For this reason, we asked American audiologists how wealthy Americans view the price of hearing aids. The answer was truly surprising.
We Miamians are rich, rich, rich
Are Americans rich? Here, please share a contemptuous look with James.
Here's what American audiologists have to say in response:
The fact of the matter is this: one of the most common complaints among people with hearing loss today is that hearing aids aren't worth the high cost. That's the prevailing view among Americans.
Say well you guys have a lot of money
Hearing aids used to be considered a stigma, with many claiming that they made you look old, unfashionable, and simply didn't work. Today's multiplicity of hearing loss and the advancement of today's smart hearing aid technology and scientific fitting efforts proves those to be misconceptions, but the price of prescription hearing aids (hearing aids that are professionally fitted by a qualified professional) is still enough to scare off potential purchasers, namely the United States.
Why hearing aids are so expensive, we usually answer the needy in these areas.
1, Hearing aids have always been just a very expensive and high cost thing, from the day they were created.
The first hearing aids in the world were just very, very expensive when they were in their time period, costing between $62 and $159 a piece, and they hardly seem to be technical at all now, but they were just expensive. Now, in most states in the U.S., adult hearing aids are not insured, and patients have to pay out of pocket for prescription hearing aids that cost about $1,000 (about 6,400 Chinese yuan) to $4,000 (about 25,600 yuan) per ear.
2, the cost of high-tech digital technology.
Lower-priced hearing aids can only turn up the volume if they want to hear clearly, but the sound can become muddy and uncontrollable. Today, all hearing aids use digital software that allows them to filter out unwanted background noise and boost speech and desired ambient sounds. The high cost of digitalization results in quality listening.
3, the cost of customization.
Unlike consumer electronics such as cell phones, watches, and computers, hearing aids are often customized to ensure that they compensate for your specific hearing problems, as well as meet your comfort preferences and lifestyle requirements. Over the years, hearing aids have become increasingly robust to provide full durability so they can maintain optimal condition and performance for years to come.
In an age of great industrialization, any individually customized product is expensive.
4, the cost of research and development.
A large portion of the cost on the price of hearing aids goes to the R&D team, which uses state-of-the-art equipment and resources, not only acoustic, electrical, but also neural networks, ergonomics, and artificial intelligence systems, among others, so that hearing aids can be made smarter, safer, and more wearable. Among the world's six largest hearing aid manufacturers, about $500,000,000 (about 3.2 billion Chinese yuan) is spent on research and development each year, which has an impact on the price of products.
So while it may seem costly at $4,500 (28,800 yuan) for two hearing aids, we think its six-year life expectancy means you're looking at $750 a year for as little as $2 a day. Considering that the average deaf person can add $12,000 a year to their income just by wearing hearing aids (and by improving their job performance), this one-time investment shouldn't be so worrisome.
Chinese consumers, like their American counterparts, rely heavily on or trust the Internet and are overly concerned with low-priced hearing aids, with a biased belief that the selling price is only profit-driven, which is definitely not the case!
The truth is that buying a hearing aid is not the same as buying a new smartphone or laptop, because any medical device that can change your daily life requires a multi-step process of purchase and maintenance.
The most practical and cost-saving point for the wearer is not the hearing aid itself, but the freedom to schedule an unlimited number of follow-up visits, at no additional cost, to have a hearing care professional troubleshoot and fine-tune your hearing aid.
Be sure to ask your hearing care professional about all the services associated with your hearing aids before you purchase them. They will be happy to explain all of their services so you can see where your money is being spent
It is risky not to go for these consultations!
You may be able to lower the cost of buying your own hearing aids by purchasing one of the hearing-related products through an online store and not going for the experience. The low price of these hearing aids is often too good to be true, and unfortunately when it comes to hearing loss, these behaviors are tantamount to you giving up on self-care ignoring potential complications, including making existing hearing loss worse.
Hearing is one of the most important senses and one of the most vulnerable, which is why we recommend making an appointment with a hearing care professional immediately to begin treatment for hearing loss. Only prescription hearing aids (hearing aids that are professionally fitted by a licensed professional) can guarantee better, safer hearing, plus free or discounted medical care to keep your ears in tip-top shape.
Editor's note: So far, the FDA has approved the use of the term "hearing aid" only for devices that are sold by authorized and qualified hearing aid specialists (e.g., audiologists and hearing aid specialists). ). Currently, products sold online or through general retail stores do not qualify for this designation and are often referred to as "PSAPs", Personal Sound Amplification Devices. Forgoing professional medical treatment can leave you in the dark about the severity of your hearing loss and the impact it will have on your future health.