With the cost of hearing devices ranging from $2,000-$7,000 a pair, patients often ask us, “What’s wrong with the less expensive ones?”
The answer is, nothing. In fact, budget hearing devices could be the perfect choice for you. The only way to find out which is best for your hearing lifestyle is to partner with an Audiologist who understands the art and science of selecting and fitting hearing devices.
The advanced technology of today’s hearing devices means they are more adaptive and offer more features to choose from (typically automatic features to simplify their use). These added features, while providing additional benefits, also add to the overall cost of the hearing device. However, depending upon your unique requirements, more is not necessarily needed.
Think of it this way: If you were a serious athlete planning on running a marathon and you decided to purchase a treadmill to do some off-season training, you might choose a $4,500 model on which you could run full speed at varying degrees of inclines, all while the machine kept track of your heart rate and measured your progress. You would probably also want to have a personal trainer experienced in achieving the highest possible performance to assist you in getting the most out of your investment and workouts. However, if you just wanted to take an occasional walk and perhaps lose a few pounds, a $500 treadmill would probably do the trick.
The same considerations are true when it comes to selecting appropriate hearing devices. If you are very active, exposed to a variety of noisy environments and don’t want to be bothered adjusting volume, then you will probably be happier with hearing devices that include advanced features such as directional microphones, feedback cancellation and automatic adjustments. In conjunction with this, you will be most satisfied with your results and achieve maximum benefit by consulting with an experienced Audiologist to tailor the features of the device to your personal needs. If you live a quiet life and don’t mind making manual adjustments, then a more economical hearing device might be perfect for you. In short, it is the art of selection and fitting combined with the science of technology that will have the most direct impact on your level of satisfaction.
Audiologists are skilled at matching your needs to the most appropriate technology and fitting the devices to provide maximum benefit. They have been trained to make their recommendations for the type and style of hearing devices based upon five important criteria:
- Your personal lifestyle
- Your level of hearing loss
- The physical characteristics of your ear canal
- Your cosmetic preferences
- Your budget constraints
Audiologists ask many questions in order to get to know you. They believe by investing time into understanding what your life is like and what is important to you, they will be able to ensure your optimal hearing while providing you the best performance for price.