Approximately 466 million people have hearing loss worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, and this figure is expected to reach 630 million by 2030.

Hearing aids have the potential to transform lives and enable people to continue enjoying life to the fullest. However, people often ask the question: why are hearing aids expensive? While many people are reluctant to wear hearing aids for several reasons, the price of professionally fitted hearing aids can often be enough on its own to put off potential buyers.

The cost of hearing aids varies widely across the world. In some countries, health insurance doesn’t cover hearing aids. This means people have to pay for their hearing aids out of their pockets. The rise in price may seem excessive, however, many factors influence the cost of your hearing aids.

• State-of-the-art technology. Modern hearing aids are packed with the very latest technology. While old analog hearing aids could only turn up the volume, it meant what you would hear was uncontrolled and unclear. Hearing aids today, however, take advantage of the latest digital software and technology that allows them to reduce the impact of background noise, while also enhancing speech and environmental sounds.
• Custom designed. Hearing aids can be customized to help your specific hearing issues while also meeting your personal comfort preferences and lifestyle needs. They are built for maximum durability and quality, so they will continue working at full performance for years. This specialist customization takes considerable time and skill.
• Research and development. A significant proportion of what you pay for hearing aids goes towards research into the most cutting-edge resources and equipment to make hearing aids safer, smarter and generally more enjoyable to wear and use. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year by the hearing industry to make your hearing aids more powerful, smaller and to sound more natural. The research and development process involves a huge team of audiologists, electrical engineers, computer engineers, sound engineers, and programmers. This will inevitably affect what you pay for your hearing aids.

A hearing aid is a specialized piece of medical equipment that will significantly alter your day to day life and involve professional services and maintenance. Included in what you pay for your hearing aids are important services. For instance, you will have the opportunity to have follow-up visits with your hearing care professional so they can adjust and fine-tune your hearing aids. There are several other services that may (or may not) be included in the cost of hearing aids, such as:

• Hearing evaluation
• Hearing aid programming and fitting
• Hearing aid batteries and accessories
• Customer training to use the device
• Earmold impressions
• Hearing aid warranties
• Hearing aid adjustments and repairs
• Additional therapy services

To understand why are hearing aids expensive, ask your hearing care professional about all the services that come with your hearing aid. You may have the opportunity to remove some of the elements of your hearing aid package to receive a lower price.

If you feel tempted to dramatically reduce the cost of your new hearing aids by simply skipping the hearing evaluation or buying a hearing device online, then you need to be careful.

• Buying online. The FDA only allows the term hearing aid to be used for hearing devices that are sold by hearing care professionals. Hearing products sold online are therefore not hearing aids; they are personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) and may harm your hearing health.
• Skipping hearing evaluation. Not having a hearing evaluation with a hearing care professional also poses the risk that you won’t know the type of hearing loss you have and its severity. If the hearing loss is caused by a medical condition that could progress, it could cause more hearing loss and potentially affect your health.

Why are hearing aids expensive? Hearing aids have the potential to dramatically transform your life. From your relationships and home life to your work and the hobbies and activities you enjoy. They are the only way you can achieve better and safer hearing while also benefiting from the ongoing professional care which will help to keep your ears healthy and working their best.