Cost Of Hearing Aids Leaves Many Users Silent

For many people a hearing aid is not a luxury, rather it is a necessity for realizing a better quality of social life as will as daily living. Hearing loss is a major life changing event and is especially prevalent among the elderly, however the cost of hearing aids is keeping many people from benefiting from the technology. Those with complete hearing loss may be candidates for cochlear implants, which are covered by most insurance plans, but those with less than total loss, must rely on hearing aids, which are not covered by insurance, even Medicare, except in rare circumstances.

As hearing aid technology continues to grow, many new smaller, more sensitive units have been developed and the cost of hearing aids continues to increase. While manufacturers seldom share their costs of research and development, component prices and marketing, it only exacerbates the debate about whether the hearing aid industry is overstating their value.

With the four basic hearing aid designs, behind the ear, in the ear, in the canal and completely in the canal having severe discrepancies in price, even the cheapest behind the ear digital aids can approach two thousand dollars. As additional features are added to the appliances, the cost of hearing aids goes even higher with some of the high-end completely in the ear hearing aids going as high as $6,000 each.

Few Listening To Pleas Of The Hearing Impaired

The hopes for many people is that even though hearing aids are a medical necessity for many people, the number of manufacturers producing the devices will soon allow the cost of hearing aids to be market driven. As many new technologies have experienced, new products regularly drop in price after they have been on a market and other manufacturers fight for market share. However, it almost seems as though when the cost of hearing aids begin to fall due to competition, the old prices are propped back up by adding options such as a built in radio or music player.

Additionally, with the cost of hearing aids considerably lower through internet sales many are turning to these outlets to benefit from their operation. However, without proper fitting and follow up to insure continued satisfaction, many and finding that the cost of hearing aids, which includes technician support and continued service may be part of the reason for the continued high cost. Others are willing to take their chances on merchandise that seems similar to that in the company’s showroom, without having the availability of service following the sale.