Hearing Aid Stimulus: Real or Not Real?

HOUSTON - Congress passed the $780-billion Federal Government Economic Stimulus last year, but it also came with economic stimulus grants, income relief stimulus checks and stimulus jobs.

What about a hearing stimulus package?

It's a marketing campaign some consumers and those in the hearing aid industry feel could be misleading.

Potential hearing aid customers get an envelope in the mail, clearly marked Stimulus Packet Information Enclosed.

The return address says: Hearing Stimulus Package.

Inside, in bold, it says, "$2 million hearing stimulus package announced for Texas."

And there's $1,000 voucher check to be used at participating licensed hearing aid dispensing offices.

The implication is that this so-called 'stimulus' is related to the big Federal Economic Stimulus package Congress passed last year.

But it isn't.

"There is not a hearing aid stimulus plan available, no," Brad Brumback, of Hearing Aid Express, said.

Although several, certified hearing aid businesses in the Houston area are participating, Brumback's is not involved in the campaign.

"Its probably not the most straightforward way to market," Brumback said.

Barbara McGinity with Houston's Better Business Bureau's Education Foundation echoes Bumback's sentiment.

"It's misleading advertising, I would think, because they're using works like, 'stimulus', 'announced for Texas', 'millions of dollars', all those sorts of things that are in the talks today about stimulus."

The marketing was developed by Hearing Solutions of America and distributed by Audio Care.

Audio Care President Roy Bain told me he has never heard of anyone complaining about the packet.

He pointed out the campaign is entirely legal and specifically written to help those hard of hearing, not to hurt them.

"Nothing in here is intended to mislead," Bain said.

The letter contains several disclaimers stating it is not part of a government sponsored benefit or bailout.

However, Brumback said he's worried many seniors, already nervous about getting a hearing aid, would be confused over a hearing stimulus.

"Having to wade through things like this first before getting some help, its another obstacle that doesn't need to be there," he said.

The only federal help available for hearing aids comes from long-established programs such as Medicaid.