One of the most frequent asked questions about hearing aids is: “How much do hearing aids cost?”.
The answer to this question is impossible to give, which is why you will find it difficult to find hearing aid prices online. In this article we endeavor to explain why hearing aid prices can vary so much and why some hearing aids have a high price tag.
The price of hearing aids is entirely individual. For starters, some people may get financial support, but most relevant, prices are determined by type of hearing loss, the model, the preferences of the person with hearing loss, and so on. We aim to help you better understand why some hearing aids cost far more than others and inform you on the technological benefits of higher priced hearing aids.
1. Individual Pricing: Too Expensive or Maybe Even Free
Before you decide whether or not you think that hearing aids are too expensive, you should get your own hearing aid funding situation assessed.
One of the reasons why we cannot give you the exact price of a hearing aid is because it’s highly individual, not only because of the availability of different styles and modern technologies depending on your specific level of hearing loss, but also because of the qualification for financial support. For example, some people are qualified for financial aid, while others might not be covered by their insurance, government or other local circumstances. The best way to find out the precise price for you, is by visiting your nearest hearing center for an evaluation.
2. Hearing Aids are More Advanced Than Ever
Gone are the days where you had to carry around heavy machinery in order to improve your hearing by just a few decibels.
Today’s modern hearing aids are compact, sophisticated and in some cases almost invisible.
We are very proud to have technologically advanced products. We have developed hearing technology that says goodbye to the traditional noise reduction technology that limited your hearing from a single direction to deliver a 360° sound experience to the users of our Oticon Opn hearing aids. We’ve removed noise and made it easier and less strenuous to hear in noisy environments for a less tiring hearing experience. Giving speech more clarity, and even solved the problem of ‘feedback’ to eliminate the nuisance whistling most hearing aids are subject to.
Modern hearing aids can even communicate wirelessly with devices such as your smartphone and TV, and we have pioneered connectivity technology, including internet connectivity to connect your hearing aid to smart devices, all designed to make your life easier. Fitting all of that into something smaller than your pinky finger of course takes a lot of research and development.
3. Hearing Aid Evolution Requires Research and Development
We are continuously improving hearing technology and have a dedicated research team that is working on developments that may benefit your hearing experience even in 10 years’ time.
4. More Than Just Amplification
Cheaper alternatives to hearing aids, known as Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAPs), sit behind the ear and amplify all sound. Most of them don’t differentiate between sounds, which means that you get all sounds amplified – including background noise and sounds. That means that you risk hurting your ears more than you’re helping them in the long run.
We do not recommend sound amplifiers, mostly due to the risk of damaging your hearing further. The area is largely unregulated and PSAPs do not guarantee safe sound levels.
5. Fitted to You and Your Needs
Not too long ago, hearing aids were more or less one-size-fits-all. Your hearing aids didn’t adapt to your specific needs. That’s not the case with modern hearing aids. Instead, hearing aids today are complex technological devices that are designed to improve your hearing experience and help your brain make sense of sound! The latest technology from Oticon makes it possible to fit hearing aids optimally, without the risk of feedback (the high pitch whistle), a study has shown that you actually get speech understanding on the same level as people with normal hearing (Juul Jensen, 2019 and Callaway, 2019).
Today you go through a treatment process to make sure that you get the right hearing aid for your specific needs. You start by visiting a hearing care professional who identifies your exact needs. Maybe you have tinnitus, which makes your needs completely different from someone who cannot follow conversations in noisy situations, or someone who cannot follow conversations even in quiet situations. Choosing the right device might seem overwhelming, but your hearing care professional is just that – a professional. They talk to you and tailor their recommendation to fit your wishes and needs. It takes years of training and specialising to be able to safely help you with your hearing. The price of hearing aids is also dependent on those professional skills.
Start Improving Your Hearing Today
If you want to check the price of hearing aids, the best way to find the exact and individual price for you is by visiting a hearing care professional to have an informal conversation about your needs and options. In many cases, you get to trial the hearing aid before you make a final decision. Find a hearing care professional near you below.
Find a hearing center near you here.