Buying New Hearing Aids

Styles | Technology | Other Decisions | Policies and Prices

The first step toward purchasing new hearing aids is to have a complete hearing evaluation.  Depending upon your hearing test results, you may be referred for a medical examination of your ears before being fitted with hearing aids.  The audiologist will order hearing aids for you that provide the appropriate amplification to fit the degree and shape (high frequency, low frequency, etc.) of your hearing loss.  There are some decisions, however, that you as the hearing aid user will be asked to make.  You will need to decide what style hearing aid you would prefer and the level of digital processing you would like to try.

Hearing Aid Styles

If you have a severe hearing loss the audiologist will recommend behind-the-ear hearing aids or full sized in-the-ear hearing aids. Otherwise, the choice is yours.  The style and size options are illustrated below.

Completely in-the-canal  (CIC)	Canal Style	Half Shell
Full Shell	Behind-the-ear  (BTE)	Open Fit Mini BTE

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Hearing Aid Technology

Most of the hearing aids manufactured today are digital hearing aids.  They digitize incoming sounds and apply a built-in formula for processing speech.  A computer in the office is used to tailor the response of the hearing aid to your hearing loss. 

Each manufacturer offers three to four different digital hearing aid models.  The premium models perform the most sophisticated processing to enhance the clarity of speech and minimize the effects of noise.  The lowest cost “budget digital” hearing aids apply more basic processing and do not have as many features, but are still flexible enough to fit most hearing loss.

If the clarity of speech is unusually poor for you, we may encourage you to purchase a premium model hearing aid.  However, generally the decision whether to purchase a premium, mid-level, or budget digital hearing aid is yours.

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Other Decisions to Make when Purchasing a Hearing Aid

One versus Two Hearing Aids
Based upon the results of your hearing evaluation, the audiologist will tell you if either or both of your ears will be likely to benefit from amplification.  If your hearing is similar in both ears, two hearing aids will generally be recommended to help you hear better in background noise and to help you locate the source of sounds around you.  Even if you would benefit from two hearing aids, it is possible to purchase one at a time if you wish. 

Volume Control and Listening Programs
Before your hearing aids are ordered you may wish to consider whether you would prefer to be able to adjust the volume on your hearing aids, or whether you would prefer to simply put your hearing aids in and not have to make adjustments.  For hearing aids that do not have volume controls, a remote control is often available.

Many hearing aids can be set with different programs for various listening situations such as background noise or music.  You may also wish to decide whether or not you would prefer to manually switch your hearing aids between various program settings. 

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Hearing Aid Policies and Prices

It is our policy to sell hearing aids on a one-month trial basis.  During the trial period it is possible to return the hearing aids for a refund, or to change to another hearing aid style or model. 

If hearing aids are returned for a refund, a hearing aid fitting fee will be subtracted from your refund. The fitting fee is $175 for one hearing aid and $250 for two hearing aids.

After your hearing aid fitting a follow-up appointment will be scheduled in one to two weeks to be sure you are having no difficulty with your hearing aids and to make any necessary adjustments.  There is no charge for follow-up hearing aid check appointments.

The exact cost of your hearing aids depends upon the technology level you purchase.  In general, budget digital hearing aids are about $1,000.  Mid-level digital hearing aids are about $1,500, and premium digital hearing aids are about $2,000. 

If it is not possible for you to purchase a digital hearing aid, analog hearing aids are available for $600-800, and used reconditioned behind-the-ear hearing aids are available for $400-500.

All hearing aids are sold with a two year repair warranty and one year loss and damage insurance.  

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