If you’ve ever wondered whether you should purchase hearing aids at a big box store/warehouse like Costco or Sam’s Club versus a professional audiology practice, we’ll break down the important aspects in this article. Like many purchases we make in life, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons, and make a well-informed decision.
Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
One major barrier cited as a reason for not getting hearing aids is the cost. Entry-level hearing aids at a professional audiology practice, such as Associated Audiologists, range from $675 to $3,200 per ear. Hearing aids in this price range are custom-fit by a doctoral-level audiologist.
Get Real! Real-Ear Measurement Ensures Best Hearing Aid Fit
As a consumer, you may not know that there are two different ways to fit and program hearing aids. One is to use the default manufacturer’s setting, also called the first-fit setting. This means the provider essentially takes the hearing aids out of a box and puts them in your ears without performing additional programming or testing to be sure … Read More
Hearing Aids Help, but Professional Fittings Yield the Highest Patient Satisfaction Vs. OTC
The first-ever placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized clinical trial of hearing aid outcomes published in the American Journal of Audiology shows that older adults benefit from hearing aid use.
Prevent Falls this Winter with These Tips
Every second of every day in the United States an older adult falls, making falls the number one cause of injuries and deaths from injury among older Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
What’s that Ringing in Your Ears?
The holidays are here, but if you’re hearing a constant ringing, buzzing, white noise, crickets chirping and/or roaring sound, it’s probably tinnitus, not holiday bells. In fact, according to the American Tinnitus Association (ATA), tinnitus is very common, affecting approximately 50 million Americans to some degree. Usually it is a sound that only you can hear.
Treating Hearing Loss May Help Prevent Dementia
Recently, the Lancet Commission, a group of 24 international experts on dementia, estimated that one-third of dementia most likely can be prevented or slowed down by providing early intervention for hearing loss, hypertension, smoking, diabetes, obesity, and depression.
How an Audiologist Can Help You Prevent Hearing Loss
Most of us think of audiologists as health professionals who diagnose and treat hearing loss. But audiologists also can help patients prevent hearing loss by providing education and information about the damage exposure to loud noises can cause, and advising patients regarding the best hearing protection devices for their individual needs.
10 Tips for Purchasing Hearing Aids
If you’ve decided it’s time to find a reputable audiologist who can fit you with the best hearing aid technology for your hearing loss, you may find there’s a lot of “noise” in the marketplace to sift through. These tips can help you find an audiologist who can help you hear your best, and offers you a variety of options … Read More
Hear for the Holidays
The holidays bring families and friends together for dinners, parties and other special events. Unfortunately, if you have a hearing loss, this also can be a frustrating season as you struggle to hear in challenging listening environments, like restaurants or in theaters. What can you do to improve the odds that you won’t miss a word at these gatherings?
