Are There Benefits to Cheap Hearing Aids?

My father -- bless his 85 year old self -- wouldn't dream of getting a hearing aid at his age. "They cost too damn much!" is one of his reasons. And the other is, "There's not too much worth listening too anyway!" Well...what can I say? He does have a point. And considering that the average cost of a custom hearing aid can go as high as $2,000, who am I to make demands on my 'ol man? I'll just have to content myself with shouting.

But it shouldn't have to be that way. Not for my father and not for hundreds of individuals just like him. Proper hearing shouldn't be something you need to pay off in monthly installments. The solution? According to the Better Hearing Organization, many consumers are going online to shop for cheaper alternatives. Hearing aids and similar devices sold on the Internet typically cost hundreds of dollars less than those sold through professionals who offer custom service.

But are the savings worth it?

If purchasing a hearing aid was that easy, I'd have a much shorter article. No, audiologists warn the savings come at a cost: buying a hearing aid online bypasses the medical evaluation required by the Food and Drug Administration (www.fda.gov) and also the custom services necessary to fit the devices to the individual. And that's where the potential for problems can begin.

Maybe it's better just to be a little hard-of-hearing.

According to the American Academy of Audiology (www.audiology.org), a hearing aid is only as good as the professional who evaluates the patient, chooses the best technology, fits the hearing aid and, perhaps most importantly, offers training and follow-up.Meanwhile. the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (www.asha.org) points out that a certified and licensed audiologist can test your hearing and determine how to correct the problem while the audiologist or a hearing aid dispenser-a professional who provides care and sells aids -- can provide custom-fitted hearing aids and follow-up care.