When people set out to buy a hearing aid, it’s easy to see nothing but the price tag. A good quality hearing aid costs a little bit of money, that’s true. What you should really consider is the service the hearing aid provides, though, instead of what it costs. All through life, you buy things because you need the service they provide such as a car or home. Both cost a lot of money, but without them, you can’t get to work, and you don’t have a place to live.
Purchasing a hearing aid falls into the same category because without it, you can’t hear and that affects your ability to do things like talk to your boss or listen to a customer. It means you won’t hear the traffic when you drive or as you walk across the street. It also hinders you from creating, strengthening, and maintaining the most essential aspect of life, relationships.
Hearing aids are not a luxury when your hearing changes. It’s a device that provides a critical service to you. Consider some facts about hearing aids you might not know and why they are more service than a product.
What Does a Hearing Aid Do?
Let’s start with the basics. What is a hearing aid and why do you need it? A hearing aid is a device that provides amplification, but it does more than just that one thing. Modern digital hearing aids:
- Filter out background noise
- They increase and decrease the volume automatically through gain processing
- They analyze the sound environment
- They pick up conversation even in a noisy room
- They help you determine where a sound came from
They are also self-learning, in other words, they begin to know how you hear and learn what sounds matter to you. They can use that information to improve their service. There is no more annoying feedback, either, like you used to hear coming from your grandpa’s hearing aid. Modern hearing aids include digital feedback reduction. Today’s hearing aids offer Bluetooth-compatibility, as well, so they work with computers, tablets, and smartphones. No need to take the hearing aid out to answer the phone.
Why do Hearing Aids Cost So Much?
That’s a reasonable question because if you are going to think of your hearing aid a service, you have a right to know why it costs so much. Some critical elements that go into creating your hearing aid include:
- Advanced technology
- Durability and long battery life
- Personal design and fitting
- Warranty
- Free trials
You can buy less expensive hearing aids online, but they don’t have the same technology as a quality product or offer the perks of a personal fitting, a grace period, or in-person assistance. If you go that route, you might as well just hold a glass up to your ear and see what happen.
Things to Think About When Buying a Hearing Aid
When you purchase a car or house, you do your homework first, right? Take that same approach when buying a hearing aid while keeping in mind that it is a service. Start by planning a way to pay for this service. Is it something your health insurance covers? Many don’t, but you should check to be sure. You can do this by directly calling your insurance provider or audiologist.
Maybe there is a special funding plan available to you. Are you a veteran, for example? The VA might help to pay for the hearing aid. You should also check to see if you qualify for federal or state assistance, and you can look into civil organizations, too.
Next, go to the doctor for a proper diagnosis and hearing test. If you don’t already know why you suffer hearing loss, take the time to find out before you spend money on a hearing aid. It might be a side effect of a medical problem like diabetes. If you treat the condition, there is a chance you will not need the hearing aid.
It is also essential to get a professional hearing test, so you purchase the right hearing aid. A practice like ours can use your hearing test to customize the settings on any device you choose, so it best serves your needs.
Finally, meet with a specialist in person. The Internet doesn’t know what kind of hearing aid you need – that requires a personal touch. Sit down with an expert and write out what you hope to get from your hearing aid beyond just amplification. Do you want one that connects to your mobile device? Do you want the volume to adjust automatically? You are paying for this service, so get what you want from it.
Once you pick out the right hearing aid, look at the various service options. Does it come with a warranty? How about a free trial, so you know it’s the right one for you?
By seeing your hearing aid as a service – a necessary one – you’ll be able to look past the price tag towards what it can do for your life.