Thanks
I’ll see an audiologist.
I’ll send the audiogram when available.
In the mean-time I’d like to know if it is recommended purchasing hearing aids online , because I hear that the retailers mark-up is close to a ripoff, often more than 100% the manufacturer’s cost. Any recommended online supplier? Advantages? Disadvantages?
Thanks
Ittiandro
This is my opinion.
I do not recommend buying aids online that an unknown fitter will be fitting you, if that makes since. I do recommend buying online if you self program. Read as much as you can on this forum. There are about 4-5 brands of real deal good hearing aids. If you you stick with these brands you will do ok. Lots of help here in the DIY forum area. You can get great aids at a very affordable price.
Hang in there and good luck.
Disadvantages would be that you would need to pay for an audiologist to adjust the aids. That can be as much as $500.
If you buy from an audiologist and not online, the cost of the aids, includes any adjustments to the aids.
Thanks.
1.I have seen a lot of assumedly good companies listed in this Forum, but they look USA based and there might be shipping restrictions. I am in Canada. Has anybody heard of Online Hearing Canada? Their pricing in interesting.
2.What do you mean by self program? Does it necessarily require an audiologist or can I do it myself by enhancing by trial and error the critical frequencies shown in the audiogram?
3.One critical aspect is the battery life. I see that there are rechargeable hearing aids that are removed for overnight charging.
Any comments on all this?
Thanks
Ittiandro
Have you considered Costco for hearing aids? They carry top of the line aids at a very fair price with a great warranty and service.
DIY and self programming is when you as a hearing aid wearer do all the programming of the hearing aids with equipment and software that you get your hands on. In other words, you take the place of the fitter or audiologist.
Thanks for the hint.
Maybe buying online in the end would still be cheaper, even if one has to add $ 500 for an adjustment by an audiologist : I could get two rechargeable, latest technology aids from Online Hearing Company in Canada for about CND $ 700, whereas If I buy from a retailer audiologist, it would be at least $ 1500 for one.
If you consider that the manufacturer’s cost, according to reliable sources, is about $200-300, (especially if made in China!) the retailer’s markup is at least 500%, an obscene free ride, close to a rip-off.
I wonder if a self-adjustment is really that hard. Adjusting the frequencies based on your own auditory perception shouldn’t require a rocket engineer, after all.
We senior citizens are literally taken to the cleaners!
Ittiandro
It’s not as simple as it might appear. Those who are doing self programming generally have a lot of experience with hearing aids in general.
If this is your first time wearing aids it might well be worth the cost of paying full price and getting the service that goes along with it. Additionally, in most places buying from an audiologist or fitter allows you a trial period. Each hearing aid has different design, strengths, and weaknesses. It is often hard to sort out which will work best for you.
In my case I payed full tilt, trialed 3 different aids before deciding on a pair. I have had countless visits over the past year trialing aids, getting them adjusted and ultimately getting a pair of custom molds that fit.
If I had to pay out of pocket for those visits it would have cost me Way more than what I paid for my hearing aids.
When you buy your aids from an audiologist you are paying for more than the device, you are paying for the service and expertise of the audi/fitter.
It is worth downloading the adjustment software for the aids you are contemplating and taking a look at it. There is a Lot more than just matching the aids to your hearing test curve.
Jim
Please, @vifra, tell us what make of hearing aid you can get for this price?