PRE-PURCHASING TIPS
The following information is presented as an introduction to some general questions that should be addressed before scheduling a hearing test.
1. Many states mandate a 30 - 60 day money-back trail period with new hearing aid purchases to protect the public from predatory sales practices. During the trial period, consumers are able to get a refund if dissatisfied. Unfortunately, Michigan hasn't adopted such legislation.
2. It's very hard to comparison shop for hearing aids primarily because they are so expensive. One factor is the risk of accidental hearing aid loss during the evaluation period. Even when there is a legitimate trial period, it would generally cost thousands of dollars, up front, to try multiple sets in order to keep the pair that works best and return the others for a refund. Sometimes, demonstration aids can be used temporarily and strategically for comparing two brands, two sizes, etc.... If interested, please ask if this sort of comparison may be advantageous with your unique hearing situation.
3. Most new aids come with a 3-year manufacturer's warranty. Warranty work can be performed at any authorized dispensing office nationwide. The most popular brands on the market today are Starkey, Phonak, Signia, and Resound. Smaller companies (based on U.S. sales) include Oticon, Widex, and Unitron.
4. Miracle Ear, Beltone & Costco are are not hearing aid manufacturers. These companies utilize software, hardware, and accessories from actual manufacturers. Miracle Ear gets their parts from Siemens, while Beltone and Costco gets theirs from Resound. Additionally, these companies "burn" or lock the microprocessor chips in their aids, specifically so that only their own franchise stores can program/adjust the hearing aids or perform repairs. Restated differently, I can work on any legitimate name brand hearing aid sold in the U.S., but I can't do anything with aids purchased at Beltone, Miracle Ear, or Costco because they're not actual manufacturers, and they effectively alter the chip to lock their hearing aid electronics from all other industry professionals. With franchise aids, you're essentially forced to go back to the same office for all future services, as no other company can work on your hearing aids for you. This can be most problematic in rural areas when a franchise or chain office goes out of business. Franchise stores also unnecessarily limit your ability to obtain a 2nd opinion or seek services elsewhere. Very few franchise stores are staffed by audiologists. Most franchise stores are staffed by salesmen or "specialists" working on a commission basis. It is highly unlikely you'll ever meet a hearing doctor working under such conditions.
5. It is important to understand the differences between an audiologist and a hearing aid "specialist." The minimum standard for audiologists is a 9 - 10 year, full-time, university program culminating in a doctorate degree. Audiologists study the human ear, brain, speech sounds, communication complexities, hearing disorders and treatment options for 4-5 years with over 2000 hours of supervised clinical experience. On the other hand, no formal training is required to obtain a Hearing Aid Specialist license in Michigan. In fact, a high school diploma is not required to get a hearing aid specialist license in Michigan. Specialists are required, by the state, to pass a very, very simple basic skills test to obtain a license to sell hearing aids. The test is so easy that audiologists are not required to take it. Specialists can not perform comprehensive hearing tests for medical purposes, nor can the specialist bill health insurance companies for diagnostic testing. Specialists are legally qualified to screen hearing for hearing aid purposes only. Look for the credentials printed after the clinician's name. AuD is the credential for Doctor of Audiology (e.g., Doe, Jane AuD). HIS is the credential for Hearing Instrument Salesman (e.g, Hancock, John HIS).
6. Real-Ear! No clinician should try to program your hearing aid(s) with just a computer. A critical and separate piece of equipment is required. It is ONLY when the clinician can measure and SEE what parts of speech are being amplified (and how they're amplified) that ANY responsible programming or adjustments can be performed. Without measuring speech at the eardrum, the clinician is working completely blind. He or she literally has no idea what the individual is/isn't hearing or how to make any competent or accurate adjustments. Real-Ear measures require these three steps:
1) A microphone must be placed near the eardrum. This is a simple and painless process.
2) A recording of average American speech sounds must be played aloud in the room via loudspeaker, at various loudness levels, so the clinician can measure and see what you hear in order to intelligently and safely adjust your aid to science based prescriptive targets... similar to the prescription based fitting of an eyeglass lens.
3) A series of loud sounds must be presented to ensure the aids are not uncomfortably or dangerously loud. The real-ear screen would show exactly which loud sound(s) to turn down without unnecessarily diminishing other sounds of life.
APPROXIMATELY 75% OF THE CLINICS IN THE U.S. DO NOT UTILIZE REAL EAR MEASURES.
Summary
1- Comparison shopping for hearing aids is typically impractical due to the relatively high cost.
