Can you hear me? Then listen to me now!

Grade 9 students in the Collective Voice program at Aden Bowman Collegiate share their lives and opinions through columns. Selected columns run each Monday in The Saskatoon StarPhoenix. July 1, 2017.

Why is this day so important to people who are hearing impaired? That’s the day the Saskatchewan provincial government has decided to cut the hearing aid plan (HAP), leaving 40,000 people without a guaranteed hearing service. The hearing aid plan provides audiological evaluation, early hearing loss detection, hearing aids and fittings, counselling, and education. Many of its users are children, students and seniors.

I’m a 14-year-old who has had hearing aids since I was five. What would have happened if the HAP program were cut before my hearing loss was detected? My family would need to purchase my aids at private clinic; the cost would have been higher for my parents, and most hearing aids need to be replaced every five years.

The FM system I currently use is maintained by the HAP. Without it, my parents would have to pay a specialist for this service.

Most importantly, would my hearing loss have been detected early enough? I suffer from a hearing impairment that only affects one in 1,000,000 people. It was detected early enough that it did not affect my speech and language development. What will happen to the children who are already on a long waiting list for testing when this program ends, since there will be less early childhood detection and intervention audiologists?

The HAP program ensures that all the people who use their services in Saskatchewan have access to fittings, testing and hearing aids in a reliable time and at an affordable price. The HAP has the capacity to provide loaners almost immediately to those who damage or lose their hearing aids.

Another large benefit of HAP is that it sells hearing aids at a lower cost than the private clinics. This helps everyone and it is especially beneficial to those in the low income bracket. In addition to the early detection services, it provides support information to the families of the hearing impaired. I am lucky my family can afford the costs of my hearing aids and all of the extras. Some families can’t. They have to sacrifice something like extracurricular activities to pay for their aids.

So why does the Saskatchewan government want to cut something so important?

In the provincial budget unveiled on March 22, provincial officials said they had to make cuts to hold back the growing provincial debt. They claim that eliminating the program will save them $3 million a year.

So let’s put this into perspective. The HAP supports 40,000 Saskatchewan residents. Divide $3 million among all of them and this means the government spends $75 per year for each user. What is the purchasing power of $75? You can buy 10 desserts or 15 cups of Starbucks coffee or 12 McDonald’s Happy Meals, or one night at the movies for a family of three.

The provincial government believes the private sector can supply this service, but many believe private clinics will not be able to provide early detection, audiological services and hearing aids at the same costs as the HAP program.

This program ensures that all the people who use these services in Saskatchewan have access to fittings, testing and hearing aids in a reasonable time and at an affordable price. The HAP program also plays an essential role in early detection and intervention for hearing loss. Many studies have shown the benefits to society for this testing.

July 1 seems far away, but it will come sooner than you think. A petition to try to save HAP can be found online at: http://bit.ly/2rPqSbO

If you are passionate about this, please sign it. Tell others, spread the word and contact your provincial MLA.