Hearing Aids Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why are hearing aids so expensive?
   Traditionally hearing aids have been dispensed through professionals who sell, fit and adjust the devices as part of the overall cost. The services are usually included in the cost of hearing aids. Without a great fit, you may not get the most out of your investment.
   
   It is interesting how society perceives the importance of their own hearing. Only you can decide how valuable your ability to communicate, function at your job and the effort it takes for you to communicate and its worth. We offer a trial period with all of our hearing aids to help you make that decision.
   
   We do offer hearing aids with basic technology. You can get a very good sound quality in less expensive devices; they just may not have any of the features that the more expensive devices have. We will work very hard to find something that works for you that is within your budget. You may even qualify for special funding. See your audiologist for details.
   
   Consider amplifying one ear while you save money for the other ear. Even though it is normally recommended to amplify both ears, but a practical solution may be to start with just one.
   
   Check out these articles for more information:
   Why do Hearing Aids Cost So Much?
   Why Are Hearing Instruments So Expensive?


2. How do I decide which hearing aid is right for me?
   Most hearing healthcare professionals recommend that you choose the most advanced hearing aid that fits your budget. Generally, the more active you are, the more benefit you will gain from more advanced technology.


3. How much do hearing aids cost?
   The cost of hearing aids are determined by levels of technology. The range of hearing aids is approximately $1000-$3300 each. This price includes warranty, lost and damage, professional fitting and follow-up services.


4. Why so many hearing aid choices?
   Capitol Ear, Nose & Throat is not a franchise. Because each individual sound perception is unique, one hearing aid may sound different to another person with the exact same hearing loss. "There are differences between brands but they are not significant enough that you can say what brands are the best brands." -Todd Ricketts, Ph.D., Associate professor of hearing and speech sciences at Vanderbilt University.


5. Do hearing aids help with tinnitus?
   Hearing aids will not silence the noise in your ears. However, most often a person with tinnitus also has hearing loss. Hearing aids will help to amplify environmental sounds that are not heard due to the hearing loss. This allows your brain to focus on those sounds and not the tinnitus. Therefore, tinnitus patients may report some relief from the noise in their ears.


6. How long should hearing aids last before being replaced?
   The average life of a hearing aid is about 4-6 years, depending on how well the device is maintained. There are tiny electronic components inside of a hearing aid, such as microphones, amplifiers and receivers. These components are exposed to humidity, perspiration and earwax daily which can affect how well the hearing aid functions over time.
   
   Today's digital hearing instruments can usually be reprogrammed to accommodate changes in hearing. However, hearing aid manufacturers usually have new models available every year with advancements in technology. After five years, hearing aid users are usually eager for these new features and tend to be ready to purchase new devices.


7. How does Bluetooth or telecoil work with hearing aids?
   Bluetooth is a type of technology developed in 1994 that allows electronic devices such as mobile phones and computers to communicate within a short range wirelessly. In the recent past, you may have noticed people walking and talking, apparently to themselves, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. If you look at these same people a little closer, they all have one thing in common; a Bluetooth receiver sticking out of their ears.
   
   The good news is that persons with hearing loss as well as persons with normal hearing can utilize this hands-free technology. In 2002, Bluetooth technology and hearing aid technology merged and now there are devices available that link hearing aids to Bluetooth technology. For hearing aid users, probably the largest advantage of this merge is in the clear signal it can provide to cell phone conversations, although there are other benefits as well such as communication with mp3 players, televisions and computers.
   
   A telecoil, also known as "t-coil" or "t-switch", is a special circuit inside of the hearing aid. It is a tiny coil of wire around a core that induces an electric current in the coil when it's in the presence of a changing magnetic field. This allows the hearing aid to "hear" through the magnetic coil instead of through the microphones of the hearing aid. When the telecoil is activated, it turns off the hearing aid microphone, picks up the magnetic signal, and then the hearing aid converts the signal into sound. This magnetic signal is most commonly found in certain telephones and assistive listening devices.


8. I've been told there is nothing that can be done with my tinnitus and that I just need to learn to live with it. Is there anything that can be done about my tinnitus?
   The audiologist may help you develop some coping strategies to make the tinnitus more manageable. Some people use a sound generator known as a tinnitus masker. There are many types of tinnitus maskers available and some devices can be programmed to specific frequencies that best mask a person's tinnitus. In the ear devices are available for purchase here at Capitol Ear, Nose & Throat, P.A.


9. Are hearing aids cheaper on the internet?
   Sometimes hearing aids found on the internet are not comparable to the hearing aids dispensed by our audiologists. Circuit technology may explain the difference in cost. Other times, our cost actually may be considered as competitive to the hearing aids found on the internet but internet hearing aids do not include the services. Other times, internet hearing aids can actually cost more if you seek the services of a clinician outside of the internet. It is highly recommended to have the hearing aids adjusted to accommodate your hearing loss while the device is in your ear. Additionally, experience shows that half of the success with hearing aids is dependent on the expertise and knowledge of the clinician that you are working with. Part of the fitting includes working with a clinician who can listen, understand and adjust according to your specific listening environments. The fitting includes learning realistic expectations, maintenance and adjusting and fine tuning to optimize performance which cannot be done over the internet. And lastly, by working with an audiologist face to face, you have the freedom of trying different manufacturers (if necessary) to find the right hearing aid for you. Purchasing hearing aids over the internet cannot replace an expert whose goal is to have a successful hearing aid fitting. The best thing you can do is to obtain a second opinion. It's worth it.


10. Are hearing aids waterproof?
    Manufacturers have taken tremendous strides in developing technology to protect their hearing aids from moisture, such as nanocoating technology and designing protection via gaskets and drains. No hearing aid is considered "waterproof" but some are labeled "water resistant". In the hearing aid industry, there are no standard that defines a water resistant hearing aid. Here at Capitol Ear, Nose & Throat, P.A., we do our part to help protect the hearing aids by issuing a hearing aid dryer with every hearing aid purchase to help prolong the life of the hearing aids and protect it from moisture damage.
    
    RESOURCES:
    Better Hearing Institute
    Hearing Loss Association
    American Academy of Audiology
    American Speech-Language-Hearing-Association

Back To Hearing Aid Services