8 Tips for Buying Hearing Aids

Today, hearing aids have become a necessity for those with hearing loss. With advancements in technology, it's not difficult to see why. While there are several benefits of hearing aids, one cannot deny that they come at a hefty price. That's why it's crucial to carefully weigh up your options before you commit to buying one.

Here are some things you should do before you take the plunge. 

Call your insurance company to check on your benefits

Hearing aids are not covered by insurance for most people. A lot of insurance companies only pay for the exam. But some insurance companies do pay for hearing aids or have a discount program that can lead you to a place where you can get hearing aids at a lower price. 

You should find out from your health insurance company and call your audiologist. The audiologist will be able to tell you how to get the most out of your hearing aid discount or benefit program. 

At the time of writing, we currently accept the following programs:

• Medicare for the purposes of diagnostic testing, provided that the testing is ordered by your physician and the services are medically necessary. 
• United Healthcare Commercial PPO
• UMR Commercial PPO
• United Healthcare Medicare Advantage PPO plans. Please understand that we are not providers for United Healthcare Hearing Network (UHCH), which is separate from the health care plans.
  

See an audiologist

Seeing an audiologist is the best way to start your hearing loss journey.

Audiologists have a doctoral degree in audiology and we know how your ears are built and work. It takes nearly 8 years of school and supervision to become an Audiologist. An audiologist must also adhere to an ethics code to maintain their state licensure. We must continue our education and study in this area to maintain our license.

Find a dedicated local provider

When it comes to a good hearing provider, it pays to see someone you trust who is local to your area. This makes it easier to retain repeat visits. You will enjoy higher quality service from a place dedicated to hearing health rather than a big box store. 

• Inquire about the providers that your friends and family recommend. You might even be able to find reviews of local providers.
• Contact the office to learn more.
• Make sure the provider follows best practices.
• Schedule a consultation and test them out.
  

We currently have a 5.0 rating on Google. You can read the reviews here. 

Ignore ads for flashy hearing aids

Don't buy hearing aids or other hearing devices from ads in magazines or online that make wild claims about how well they will work for you. 

Just because someone is wearing a white coat in an ad doesn't mean they are an Audiologist. Too many ads show people pretending to be doctors or audiologists to mislead about what they will offer in their offices. 

Consider your lifestyle

Are you active, on the go, and don't have time for a lot of fuss and fuss? There's a hearing aid for you. Are you a technology enthusiast and your entire world is Bluetooth-enabled? Well, there's a hearing aid for you, too.

The long and short of it is that options abound in technology and design, making it an eventuality that the hearing aid that most suits your lifestyle exists. The hard part is the patience and foresight to shop extensively and thoroughly research the market. Again, this is where a great hearing professional comes in. Their comprehensive knowledge of the field and experience in working with other patients, just like you, will pay off when they assist you in finding the perfect device to treat your hearing loss! 

Consider the style of hearing aid

There are different types of hearing aids.

In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids may be the best choice for people who wear glasses. ITE hearing aids are worn in the ear, and the shell sits on top of the ear.

There are in-the-canal options like completely-in-canal (CIC) and invisible-in-canal (IIC) if you want to be less noticeable. Both types are worn deep in the ear canal and work best for hearing loss that isn't too severe. Even though these styles are small and discreet, they may be hard to use for people with trouble with their hands because the volume and program controls are small and hard to reach.

Behind-the-ear (BTE) and Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) hearing aids are the other type that many people use. These have two parts: a plastic case worn over the ear that holds the electrical parts and a plastic tube or wire that connects to a tip or mold that sits in your ear canal. RIC hearing aids are the most popular style due to the many options available in those models. 

Get a demonstration/trial period

Hearing aid trials are crucial, particularly for someone new to wearing them. I usually advise doing as many activities as possible with the hearing aid during the trial period, like going to cafes, the grocery store, and attending events to test it out and see how it performs thoroughly.

Find out what is included in the cost of the hearing aid

Hearing aids are expensive, so you should always check the warranty and aftercare service to see what's covered. Hearing aids sold online do not always come with valid warranties. After receiving the hearing aids, you should make an appointment if you hear any feedback, like whistling or crackling, or if the sound is too loud or uncomfortable. Make sure these follow-up appointments are part of your package of aftercare.

Look no further if you're looking for a local audiologist in the Los Gatos area! Contact us today to set up an appointment.