Posted on 10/16/2022 8:38:07 AM PDT by devane617
The government on Monday will begin allowing pharmacies and big-box stores to sell hearing aids without prescriptions, a move that is expected to shake up an industry that has long been dominated by a handful of manufacturers under a model of care that critics said raised costs and stifled innovation.
Backers of the change say the move to over-the-counter hearing aid sales will usher in a revolution of lower prices and new technologies, and expand access for millions of people with untreated hearing loss.
But while the shift holds the promise of improving the lives of millions of people who have untreated mild to moderate hearing loss, it also is a sweeping test of consumer-driven health care.
For first-time users, hearing aids require fine-tuning and a degree of patience as the brain becomes accustomed to processing sounds that have been muffled for years, say audiology experts. It’s not like popping on a new pair of glasses and instantly seeing clearly. It sometimes takes days or weeks to become accustomed to them, which might be easy for tech-savvy people but more challenging for the target audience of elderly people.
Manufacturers say they are ready to smooth the process for new customers. Today’s hearing aids come with smartphone apps that allow consumers to calibrate the devices themselves. The manufacturers are setting up call centers and help desks to assist customers with fit and tuning.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
If you don’t have your hearing aids adjusted to your hearing loss by and audiologist with follow up visits you are not getting the full benefit of hearing aids. Quality hearing aids are not just amplifiers.
Medicare now covers $1000 of the cost. I could have gotten good hearing aids with proper tuning for that but opted for rechargeable and Bluetooth for $380 more. Money well spent.
Eh?
My husband is very patient with me and my hearing loss. I try to do my part, though. When I don’t hear him clearly, I get out of my chair and walk over to him so I can directly see his face. Since I have made an effort to improve communication, he is very kind about repeating what he said.
Like inexpensive magnifier eyeglasses.
Works just fine for lots of people.
A last chance for those on a limited budget.
Cheap enough to give the budget hearing aids a try. Like the cheap glasses above, will work just fine for lots of folks, an option for a very tight budget.
As usual, need more? See you Doctor/Crook
One trick my wife and I use is we start talking nonsense to each other to see if the other person is paying attention and/or can hear us.
“Dear. Look out the window. There are twelve pink elephants marching in formation.”
;-)
You never needed a prescription to buy hearing aids...just deep pockets...:) Average price around here for decent hearing aids in the 5K range. And excuse for this is all the “followup” services and warranty...all BS. Once they have your money you can get maybe 30 minutes a visit to adjust the aids. Not nearly enough time for some people with different frequency losses...like myself. I have read that the markup on the aids is ridiculous...i.e. brought for 1500 a pair and sold to the end user for 5K.
You can get the software to program your hearing aids if you search the web. There are forums for folks that want to control their own hearing aids and that is where you can get software links. Just takes the software, and interface to the hearing aids...typically a NOAH link wireless module and you can change your hearing aids all you want.
I am hopeful that this legislation will bring down cost substantially. For older people on a fixed income the high prices means they suffer from hearing loss and thus become isolated since they do not have the financial means to purchase said hearing aids at the higher price.
As an aside there are a couple of companies that are researching gene therapy to regrow the damaged nerve/hair cells(cochlea) in our ears that have died thus causing hearing loss. The most promising at the moment seems to be an outfit called Frequency Therapeutics. They have had some success with their clinical trials with their drug. There are others but I only mention them as I tried to sign up for their clinical trials but missed out..just missed the age cutoff...:) (To old...:)
‘I am hopeful that this legislation will bring down cost substantially. For older people on a fixed income the high prices means they suffer from hearing loss and thus become isolated since they do not have the financial means to purchase said hearing aids at the higher price.”
Thanks for the reply. I am one of the above.
For years, it has been possible for the clever to get around the hearing aid racket by buying cheap, good enough equivalents under the guise of miniature devices for listening to bird songs and the like. Now, with such devices becoming ever more sophisticated and well-known, the hearing aid industry has grudgingly capitulated to allowing cheap, reliable hearing aids openly on the market that do not need expensive trained personnel to sell and fine tune.
I have a T-shirt that says “My wife says I don’t listen. I think.”
A few weeks ago while channel surfing, I stopped on one of the shopping channels out of curiosity.
They were selling a new ‘form’ of hearing apparatus from BOSE (IIRC) for around $500. They showed it being adjustable via smartphone app.
Elsewhere I have ads for hearing aids that range from $1500 to $4000.
This new law will certainly bring prices down through competition, but it will also bring out a lot of fly-by-nighters selling crappy devices for ‘$99, order now, offer ends soon’.
As always, buyer beware.
The frustration is real
Problem is without a prescription insurance almost certainly won’t cover. I mean I know the insurance to hearing aid relationship is problematic at best. But this will be 100% nope. So this will be great for people with money. But nobody else will notice a difference.
Right on. Watch the technology in these devices skyrocket.
Good.
There will be lots of new innovations introduced as a result. Like a virtual intercom. My apple max units do a pretty good job in some situations.
If you have a Costco in your area, they have a PAIR of Kirkland Signature aids for less that 1500 bucks. They’re made by one of the major manufacturers, like Siemans.
I have them and they’re great for the price. Good service and warranty as well.
Apparently the hearing aid companies failed to show the democrats proper respect.
A comprehensive hearing test is performed in a soundproof cubical over a range of high to low frequencies at dB levels that could be lower to higher than the normal range. For a self hearing test, expensive and very high end over the ear stereo head phones could approach but not equal a professional test.
I have a hearing loss in one ear that was first detected in my mid twenties. My job entailed exposure to hazardous noise levels so the onboarding physical included a hearing test. It was nonlimiting to me in any way at that time. Now though, I am functionally deaf in that one ear. It sucks.
If the pharmacies would just set a sound test cubical next to the BP machines that are common, that would be great. A simple print out of the results would be okay. A digital file would be much preferred for computer and App use though.
The 5G i9ntrusion potential perhaps?
‘...1500 bucks...”
You can buy an iPhone 14 promax for less than that. You can buy a fully decked win computer for less than that. $1500 for—cheap—hearing aids is obscene! I hope the manufactures go BK because of this change.
Eeh.
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