Find Out the True Cost of Hearing Aids

In a professional practice such as Associated Audiologists, the out-of-pocket cost of hearing aids can range anywhere from $675 per ear to $3,200 per ear. The range is influenced by the technology in the device, as well as the professional services included with your purchase. In most cases, you can take that figure times two because most patients require two hearings aids to hear their best.

Nearly every manufacturer offers varying performance levels at different price points—think good, better, best. Almost all hearing aids today utilize digital technology, and rely on one to several tiny microchips to process sound.

The price of the hearing aids will increase as the sophistication of the technology inside increases. Lower-cost hearing aids that include only basic technology are limited in their ability to be customized, but they may be able to meet basic needs, depending on your degree of hearing loss and your lifestyle.

If you are looking to include many advanced technological features, such as advanced speech processing, smartphone integration, wind reduction technology, self-learning features, and binaural processing capabilities, you can expect to pay more for your hearing aids. As the technology becomes more sophisticated, your hearing aids are able to make more intelligent decisions about incoming sounds and process them with greater precision.

If you have health insurance, don’t assume it will pay for hearing aids. Coverage varies widely. Most insurers, including Medicare in some cases, cover the cost of a hearing evaluation, but many will only pay a specified amount toward the purchase of hearing aids, while others will not cover any cost related to the hearing devices.

The Associated Audiologists staff is experienced in researching these questions for our patients and can assist you in learning more about your coverage.

Finance programs are often available for patients who don’t have insurance and require healthcare services and devices. Most of these services offer convenient monthly payment options and there are no annual fees, prepayment penalties, or up-front costs. You can choose from a longer-term plan with a fixed interest rate or a short-term plan with no interest, depending on your financial needs.

When it comes to hearing aids, the old adage applies: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Many advertisers use misleading strategies marketed as deals so watch out for these common claims:

1. “Field trial”—These ads offer patients the opportunity to take part in a field trial for new technology. This term is misleading because it sounds like you’re getting in on technology that’s being tested, when in reality, these trials happen long before the technology is offered to the public, and is regulated tightly by the Food and Drug Administration. This is just a way to get you to call and schedule an appointment and is considered an unscrupulous business practice by professional audiologists. Businesses that participate in legitimate research typically ask for or contact qualified individuals who meet strict study eligibility requirements rather than a general public advertisement. In addition, a practice or vendor study usually has clearly stated study objectives and guidelines.
2. “Little to no cost”—It’s very rare that insurance covers the entire price of hearing aids. Generally, the “low-cost” hearing aids advertised are entry-level devices that may indeed be less expensive, but often don’t meet the individual and unique needs of users. When you schedule an appointment with someone who uses this tactic, don’t be surprised if they try to sell you more expensive technology.
3. “Free hearing tests”— These are not comprehensive evaluations and usually just include hearing screenings. They typically are not a part of a medical record, don’t belong to the person being tested, and are usually not transferable. Full hearing evaluations from qualified audiologists determine if you have a hearing impairment and can be shared with your primary care provider. Audiologists then provide the necessary recommendations specifically tailored to your hearing loss.

When asked about the costs of hearing loss, most people cite the cost of a visit to their audiologist, the costs associated with any tests to determine the extent of loss, and the cost of hearing aids. Few people think about the “hidden” costs associated with hearing loss. These are the costs associated with day-to-day tasks that become difficult when you have problems hearing, as well as the long-term health consequences of not being able to hear your best. Here are a few of the “hidden costs” associated with not treating your hearing loss.

A national study from the Better Hearing Institute found that people with untreated hearing loss lose as much as $30,000 in income annually, depending on their degree of hearing loss. This doesn’t even measure the impact that unaddressed hearing loss has on worker productivity, absenteeism, and presenteeism.

The good news is that most people with hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids. And today’s high-tech, sleek, and virtually invisible hearing aids are better than ever. They make it easier to hear sounds and people from all directions and in a variety of listening situations. Many hearing aids sit discreetly and comfortably behind the ear or inside the ear canal and are wireless, so they can interface easily with other high-tech devices like smartphones and conference-room speaker phones. New “smart” hearing aids and rechargeables are the latest innovations that can ensure you don’t miss out on important conversations on the job, and take full advantage of your earning power

Hearing loss is often described as an “invisible” health problem. Because hearing loss usually happens gradually, many people don’t realize what they’re missing. And even more importantly, researchers have discovered significant links between untreated hearing loss and other serious health issues, including cognition, dementia, depression, falling, and overall physical and mental health.

Here is why treating hearing loss sooner rather than later is not only good for your relationships, but for your brain:

• Cognition: Research shows an untreated mild hearing loss can significantly increase your brain’s cognitive work load. You have to put in so much more effort to perceive and understand what is being said that you divert resources away from storing what you have heard into your memory. This means hearing loss not only affects your ability to “hear” sound accurately, but it also affects higher-level cognitive functioning.
• Dementia: Researchers at Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging found seniors with hearing loss are significantly more likely to develop dementia over time than those who retain their hearing or treat their hearing loss. Another study by hearing experts at Johns Hopkins found older adults with untreated hearing loss are more likely to develop problems thinking and remembering than older adults whose hearing is normal.
• Brain shrinkage: Results of a study by researchers from Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging found that although the brain becomes smaller with age, the shrinkage seems to be fast-tracked in older adults with untreated hearing loss.
• Falling: A Johns Hopkins study showed that people in middle age (40-69) with mild hearing loss were nearly three times more likely to have a history of falling. Experts suggest the intensive listening effort demanded by unaddressed hearing loss may take cognitive resources away from what is needed for balance and gait.
• Depression: Several studies have found a link between depression and hearing loss. A Johns Hopkins study found that older adults with untreated hearing loss were 57 percent more likely to have deep episodes of stress, depression or bad mood than their peers with normal hearing.

Other research points to connections between diabetes, heart disease and hearing loss. At this point, we can’t say that treating hearing loss will prevent dementia or lower the risk of falling, but we are seeing significant connections between hearing loss and other serious health issues. Better hearing helps us be our best, no matter what our age.

Searching for and buying hearing aids can be confusing, making it important for you to research brands and audiologists before making a purchase. Only two groups of professionals can sell this product: audiologists and hearing aid dispensers. Buyers need to remember this when shopping and looking at hearing aid ads. Buying hearing technology from another source doesn’t provide the quality care or support needed.

Audiologists diagnose and treat hearing loss, and should have doctoral-level credentials. Dispensers pass a state exam to earn their dispensing license.

The scope of practice for an audiologist is much more extensive than for a hearing aid dispenser. Not only can an audiologist assist in choosing hearing aids that match your needs and budget, but they also can diagnose and manage other issues related to hearing, such as tinnitus, sound sensitivity, dizziness and balance disorders.