Comments on: Opinion: Hearing Aid Pricing Should be More Transparent

By: Matt Perry

Matt Perry — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:36:39 +0000

I’m also an audiologist who is very familiar with the complaint of hearing aids costing too much money. I have a difficult time finding where to place the blame though. The technology advances quickly and the market is small. That’s a bad combination.

The manufacturers are racking up R&D costs by constantly trying to out-do each other. They’re using proprietary and industry-unique components to build “a better hearing aid.” If a manufacturer backs off of R&D, they die. A clinician isn’t going to dispense an inferior product when a significantly better product is available from a different manufacturer.

Although it’s true that hearing aids are often marked up significantly by clinicians, look around – audiologists aren’t getting rich. There’s a lot of time, education, and equipment costs that go into a stellar hearing aid fitting. A good audiologist should be performing valuable services to maximize the effectiveness of the hearing aids. Technologies like real-ear verification, speech-mapping, speech-in-noise testing, real-world simulation, etc. can make a huge difference in the performance of a hearing aid. The value of these services often justifies the cost of the hearing aids, but a lot of clinicians do little more than slap on the hearing aids and say “how does it sound?” Do they charge less for the hearing aids because they are bundling fewer services into the cost? (Unfortunately, the answer is no.)

By: not game

not game — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:33:07 +0000

As an audiologist there are several reasons for the high price of hearing aids. R&D has to be recouped by manufacturers and the return rate of expensive hearing aids is factored into the the price of the hearing aids. I trained for 7 years to become an audiologist and the equipment required is expensive for testing and fitting,senior an accountant is charged at $300 per hour where I live, and Audiologists are charged at $125.00 per hour. And finally many audiologists double the price of their services for two aids!! think about it, does it take twice as much training, appointments etc for two aids compared to one. This is a issue that will need to be addressed in the future, I have addressed it in my clinic. There are real dangers in purchasing hearing aids online including damaged to ears/hearing as well as missing medical issues. I recently had some one who came in with a pair of internet purchased aids, he had saved thousands. Neither aid fitted his ears, they had been poorly maintained and one was not functioning. He commented that they didn’t work when he needed them…. they we appropriate aids for his loss, but he would have been better of with a cheaper properly fitted pair, I fixed his problems for a small fee and he commented that he wouldn’t be buying his next pair from me regardless of the fact that he could hear much better!! hmm?

By: Glenn Gould

Glenn Gould — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:03:04 +0000

Personally I do not care if the audiologists make less money – there are complex cases out there that really need trained professional audiologists. For the huge number of us out here being raped by this industry there is no insurance, no real justification for the outrageous costs we are expected to pay and they have us over a barrel – we need them to meet the public. I have been being raped financially for hearing aids for 34 years and am beyond angry. There is multiple times more technology in my mac laptop computer than a top of the line hearing aid. Compare the cost. Just call me hosed and hating it. Right now I have through some kind of forgetful moment from hell have lost both of my three thousand dollar a piece hearing aids. I am hard of hearing enough that I have to have that level of technology to work safely in my occupation. I am at present without income. For the few hundred dollars these things would actually cost with a healthy markup I would be back in the workforce where I should be. As it is it took over half of my career to be able to afford decent hearing aids.

By: Steve Benedict

Steve Benedict — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:04:41 +0000

I’m looking for some reliable opinions, not driven by marketing objectives, on the range of really low-priced hearing aids, i.e., $100-500. How useful, for example, is Ampli-Ear, or Songbird, or others in that range. I simply can’t pay $2,000 but must get some help for moderate hearing loss. Can you steer me?

Steve

By: Ed Meyer

Ed Meyer — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:26:57 +0000

The real impediment to a free open market for hearing aids (and low prices) is the FDA’s classification of hearing aids as medical devices. As such they provide exemption from the ordinary laws of commerce and restraint of trade laws.. Hence restricted distribution and the attendent high prices. Ed

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:52:01 +0000

I work in the electronic industry and the electronics in these 2-3 thousand dollar aids are probably worth about $100 to manufacture. All the rest is markup..