Why are hearing aids so expensive

[Jaros]

Pardon!! Speak up Goody!!

 

[goody2shoes]

Yes pensioners get free hearing aids,

In NSW

Goody

 

[OzzieAu]

Pardon!! Speak up Goody!!

Take those earmuffs off Jaros,
I can hear her and I aint even got my aids in.

 

[goody2shoes]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Dave law]

Mate it aint just hearing aids, anything for the disabled is way over priced. Its a joke.

 

[snafu]

Yes pensioners get free hearing aids,

In NSW

Goody

Not in Qld for quality aids, Goody, although we do get a discount - $1900 off the $3000 models. Bottom shelf models could be free, I think.

After all the tests etc that I went through in sound proof booths before having my hearing aids fitted, there is a helluva lot more to it than just grabbing a pair, stick them in and away you go. The computer settings alone take numerous visits to a qualified audiologist to ensure that the devices are functioning as programmed for the individual and unless the likes of Costco are providing that specialist service, anybody considering going for the budget devices, don't waste your money.

Jeff

 

[goody2shoes]

Hi Jeff,

Yes the bottom shelf model,

Are free.

I wear them with no problems,

I still get all the hearing tests etc done for free,

Can not afford the other's on a pension ,

Goody

 

[grubstake]

Here are Costco hearing aid centres in Australia - it looks to me like they provide the necessary supporting services:
https://www.costco.com.au/hearing-aid-centre

 

[snafu]

Here are Costco hearing aid centres in Australia - it looks to me like they provide the necessary supporting services:
https://www.costco.com.au/hearing-aid-centre

Well, there you go, always learning something new here on PA.

Here I was thinking that Costco was just some warehouse unloading junk type stuff in a 'no frills, straight off the pallet' shopping experience, but they not only do a hearing aid service, you can get your eyes checked, tyres replaced and top up the fuel tank all at a one stop shop - amazing. I think I've lived out bush too long and the modern world has left me behind.

Jeff

 

[Goldfreak]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone managed to find a spare part to fix my dad's hearing aids. With his if one is broken the other won't work either. Hopefully by the time I need them the price won't be so ridiculous.

 

[Harbourmaster]

Haven't personally checked out Costco but was told by someone living in Adelaide they are much cheaper for the expensive ones and have an audiologist on site to check your hearing and set up new aids I paid almost $8000 for the current set and they are very good I can hear what she's mumbling and love to say I heard that. I didn't realise all the sounds I could no longer hear until I got these. They told me to wear them all the time but I don't only if I remember when we go out hope they will last longer that way. Had to buy them when I was in business as I really couldn't hear customers due to back ground noise. A lot of blokes I run into on the Bowling Green recon the cheap ones are exactly that cheap and not worth the trouble so I made my decision based on that advise. I think they take off the free bit for pensioners if you go for a better set , does any one know if this is the case

 

[user 4386]

Various issues. One is the volume in general, the other is the volume at different frequencies, a third is being able to clearly hear people against a lot of background noise..

A cheap hearing aid will just increase the overall volume in a crude way.

However, most people like me who have worked with rock drills and fire-arms don't lost their hearing evenly, but lose all the high-frequency (high-pitched) sounds more than the low frequency (deep, base) sounds. So more expensive hearing aids increase the high-pitched sound more than the low-pitched sounds so as to compensate for this.

Also, most older people have increasing trouble hearing one person speak against a background of other noise (eg lots of people speaking as at a party or in a shopping centre). Expensive aids detect the individual voice(s) and amplify it (or supress the background sounds). A proper audiologist will actually tune your new hearing aid to fit your individual hearing. I found that what had previously been a general background noise in a shopping mall previously, became individual voices (I could suddenly identify which person each voice was coming from, it was no longer a single blurred sound - I could hear what individuals were each saying across the width of a shopping mall.).

Yes, hearing aids are expensive. But cheaper hearing aids will not be nearly as effective - buying a cheap one over the counter will probably be rather disappointing compared to the possible improvement you could achieve. But of course you may have no way of knowing that.

 

[Jaros]

My Resound hearing aids cost approx $5000-00---WHEW!!!! :8

 

[pagan prospector]

My Blamey Saunders aids cost me $3500 they are adjustable on my computer or smart phone using provided hardware and program my previous aids cost $12000 and werent a patch on the Blamey Saunders aids the blamey name is professor Blamey the guy who invented the cochlear implant I have been very impressed with the service from them even though they are in Melbourne and i live in Adelaide they do clinics in most major centres
Pagan P