Hearing Aids

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. 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

Sometimes a person wants to hear better as a priority over price. 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 when selecting a partner for your hearing health. These should take initial precedence over cost when considering a hearing aid provider.

Service considerations

When choosing a hearing health provider, people also think about how friendly the staff are, if the clinic is comfortable and whether it has a sound proof booth.

Without question, it is essential your hearing service offers these features to a high-quality standard.

Tip: The location of a hearing health provider in a GP surgery or clinic does not reflect their qualifications, clinical expertise or experience.

Customers should consider two key questions:

1. Is it value for money? For example, customers should be familiar with the different hearing aids to determine value for money.
2. Is it a high-quality service? What is the expertise and experience of the hearing aid provider?

These two questions stand for other medical services and devices you might purchase in the same way.

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 a number of 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.