For the nearly 48 million Americans that suffer from hearing loss, hearing aids present a life-changing treatment option. Daily use of hearing aids protect the ears and help prevent further hearing loss. Likewise, eight out of ten of hearing aid wearers say that they vastly improve their quality of life.
But with the high cost to own and sometimes little to no assistance from insurance, the price tag can seem like a significant and daunting hurdle to purchasing a pair of your own. You may wonder what goes into these tiny little devices to make them cost so much and are they worth it?
How Much Do Hearing Aids Cost?
Depending on the level of quality and technology, hearing aids can range from $1,000 to $6,000 per device, per ear. The highest-priced models will feature the latest technology like advanced noise reduction and wireless capabilities. As the price point decreases, the features will typically get more basic.
The good news is that hearing aid technology has become so advanced, what was considered top tier just two years ago is now basic. Research and development are progressing and making these devices smaller, smarter, and more dynamic than they have ever been. What was once an annoyance is now a godsend for people with all types and degrees of hearing loss.
Why Do Hearing Aids Cost So Much?
Over the last few decades, billions of dollars have been invested in the research and development of hearing aid technology. It has helped us understand hearing loss, the varying degrees of it, how it impacts people, and the best ways to treat it. The research has resulted in the best quality hearing aids but the costs of the research is built into the prices of the products. They cost money to maintain and repair as well. Sometimes this is bundled into the price of the device.
Because of this research, some amazing technology has been implemented into new hearing aids like decreased size, Bluetooth connectivity, and noise reduction. Do you remember your parents’ hearing aids that could be seen from ten feet away and got feedback from any electronic device? Those days are long gone.
Size
Hearing aids now are virtually invisible, thanks to new technology. Gone are the bulky designs that were uncomfortable and sometimes even painful. They now fully fit inside your ear with only a tiny transparent tube that connects to a device worn behind the ear.
Wireless Connectivity
Your new hearing aids such as Resound hearing aids are now just as smart as your phone and can connect to it as well. You can receive auditory cues and carry on phone conversations directly with your smartphone via an app and Bluetooth connection.
Noise Reduction
The old hearing aids amplified all sounds, including sounds you didn’t need to hear, which made it more challenging to pick out essential sounds. New hearing aid technology is designed to block out background noise, making what you were trying to hear clearer.
All of this added technology had to be researched, developed, and tested, thusly costing more money. These features go a long way in creating devices that aid the wearer and works with the ear and how the user lives their life.
Is it Really Worth It?
Because the purchase of hearing aids is considered an investment, you have to weigh the benefits when making such a significant decision. Hearing aids are designed to help you to hear better and protect your ears, but there are many more advantages to wearing them daily:
- Aids in relationships with loved ones
- Helps you to feel better about yourself
- Improves your mental health
- Improves your physical well being
- Aids in concentration
- Helps you feel more independent and secure
- Helps you feel less tired and exhausted
- Increased participation in social gatherings
- Helps you to increase your social contacts
- Helps you to do better in your job
Imagine being able to hear sounds that you have not heard for years? Birds singing, the wind blowing, the babbling water of a creek, children playing, the possibilities are endless!
Not only does wearing a hearing aid regularly improve your state of health, but untreated hearing loss can deteriorate it. A collaborative report surveying health data from over 150,000 people, concluded that over ten years, those who went without treating their hearing loss were associated with a 52% greater risk of dementia, 41% greater risk of depression, and 30% greater risk for falls.
The report also shows that those who went without treatment paid 46% higher total healthcare costs, averaging $22,434. Those patients also had 50% more hospital stays and a 44% higher risk of readmission within 30 days. You could buy a lot of hearing aids with that kind of money.
All in all, treating your hearing loss with hearing aids recommended by an audiologist will not only improve your quality of life; but it can potentially save you money on healthcare costs.
Contact our team at The Hearing Center of Dublin ENT today to schedule your hearing exam and hearing aid evaluation.
