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The Wisconsin Infant & Children's Statewide Hearing Aid Exchange Service (WISHES) program loans hearing instruments (hearing aids and/or FM systems) for a 6 month period to newly identified deaf and hard of hearing children who are not Medicaid eligible or do not have hearing aid insurance coverage (children ages 0-3 will be given priority).
The purpose of the program is to assure that all children identified with a hearing loss have access to auditory development of the brain through high quality hearing instruments soon after identification.
This temporary assistance is intended to bridge the gap between identification of a hearing loss and obtaining the financial means to purchase personal amplification or for children awaiting cochlear implant surgery.
Families can access the program through their clinical audiologist.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- No financial criteria other than not having access to personal insurance or state funded medical assistance that covers hearing instruments.
- Minimal paperwork, audiologist submits a Hearing Aid Request Form indicating the device/s they are requesting and families must sign a Parent Use Agreement indicating that they may be held financially responsible for loss or damage to the hearing instrument/s.
- Additional supports include 1 package of batteries per hearing instrument, one set of custom ear molds, and one Parent Care Kit.
- Web-based accessibility for requesting hearing instruments will be developed with the assistance of the University of Wisconsin-Stout – Assistive Technology Resource Center.
- Personal FM Systems will be included as an option to the extent possible.
For additional Information, please contact:
Stacie Heckendorf
Educational Audiology Consultant
WISHES Program Coordinator
WI Educational Services Program for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (WESPDHH) Outreach
124 2nd Street #11
Baraboo, WI 53913
Office: 608-355-2023
FAX: 608-355-2042
Cell: 262-749-6763
Blackberry: stacie.heckendorf@uscellular.blackberry.com
Email: anastasia.heckendorf@wesp-dhh.wi.gov
The WISHES program is a collaborative effort between the multiple agencies and programs listed below:
- Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WESPDHH) - Outreach
- Wisconsin Sound Beginnings Program
- WisTech
- University of Wisconsin-Stout – Assistive Technology Resource Center
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