The Cost of Hearing Aids Bought from Audiologists

Why are hearing aids from an audiologist so expensive when I can purchase cheaper devices online?

I’ve recently had a number of people reaching out to me asking why hearing aids purchased from an audiologist are more expensive than devices advertised online and on Facebook. Whilst I cannot comment on all devices sold online I believe it is important to educate the public on the difference between a PSAP and a hearing aid and the importance of the audiologists role in the hearing aid process.

Hearing aids are basically mini computers. Hearing aid technology develops nine times faster than cell phone technology and billions of dollars are spent yearly on research and development to ensure technology and patient outcomes are constantly improving. Over the last few years we have seen major growth in hearing aid technology including but not limited to:

• Improved hearing in noisy situations
• Rechargeable hearing aids
• Direct smartphone connectivity which allows sound and calls to be streamed directly from a cell phone into a patients hearing aid
• Artificial intelligence and gyroscope technology has been built into hearing aids. This allows the hearing aids to track a patient’s steps and activity similarly to a fitness watch. Furthermore, the gyroscope allows us to identify if a patient has experienced a fall. This then sends a message to a family member alerting them something may be wrong with the hearing aid wearer.

Looking forward the industry is constantly looking for better ways to link hearing aids to overall health. We hope to be able to identify information such as high sugar levels and blood pressure directly from the hearing aid. This technology is still in development but based on how far we have come over the last few years this is certainly an achievable goal.

Hearing aids are customised to the patients hearing loss and ear. Once a patient is identified with a hearing loss we fit the hearing aid according to their specific hearing loss and needs. When we lose our hearing it affects certain pitches or frequencies differently. Age related hearing loss often affects the high frequencies only. That means when we fit a hearing aid on these patients we provide varying levels of amplification or volume to different pitches or frequencies.

Furthermore, the audiologist takes your hearing loss into account when selecting the style and type of hearing aid suitable for your hearing loss. The portion that fits into your ear must be adjusted to your ear shape and size as well as to your amplification needs.

Lastly, when fitting a hearing aid, the audiologist performs real ear measurements to ensure the hearing aids are providing the required amount of volume at each frequency. Our ears are all different shapes which causes sound to resonate differently in different ears.

As you can see there are a lot of factors to consider when selecting and fitting a hearing aid. Audiologists are trained hearing care professionals who can ensure that your hearing loss is diagnosed correctly and your hearing aids are fitted appropriately.

So what about the devices that are sold online at very low prices? How are these units setup without an audiologist and can an audiologist not just fit these for me once I have purchased them? The answer is unfortunately no.

The majority of the devices sold online are PSAP’s (personal sound amplifiers) and not true hearing aids. A PSAP has a predetermined volume level and this is usually set to the same volume across all frequencies. This means when purchasing these units, they are not set to your hearing loss. This puts you at risk of having too much volume at frequencies you do hear and not enough volume at other frequencies. This can potentially cause further damage to your hearing if the device is set too loud at certain pitches.

An audiologist requires software to connect the device to a computer to adjust the frequency response. Because these units are pre-set there is no way an audiologist can make any adjustments to the settings. Furthermore, the tubes and wires used on hearing aids differ across brands. An audiologist does not have access to the parts required to clean, maintain and repair the units should they be faulty or do not fit correctly.

Finally, when purchasing a hearing aid you are not paying for the device only but for the knowledge and expertise of the audiologist. Audiologists will conduct a diagnostic hearing assessment prior to any hearing aid fitting. This will accurately diagnose the cause of the hearing loss to ensure proper treatment is received. In many cases individuals need to be assessed and treated by an ENT as they have a medical condition requiring treatment.

An audiologist will guide you in choosing the right brand and style of hearing aids suitable for your hearing loss, lifestyle and needs. The audiologist provides follow up services like hearing aid repairs, assistance with connecting hearing aids via Bluetooth and training on how to care for the devices and your ears.

Whilst Dr Google has become commonly used in all households, it is important to remember that medical information or products purchased online cannot always be verified and could end up causing further damage or harm.

Audiologists have a variety of price levels for hearing aids to assist in finding a product in a patient’s price range. Please be cautious before purchasing any medical devices online without a thorough assessment by a trained medical professional.

Do you need more information on hearing aids?

If you’d like more information on the best hearing aid options for you, or if you think you may be experiencing hearing loss, please contact us to book an appointment in Bedfordview or Benoni by calling our office on 011 615 3047 or email candice@cvhaudiology.co.za