Why Are Hearing Aid Prices So Different?

Hearing aids range in price based on the range of styles and features you need to address your hearing loss. Often a hearing aid is chosen for the features alone – modern devices can reduce background noise and feedback, as well as serve basic requirements – but other times it comes down to the pricing. 

The good news is there are hearing aids available to suit every budget, and even the ones on the lower-end of the market have excellent basic functionality for individuals with uncomplicated, mild hearing loss. Hearing aid technology moves quickly, so the models of tomorrow are typically equipped with much higher-advanced features than those of today, resulting in a shift in costs.

Hearing Aid Costs

Nowadays, hearing aids are quite advanced; the devices on the higher end of the pricing scale have digital noise reduction, feedback reduction, binaural processing, signal channels and much more. Naturally, this affects the cost and creates a broad pricing scale that can influence the quality of the device. That said, devices on the lower-end of the spectrum are also quite capable for mild cases of hearing loss.

The cost of an average adult hearing aid varies significantly, depending on the levels of technology used. Basic devices cost less but have fewer features and are less customizable. Discuss the options with an audiologist and they will take into consideration your hearing loss, lifestyle, aesthetic and budgetary needs.

Prescription Hearing Aids

When it comes to buying a hearing aid, people have numerous options available to suit their preferences. Hearing aid styles come in a range of choices, including the five most common types: in the ear (ITE), behind the ear (BTE), in the canal (ITC), invisible in canal (IIC) and completely in canal (CIC). These styles range in sizing, with those worn behind the ear being slightly larger and ideal for individuals that need a power-packed device that is easy to handle, to canal-worn varieties that are incredibly discreet and provide a more natural listening experience.

In addition to their size and where they are worn in the ear, these devices can be equipped with varying features to address your individual needs. Your audiologist will conduct a hearing test to determine your degree of hearing loss and will then work with you to find a device that fits your wants and budget.

Follow-Up Care

In addition to hearing testing, hearing aid selection and evaluation, hearing aids purchased through your audiologist will also include follow-up care. After having your hearing aid fitted, you will usually visit a few weeks to a month later for any minor adjustments you need. This allows the audiologist to talk to you about your experiences wearing the hearing aids and make any minute changes that could benefit your hearing. Additionally, you will want to talk with them about any daily maintenance required to keep your hearing aids operating at a maximum level, as well as how many professional cleanings you should be scheduling.

Pricing Factors

As with most electronic devices, hearing aids are sold in different classes. State-of-the-art devices have the most features, they have digital noise reduction that uses smart technology to identify speech or background noise, feedback reduction to avoid squealing, and binaural processing to enhance sound quality. These features aren’t available in lower-end models.  

Hearing aid devices across the board strive to meet the needs of customers, but they also reach for the latest technologies. While every hearing device has the features required to meet a range of hearing requirements, higher-end devices normally have supplementary technologies. Your audiologist will be able to fully discuss the benefits these different features provide and help you hone in on the ones that will be most accommodating to your hearing loss.

Research and Development Costs

In addition to the technology you are currently getting when you select your hearing aid, part of the associated costs are also covering the research and development costs needed to produce these advanced devices. In order for hearing aid technology to evolve and better serve the public, development and testing of new products is a common requirement.

The main reason hearing aid devices differ significantly in price is down to the technology used, the features offered and the class of hearing device. The good news is you have professionals available to help you understand these differences in models, styles, features and pricing, to help guide you to the best device for your personal needs.

If you want to learn more about whether or not you could benefit from a hearing aid and what style, schedule an appointment to have your hearing evaluated by an audiologist at Flynn Associates by calling: Concord at: (978) 759-3540 or Wellesley: (781) 943-5040.