3 Things You Should Know Before Buying A Hearing Aid

Posted on: 6 October 2015

Hearing loss is a common problem in Australia, with around 20% of the population being affected by this condition. If you are suffering from hearing loss, then you may have been told that you require a hearing aid. There are an enormous number of hearing aid models available on the market today, but unfortunately for many people, most or all of the cost will need to be covered by them. Before you purchase a hearing aid, here are three important things you'll need to know.

1. Don't buy over the internet

There are many cheap hearing aids available online, which may be tempting as they can be just a fraction of the price of hearing aids bought from a specialist audiologist. However, cheaper is not better in this situation, because you have no guarantee of the quality of the product, or if it will even work, when it arrives in your post box.

A hearing aid bought from an audiologist or health clinic, such as Advanced Hearing Care, should not only be good quality, but it should also be under warranty. This means that if it stops working or is faulty, it will be repaired or replaced.

2. Include a care plan

When you buy a hearing aid from an audiologist, make sure that you also get a care plan. Sometimes they are included in the price of the hearing aid and sometimes you pay for the care plan separately. Be sure to ask before you buy to ensure that you have a comprehensive care plan in place.

A care plan will cover regular services of the hearing aid to make sure that it's functioning correctly and also covers any repairs that are required. The care plan usually offers an extended warranty as well, which extends for several years past the manufacturer's warranty. Some care plans also include subsidised batteries, which is a valuable inclusion as battery costs can run into several hundred dollars each year.

3. Try before you buy

Most reputable audiologists will allow you to try out your hearing aid for 30 to 90 days before you are committed to the purchase. This is to ensure that you find the hearing aid comfortable and effective. If your audiologist is unwilling to allow you to do this, then you should find one who will. A hearing aid is a major expense, and it would be a huge financial burden to have to replace it so soon after purchase.

It's true that hearing aids are costly equipment, especially when you consider how small they are. However, if you have the right model which is fitted and tuned by a qualified audiologist, then the improvement to your hearing and quality of life can be priceless.

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