It just feels good to save money, right? It can be invigorating when you’ve found a great deal on something, and the larger discount, the more pleased you are. So letting your coupon make your buying choices for you, always going after the least expensive items, is all too easy. But going after a bargain when it comes to purchasing hearing aids can be a big mistake.
Health consequences can result from choosing the cheapest option if you require hearing aids to treat hearing loss. Avoiding the development of health problems such as depression, dementia, and the risk of a fall is the entire point of using hearing aids in the first place. Choosing the correct hearing aid to suit your hearing needs, lifestyle, and budget is the trick.
Finding affordable hearing aids – some tips
Cheap and affordable aren’t necessarily the same thing. Affordability, as well as functionality, are what you should be keeping your eye on. This will help you keep within your budget while allowing you to find the correct hearing aids for your personal needs and budget. These are helpful tips.
Tip #1: Research before you buy: Affordable hearing aids exist
Hearing aids have a reputation for putting a dent in your wallet, a reputation, however, is not always represented by reality. Most hearing aid makers will partner up with financing companies to make the device more affordable and also have hearing aids in a wide range of prices. If you’ve started searching the bargain bin for hearing aids because you’ve already resolved that really good effective models are out of reach, it could have significant health consequences.
Tip #2: Ask what’s covered
Some or even all of the expense of hearing aids may be covered by your insurance. As a matter of fact, some states require that insurance cover them for both children and adults. It never hurts to ask. If you’re a veteran, you may be eligible for hearing aids through government programs.
Tip #3: Your hearing loss is unique – choose hearing aids that can tune to your hearing situation
Hearing aids are, in some aspects, a lot like prescription glasses. Depending on your sense of fashion, the frame comes in a few options, but the exact prescription differs considerably from person to person. Hearing aids, too, have specific settings, which we can calibrate for you, tailored to your precise needs.
Picking up a cheap hearing device from the clearance shelf won’t give you the same results (or any useful results at all in many cases). These amplification devices boost all frequencies instead of boosting only the frequencies you’re having a hard time hearing. Why is this so important? Hearing loss is usually irregular, you can hear certain frequencies and sounds, but not others. If you increase all frequencies, the ones you have no problem hearing will be too loud. In other words, it doesn’t really solve the problem and you’ll wind up not using the cheaper device.
Tip #4: Not all hearing aids do the same things
There’s a temptation to view all of the amazing technology in modern hearing aids and imagine that it’s all extra, simply bells and whistles. The problem is that in order to hear sounds properly (sounds like, you know, bells and whistles), you most likely need some of that technology. The sophisticated technology in hearing aids can be tuned in to the user’s level of hearing loss. Many modern models have artificial intelligence that helps filter out background noise or communicate with each other to help you hear better. Also, selecting a model that fits your lifestyle will be simpler if you take into account where (and why) you’ll be using your hearing aids.
That technology is necessary to compensate for your hearing loss in a healthy way. Hearing aids are much more advanced than a simple, tiny speaker that boosts the volume of everything. And that brings us to our last tip.
Tip #5: A hearing amplification device isn’t a hearing aid
Okay, say this with me: A hearing aid is not the same thing as a hearing amplification device. If you get nothing else from this article, we hope it’s that. Because the makers of amplification devices have a monetary interest in persuading the consumer that their devices do what hearing aids do. But that’s dishonest marketing.
Let’s take a closer look. A hearing amplification device:
- Takes all sounds and makes them louder.
- Is usually built cheaply.
- Gives the user the ability to control the basic volume but that’s about it.
A hearing aid, conversely:
- Can be programmed with various settings for different locations.
- Can be programed to recognize distinct sound profiles, like the human voice, and amplify them.
- Boosts the frequencies that you have a tough time hearing and leaves the frequencies you can hear alone.
- Can minimize background noise.
- Has batteries that are long lasting.
- Will help safeguard your hearing health.
- Can achieve maximum comfort by being molded to your ear.
- Is set up specifically to your hearing loss symptoms by a highly qualified hearing specialist.
Your hearing deserves better than cheap
Regardless of what your budget is, that budget will determine your options depending on your overall price range.
That’s why we normally highlight the affordable part of this. When it comes to hearing loss, the long term advantages of hearing loss management and hearing aids is well recognized. That’s why you should focus on an affordable solution. Don’t forget, cheap is less than your hearing deserves.”