Buying Hearing Aids Online – another Bad Idea
There are a lot of companies selling hearing aids on line today. You can look at the ads and think you are getting a great deal. You aren’t.
Mail order hearing aids are illegal in Florida to protect the consumer. It isn’t like buying a pair of reading glasses at the drug store. Hearing aids must be programmed to meet your needs. Usually multiple programming sessions are required during the adjustment period.
Hearing technology changes rapidly. Most of what is available online is old technology and priced relatively high, considering what it is. It is hard to know what is a good deal. One company is now marketing a mail order hearing aid for approximately $1000.00. That is an awful lot of money for a hearing aid and no service.
As an audiologist, I carry a wide range of hearing aids. Some for well under $1000.00 each. Don’t get taken in by these ads. If it sounds too good to be true, it generally is. The best thing that the consumer can do is research. Check out your prospective audiologist online, with your physician and friends who are happy with their hearing aids. And remember, if you see large newspaper ads for certain hearing aid sales companies, if you choose them and purchase your hearing aids there, most of what you are paying for is the advertising.
If you have questions, give us a call at 727-323-2471.
Susan E. Terry, Au.D., F-AAA
Doctor of Audiology
Board Certified
P.S. We are here to help, if you have any questions about your hearing feel free to give us a call at 727-323-2471.