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Archive for the ‘Hearing Aids’ Category

Hearing aids come in a variety of makes and models.  They are worn in and on the ear in different ways.  The ENT doctor, or otolaryngologist, will practically make the decisions for you if you allow it.  If, however, you want to save yourself some money, you can march into the doctor’s office with some information of your own.  Discount hearing aids are one way to save yourself some money without sacrificing quality.

Many sellers offer discount hearing aids that are identical to the full priced hearing aids that you get directly from the manufacturer.  Often, the only difference is the price, which may be half the price you pay the maker or even less.  When you are looking into such a deal, make sure the two devices are actually the same in every respect except for price.

There are many features and parameters to check to make sure your discount hearing aids are the real thing.  For one thing, if you want to buy a model that is a fully digital one, make sure the discount hearing aids are listed as 100 percent or fully or totally digital.  Otherwise, you might end up with a model that has some components that are analog.  This will give you less flexibility in the programming and processing of your aids.

Compare the number of frequency bands or channels.  Having more will give your fitter more latitude in accommodating your hearing losses if they are not consistent through all the ranges.  With more channels, your audiologist can give more amplification to the frequencies you have trouble hearing and less to the ones you don’t.  If the manufacturers’ hearing aids’ channels are not the same as your discount hearing aids’, they will respond differently to programming.

Carefully scrutinize the data of the two hearing aids to determine if both are actually the same model with the same directional microphone capabilities.  Some brand names offer directional microphones in some of their models but not on others.  If one has this feature and one doesn’t, then the discount hearing aids you are looking at are not the same as the manufacturers’ models that you suspect you are dealing with.

Another aspect of the hearing aids to be checked is whether they have memory presets and if so, how many and what kind are they.  This will help you determine whether you your discount hearing aids are the same as the originals.  More is not always better, as personal preferences vary, but just make sure to get the number and type of memory presets that you want.

You can become easily confused, if you’re not careful, by the different styles of discount hearing aids.  BTE, or behind the ear, hearing aids are readily available at lowered prices.  You can also get the other varieties, and you should be aware if you are getting an ITE, or in the ear, hearing aid, which fits in the shell of your outer ear.  Be sure to recognize the different ear canal varieties, such as IC, in the canal, and CIC, completely in the canal.

Finally, you will, of course, want to make sure you get the best price possible.  Compare the prices of identical models and styles and make sure you get the best reliable deal.  Just make sure there is a good policy on returns in case you are not happy with them.  That, after all, is the most important factor in choosing discount hearing aids.

BTE hearing aids can be very costly if you go to your hearing professional to get them.  Some people with hearing loss enjoy the privacy and convenience of ordering BTE hearing aids by mail.  They feel that they can get a better deal and save themselves a trip to the doctor’s office.  But, are these deals too good to be true?

One thing to be aware of is that so-called hearing aids that do not meet FDA guidelines and simply amplify sound are actually known as listening devices.  They are very cheap, both in price and in quality.  Some BTE hearing aids by mail like this cost as little as $6.99 per ear.  In this case, you probably get what you pay for.

If sellers are not going through an ENT doctor, they will be required by the FDA to make sure that you sign a waiver and turn it in to them.  They want to make sure that burden rests squarely on your shoulders.  And, maybe it should.  You do want to make your own decisions about BTE hearing aids by mail, and this is what you will have to do if you choose not to be fitted by an ENT.

In any case, most hearing aid sellers require the results of a hearing test, which can be done by an audiologist.  They will not sell the BTE hearing aid by mail without one.  An audiologist is simply a person who does tests on hearing  They are not medical doctors and cannot determine if you have an illness or other medical condition.  However, they can deliver an audiogram that can be used to adjust the settings on a hearing aid.

The best deals on BTE hearing aids by mail, according to price, are to be found on E-Bay.  One reconditioned hearing aid was recently sold there for under $70.  It was a Beltone brand hearing aid that was said to have cost over $1000 new.  The Siemens High Power 278 BTE aid was sold for around $200.  Siemens is a well respected brand name as well.  Also available by signing a waiver was the Siemens Infinity Pro, which was priced at about $400.  If you can’t afford a more expensive set, then you might consider trying this type of BTE hearing aids by mail.

Some sellers of hearing aids by mail expect to deal with hearing professionals.  These vendors sell products that usually run the buyer into the thousands for a fraction of the cost.  The Siemens Intuis is now being offered for a slim $499, while its retail value is around $1800.  It is equipped with directional microphones, an auto phone device, and technology that reduces noise and feedback.  It is a totally digital aid.  There is a similar deal offered in another brand of hearing aid that has similar features.  This one lists for $2200 and sells on E-Bay for a mere $399.

It may be to your advantage to buy BTE hearing aids by mail.  It is always in your best interest to explore the possibilities.  Just remember to find out what it is that you are actually getting for your money.  After all, a few hundred dollars spent sounds a lot better than a few thousand, but if the hearing aids aren’t what they claim to be, it may be a few hundred dollars wasted.  And, who needs that?