Challenge of Purchasing Hearing Aids for the First Time
I am a member of the Saddlebrooke Hearing Discussion Group. In this month’s article I would like to discuss the challenges of purchasing hearing aids for the first time. It is not unusual to see posts on social media requesting recommendations as to where to go to be tested for hearing aids, where to purchase hearing aids and what is the cost. While our group has a policy of not making recommendations, we are more than happy to discuss our experiences at our monthly meetings. Individual members are happy to make recommendations based on their personal experiences.
The one recommendation you will hear us make is to first have your hearing tested by an audiologist and don’t delay making an appointment. Though hearing loss is one of the most common health conditions affecting Americans, most adults wait an average of 5-7 years before having their hearing checked. This often results in increased communication difficulties, reduced social activities, as well as negative physical and emotional consequences.
Recently a resident posted on social media that her hearing test by a local audiologist in Oro Valley revealed she needed hearing aids. While she had a price quote from that audiologist, she was looking for less expensive options. Several respondents to the post recommended Costco due to their low cost and warranty. Others recommended purchasing from the same Oro Valley audiologist because they felt she did a better job of fitting their hearing aids. There were also a couple of recommendations for over the counter (OTC) hearing aids. When I saw the post, I recommended that the resident attend our upcoming meeting.
I am glad to say that the resident did attend our next meeting. We spent quite a bit of time during the meeting discussing options for her. We were also fortunate to have two audiology doctoral students in attendance that day. The students recommended the University of Arizona Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic. We have several members who have obtained their hearing aids at that location, and they have been very satisfied.
I made her aware of an audiologist in the Phoenix area who has posted over 1500 videos related to hearing loss, best practices as well as reviews of the current hearing aids on the market. His name is Dr Cliff Olson. I pointed out that his videos are a very good source of information for someone considering hearing aids. Dr. Cliff has a recent video titled “Why I No Longer Recommend Costco Hearing Aids”, which I would recommend reviewing. Here’s the link: Bing Videos
We didn’t spend any time discussing OTC hearing aids as no one in attendance that day had experience with them. What I do know is that the return rate on OTC hearing aids is higher than prescription hearing aids and they are not necessarily low cost. A potential option for residents with mild to moderate hearing loss might be the Apple AirPods Pro 2. I understand they function as FDA-cleared hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss at a lower cost than traditional options.
Our group meets on the 2nd Friday of every month at 10 AM in the Catalina Room in the Mesquite Building. So, if it is too hot to be outdoors later this summer, consider attending one of our meetings. For more information about our group contact Jennifer Jefferis, jenjefferis4u@gmail.com, or Lyle Larson, lllarson72@gmail.com. If you have questions about this article or would like to suggest a future article topic, my contact email is tgaule@outlook.com