Question 3:  What's the difference between an audiologist and a hearing aid dispenser?

Years of education.  Audiologists have a masters degree or doctorate.  Hearing aid dispensers have on the job training and are not trained to perform diagnostic tests.

Question 4:  Should the hearing test be free?

Audiologists test to rule out a medical condition and are contracted with many insurance companies.  Most insurance companies cover the cost of the hearing test, even Medicare.  Audiologists who contract with Medicare, have to charge separately for the testing.  A 'Free hearing test" is not a diagnostic test and is used solely for the purpose of selling a hearing aid.  If I were to provide free tests and get audited, I would loose insurance contracts.  Even if you already wear hearing aids, you should have a diagnostic test before purchasing a hearing test.

Question 5:  Aren't all hearing aids alike?  They are just amplifiers right?

Answer:  No. Just like a car made by Ford, you can have many different models (Focus, Fusion, Mustang, or Crown Victoria, Explorer).  What you purchase depends on your life style, the power you want, speed, and comfort.  The same goes for hearing aids.  Hearing aids differ according the following features:

•   Style (Behind-the-Ear, In-the-Ear, Half Shell, Completely-in-Canal)
•   Power
•   How many bands and channels
•   Noise reduction technology
•   Feedback cancellation technology
•   Multiple programs
•   Telecoil (automatic, switchable or both)
•   Directional microphone technology (automatic adaptive, fixed, programmable)

Question 6:  Why do hearing aids cost so much?

The cost of hearing aids depends on the make and model you purchase. 

The base cost of the hearing aid comes from the manufacturer. 

•   Has to cover the engineering - research and design, for today's model and future models
•   Employee fees
•   Rent, equipment, utilities, etc
•   18% of the hearing aids ever purchased are returned for credit -those returned for credit can not be sold to anyone else 
•   Manufacturers repair hearing aids 1 - 3 years at no additional cost to you (common cause of hearing aid malfunction is due to lack of care -sometimes there are circuit malfunctions) 
•   The manufacturer has to account for the average number of repairs that come in for repair 
•   Loss and damage claims: for a small deductible, hearing aids are replaced

In our office, the cost includes:

•   Professional fees for programming and supervising checks and adjustments
•   Loaner hearing aids
•   Hearing aid supplies
•   Staff overhead
•   Equipment
•   Rent, utilities

Question 7:  Do you offer a "Free Trial Period?"

No.  As a professional we have to charge for my professional services.  If we don't charge you for those services, we have to charge other people to cover the cost of working with someone who returned their aids, raising the cost for everyone else.  We compare it to be employed by a company and working on a project.  If that project fails, your boss doesn't ask you to return all the money you received as payment for your work.  If you have a hearing loss and would benefit from hearing aids, we have several tests we run to make sure the aid is working appropriately.  When we fail to fit someone appropriately, it is normally on the shoulders of the one seeking help:  unrealistic expectations, expecting to hear speech but none of the ambient sounds in the environment, mostly - not ready to accept amplification. 

Question 5:  But I thought you legally have to provide a "free trial period."

The Federal Trade Commission recommends a trial period, but the State may or may not mandate.  Some states, like California, mandates a free trial period, Arizona does not.

Question 6:  If I had my test someplace else, is it OK to bring that to your office to get hearing aids?

Yes, we would be happy to use any audiograms done within the last year, provided it was done by an audiologist.

Question 7:  I see hearing aids advertised over the internet for a lot less than what you are asking me to pay for.

Internet sales of hearing aids are popping up everywhere.  Several patients have reported finding hearing aids at greatly discounted prices on e-Bay or other web sites.  Several of the top manufacturers have banned the sale of their products over the internet.  These companies include Starkey, Widex, and recently Oticon.  We can hope to see more reputable manufacturers follow suit in the near future. 

Patients may find significant discounts on these hearing aids.  Hearing aids go beyond the purchase of a product; it should include a careful fitting, verification, validation and rehabilitative services leading to a successful outcome.  Purchasing hearing aids over the internet deemphasizes the services needed for a successful fit. 

By purchasing over the internet, the consumer is left to find their own service, or the internet site selling the hearing aid may refer you to a hearing healthcare provider, paying them a significantly discounted fee.  It is easy for the practitioner to be apathetic to these clients versus patients who purchase directly.

Buying hearing aids over the internet can be very dangerous and our office won't support it from a sound business standpoint.  Also, patient's may purchase the wrong hearing aid for their hearing loss, thus requiring more follow-up visits and no recourse for an unsatisfactory fitting.   In order to sell a hearing aid in the State of Arizona, you have to have a license to dispense hearing aids.  The attorney general's office has been long fighting the sale of hearing aids through magazines.  You also have to have a hearing test prior to purchasing a hearing aid.  This hearing test should be done by an audiologist to insure you don't have a medical condition that requires further medical attention.  Some patients who attempt to purchase aids over the internet are asked to take their own ear impressions.  This can be very dangerous and should only be done by a professional. 

I recently resigned as a provider for Hearing Planet and ahearingaid.com.  People think they are getting a big discount.  You are not.  Often times I can sell you the exact same hearing aid in my office and provide you more services (3 year service, 3 year warranty, 3 year loss and damage, 3 year batteries for approximately the same price).  Currently, if you want to use their services you will be referred to a hearing aid dispenser.  That means you will not have a diagnostic test prior to purchasing a hearing aid and a medical condition may be overlooked due to lack of training.  Oticon recently banned the sale of their products over the internet.   

Question 8:  How long does it take to get hearing aids once I order them?

Custom aids and earmolds take 2 weeks to get in.