How to Determine The Price of Hearing Aids
Finding out the cost of hearing aids can be tricky as most dealers don’t want to let you know the prices especially for high end models.
When you call them and ask for a price quote, they won’t tell you the exact price and most probably will give you a range of prices.
The reason is that the dealers know best that you won’t come in or have an appointment after knowing the price.
The common practice of most hearing aids clinics is to offer free hearing tests to lure you into their premises. They will only let you know the exact price after you have completed the test and if you need a hearing aid.
A hearing aid can cost in the range of $500 to $5000 per device. The cost may sound a little too much for a tiny device but that’s the reality of the hearing aid industry.
1. The first step is to plan your budget for a reasonably priced hearing aid. Determine the highest price that you are willing to pay for a pair of hearing aids. A pair of hearing aids can price between $500 to $10,000 depending on the technology and the features.
The rule of thumb for hearing aids is that the higher the price, the better the device is. A good pair of hearing aid will certainly deliver better clarity of sound. You will experience better volume level and feel much more comfortable when wearing the device.
2. Determine the types of technology you want for your hearing aids. There are basically three grades of hearing aids, namely low, middle and high end. High end hearing aids range in prices from $2,500 to $10,000 per device. They work best in all environments including noisy social settings and quiet environment. Mid grade hearing aids work best in quiet to moderate noise environment. They can cost between $1,500 and $2,500 per device. Low end hearing aids cost from $500 to $1,500 per device and they normally work best in quiet environments.
Judging from the price range, hearing aids are expensive devices even for the low end models. Therefore, you should set your goals carefully in terms of hearing aids and decide how well you want to hear in your life and what environment you want to use your hearing aids mostly. Once you have set your goal, you will be able to determine the grade of hearing aids that you want.
3. Talk to local hearing aids clinics to set up possible appointments. Consult the physicians and ask the types of hearing aids they are carrying in store. If possible, try to find out the price range for the types of hearing aids that you have decided on over the phone. Most likely you won’t get the exact price quote for the hearing aids. Instead you will be asked to come to the clinics for an appointment for free hearing tests.
4. If you haven’t had any ideas about hearing aids or don’t have a clue on the types of hearings that suits your needs, it’s highly recommended to arrange for a couple of appointments at your local clinics. Try out the free hearing test offered by most clinics and talk to the physicians about the types of hearing aids they would recommend to solve your hearing problems. Expect to spend at least an hour at each appointment.
It’s worth the time for these appointments since you will get yourself familiar with the types of hearing aids that most physicians would recommend. Besides, you will be able to learn about the brands, technology, styles and prices of hearing aids before you make up your mind on the specific hearing aids.
5. Remember not to be pressured into buying hearing aids that you are shown by the sales person. Hearing aids are a multi billion industry. The number of hearings aids in terms of styles, types, technology and brands that are flooding the market is staggering. There are so many brands and models for you to choose from. Therefore, don’t settle for the first price that you are offered. Instead, you should shop around and arrange for a couple of appointments to get familiar with the prices and the technology.
The fact about hearing aids is that they are always on sales. The doctors and the salesperson are getting a hefty sum of commission from selling these devices. This gives you some say in how much you pay for your hearing aids. You can always ask for a discount and in general, most clinics will give you at least a 10 to 15% discount off the price they quote you.
6. Lastly, some tips that you should know when shop around for hearing aids is to avoid clinics with “open house” type promotions. These clinics often employ professional salesperson to pressure people into buying hearing aids on the spot.
Besides, while attending appointment for free hearing test session, ask for brochures for the types of hearing aids that the clinics recommend and at the same time jolt down the price list to take home from each appointment so that you can compare the prices with other clinics.
