subject: Have You Been Shocked By Hearing Aids Prices? [print this page] Estimates suggest that in excess of 30 million people in the United States have hearing loss to some extent and, for many, hearing aids prices are a big issue. The latest digital models can greatly improve quality of life (although they cannot restore your hearing in the same way that glasses can restore eyesight) but they are certainly not cheap.
Hearing aids prices vary from less than $100 for a disposal model to several thousand dollars for a top of the range digital model. There are two basic types of hearing aids:
* Analogue Models - which are the traditional type. These simply amplify sounds and the user can adjust the volume.
* Digital Models - which are effectively small computers and these are now much more common. They receive the sound and can manipulate it before outputting it to the user. As a result they can be programmed to take into account the wearers particular pattern of hearing loss. In addition extra functionality can be built in such as multiple microphones to give some directionality to the sounds.
If you realize that your hearing has deteriorated you should first consult an audiologist who will assess the problem and advise if a hearing aid is appropriate. If so, the audiologist will test your hearing and produce an audiogram then sell you a suitable hearing aid (or possibly two). This will then be programmed it to match the audiogram and then fitted to ensure it is comfortable.
The problem is that hearing aids prices are inevitably high when bought this way (as a large majority of hearing aids are). The big brands sell their products through audiologists and put considerable efforts into getting audiologists to stock their products. In turn audiologists do not want the same products offered cheaper elsewhere, so manufacturers do not allow this. As a result prices are maintained at a high level.
Audiologists will cite their overheads (office space, personnel, etc.) plus their training and the level of service offered. However, the bottom line is that hearing aids prices have more to do with lack of competition than anything else.
Despite this some major producers do make similar products under difference brand names and allow these to be sold online. Of course buying online means no personal service but this will not matter for most people.
Buying online does have disadvantages and up to about 20% of people will not be satisfied (usually issues relating to fit and comfort) so the ability to get a refund is important. But, bearing in mind the savings that can be made by buying online, it is certainly worth trying this method.
