Why High Cost of Hearing Aids?
Tuesday March 23, 2004
The ads this past week for places like Staples and Office Depot et al have fabulous sales on computers. One of them for under $500 included 256MB memory, 40GB hard drive, 17 inch screen, pair of speakers, combo printer/scanner/fax, and a digital camera. All for under $500.
How come a pair of hearing aids costs anywhere from $2000 to $5000? And don't tell me the research costs a lot for hearing aids as that is ridiculous. The research for basic analog hearing aids like I wear was done years ago.
—stan1012
Ironically, today's (Wednesday, March 24, 2004) Wall Street Journal newspaper has a front-page story on the cost of hearing aids. According to this article, only one in five people who needs a hearing aid has one!
THE REASON HEARING COST SO MUCH IS BECAUSE THEY ARE A NECESSARY EVIL LILKE ALL MEDICAL TREATMENTS OR ASSISTIVE DEVICES THEY ARE QUITE HONESLY MAKING MONEY
AS LONG AS AS HEARING IMPAIRED PEOPLE PAY THE PRICE FOR SOMETHING THAT REALLY ISNT EVEN ALL THAT GOOD OR A GREAT IMPROVMENT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GOUGE
I AM LATE IN LIFE ACCIDENTAL HEARING IMPAIRED AND HAD WUITE A SHOCK INCLUDING STICKER AT THE PRICES AND LACK OF QUALITY IN THE DISPENSERS
AS LONG AS WE PAY THEY WILL NEVER FIND ANY IMPROVEMENTS FOR HEARING LOSS
NANCY
It is the service afterwards that runs up the cost. Hearing aids almost always have to be adjusted frequently. A good dispenser will offer a lot of included services at no extra cost for the life of the aid. If they don’t, find another despenser and get it in writing. Still, they are overpriced like everything associated with medical or quasi-medical services.
Hard of hearing people lack any kind of true organizational representation.
They had SHHH, Self Help for the Hard of Hearing, which did little more than celebrate it’s leaders.
When people refused to continue as members, it came up with a new name but with the same self serving philosophy.
The ongong result, no consumer standards, no posted pricing of aids or services, and, we have what we have. A sad state.
Warren H.
Hearing aids are just like artifical limbs why doesn’t health insurance have to cover them? I have had to buy three pair over the last 13 years and soon another as my hearing worsens and thank God for the new aids coming out on the market. If we did not have constant improvements to the aids then we would not be able to hear. I am grateful at what ever the cost as I am able to have somewhat of a normal life.
Though the likelihood of some hearing loss increases with age, AARP has taken no interest in the issue. When digital technology is improving and it’s cost is going down in the computer industry, one can wonder why the same is not true in the hearing aid industry.
The cost of hearing aids are ridiculus, no wonder most of the hard of hearing population goes without. Luckly I cam across a website which I was able to get a great digital instant fit product at a fraction of the cost. Its been great, especially for my wife as we can both listen to the TV in comfort. I know I only have a slight hearing loss but these types of products should be more available. If anyones interested have a look at http://www.easyhear.ca
Hearing aids are a rip off.
Some people really do need them. But many are preyed on by these companies and their agents… the local audiologist, as lifestyle improvement items.
There are enormous profits being made.
Just look at the marketing of these things and you can see the thirst for big profits and market share.
Greed and vanity.
It’s pretty ugly.
It’s just like anything else, in the long-run we end up shopping for the best price instead of the best product because we can’t afford to do it any other way. I bought my set and it came with a programmer that is really easy to use. I got them from http://www.hearsource.com I don’t have to go to the hearing aid company to have adjustments made, and these for 1/2 the price at $2000 with the programmer.
I couldn’t agree more. I purchased my hearing aids from http://www.HearSource.com and I have programmed them so much better for myself than my audiologist ever could. I use my own PC. I got the hearing aids, software, programmer, and cords. all for less than $2000. The backup help from the company has been top shelf. The only one who is upset is my audiologist. Her comment was that hearing aid sales is what supports her practice. Well, I’m not interested in supporting her practice. I’m interested in supporting my family and keeping my job!
HearSource.com has been my savior for better hearing also. I ran across them when looking for an affordable and reputable place to repair my seven year old Siemens hearing aids. They repaired my aids for for much less than my audiologist’s office requested that I pay. They were the obvious choice when I wanted to purchase the newer open fit type hearing aids. Their business model (internet service & sales) may not be the right choice for everyone, but they are just right for me. I could not be happier!
I have recently tried two different makes of digital hearing aids through local professional offices. Because the costs were so high and the 30 day trial wasn’t enough, I turned them back in because of no immediate improvement.
In my opinion. the hearing aid industry and the “professionals” in it, are charging way too much for their products and services. Since the two cannot be separated, the costs to the consumer and the profits to the seller, cannot be ascertained.
