Purchasing a hearing aid is a significant step toward improving your quality of life, but it can feel overwhelming without the right guidance. From understanding your hearing needs to selecting the perfect device and ensuring a proper fit, the process involves several important steps. This guide breaks down the journey into manageable stages, helping you make an informed decision and get the most out of your hearing aids.
The process of purchasing a hearing aid often involves a series of steps, from identifying hearing loss to adjusting your new devices to match your lifestyle needs. Read on to learn more about the hearing aid purchase process and what you can expect.
Before you purchase a hearing aid, it’s critical to visit your nearest Miracle-Ear for a free hearing evaluation*. The hearing test is performed by a licensed hearing care professional (HCP) and takes about 60 minutes, providing you with valuable information about your hearing health.
Once it’s determined that you could benefit from a hearing aid, there are many hearing aid styles and technologies to consider, including discreet in-the-ear (ITE), receiver-in-canal (RIC) and behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid models. HCP can help match the best custom solution to suit your lifestyle. Help with hearing aid purchase is available at Miracle-Ear when you’re ready to move forward.
Hearing aids are an investment in your health and wellbeing, and pricing depends on the technology and features you choose. Miracle-Ear offers customer financing options, to make them more accessible. Everyone deserves the gift of hearing, and there is financial help to purchase hearing aids available to people, no matter their financial status.
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to hearing aids, so it’s important to get a custom fit for optimal comfort and performance. At Miracle-Ear, if you decide on a hearing aid style that includes a custom earmold, your HCP will take an impression of your ear. Custom hearing aids help prevent discomfort and provide the best possible sound quality.
After your hearing aids are custom-fitted, the focus shifts to hearing aid programming. Your HCP will tailor the devices to your individual hearing needs and enable different settings for various listening environments. The real ear measurement (REM) test evaluates how well the hearing aids perform inside your ears, ensuring clarity and optimal sound quality.
It can take time to adjust to your new hearing aid, so patience is key during this step. You may find that once you’re in your daily routine, there are some adjustments that need to be made to the hearing aid settings. After a couple weeks, it’s important to come in for a follow-up appointment to discuss these changes to make the hearing aid even more effective.
Purchasing hearing aids online might save you time and potentially a little money, but remember that professional fitting and programming are essential for long-term benefit and use.
Additionally, you will not receive ongoing personalized support for your devices.
Used hearing aids won’t be fitted or programmed to your hearing loss, but rather to someone else’s. While it may seem like a cost-effective solution, a used hearing aid can actually cost more money over time due to repair and maintenance.
Additionally, if you are tempted to purchase used hearing aids, hygiene and warranty concerns should be considered.
Some individuals experience hearing loss limited to one ear, while the other ear continues to function normally. For these cases, a single hearing aid might seem sufficient. However, using only one hearing aid may not provide the balanced support your auditory system needs.
There are no shortage of location options when it comes to purchasing hearing aids. Miracle-Ear has over 1,600 centers nationwide, and appointments are free to book.
Because hearing loss classifies as a medical condition, you might be able to deduct costs associated with treating it, including hearing aids.
Be sure to save all receipts and consult with a tax professional.
Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids are a relatively new category of hearing aids and are available for mild to moderate hearing loss. These don’t require a prescription or professional fitting, and are regulated as medical devices by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
However, we recommend scheduling an appointment with a hearing care professional to ensure a personalized evaluation and the most effective solution for your hearing needs.
A doctor’s release is not required to purchase hearing aids for individuals over 18. The FDA changed the requirements for the purchase hearing aids in 2022, allowing them to be sold directly to consumers without a medical exam.
Prescriptive hearing aids are obtained through your hearing care professional/OTC hearing aids can be obtained without a prescription or professional fitting. Even so, at Miracle-Ear, we strongly advise you consult a hearing care professional to ensure the best possible care and tailored solutions for your hearing health.
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