Why People Delay Getting Hearing Aids

Many individuals don’t want others to know they have a hearing problem. Sometimes they believe hearing aids will make them look old or disabled. Here’s what they may not realize:

• Hearing aids are less obvious than the signs of untreated hearing loss, such as frequently asking others to repeat themselves, turning up the TV too loud for others in the same household or avoiding noisy social situations.
• Today’s hearing aids are smaller and more discreet than ever; some even fit entirely inside the ear canal, completely out of sight.
• Consider the popularity of devices, such as Bluetooth® wireless earbuds, that are worn in the ears by people of all ages. The line between those trendy devices and hearing aids has definitely been blurred!

Above all, once your friend experiences the life-enhancing benefits of hearing aids in everyday life, I’m confident that her concerns will fade away.

Your friend may recall the stories of a parent or grandparent who owned hearing aids, but complained about them or simply didn’t wear them. Common issues included squealing/whistling, unnatural sound (especially the wearer’s own voice), too much amplification of background noise and physical discomfort with the devices.

These and other complaints have all but vanished with recent advances in technology and fitting techniques. Today’s hearing aids deliver clear, amazingly natural sound, as well as selective amplification and automatic digital noise reduction that minimizes interference from background noise. In addition, the latest fitting techniques help ensure long-lasting comfort with all types of devices, whether worn in the ear canal or behind the ear.

Plus, the latest hearing aids do a lot of things that previously weren’t possible. Does your friend use a smartphone, tablet or laptop computer? Wireless connectivity could enable her to stream clear audio from her favorite device directly to the hearing aids. Maybe she dislikes the idea of changing the batteries in her hearing aids. Now she can choose from numerous rechargeable hearing aids, providing a full day of listening on a single overnight charge. The list of remarkable innovations goes on and on!

Even after accepting their hearing loss, some people — perhaps even your friend — may minimize the problem. Individuals generally lose their hearing gradually, and they may compensate for the increasing loss by reading lips, trying to fill gaps in sentences, or other tactics. Meanwhile, family, friends and coworkers may be inconvenienced or annoyed by behaviors related to the hearing loss. Your friend also should be aware that untreated hearing loss, even if it’s mild, may increase a person’s risk for significant, life-altering health conditions, including depression, dementia and injury-causing falls. For more detail on this topic, I encourage you to read an excellent article written by my Amplifon colleague, audiologist Dr. Carrie Meyer.

Some individuals don’t believe hearing aids are appropriate for their type of hearing loss. The fact is, 95% of sensorineural hearing loss, the most common type of hearing loss, can be helped with hearing aids. A hearing evaluation by a licensed professional will determine the type and degree of hearing loss and which kind of hearing aids would be appropriate.

I realize that investing in high-quality hearing aids can strain a person’s budget. Hearing aid prices typically range from under $1,000 to more than $4,000, depending on the level of technology. However, it’s important to understand that the purchase price includes far more than just the devices. For example, if your friend has an Amplifon benefit, she will also receive follow-up care to ensure a smooth transition to her new hearing aids, a supply of batteries or a charging station to keep the hearing aids powered and a 3-year warranty covering loss, repairs or damage.* Also, the prices of hearing aids reflect what they truly are: miniaturized marvels of technology! I like to think of it this way: A pair of hearing aids costs between $1 and $7 per day over the span of three to five years. That’s a lot of bang for the buck when you consider the potential to change a person’s life!

If your friend has financial concerns, there are steps she can take to stay within her budget. For starters, she should inquire with her health insurer about whether her plan includes a hearing benefit, which can significantly decrease her out-of-pocket expense. Amplifon has an online form where she can check her coverage. In addition, she may have a flex spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA); funds in these accounts may be used for hearing aids and hearing health care services. Your friend also should ask her provider about any financing programs, which may even include an interest-free option.