An Insider’s Guide to Buying Hearing Aids

Purchasing a hearing aid is a big deal, both in terms of the difference it can make to your life and relationships, but also due to the the investment you make in your health and wellbeing.

Despite the complex science behind your ear health and the technology required to restore hearing loss, people are not expected to have an in-depth knowledge of audiology services prior to their hearing assessment or hearing aid purchase. Consequently, when asked to select a hearing aid, most people have to trust their gut instinct and the little information they have at hand.

If you are considering the purchase of a hearing aid, it is important to understand:

Sometimes it’s not about the money

If the primary reason for getting hearing aids is to get your hearing enhanced as good as possible, then the qualification held by your audiologist, the quality of your hearing test and the degree of diagnostic testing conducted are just some of the factors you should consider. These should take initial precedence over cost when considering a hearing aid provider.

Do qualifications matter?

Qualifications absolutely matter. After all, you will be paying for – and trusting – the expertise of your hearing health provider who will diagnose, prescribe and treat your hearing loss, and advise you on the hearing aid technology to suit your needs.

There are several different grades of audiologist and their qualification will give you an indication as to the level of knowledge and insight held by your hearing aid provider. It will also help you determine whether their fees are reasonable. For example, would you expect to pay more for a Doctor of Audiology or a provider with an online certificate? In this instance, you could expect the provider with the online certificate to charge less.

Tip: Ask your provider for their business card. Qualified audiologists will always write their degree and course title clearly next to their name, e.g. Jane Doe BSc. Audiology. Consider the easy reference table below for information on audiology qualifications.

Sometimes it IS about the money!

If you have found a Qualified Audiologist you are happy with and you had a thorough Audiological test then the last decision you have to make is that of the costs involved. Your hearing aid is an investment in your hearing health, your relationships and your quality of life, so it pays to get it right.

Tip: Ask your hearing aid provider for their business card and write the make and model of the hearing aid on the back. This makes it easy for you to compare against other makes and models and the prices offered by other hearing companies.

The Hearing Company recently helped a customer from Westport who had been offered the Phonak B90 top-of-the-range hearing aid for €6,500 by a local hearing company. For the same make and model, we saved our customer €3,000 – for the very same service and the same hearing aid technology but at vastly different prices.

Check our handy reference guide below for information about hearing aid manufacturers and their various makes and models, and visit DeafHear.ie for a helpful guide to buying a hearing aid.

At The Hearing Company, we are passionate about helping people find lasting, effective solutions for hearing loss and ultimately enjoy good hearing health.

Should you have further questions about buying a hearing aid or hearing technology, please don’t hesitate to contact us for a prompt and obligation-free discussion.

If this this information has been of benefit to you. Please feel free to contact us with any other questions you may have. We respond to all enquires promptly with no obligation.