It just feels great to find a bargain, right? It can be exhilarating when you’ve received a good deal on something, and the bigger discount, the more satisfied you are. It’s a little too easy, then, to make the cost your primary consideration, to always choose the least expensive option, to let your coupons make your buying choices for you. But chasing a bargain when it comes to purchasing hearing aids can be a big oversight.
If you require hearing aids to manage hearing loss, going for the “cheapest” option can have health consequences. Avoiding the development of health problems including depression, dementia, and the danger of a fall is the whole point of using hearing aids in the first place. Finding the correct hearing aid to suit your hearing needs, lifestyle, and budget is the key.
Tips for choosing affordable hearing aids
Affordable is not equivalent cheap. Affordability, as well as functionality, are what you should be keeping your eye on. That will help you find the best hearing aid possible for your personal budget. These are helpful tips.
Tip #1: You can get affordable hearing aids.
Hearing aids have a reputation for putting a dent in your wallet, a reputation, however, is not necessarily reflected by reality. Most hearing aid manufacturers will partner up with financing companies to make the device more affordable and also have hearing aids in a wide range of prices. If you’ve already made the decision that the most effective hearing aids are too expensive, you’re probably more inclined to search the bargain bin than seek out affordable and reliable options, and that can have a lasting, detrimental impact on your hearing and overall health.
Tip #2: Ask what’s covered
Some or even all of the expense of hearing aids might be covered by your insurance. Some states, in fact, have laws mandating insurance companies to cover hearing aids for kids or adults. Asking never hurts. There are government programs that frequently supply hearing aids for veterans.
Tip #3: Your hearing loss is unique – choose hearing aids that can tune to your hearing needs
Hearing aids are, in some ways, similar to prescription glasses. Depending on your sense of style, the frame comes in a few choices, but the exact prescription differs considerably from person to person. Similarly, hearing aids may look the same cosmetically, but each hearing aid is tuned to the individual user’s hearing loss needs.
You’re not going to get the same benefits by grabbing some cheap hearing device from the clearance shelf (or any useful results at all in many cases). These are more like amplifiers that raise the volume of all frequencies, not just the ones you’re having trouble hearing. What’s the importance of this? Hearing loss is usually irregular, you can hear some frequencies and sounds, but not others. If you raise all frequencies, the ones you have no trouble hearing will be too loud. You will probably end up not using this cheap amplification device because it doesn’t resolve your real problem.
Tip #4: Not all hearing aids do the same things
It can be tempting to believe that all of the modern technology in a quality hearing aid is simply “bells and whistles”. The problem with this idea is that if you wish to hear sounds properly (sounds such as, you know, bells and whistles), you most likely need some of that technology. Hearing aids have innovative technologies calibrated specifically for people who have hearing loss. Background noise can be filtered out with many of these modern models and some can connect with each other. Also, selecting a model that fits your lifestyle will be simpler if you take into account where (and why) you’ll be using your hearing aids.
It’s crucial, in order to compensate for your hearing loss in a reliable way, that you have some of this technology. Hearing aids are much more sophisticated than a basic, tiny speaker that amplifies everything. And that brings up our last tip.
Tip #5: An amplification device is not the same thing as a hearing aid
Alright, say this with me: A hearing aid is not the same thing as an amplification device. This is the number one takeaway from this article. Because the manufacturers of amplification devices have a financial interest in persuading the consumer that their devices work like hearing aids. But that simply isn’t the case.
Let’s break it down. A hearing amplification device:
- Takes all sounds and makes them louder.
- Is often cheaply made.
- Provides the user with little more than basic volume controls (if that).
On the other hand, a hearing aid:
- Can pick out and amplify specific sound categories (like the human voice).
- Can be shaped specifically to your ears for maximum comfort.
- Has highly skilled professionals that adjust your hearing aids to your hearing loss symptoms.
- Can limit background noise.
- Has the ability to change settings when you change locations.
- Will help you maintain the health of your hearing.
- Has batteries that are long lasting.
- Is tuned to amplify only the frequencies you have difficulty hearing.
Your hearing deserves better than cheap
Regardless of what your budget is, that budget will determine your options depending on your general price range.
This is why an affordable solution tends to be the emphasis. When it comes to hearing loss, the long term advantages of hearing loss treatment and hearing aids is well recognized. This is why an affordable solution is what your focus should be. Don’t forget, cheap is less than your hearing deserves.”