There's no way around it: the prices for hearing aids are high. Although you don't need a doctor's visit or prescription to buy hearing aids online, these hearing aids are dispensed through audiologists. Each pair of Lively hearing aids comes with a three-year warranty and three-year follow-up care, so you can easily talk to a doctor and make adjustments remotely from the comfort of your own home. According to the FDA, PSAPs “are intended for consumers without hearing loss who want to make ambient sounds louder, such as for recreational activities such as bird watching or hunting.
Purchase of Eargo 6 includes lifetime remote assistance from audiologists and hearing health professionals. Importantly, these devices, known as personal sound amplification products (PSAP), are designed for people without hearing loss to increase their ability to hear certain sounds in certain situations, such as when hunting. I recommend buying over-the-counter hearing aids from a reputable company like the ones listed above, most of which offer some kind of programming or professional support. In some cases, your audiologist may be able to help you identify hearing aids that are affordable for you.
They are pre-adjusted to improve hearing at frequencies where, according to research, hearing loss occurs most often at each level of severity. A number of direct consumer companies offer an online hearing test or the ability to use the results of a previous hearing test performed in-person by an audiologist. Initial testing and tuning of hearing aids may require several visits to the audiologist, and devices usually need to be rechecked at least once a year (some audiologists recommend re-checking them every six months, although advice varies). Reduced costs are anticipated, as OTC hearing aids will be standalone and will not include additional services or support.
In my own family, people who paid thousands of dollars for hearing aids don't wear them, ignoring all the complaints. There are other options for financing hearing aids, including low-interest loans, credit cards, and cash-matched financing plans for medical devices. Untreated hearing loss can lead to isolation and has been associated with serious conditions such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, dementia, reduced mobility and falls.
