Hearing loss, if unaided, results in communication difficulties, social isolation, withdrawal, and an overall reduced quality of life. By purchasing hearing aids, you have circumvented these challenges by adopting the only clinical intervention for mild to severe hearing loss.
Unaided Hearing Loss
A comprehensive analysis of up-to-date medical literature reveals that unaided hearing loss is associated with many debilitating symptoms in the short-term, as well as chronic diseases in the long-term. In this guide, we want to emphasize these problems so that you appreciate the importance of procuring hearing aids as soon as you can in order to mitigate against these health problems.
Increased Risk of Dementia
Not getting hearing aids can cause several diseases, such as Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia. One systematic review in 2017 reviewed 17 studies and found that hearing loss is an independent risk factor for the development of dementia in older adults.
Mental Illness And Social Isolation
Unaided hearing loss can lead to isolation, depression, and a less stimulated brain. One national study conducted in 2018 showed that the rates of depression were significantly higher in those with hearing-impairment, compared to those with normal hearing.
Vestibular Dysfunction (Balance) & Falls
Unaided hearing loss also leads to vestibular dysfunction, which is characterized by a loss of balance. This results in a poorer quality of life, precluding people from outdoor activities. Hearing aids have been shown to stimulate confidence and attenuate the fear of falling in patients who had developed vestibular dysfunction as a result of long-standing and untreated hearing loss.
How Much Do Hearing Aids Cost?
Despite the immense benefit, only one in seven American adults with hearing loss use hearing aids. A major reason is the staggering cost. The average cost of a pair of hearing aids is about $6,000, a sum beyond the reach for many seniors.
Why are they so expensive?
High costs are often due to the non-competitive market and inefficient distribution channels. Additionally, most practices use "bundled pricing," charging you upfront for future services like cleaning, adjustments, and follow-up appointments whether you use them or not.
The Unbundled Alternative
The easiest way to avoid paying for these extra services is to purchase from a professional that offers unbundled pricing. At Hearing Benefit Services, we offer Signia Hearing Aids unbundled ranging from $780 – $1,899.
Price Factors:
- Type of hearing aid (ITE, BTE, ITC, CIC, or RIC)
- Number of channels (16 vs 48+)
- Customizability (custom-molded vs instant fit)
- Additional features (Wind-proofing, echo cancellation, Bluetooth)
Low Quality vs High Quality Hearing Aids
Choosing the right hearing aid can be challenging. A key differentiator is the number of Channels.
Channels are ranges of frequencies created by digital filters. Quality hearing aids typically start at 16 channels. Benefits of more channels include:
Multi-channel Compression
Independent adjustment of amplification in several frequency bands.
Directional Microphones
Improves signal-to-noise ratio by amplifying sound from the front.
Noise Reduction
Sophisticated algorithms suppress unwanted background noises.
Reverberation Cancellation
Cancels out echo effects common in large rooms.
Professional Hearing Aid Providers
How do you know if you are dealing with a professional?
- Licensed Specialists: Quality providers offer licensed hearing aid specialists or audiologists to guide you through the fitting process, whether online or in-person.
- RIC vs BTE: RIC (Receiver-in-Canal) aids are preferred in the modern industry. They offer better sound technology and are more discreet than older BTE (Behind-the-Ear) models. If a provider doesn't offer RIC, they may not offer high-quality devices.
How to Read an Audiogram
An audiogram is a graph that measures the intensity (loudness) of sound from top to bottom, and the frequency (pitch) from left to right.
- Normal Hearing: 0 – 20 dB
- Mild Hearing Loss: 20 – 40 dB (Some difficulty in noise)
- Moderate Hearing Loss: 40 – 70 dB (Frequent difficulty with speech)
- Severe Hearing Loss: 70 – 90 dB (Visual assistance required)
- Profound Hearing Loss: 90 – 120 dB (Major communication challenges)
Cleaning & Maintenance
How to Clean RIC Hearing Aids
Tools needed: Hearing aid brush, tissue/cloth, hearing aid spray sanitizer (alcohol-free).
- Use the brush to clean the exterior case, paying special attention to microphones.
- Wipe wax off the dome and receiver area with a tissue.
- Use the wax loop of your brush to gently remove wax from the center hole of the dome.
- For a deeper clean, you may need to replace the wax guard or dome if heavily soiled.
How To Put On Hearing Aids
RIC Style (Receiver-in-Canal)
Visually inspect your hearing aids. Remember: Red is Right, Blue is Left.
- Place the body of the hearing aid behind your ear first.
- Guide the receiver wire over the top of your ear and into the ear canal.
- Push the dome gently into your ear canal until it sits snugly.
- If you have a retention tail (concha lock), tuck it into the bowl of your ear.
Conclusion
Given that at least 30% of adults in the United States have hearing loss, it comes as no surprise that millions face these challenges. From orientation to cleaning and troubleshooting, we hope this guide has provided useful insights.
Still have questions? Call us toll-free at 808-435-7002.