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Hearing Aid Articles
Below you will find a wide variety of helpful articles relating to hearing aids and hearing loss.
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The difference between an audiologist and a hearing aid specialist.
Audiologists go through college to obtain a degree in audiology. They are educated in all functions of the ear and hearing. They receive very little actual specific training or education with hearing aids. Most do not sell or work with hearing aids. Many of the audiologists that...
The most important thing to realize about "Free Service" or "Free Adjustments" is that nothing is truly "Free"! Anything free has to be paid somehow, so the “Free Service” has to be paid by increasing the price of the hearing aids. This can be a good thing if you need lots of after-sale service and support, but not so good if you don't, because...
Two main hearing aid styles
Custom Hearing Aids
Custom hearing aids are made using an impression taken of your ear and ear canal. Impressions are taken by putting impression material in your ear almost to the eardrum. In a few minutes the impression material sets to a rubbery consistency that is pliable but retains its shape. The impression is...
How to get your hearing tested for FREE (or get reimbursed for the cost)
Getting your hearing tested
Hearing tests are simple and relatively quick - generally less than an hour is involved. Any hearing aid dispenser or dispensing audiologist can perform a hearing test. If you or your insurance pays for the test, you have a right to get a copy of...
Starting in the late 1990s through the early years of this century, the hearing aid industry made the conversion from analog technology to digital technology.
By going digital, many of the features most helpful in today’s hearing aids were made possible. With each generation of technology, two of the most helpful features, feedback (squealing)...
Zinc Air is the standard hearing aid battery technology. They deliver a very steady level of electricity (rated power) throughout their lifetime by using a chemical process. When the chemical is used up, they die and go from delivering rated power to completely dead in a very short time. Zinc air batteries are very well suited for the high-drain...
Why Are Hearing Aids So Expensive?
The major factors contributing to the real cost of hearing aids are:
Research and Development costs are often cited as the main contributor to high prices for new technologies. Manufacturers are spending tens of millions of dollars trying to improve their hearing aids.
Returning a hearing aid for credit within...
Two ways to buy hearing aids online
Through Local Providers
Some Internet hearing aid dispensers have networks of providers across the country. They will direct you to one of their member providers where you will be fitted with the hearing aids you have chosen. The local provider is paid a fee to fit you with the hearing aids and give you post-...
Unbundled
"Unbundling” refers to separating the sale of the hearing aid from the follow-up service and care. Although unbundling has long been practiced in the more medically-oriented practices, it started gaining momentum shortly after open ear (behind-the-ear) hearing aids came on the market and the need for post-sale service declined due to...
Free Service (How Free is It?):
The first concept regarding after-sale service is to understand that there are costs involved, so the “Free Service” is not truly free. The costs involved in running a business, overhead, are usually “bundled” into the sale price of the hearing aid.
Hearing aid dispensers and dispensing audiologists get paid for...
Typical hearing losses
And hearing aids best suited for a specific type of loss.
An audiogram is a chart created by the audiologist to describe the kinds of loss you may have. It is how you can know exactly which frequencies are affected and what kind of hearing aid would help restore much of your hearing without making other sounds and...
Phonak
One of the world’s leading hearing aid manufacturers, Phonak is a Swiss company known for cutting-edge technology and style. Phonak is owned by Sonova Holding AG who also owns Unitron Hearing. Unitron generally offers the same core technologies as Phonak but with fewer features and at lower prices.
ReSound
Known for leading and innovative...
