The LionsEar Hearing Aids
Responding to the global problem of hearing impairment, Lions are making available low-cost, quality hearing aids to people who could not otherwise afford them. The Lions Affordable Hearing Aid Project is for low-income people both in developing nations such as India and developed nations such as the United States.

Lions are actively involved in assisting hard of hearing people obtain
hearing aids. The Lions of Mississippi are giving aids to those who were caught in Katrina. For two years Lions in France have given LionsEar aids to people in Tunisia. The Lions in Turkey have placed aids on 180 children. In Mexico approximately 500 people annually receive aids in a joint venture between a Michigan Lions district and the local Lions. One state Lions association has given 100 hearing aids. Several Lions hearing aid banks, foundations, clubs, districts and 11 Lions state organizations are using the LionsEar. Several states agencies, such as the department of rehabilitation, are referring people to Lions for the LionsEar hearing aids.

The Lions Affordable Hearing Aid Project is rooted in a continuum of care model that involves certified hearing professionals and focuses on low-income beneficiaries. The hearing aid is one part of the solution to hearing impairment. Also needed are the services of hearing care professionals who conduct tests, make ear molds, program the hearing aids and do follow-up care.

All LionsEar hearing aids will be distributed in cooperation with participating Lions and hearing care professionals. The hearing aid is ordered by Lions clubs, districts and hearing programs. It is then shipped to hearing care professionals who have a relationship working with these Lions entities.

The LionsEar is available through both existing and new Lions hearing programs. Existing programs are defined as those that already provide hearing aids in cooperation with hearing care professionals and have a process in place for identifying eligible recipients. New Lions hearing programs are those that are interested in distributing the LionsEar hearing aid, but do not have an existing structure in place. LCIF will assist Lions clubs and districts that wish to begin distributing the aid.