Why are hearing aids so expensive?
Hearing aids are individually made for the wearer based on a custom impression taken of the ear canal. This impression is then sent to the hearing aid manufacturer where they create a form fitting hearing aid based on the size and shape of the impression. The average life of a hearing aid is five to seven years. It is important to remember that a portion of the cost of a hearing aid includes the service, cleaning, and adjustment of the hearing aid during its lifespan. All hearing aids come with a two year warranty, and our office has made arrangements to provide a three year warranty with some manufacturers.
I have hearing loss due to Tinitus which makes it difficult for me to discriminate sounds from one another such as multiple speakers in a crowd. I’d get a hearing aid, but I don’t think that even the most sophisticated hearing aid should cost over $400. This should give the seller at least a 33% profit on the sale – plenty. I am a retired electronics engineer and have personal knowledge of what miniature electronics cost to produce. Look at cell phones. They are far more complex than a hearing aid, containing many systems including adaptive filters and an audio system. I’d wager that the audio and filter electronics could easily fit into an ear. As far as the transducers (microphone and speaker), Look at the earbuds used for ipods and other MP3 players. Those things are so cheap that they are given away on tour buses. Since most hearing aids have frequency response in the 250 to 4000 (or above) hertz, inexpensive devices can readily do the job. You get the idea. I’m well aware of the e
Yes, they are. However, it may interest you to know that a simple analog HA in 1960 was $350.00. Adjusted for inflation, that’s $2400. in today’s money. You can get a very good digital aid for that now. Manufacturers spend millions in research and development, necessary due to fierce competition. Starkey spent $43 Million a year for 3 years to develop their groundbreaking Destiny line. Manufacturers must develop and maintain a distribution network of licensed professionals to bring the product to you. Custom hearing aids are made individually to the shape of your ear, and each are “one of a kind”. The components are welded under a microscope and juggled around to fit in narrow, curved little spaces. They may pass through fifty pair of hands during the process. About 15% of these have to be remade, to sound, feel and perhaps appear invisible. A certain number of people return them for refund. They cannot be resold. This adds to the cost for everyone. Marketing is necessary to find the p
