Tag: hearing healthcare

What is bundled hearing aid service?

Posted on by Andros Audiology

When purchasing a hearing aid, it is common to find bundled services. What does bundling mean?

Equipment costs

Bundling means combining equipment and service costs for hearing aids. One part of the price for hearing aids is the cost of the equipment. Hearing aids are sophisticated computers. Another part of the hearing aid price is the cost for the professional that works with your devices. Hearing aids require a licensed profession to program, fit and maintain their function. Therefore, bundling entails combining these services into one cost.

To help explain the cost of the equipment, the small sophisticated computer in your hearing aid is like the small powerful computer in your last smart phone. We invest millions of dollars each year to make these devices smarter, faster, smaller, and stronger. Each ear needs its own computer. This will double the equipment cost.

Professional Care

Your hearing aid professional will spend time on an initial visit to ensure the devices are custom fit to your ears. You will then likely need 2-4 follow-up visits to fine tune the fit after your first fit. Next, after the initial fitting and trial period, hearing aids will need routine maintenance. Earwax, moisture, and debris can clog up a hearing aid thus affecting its function. It is important that you have easy access to hearing care to maintain the devices. Thus, hearing care professionals want patients to feel comfortable coming in as many times as needed to maintain their devices. Paying for each visit separately might stop from people from routine care. Bundling prices prevents this.

Bottom Line

If you ever feel like the cost for your devices is not within the typical range, feel free to ask your provider to break down the costs, or, in addition, shop around. Check out our blog post about hearing aid cost for more information here. And always, for services in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, call (651) 888-7888.

Getting Used To A Hearing Aid

Posted on by Andros Audiology

Getting Used to a Hearing Aid

Making the decision to improve your hearing is a big step towards improving your overall quality of life. It can take time to get used to hearing aids once you receive them. Every new hearing aid user experiences an adjustment period.  Getting used to a hearing aid takes time, practice, and patience.

The brain

Your brain is the main reason it takes time to get used to a hearing aid. Do you remember the first time you drove a car? It was hard work. In the first place, we had to learn the basics of how to run the car. After that, we learned how to operate the car in traffic. With time and practice, these motions are now automatic. This is because of muscle memory. The brain creates a memory for the movement, and they become automatic. Hearing is no different. The hearing part of our brain needs to practice and thus, build memories of sounds.

Flipping on the light

Getting a hearing aid is like flipping on bright lights after sitting in the dark for a while. At first, sound might seem too loud or bright. Give yourself time to get used to all of the new sounds. The amount of time it takes to get used to a hearing aid is different for everybody. On average, four to six weeks of consistent use will allow all the new sounds to become normal. For some people, time is all it takes.

Small doses or all at once

It is generally recommended that hearing aids are worn consistently, all day, every day. You take them out at night for sleeping, and can’t wear them in the shower. For some people, this is too much in the beginning. Generally, you should try to wear them as much as possible. If needed, you can start small, and work your way up to a full time wear schedule.

When you’ve been missing out, it can be hard to know what is normal. Ask others around you what they are hearing. It is a noisy world and your brain forgets about all the little sounds around you when you have hearing loss. It takes patience, but rest assured that your brain will get used to all that sound again.

Call your hearing aid professional if you are still having troubles getting used to your hearing aids. Hearing aids are adjustable. Levels that worked for one person may not be the right levels for you. Keeping a journal helps. Writing down your experiences can help guide the fine tuning process.

Best of luck as you go out there and start exploring our noisy world with your new hearing aids!

Why Are Hearing Aids So Costly?

Posted on by Andros Audiology

Hearing aids have a bad reputation for being costly. This can lead to frustration and avoidance from consumers looking to receive help for their hearing. This blog post will not help make hearing aids more affordable, but should help shed some light on these expenses. So why are hearing aids so costly?

Hi-Def Technology

Hearing aids are sophisticated computers. Manufacturers have invested millions into making them smaller and more durable. Consumer demands have also led to the technology working seamlessly with our cell phones and television sets.  Manufacturers pass the cost of research, design, and construction onto consumers. Technology that we will see more of in the future includes rechargeable systems, more Bluetooth and wireless solutions, and even wearable monitors for heart rate and blood sugar levels!

Expert Care

The most challenging aspect of purchasing a hearing aid is the lack of transparency in bundled price packages. Post people assume the price tag for thousands of dollars is just to purchase a small piece of plastic and wires, but this is not the case. These costs are most often bundling the cost of the devices with lifetime care and service. Hearing aids require a professional to custom fit them for each individual ear. Some professionals offer an un-bundled or pay-as-you-go approach. You will need to make sure you know which services are included with your price quote.

What else can we do?

Unfortunately, insurance coverage for hearing aids is largely non-existent. We used to consider hearing a luxury, but we now understand the importance it plays in overall health and well-being. Until our health care establishments recognize this, people in need of hearing help will continue to pay out-of-pocket for it. The government has made recent efforts to bring hearing health care costs down by creating a category of OTC or over-the-counter instruments that do not require any custom fitting. This is one step in providing better access to hearing healthcare but still leaves people with more severe or complicated losses paying significantly more. Audiologists, hearing instrument specialists, and persons with hearing loss will continue to have to advocate for better access to hearing healthcare.

Bottom Line

Don’t let the high perceived cost of hearing aids prevent you from learning more. There is a wide range of cost, style, and services available and consulting with a professional is in your best interest. If you are not happy with the first recommendation, seek another opinion. Our Doctors of Audiology are always on hand and happy to walk you through this big decision.