizers and vendors in this area. To access the grant, the client must consult two professionals. Two routes of service delivery have been approved by ADP. First, the client can see his ENT, otolaryngol- °gist or family physician, who com- pletes and signs the Diagnosis and Equipment Type section of the form. Then, he must visit an ADP registered authorizer who will test his hearing and an ADP registered vendor who may sell him the hear- ing aid. Some hearing instrument specialists are both registered authorizers and vendors. In that case, the hearing instrument spe- cialist will both test hearing and sell the hearing aid, ocal hearing instrument specialists who are both registered authorizers and vendors. COST IS SHARED The fee structures of the current program are quite confusing and involve cost sharing, based roughly on a 75 per cent government to 25 per cent client split. The service costs can include the actual cost of the aid, a dispensing fee, optional service agreements and may also include a testing fee. There are several problems wi the fee schedule as it exists. Co cerns over costs are being negoti ed by the ministry and the prof sional associations involved. At th present time it is quite possible th the client will have to pay mor 1 1 • '1 ' tA" . • • • ••• ' , • • • th ‘'N, • ,,,,, •,k .• , s• v • k>, v. aet FOUNDATION DONATES EqUIPMENT---The Florence Nightingale Home Foundation a tiv.,. e Grand Chapter of the Eastern Star of Ontario recently donated a $5,000 spirometer to Wingham and District Hospital. A spirometer measures lung capacity of thoseabout to undergo anesthetic. Accept:, ing the equipment on behalf of the hospital are: board and Eastern Star member Noreen Gnay; 13i11 Woodley, director of nursing and Mary Lou Thompson, hospital board chairman. On hand to make the presentation on behalf of the foundation are Bettir Jo c orbett, Toronto, Duncan McFadgett, Burlington andFlorence Symons, Clinton. Ininiiiirawiemimommatm .14 than 25 per cent of the cost of his particular aid, This is especially true in those cases where an in -the - ear model has been prescribed. A further concern with the pro- gram as it currently exists, is that it will assist with the purchase of only ne hearing aid. For many people his is like getting corrective lenses or only one eye. Binaural (two ars) amplification is the interven on of choice for many hearing- ' paired individuals. Right now, e cost of the second hearing aid is orne entirely by the client. The program was made effective n Dec. 12, 1988. Anyone who pur- ased a hearing aid after that date probably eligible for a refund of grant portion ef the aid from DP and should contact his hear - g instrument specialist if he did t receive a refund cheque. Anyone wishing more informa- n about the ADP hearing aid ogram, -or hearing intervention nerally, may contact Patricia geman Smith, Speech Language thologist at Wingham and Dis t Hospital 0 t e ti i The second route for accessing th the ADP grant for hearing instru- b ments is to visit an audiologist (not a hearing instrument specialist) and o then an authorized vendor who is a ch hearing instrument specialist. In is this instance, no signature by a the physician is required. A Locally, the services of an audiolin - ogist are not available. Audiological no assessment may be obtained in London, Kitchener, Guelph or tio Owen Sound. For those people pr unable or unwilling to travel for ge audiological evaluation, the ADP Bin hearing aid program can still be Pa accessed quite easily as there are tric • 11•11,24,0io.few".-- RECYCLING ART—Pupils at Sacred Heart School in Wingham have learned that junk can be beautiful, through "recycling art". Showing their art work are Charlotte Matz, Gary Skinn, Tyson Miller, Michael Rammeloo and Sarah Chandler, 41.1111.11111.111.1..i. *AO 0 Wat• ch for the contest flyer coming in your mail beginning June ist! 11` 1 • ••$ . ti $ ; • • I ;IN iffi °,°,! H.ffirl H I tN1 Iffiii 11? H 1 I )111W 1 1) 00