Free
Living Life After 50
February 2025 Faith Has Carried Dettmer Through 100 Years See Page 10
Allen County edition ReAChing FoRt WAyne And SuRRounding CountieS Vol. 37, No. 10
www.seniorlifenewspapers.com
Nonprofit region’s only independent
By ROD KING Feature Writer
hearing health care organization
Last year, GiveHear, a nonprofit organization focusing on hearing health care, fitted more than 570 individuals with hearing aids. The four, licensed audiologists conducted hearing tests, performed hearing aid fittings and did cochlear implants. GiveHear’s primary function is to complement the work being done by other professionals in the area by filling in gaps in access to care. It dispenses new hearing aids at two technology levels and also offers reconditioned hearing aids, which are donated to them from all across the country. People wishing to donate hearing aids can drop them off at 130 W. Main St., suite 150, in the Kitch Building right across the street from Coney Island. The organization keeps the best and newest technology from what is donated to it and tests the devices to ensure they meet manufacturer targets. It then offers in-house, two-year repair warranties GiveHear is not a free clinic. Its clients do not receive free testing, fitting or hearing aids. To help employed households with limited means, GiveHear launched the REACH program, which serves families up to 400% above the federal poverty level. Under-insured or uninsured patients are eligible to take advantage of its sliding fee scale to receive discounts, depending on household income. Through
the sliding fee scale, GiveHear serves patients up to 250% of the federal poverty level. The organization accepts Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, Indiana Medicaid, TruHearing, Hearing Care Solutions and commercial payers. According to Sarah Silva, the executive director, GiveHear has taken great care to keep patient cost shares low and feasible for those it serves. In fact, it has not raised its pricing or patient costs in more than four years. She attributes this largely to the support received from community foundations, which support it through grants, individual donors and corporate sponsors. “This is what makes our overall mission possible,” Silva added. Silva said GiveHear was created in 2011 by a local audiologist, Nora Stewart, who owns a private clinic with her husband, Ken. They recognized there was a disparity in the ability to access hearing health care due to financial barriers GiveHear started as a very small entity seeing just a handful of patients a few times a month with an all-volunteer staff. Since then it has grown to become the region’s only independent, dedicated nonprofit hearing health care organization. In addition to the Fort Wayne clinic, it operates a second, full-service clinic in Goshen and a limited-service satellite clinic once a month in Garrett. Loaner hearing aids are offered to individuals actively undergoing treatment for cancer or those in hospice care.
GIVEHEAR STAFF — The GiveHear staff shown from left in the front row are Cindy Fraser, Dr. Sarah Delaney and Dr. Charlotte Thompson. In the back row are Stephanie Webb, Sarah Meeks, Director Sarah Silva and Leslie Cohen. Photo provided by GiveHear. Like any other audiology practice, GiveHear offers comprehensive services to all ages (newborn to adult), in-house repairs and supplies, including batteries, and follows industry best practices to ensure the highest quality of care. “My goal for GiveHear is to continue to responsibly meet the needs of the community while always seeking to elevate the quality of care that we provide,” Silva explained. A Fort Wayne native, Silva attended South Side High School and completed her education at Indiana University, Bloomington. She joined Give-
Hear in 2018 as program director and assumed the executive directorship in 2023 and has a total of 28 years of experience in audiology administration. Individuals, who are unable to drop off donations at GiveHear’s Main Street clinic, can request a donation kit be mailed to them by visiting givehear.org or by calling the clinic at (260) 602-3276. RECONDITIONED AND READY — Bins of reconditioned hearing aids are ready for fitting at GiveHear’s Main Street Clinic in Fort Wayne. Photo provided by GiveHear.