What Factors Into the Cost of Hearing Aids?
Hearing loss affects everyone. As we age, our ability to hear naturally diminishes. This can reduce quality of life, make daily tasks difficult or impossible, and be a significant safety hazard. Of course, illness, injury, and genetics can make some experience reductions in hearing ability more dramatically than others. For those with a significantly diminished sense of hearing, a hearing aid is often the best solution.
Hearing aids are noninvasive, convenient, and offer a range of solutions.
Understanding Hearing Aid Technology
Those suffering from hearing loss have a range of options when it comes to choosing the right device. Factors affecting which is the right choice for you include the severity of hearing loss, the shape and size of your ear, your ability to handle the device, your personal preferences, and the available technology.
The five types of hearing aid configurations are:
- Behind the ear (BTE): Fits behind the ear
- In the ear (ITE): Fills the bowl of the ear
- Receiver in the ear (RITE): Fits behind the ear with an in-ear receiver
- In the canal (ITC): Fit more deeply in the ear canal
- CROS/BiCROS: For those with uneven hearing loss
Additionally, there are digital and analog models. Analog hearing aids have worked well for many years. However, they cannot precisely modulate sound. They cannot discriminate between different types of sound, and therefore, they amplify everything. Digital devices provide more precise amplification. They can be adjusted to select which types of sound should be amplified, which should not, and to what degree. Digital models are also more amenable to cell phones and other computerized devices.
Factors Affecting Hearing Aid Prices
The cost of hearing aids ranges between $400 and $6,000 in most cases, with an average cost of around $2,500. Factors affecting price include the configuration, whether you chose analog or digital, and the severity of hearing loss to be treated. Other factors affecting cost include:
- Ongoing professional services
- Repair
- The brand/quality of the device
- The price/package you choose
The Real Cost of Hearing Aids
Naturally, hearing aids are not something people buy and forget about. There are ongoing costs associated with use, increased need, and maintenance. While the initial purchase can seem high, the lifelong costs of hearing aids are quite manageable. The average cost per month to own a quality set of hearing aids is between $6 and $15. Most reputable providers also offer a range of financial aid services.
Tips for Affordability and Value
The wide range of quality, technology, and configuration options make hearing aids affordable for most. Of course, a range of financial assistance and payment programs are also available. Many people with hearing loss can also qualify for financial assistance for persons with disabilities.
Hearing aids are a convenient, affordable, and effective way to treat many common forms of hearing loss. The available configurations and technology make hearing aids accessible and convenient. To learn more and receive personalized recommendations, get in touch with the hearing aid experts at the Beltone Skoric Hearing Aid Center. An experienced and knowledgeable hearing loss expert is standing by to answer your questions.
Sources:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/5122-hearing-aid-styles
https://www.centreforhearing.org/wiki/analog-vs-digital-hearing-aids-423
https://www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-living/hearing-aids-cost/
https://www.hearingloss.org/hearing-help/financial-assistance/
