You go to the clinic and they tell you that you have "typical" high frequency hearing loss, but you need "custom" $3,000 hearing aids. This is an all too common scenario and one that doesn't have to be.
High frequency hearing loss is the most common form. This type of loss is also referred to as age related hearing loss. There is no particular cause for this. It mainly strikes with changes in the inner ear that occur as you grow older. Other factors include family history, exposure to loud noises, and smoking (smokers are more susceptible).
Symptoms of high frequency or age related hearing loss include:
- not understanding speech in the presence of background noise
- understanding men's voices more easily than women and children's voices
- ringing in the ears
Hearing aids are the most common treatment for this type of hearing loss. In the last few years, the Open Fit Hearing Aid has become the hearing aid of choice to treat high frequency hearing loss. The downside has been that they can cost upwards of $6,000 a pair, but this has recently changed.
Up until recently, misinterpretations of FDA rules have kept these instruments off of the shelves at retail stores. Thanks to clarifications from the US Court of Appeals, hearing aids are now widely available direct to consumers. That means that you no longer have to pay ridiculous marked up prices at a clinic for what you can purchase yourself.
One particular company that stands out is Rosebud Hearing LLC. Rosebud has created a line of ready to wear digital aids for those that suffer from typical hearing loss. The company offers open fit and in the canal aids direct to consumers at many major retail outlets.
There are other companies that have produced similar lines of instruments and that list is growing. The best part about buying direct is that these ready to wear hearing aids average just $279. That's a huge difference from what the clinics want you to pay. Sites like Perfect Hearing Aids offer the Rosebud Hearing Aids and others with a 45 day in home trial period.
The hearing aid industry is reminiscent of what we saw with the reading glass industry about a decade ago. Prior to being able to purchase reading glasses at retail stores, you had to pay a fortune for them at the clinic.
Certainly, there are instances where programmable hearing aids from a clinic are the best choice, but for those that have "typical" hearing loss, you should seriously consider a ready to wear digital hearing aid available on the Internet.
