Do you have difficulty hearing the TV, unless you turn it to its max volume? Do you struggle when communicating with your neighbor, who has a low toned voice? Are you tired of quietly going through the day? Hearing aids give those with different degrees of hearing loss the ability to hear again. However, they can be expensive and are not always accessible to those that require them. In fact, among adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss that could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than one in three (30%) has ever used them. Even fewer adults aged 20 to 69 (approximately 16%) that could benefit from wearing hearing aids have ever used them. You can find affordable digital hearing aids, as long as you know where to look.
Inquire within your health insurance provider
If you have health insurance, it is possible that they will cover part of, or all of, your assistive listening device needs. If your need for hearing protection is caused by a medical concern, which it usually is, your insurance provider is likely to cover at least some of it. You will have to work with the insurance provider to obtain benefits. In many cases, they require that you work with a specific hearing provider and that you purchase specific affordable digital hearing aids and supplies. Even if you are required to pay a deductible, this may still be a more affordable option for hearing devices.
Look into supplier rebates
You will sometimes find that suppliers offer rebates to their customers in order to obtain their business. For example, a specific supplier of your custom hearing protection might be willing to give you a discount so that you purchase their assistive listening device, over a competitor?s device. There is a large market for affordable digital hearing aids. Hearing loss is currently the second most prevalent health issue globally. The number of people with hearing loss is more than those living with Parkinson?s, epilepsy, Alzheimer?s, and diabetes combined. With it being such a prevalent medical condition, there are also many suppliers for assistive listening devices.
Inquire about payment plans
One of the benefits of today?s highly technological assistive listening devices is that they often do not require consistent spending. The main cost associated is usually the digital hearing aid device itself. After you have purchased the device, you will have to keep up with hearing exams, medical care, and batteries for hearing aids. Yet, these are all much more affordable than the hearing aid device. Some hearing aid suppliers will offer payment plans to those that cannot afford the device otherwise. These are small monthly payments, until the device is paid off. Then, you only have to keep up with routine care and additional technological upgrades.
Evaluate preventative costs
Perhaps you have the funds available for your digital hearing aid, but cannot yet justify the costs. When you struggle to hear clearly on a daily basis, you could actually be doing additional damage to your ears. Eventually if you completely lose your hearing, you could require more advanced of hearing aids or a full cochlear implant. The costs of these advanced procedures are much more expensive than the affordable digital hearing aids you first considered. Consider the costs that you could associate if your hearing gets worse.
Hearing damage and loss can have many effects on your life. It can diminish your career potentials and reduce your social relationships. You might also find it difficult to engage in things you once enjoyed, like watching TV or listening to music. Although there are treatment options available for hearing loss, some people may find it difficult to afford these options. Lifetime costs of profound hearing loss can be as much as $1 million per person in the U.S. If you are in need of affordable digital hearing aids, consider working with your insurance provider, looking for supplier rebates, and requesting payment plans. It is also important to evaluate the potential of future medical costs, should you skip the hearing treatment that you currently need.
