Hearing Aid cost

Chicago Dizziness and Hearing Page last modified: November 16, 2009

Hearing aids are typically not covered by Medicare or commercial insurance and pricing varies according to the manufacturer, vendor, and service arrangements. According to Kirkwood (2005), in 2004, the average price of a hearing aid was $1776. These prices are taken from an article on management of hearing loss by Bogardus et al, 2003.

Hearing Aid Type	One ear	Both Ears
Conventional (Analog, non-programmable)	600 -1500$	1400-3000$
Programmable (Analog)	949 -2000$	2200-4000$
Digital	1399 -2999$	4200-5400$

In our practice, we offer a basic digital hearing aid at a muchlower price than indicated above, but these prices are typical of the industry.

These prices are significant. Here are some suggestions we have for people who can't afford the hearing aid that has been recommended to them.

 

Do you really need hearing aids on both ears ?

Although this goes against the general recommendations of audiologists (who often make their living from selling and servicing hearing aids) in reality hearing aids are not like socks where it makes no sense to just buy one. Most of the time, most of the benefit comes from the first hearing aid. Yes, it is usually better to have two, but often you can get along pretty well with just one. In fact, some people like the fact that they can "turn their deaf ear" to something or someone, when it is convenient.

In most people, it works best to put the hearing aid on the better ear. You can always get a second one.

Hearing aids don't have to be a "matched pair" either.

Do you need the fancy hearing aid ?

BTE (behind the ear) devices are generally cheaper	Completely in the ear devices are generally more expensive.

You pay more for technology and for small size. Small digital aids cost more than big, clunky analog hearing aids. Hearing aids that can be "programmed" -- basically have their equalization changed at a later date, are more expensive than aids that are preset to a particular equilization.

Hearing aid models change like cars -- features are added -- but all that a hearing aid needs to do basically is to make the sounds that you can't hear louder.

Perhaps you can get a lot of benefit from a large, conventional analog aid. Yes, other people can see it, but communication is worth some indignity.

Perhaps you don't really need to be able to boost the high end on your hearing aid 2 years after you purchase one (i.e. perhaps programmability is not so important).

Remember, you can generally try hearing aids for a month before you buy them.

Consider an assistive device.

There are many methods of making things louder without putting all of the electronics into or close to your ear. These are generally called "assistive devices". The typical assistive device costs about 10% as much as a hearing aid.

PocketTalker, from hearmore.com

For example, the "PocketTalker" shown above is a small clunky device that nevertheless can be useful for things like one-on-one communication. This device is usually priced around $175 (Costco sells them for $114).

What the world needs is a "bluetooth" assistive device so your assistive device "hearing aid" can use cell-phone electronics. I don't know of one of these (yet). However, it seems to me that one could easily pair an "Ipod" type bluetooth transmitter and a directional microphone with one of these assistive devices, and just build your own hearing aid that looks like a cell phone. Anyone who does this, please let me know how it worked.

There are assistive devices for TV's, telephones, and just wiring up offices. In essence, these are large, inexpensive hearing aids.

Can you get a hearing aid through a charitable organization ?

Hearing loss and hair loss seems to come eventually to all of us. For this reason, there are often charitable organizations that are willing to help out with hearing for persons who don't have financial resources to buy a hearing aid. This (off-site) page provides some suggestions.

Hearing aids online.

For most people, we think it is best to get their aid through an audiologist.

The first big consideration is "try before you buy". We wouldn't buy a couch or a home stereo unit without trying it first. It also seems to us that it is not a good idea in general to buy something that costs somewhere betwen $300 and $3000 without trying it out first.

If one were to do this anyway, it would seem very wise to know a LOT about the device we were buying (just as I like to know all about the stereo equipment I purchase). What does it do ? Who makes it ? Will they be in business longer than I will need this hearing aid ? What is it's frequency response ? How adjustable is it ? Can you get it with a t-coil (which is nice) ? How do you get it sized for ones ear ? How well does the frequency response of this device fit my needs ?

Audiologists (the people who typically "fit" hearing aids) will counsel you, make sure that it works, take it back if it doesn't work out in the first month, clean it, repair it, etc.