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Can you Save Money By Ordering Hearing Aids Online?

Your old hearing aid is on its last legs or you realize you need a hearing aid. If you are cost conscious, there is one option available to you for saving money - order a hearing aid online over the Internet.

What do you need to do to prepare to compare apples and apples? Become an informed consumer and do your homework. It's your money, so spend it wisely.

First Get a Hearing test

 If you haven't had a hearing test recently, find out how bad your hearing really is. Go to an audiologist and get a test. Some provide the test free of charge, and you may pay, at the most $50.  They will try to sell you a hearing aid but politely decline unless you want to pay top dollar and you want a lot of personal care.

Understanding Your Hearing test

Second: Decide what kind of hearing aid you want: 

Technology: hearing aids come with either analog and digital circuitry. If you have a choice, choose a digital hearing aid, as these are the most recent technology and contain additional DSP (Digital Signal Processor) features such as noise filters and echo suppressors.

Form factor: (how they are made and how they look)

All hearing aids form factors have digital electronic options. In fact hearing aids with DSP (Digital Signal Processing) now make up more than 85% of all hearing aids sold (2006). Only some of the low cost imports (less than $100) still come with analog circuitry.

In-the-Canal (ITC): The smallest hearing aids fit in the ear canal and are available in two sizes. The ITC hearing aid can be used for mild or moderately severe hearing loss (up to app. 70Db loss). A small part of these hearing aids can be seen just outside the ear. The second type is a Completely-in-Canal (CIC) hearing aid that fits completely in the canal and can be used for mild to moderately hearing loss (up to app. 50Db). Plusses and Minuses: Some ITC's do not come with a volume adjustment. Because of their small size, if you are vain, then these are the aids for you. However, canal aids may be difficult to adjust and remove and can be damaged by earwax and are hard to clean. Once wax gets inside the unit and touches the electronics, it is useless and must be replaced. This hearing aid model is typically not recommended for children.

In-the-Ear (ITE) hearing aids consists of two, perhaps three parts. The first part goes in the canal which can be a mold or an elbow "nozzle". Some nozzles come with soft tips that substitute for the mold. The larger part of the hearing aid fits in the outer ear. These hearing aids can be used up to severe hearing loss (up to app. 80Db loss). The case, which holds the components, is made of hard plastic. This hearing aid type can also contain a telecoil option, a small magnetic coil that reduces the "squeal" when a phone is next to your ear. These aids also are not usually worn by children because a custom mold or the casing needs to be replaced as the ear grows.

Behind-the-Ear (BTE) hearing aids are the most popular model and because of their low cost (as cheap as $100 for the older analog models). They have the largest part of the hearing aid behind the ear that contains the microphone and the electronics. The standard BTE consists of three parts: the case that fits behind the ear, a plastic tube that connects the case to either a custom canal mold or a simple plug that fits in the outer ear canal. These hearing aids have the most flexibility and can be used for a wide range of hearing loss, including severe (up to app. 100Db).

Over The Ear (OTE) hearing aids are very lightweight and have digital electronics. OTE hearing aids come in two models: the hook and the lightweight OTE. The hook model is just that. The case is held in place behind the ear and the hook part comes over the ear and pokes out a little in front. This model has no tube or connection to the outer ear canal; all amplified sounds come out of the front of the tube that extends just over the front of the ear. These hearing aids can be used for moderate hearing losses (up to app. 60Db). The second models are newer OTE model versions of the BTE. They have the same parts as the BTE (case, tube, and ear canal connection) but with a big difference. They are very small and lightweight; the case is very small that fits behind the ear, the tube that comes in front of the ear is almost invisible, and most important is the part that connects to the ear...it doesn't. Instead of a plug or a mold that fits in the ear canal, there is a "basket" that just fits lightly in the canal opening. Because the basket doesn't plug up the ear, the wearer can hear ambient sound as well as amplified sound at the same time for a better hearing experience.

(more information on types of hearing aids with picture samples)

Third: Brand Name hearing Aids or Off-Brand Hearing Aids?

You've decided what kind of hearing aid model you want, now you have to decide whether you want a popular brand-name hearing aid or one from a lesser known manufacturer. Because all manufacturers who sell hearing aids in the United States are required to have the hearing aids tested by the FDA. If ordering in the USA for the most part you can be reasonably assured of good quality, regardless of the manufacturer. There are about 20 manufacturers of hearing aids selling about 200 different models with prices ranging from about $300 up to $3,000. You will pay up to 40% more for a hearing aid from a brand name manufacturer who does a lot of advertising. Some of the major vendors are: Bernafone, General Hearing Instruments, Hearing Services International, Micro-Tech, Omni Hearing Systems, Oticon, Phonak, Qualitone, Resound, Rexton, Siemens, Sonic Innovations, Starkey, United Hearing Systems, Unitron and Widex. An example of a lesser known quality manufacturer is Hearing Central (www.hearingcentral.com)

Fourth: Buy a Hearing Aid from an Audiologist or buy a Hearing Aid Online?

All of the major manufacturers sell their hearing aids through licensed audiologists or dispensers. However, more and more manufacturers are selling them though mail order and Internet channels. That means if you choose to purchase a brand name hearing aid from an audiologists expect to pay at least $1500 for the cheapest hearing aid. If you need hearing aids in both ears, expect to pay at least $3,000. However, there are some audiologists who sell brand name hearing aids online, usually at a 10% - 15% discount. You can expect to pay between $750 - $2000 for brand name hearing aids ordered online. Off-brand hearing aids with the same quality and electronics of the major brands can be had for between $200 and $1000 from the Internet. Note: there are a number of sites selling hearing aids for less than $100, some for less than $50. These are analog hearing aids imported from China and have the same electronics in them as US hearing aids had about 15 years ago. They are cheap and loud (lot's of noise), but if you are desperate and have little money, these might be an option. In the next few years, expect to see similar hearing aids imported from China and elsewhere with increased sophistication and with digital circuitry available for between $100 and $400.

Decided to Buy a Hearing Aid Online?

Check their return policies. Most online hearing aid sites have at least a 30 day "no questions asked" return policy with a restocking fee of between $25 and $75. If they do not offer at least a 12 month manufacturing defect warranty, stay away from them.   Cautions to buying online: Most of the hearing aids sold online are not programmable, or at least they are preprogrammed at the factory for a standard hearing loss curve. If you have a unique hearing loss curve, then you may be forced to go to an audiologist for the special care needed for the hearing aid programming. Also if the website does not provide you with an FDA waiver to click on or "sign", then they are not in compliance with FDA regulations.

The following internet site has good hearing aid products : www.hearingaidscentral.com