Chicago Hearing Society

Trying to schedule an appointment with the Chicago Hearing Society at Anixter is TERRIBLE. For some reason, they need to verify your insurance benefits before even trying to get you scheduled (I’ve never heard of that before). I have been waiting for 2 weeks now and have yet to have my benefits verified. They don’t get back to you on your status, and when I’ve called, they say «it can take up to 30 days to verify benefits.» I used to work at a physical therapy clinic, and our front desk would verify benefits THAT DAY. This is ridiculous.

I don’t know why I waited so long to review this place — but here goes.
A couple of months ago I went into this place to get my hearing aids cleaned. I gave them both hearing aids and told them to be careful with my right one because the shell was cracked. They took them cleaned them and gave them back to me — and the LEFT one was now no longer functioning. I asked them why they broke it, and they said I gave it to them like that! I mean, WHY ELSE would I possibly take my hearing aids to be cleaned?
Other than, you know, GENERAL MAINTENANCE?
Anyways, after an hour of arguing with them they finally agreed to ship my hearing aid out but refused to admit fault — I was only able to talk them down to giving me a 50% discount to repair the hearing aid THEY BROKE. I couldn’t take it anywhere else because I would then have to pay full price. So with no other options I had them send it in.
Fast forward to when they called me. Obviously I didn’t pick up the phone and instead called back using a relay service which, wonderfully, had a typist who typed out EVERYTHING that was being said — including the person on the phone talking to someone she worked with about me and how she hated me and this call and blah blah blah.
Wonderful.
I did eventually get my hearing aid back, and at least they honored their word and only charged me 50% of the repair fee. But I have not been back since and I won’t ever. I have, instead, been recommending people to go other places.
My advice: go someplace else. Chicago is a big city with many other hearing aid places to go to that are much more helpful and won’t blame you for something THEY did.

My now-​husband (Justin) and I were recently married. We contacted the Chicago Hearing Society in search of an ASL interpreter for our service and reception.
The staff at CHS was great to work with. They made the entire process very simple, and followed-​up throughout the planning phase to ensure that we were kept aware of changes. So much so, that we received a call the morning of our wedding, to let us know that one of the interpreters were sick and that they had already contacted/​scheduled a new interpreter that would be present for the event. The proactive nature of the staff really made us comfortable in the decision to use CHS.
The interpreters were personable, prompt, and really made a great contribution to the evening. We highly recommend CHS to others looking for an ASL interpreter service.

I booked a sign language interpreter through the Chicago Hearing Society for my civil wedding ceremony at City Hall. The Marriage and Civil Union Court does qualify for free interpreting services through the court system in Chicago, but their poor customer service left me nervous about using them. The last thing I wanted to worry about before the ceremony was whether or not the interpreter would make it own time, especially since it’s first come, first married at the Marriage and Civil Union Court. On the other hand, the Chicago Hearing Society staff was responsive and professional and I’m glad I picked them. The interpreter was on time and dressed appropriately. He was able to communicate with my parents flawlessly, which I appreciated. Overall, I would recommend hiring an interpreter through the Chicago Hearing Society.

For my big 400^th review, I needed to think about what I wanted to make stand out in the spot light. I have chosen Chicago Hearing Society for a variety of reasons!
First, they have been a mainstay and a lifeline to many of my students. If you do not know, I am a teacher of the Deaf. CHS has helped MANY (if not all at one point in time) of my students financing their hearing aids, providing interpreter services, as well as how to set up a VP or TTY in the student’s home.
Second, June Prusak rocks. She has set up SOOO many youth activities for both children and teens who are Deaf/​Hard of Hearing. She’s very enthusiastic and dedicated to her work, and it shows. She works extremely well with all levels of students, and has a great rapport with them.
I also love the fact that there’s a Deafline set up that has a variety of Deaf events set up through the city where I can socialize and meet other educators, as well as members of the Deaf community.
Thanks so much CHS! You rock!