November 21, 2009
- Pasco, Washington
Pitfalls of Buying Hearing Aids
By Heather Reese
Do you find it hard to hear conversations in restaurants? Or are you always asking people to repeat themselves? You might very well need a hearing aid. But Consumer Reports finds that might be easier said than done.
Consumer Reports had a dozen volunteers purchase pairs of hearing aids to assess the shopping experience. Hearing aids can be expensive—one pair cost more than $6,000. And it turns out that getting the right hearing aid for your needs is no easy matter. Two-thirds of the 48 hearing aids were not adjusted properly for their wearers. In addition, a lot of shoppers didn't get information on features that could have helped their hearing aids' performance. There are all sorts of hearing aids to choose from. And Consumer Reports says no one hearing aid is good for everyone. Your first step is to find a person and place to prescribe and fit your hearing aids. Ideally that's an ear doctor's office, which usually employs audiologists. Be sure to check out these options. Consumer Reports says when shopping for a hearing aid, discuss your lifestyle. Ask about a telecoil if you talk a lot on the telephone. Consider a directional microphone, which helps people hear in noisy environments. And find out about digital noise reduction, which helps reduce annoying background noise. When you pick up your hearing aids, it's critical that they're fitting properly. You need to have several tests done. And one that's crucial is the real-ear test. That test measures the match between your hearing loss and the response of your hearing aid. Consumer Reports says whenever buying a hearing aid, always be sure to get a money-back guarantee. And don't forget to practice using a new hearing aid before you take it home. For instance, you want to try using the controls and changing the batteries. You can find a complete list of questions to ask before buying a hearing aid at: www.consumerreports.org/health/healthy-living/home-medical-supplies/hearing/hearing-aids/buying-tips-a-checklist/hearing-aids-before-you-buy.htm. |
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