{"id":228028,"date":"2026-05-21T09:03:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T13:03:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=228028"},"modified":"2026-05-21T10:08:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T14:08:44","slug":"empowering-communities-through-sound-the-nj-hearing-aid-project-at-montclair-state-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2026\/05\/21\/empowering-communities-through-sound-the-nj-hearing-aid-project-at-montclair-state-university\/","title":{"rendered":"Empowering Communities Through Sound: The NJ Hearing Aid Project at Montclair State University"},"content":{"rendered":"

Receiving free hearing aids is life-changing not just for the New Jersey residents who are hard of hearing but for Montclair State University\u2019s Audiology<\/a> students who help refurbish and distribute them as part of New Jersey Hearing Aid Project<\/a> (NJHAP).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most rewarding part of working for NJHAP is the knowledge that I am making a true difference in the lives of the patients we work with,\u201d says first-year audiology doctoral student Julianna Mijal.<\/p>\n

Second-year audiology student Emma Simas agrees: \u201cYou feel nearly as much joy as they do when it\u2019s their turn to get hearing aids. I am always incredibly grateful when they give us a call or send an email or letter and tell us all the new things they are hearing and experiencing with their new hearing aids.\u201d<\/p>\n

As students in the only Doctor of Audiology<\/a> program in the state, Mijal and Simas are responsible for refurbishing donated hearing aids and working with a network of audiologists across the state to distribute them to people with hearing difficulty who may not receive hearing healthcare services otherwise. With oversight from Audiology Clinical Preceptor Elena Kagan-Weitz, they oversee the New Jersey Hearing Aid Project (NJHAP), which is housed in Montclair\u2019s Communication Sciences and Disorders program. The project is a partnership with the state\u2019s Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Emma
Second-year audiology student Emma Simas logs refurbished hearing aids. (Photo by University Photographer John J. LaRosa)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWorking with NJHAP has been an excellent lesson in humility and humanity,\u201d says Mijal. \u201cConnecting with patients human-to-human and understanding the multifaceted lives that they lead outside of our clinic is key in making them feel seen and heard, which leads to the best care outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hearing aid project is way bigger than us. I’m so incredibly proud to be part of this project, this community and so intertwined in audiology and hearing aid fitting and selection.”\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0~ Emma Simas<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Kagan-Weitz, who serves as principal investigator and director of the NJHAP, says that in addition to providing people in need with hearing care, it provides audiology students an opportunity to learn new skills. \u201cAll of our students have worked directly with NJHAP patients in providing them with audiological care, which incorporates our program\u2019s exceptional education with community outreach for underserved populations.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Julianna
First-year audiology doctoral student Julianna Mijal carries a container of donated hearing aids to the bank for refurbishing. (Photo by University Photographer John J. LaRosa)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The mission: hearing health as social justice<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Audiology program is part of Montclair\u2019s College for Community Health<\/a>, which operates on the principle that “health is a cornerstone of social justice.” For many low-income seniors and individuals with hearing disabilities, the high cost of hearing aids \u2013 which can run as high as $7,000 and are not covered by Medicare \u2013 can impede them from navigating life.<\/p>\n

Elizabeth Hill, director of the NJ Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing<\/a>, a part of New Jersey\u2019s Department of Human Services says hearing aids are often \u201cthe third most expensive purchase a person might make, after a house and a car.\u201d In addition, she adds that \u201cone of the biggest barriers that individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing face is access to hearing health care… our mandate is to eliminate barriers to participate in society where people live and work and interact.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hill says that the partnership with Montclair is essential for the program’s success: \u201cWe are one of the most comprehensive hearing aid programs in the country. We are very grateful for the partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Emma
Emma Simas tests hearing aids at Montclair\u2019s NJ Hearing Aid Project office. (Photo by University Photographer John J. LaRosa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How the partnership works: a cycle of giving<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Montclair State University serves as the operational hub for the NJHAP, which started in 2013, and operates as a student-led \u201chearing aid bank\u201d that provides hearing devices to recipients. It works because of:<\/p>\n