Today, in all fields of electronics, miniaturization, more functions, and lower prices are the rule. The law of supply and demand works, except for the hearing aid industry. I’ve heard that there are presently over 11 million people with hearing problems in the US with only 10% wearing aids.. There is a tremendous market out there for decently priced aids. If the prices were brought down, this market would open up resulting in more units produced at a lower cost to the consumer, and increasing (fair) honest profits for the trade.
Many years ago, I tried to sell hearing aids. My moral fiber objected. High prices, misleading statements, and even dishonesty ruled then. I was told to never demonstrate a cold hearing aid because the crude form of transistors at that time lost gain when cold.
That has been rectified but it makes me wonder if the moral fiber of the industry has changed today. Certainly the outrageous prices on digital aids today leaves me wondering. A redeeming factor is there’s room for compromise. Lower prices by 35% and riase the free trial period to 60 days.
My son is 3 months old, and we just got his first hearing aid a week ago.. it was almost $3,000 and that’s just for one ear!
I once had an office next door to a hearing aid specialist who revealed to me that the simple audio device was manufatured in Taiwan at a unit price of 19 cents. The cost for the completed unit was attributed to several factors such as agents, dipensers, testing and the gullibility of needy clients.
Pardon my bold commentary, but many folks suffer at the hands (or ears) of this issue. At 3 posts per year, this is a slow boat… But if any of you aren’t in the biz (some posts sound craftily otherwise), it has to be a miracle that there isn’t a DirtCheapAids.com site (or such) to dispense these umpteen year old tekk marvels at the price range of a few hundred bucks. Does anyone know what law prohibits the free enterprise from prevailing? Is it medical cartels, or…?
EDUCATE ME! ANY LAWYERS OUT THERE? OR JUST GREEDY OR DUMB CUSTOMERS (at $1000+ a pop)??
Why do hearing aids cost so much?
Research and development.
No,deafness is not a new problem.
What about generic aids? High priced drugs become less expensive over time.
Doctors prescribe the medication, evaluate the effectiveness and adjust the medications as needed.
Doctors are paid for their knowledge and the services they provide.
If the audiologists were independent and just provide a service, I would glad to pay them for their service. The cost of the hearing aid would be a separate item.
Funeral directors are required by law to give a detailed list of all charges.
Providing hearing aids should have the same requirement.
Breakdown of charges should be:
1. Testing and evaluation of hearing
2. Fitting and adjustment
3. Followup
4. Actual price of Hearing Aid
If the audiologist was independent and not affiliated with any manufacturer, the best hearing aid
for the patient would be prescribed.
There is a bill in Congress which would allow a $500 tax credit per hearing aid, which would alleviate some of the cost for people. Go here now to read more about it:
Hearing Aid Tax Credit
Guide note: This comment contains advertising, but also useful information, so it is being approved.
You go to the clinic and they tell you that you have “typical” high frequency hearing loss, but you need “custom” $3,000 hearing aids. This is an all too common scenario and one that doesn’t have to be.
High frequency hearing loss is the most common form. This type of loss is also referred to as age related hearing loss. There is no particular cause for this. It mainly strikes with changes in the inner ear that occur as you grow older. Other factors include family history, exposure to loud noises, and smoking (smokers are more susceptible).
Symptoms of high frequency or age related hearing loss include:
* not understanding speech in the presence of background noise
* understanding men’s voices more easily than women and children’s voices
* ringing in the ears
Hearing aids are the most common treatment for this type of hearing loss. In the last few years, the Open Fit Hearing Aid has become the hearing aid of choice to treat high frequency hearing loss. The downside has been that they can cost upwards of $6,000 a pair, but this has recently changed.
Up until recently, misinterpretations of FDA rules have kept these instruments off of the shelves at retail stores. Thanks to clarifications from the US Court of Appeals, hearing aids are now widely available direct to consumers. That means that you no longer have to pay ridiculous marked up prices at a clinic for what you can purchase yourself.
One particular company that stands out is Rosebud Hearing LLC. Rosebud has created a line of ready to wear digital aids for those that suffer from typical hearing loss. The company offers open fit and in the canal aids direct to consumers at many major retail outlets.
There are other companies that have produced similar lines of instruments and that list is growing. The best part about buying direct is that these ready to wear hearing aids average just $279. That’s a huge difference from what the clinics want you to pay. Sites like Perfect Hearing Aids offer the Rosebud Hearing Aids and others with a 45 day in home trial period.
The hearing aid industry is reminiscent of what we saw with the reading glass industry about a decade ago. Prior to being able to purchase reading glasses at retail stores, you had to pay a fortune for them at the clinic.
Certainly, there are instances where programmable hearing aids from a clinic are the best choice, but for those that have “typical” hearing loss, you should seriously consider a ready to wear digital hearing aid available on the Internet.