Old hearing aids sitting in a drawer still have value. You can donate them to charities that refurbish devices for people who can’t afford new ones, keep them as backups, resell them, or recycle them responsibly. The best option depends on the condition of the device and whether you want to help someone else hear again.
Donate to a Refurbishment Program
Donating is the most impactful option for old hearing aids, even ones that no longer work. Several organizations accept devices of any age, brand, or model, then clean, repair, and reprogram them for people with limited financial resources.
The Hearing Aid Recycling Program (HARP), run through the Pacific Neuroscience Institute Foundation, partners with industry sponsors to refurbish donated devices and fit them to qualifying individuals: people with documented hearing loss who are low-income and either uninsured or whose insurance doesn’t cover hearing aids. They accept hearing aids in any condition.
Lions Clubs International also facilitates hearing aid donations through Hearing Charities of America. You can visit the Hearing Charities donations page online and complete a form to start the process, or contact your local Lions Club directly. Local clubs are volunteer-run and often provide direct assistance to individuals in their communities.
Your local audiologist’s office is another option worth checking. Some clinics collect old devices to use as loaners for patients waiting on repairs, or they forward donations to refurbishment programs. A quick phone call can tell you if yours does.
Claim a Tax Deduction for Donated Devices
If you donate hearing aids to a qualified charitable organization, you can generally deduct the fair market value of the device on your taxes. Fair market value means the price a willing buyer and seller would agree on, not what you originally paid. Since hearing aids lose value quickly as technology advances, the deductible amount is typically much lower than the original purchase price. The IRS specifically warns against using formulas like “a percentage of the new price” to calculate value.
Support your claimed value with whatever documentation you have: original receipts, photographs of the devices, or similar listings showing what comparable used models sell for. If your total noncash charitable contributions for the year exceed $500, you’ll need to complete Form 8283 and attach it to your tax return. Donations claimed at over $5,000 require a qualified written appraisal.
Keep One Pair as a Backup
If you recently upgraded, your old hearing aids can serve as emergency backups when your current pair is lost, damaged, or sent out for repair. Even with outdated programming, a familiar backup pair beats going without sound for days or weeks.
For long-term storage, turn the devices off completely. On most rechargeable models, this means holding the volume down button or the main multifunction button for several seconds until the indicator light flashes. Remove disposable batteries entirely if your aids use them. Store the devices in a cool, dry place, ideally in a case with a desiccant packet to prevent moisture damage. Avoid hot environments like attics or cars, which can warp plastic components and degrade electronics.
Sell Them
The FDA does not prohibit individuals from reselling hearing aids. When the agency created the over-the-counter hearing aid category in 2022, it explicitly declined to ban consumer resale, noting such a rule “will not add anything and will likely be impractical to enforce.”
If you do sell, there are labeling requirements. A used hearing aid must be declared as “used” on the outside packaging, and a removable tag stating that fact must be physically attached to the device. These rules apply whether you sell through a platform, a classified ad, or a private transaction.
The practical reality is that selling used hearing aids can be tricky. Online marketplaces have historically been pressured to restrict medical device sales, and the hearing industry has pushed platforms like eBay to limit hearing aid listings under their medical device policies. Check the current rules of any platform before listing. The resale value of older prescription models is generally low because each device is programmed for a specific hearing profile, meaning the buyer would need an audiologist to reprogram it, which adds cost.
Recycle Them Properly
If your old hearing aids are truly beyond use and you don’t want to donate them, don’t toss them in the regular trash. Hearing aids contain small electronic components and batteries that qualify as e-waste. The batteries inside, whether zinc-air button cells or rechargeable lithium cells, contain metals like mercury, cadmium, nickel, and silver that pose environmental and health risks when they end up in landfills.
Lithium batteries in particular carry a fire and explosion risk when improperly discarded. Before transporting any batteries to a recycling drop-off, cover the terminals with non-conductive tape (electrical tape works) or seal each battery in its own plastic bag to prevent short circuits. If a battery looks swollen, corroded, or otherwise damaged, contact the manufacturer for specific handling instructions before attempting to transport it.
Many electronics retailers and municipal recycling centers accept small batteries and e-waste, but call ahead to confirm they take your specific battery type and ask about any fees. Some hearing aid manufacturers also run take-back programs where you mail old devices directly to them for responsible disposal.
What About Giving Them to a Friend or Family Member
Passing old hearing aids to someone you know who has hearing loss sounds generous, but it comes with a significant limitation. Prescription hearing aids are programmed to match a specific audiogram, meaning the amplification profile is tailored to one person’s unique pattern of hearing loss. Wearing aids programmed for someone else’s ears can over-amplify some frequencies and under-amplify others, potentially making hearing worse or even causing discomfort.
That said, if the recipient can visit an audiologist to have the devices reprogrammed and refitted with new ear molds, handed-down hearing aids can work well. This is especially practical for behind-the-ear models, which are more universally adaptable than custom-molded in-ear styles. The reprogramming appointment is a fraction of the cost of new devices, making this a meaningful way to help someone who otherwise couldn’t afford hearing aids.