What You Didn’t Hear About Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are of different categories. They could either be disposable, conventional and digital. Cost wise, disposable hearing aids are the most affordable at $40-$50 each. Conventional hearing aids on the other hand are a bit expensive at $900 a pair while the dearest are the digital sort costing up to $5,000 a pair. For those with mild to moderate hearing loss and with the aging baby boomers as a lucrative market, disposable hearing aids are recommended. Disposable hearing aids are not custom-fitted and their various settings and prescriptions are matched according to the user’s degree of hearing loss. Disposable hearing aids’ batteries are irreplaceable, and the device is generally discarded once the batteries expire which usually happens after a month’s use.

A disposable hearing aid is available for purchase after undergoing a hearing test and once the hearing aids don’t function anymore, they are meant to be disposed of. Should you lose a disposable hearing aid, it is not so much a loss on your budget nor your hearing as it is easily replaceable with minimum expenses although disposable hearing aids do have a short life span. You need not worry about repair costs either as you can conveniently get a new one once you device breaks down. Although popularly described as one size fit all, disposable hearing aids rather fit only 80% of adult male ears and 60% of adult female ears.

Most disposable hearing devices are ITE of in the ear type wherein a soft cap is used to provide an acoustic seal about midway through the canal of the ear rather than being molded through it. As they are not custom-fitted, disposable hearing aids can be uncomfortable unlike conventional aids. Conventional hearing devices are specially designed for the user and the patient usually has to wait for it to be manufactured for him. Although costing $900 a pair, conventional hearing aids prove to be more economical in the long run as they generally last for more or less 5 years.

In fact, disposable aids’ costs can add up and end up to be more costly than conventional hearing aids. The biggest market for disposable hearing devices are those with mild to moderate hearing loss but are not certain about committing to the use of the device, or those who are unwilling to invest in expensive conventional or digital hearing aids. Modern digital hearing aids are the most expensive and the mot flexible with distinct features that adapt to the specific needs of the user unlike disposable aids that come in standard prescriptions, thus the user doesn’t have much option. One of the biggest concerns of audiologists is that most users of disposable hearing aids don’t get their hearing checked on a regular basis which could potentially lead to uncorrected hearing problems.

Most users of disposable hearing aids oftentimes neglect the necessity of having their hearing problem checked recurrently for a thorough assessment and diagnosis to implement effective treatment and corrective measures. It is within the expertise of an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist to determine the extent of a patient’s hearing loss and as to what hearing aid is suited for the problem. Although the hearing loss is mild or moderate, it is not to be disregarded. It can be said that resorting to the use of disposable hearing aids is not a conscientious means of addressing a hearing problem.

Although aging or noise are the major causes of hearing loss, professionals also take into consideration that hearing loss can have an underlying medical cause that need professional attention.