Just what to do with an old or used hearing aid is a dilemma which arises for many people. Thehearing aid may have belonged to a family member who does not need it, or it could be yours and has been replaced by a newer one or by a cochlear implant.
If the hearing aid was yours, the first option to consider it to keep it as a back up or a spare. If you lose or damage your new hearing aid and are without it for a period of time, you can revert back to your old one temporarily. This is not a bad idea, in the same way that keeping your old pair of glasses as a backup is a good idea when you get a new pair.
If the hearing aid was originally expensive and is in good working order, you can consider selling it on a forum such as eBay or Craig’s List. But first, make sure it is legal to sell used hearing aids in your state. Not all of them allow it. To attract qualified potential buyers, make sure that your ad contains all the relevant details including the manufacturer and model, the date of purchase and current condition, warranty and battery details and the reason you are selling it. It is a good idea to include pictures. To set a price, look up ads for similar hearing ads, and base your price on the range you find there; it is unlikely you’ll get what you originally paid for the unit.
An excellent alternate option is to give your used hearing aid to someone who needs it. There are organizations that specialize in collecting used hearing aids and redistributing them to people who need one, but cannot afford them. In the United States, organizations that specialize in the charity collection and redistribution of hearing aids include the HARP Program by Lions Clubs International, Hear Now by the Starkey Foundation, and Sertoma. Another organization called Worldwide Hearing also collects used hearing aids for redistribution in developing nations where the people need them but cannot afford them.