2- Starkey, Signia, and Phonak tend to manufacture the best hearing aids today.
3- Avoid franchises such as Beltone, Miracle Ear, or Costco as they unnecessarily limit individuals to one specific office, clinician, or brand. Audiologists rarely work at a Beltone, Costco, or Miracle Ear office.
4- Recognize the huge training and education disparity between a Doctor of Audiology and a Hearing Aid Specialist. Hearing aid specialists are not required to have a high school diploma. Maximum hearing aid benefit is not a topic on the Hearing Aid Specialist basic skills test. Check the credential abbreviation after the clinician's name. AuD is the Doctor of Audiology designation. HIS is the designation for Hearing Instrument "Specialist."
5- Try to ensure the clinician is using a Real-Ear system to actually measure and verify hearing aid performance when fitting and programming (tuning) new aids. After the initial selection and fitting process, nearly any office located anywhere can reliably help you get your hearing aids cleaned or repaired.
6- Find an audiology office that offers a trial period. The initial 60 days are most important when the aids are selected, physically fit, and programmed or tuned to produce individually customized sounds. This is the critical span of time to strive to identify & obtain each individual's maximum aided benefit.
1. Many states mandate a 30 - 60 day money-back trail period with new hearing aid purchases to protect the public from predatory sales practices. During the trial period, consumers are able to get a refund if dissatisfied. Unfortunately, Michigan hasn't adopted such legislation.
2. It's very hard to comparison shop for hearing aids primarily because they are so expensive. One factor is the risk of accidental hearing aid loss during the evaluation period. Even when there is a legitimate trial period, it would generally cost thousands of dollars, up front, to try multiple sets in order to keep the pair that works best and return the others for a refund. Sometimes, demonstration aids can be used temporarily and strategically for comparing two brands, two sizes, etc.... If interested, please ask if this sort of comparison may be advantageous with your unique hearing situation.
3. Most new aids come with a 3-year manufacturer's warranty. Warranty work can be performed at any authorized dispensing office nationwide. The most popular brands on the market today are Starkey, Phonak, Signia, and Resound. Smaller companies (based on U.S. sales) include Oticon, Widex, and Unitron.
4. Miracle Ear, Beltone & Costco are are not hearing aid manufacturers. These companies utilize software, hardware, and accessories from actual manufacturers. Miracle Ear gets their parts from Siemens, while Beltone and Costco gets theirs from Resound. Additionally, these companies "burn" or lock the microprocessor chips in their aids, specifically so that only their own franchise stores can program/adjust the hearing aids or perform repairs. Restated differently, I can work on any legitimate name brand hearing aid sold in the U.S., but I can't do anything with aids purchased at Beltone, Miracle Ear, or Costco because they're not actual manufacturers, and they effectively alter the chip to lock their hearing aid electronics from all other industry professionals. With franchise aids, you're essentially forced to go back to the same office for all future services, as no other company can work on your hearing aids for you. This can be most problematic in rural areas when a franchise or chain office goes out of business. Franchise stores also unnecessarily limit your ability to obtain a 2nd opinion or seek services elsewhere. Very few franchise stores are staffed by audiologists. Most franchise stores are staffed by salesmen or "specialists" working on a commission basis. It is highly unlikely you'll ever meet a hearing doctor working under such conditions.
5. It is important to understand the differences between an audiologist and a hearing aid "specialist." The minimum standard for audiologists is a 9 - 10 year, full-time, university program culminating in a doctorate degree. Audiologists study the human ear, brain, speech sounds, communication complexities, hearing disorders and treatment options for 4-5 years with over 2000 hours of supervised clinical experience. On the other hand, no formal training is required to obtain a Hearing Aid Specialist license in Michigan. In fact, a high school diploma is not required to get a hearing aid specialist license in Michigan. Specialists are required, by the state, to pass a very, very simple basic skills test to obtain a license to sell hearing aids. The test is so easy that audiologists are not required to take it. Specialists can not perform comprehensive hearing tests for medical purposes, nor can the specialist bill health insurance companies for diagnostic testing. Specialists are legally qualified to screen hearing for hearing aid purposes only. Look for the credentials printed after the clinician's name. AuD is the credential for Doctor of Audiology (e.g., Doe, Jane AuD). HIS is the credential for Hearing Instrument Salesman (e.g, Hancock, John HIS).
6. Real-Ear! No clinician should try to program your hearing aid(s) with just a computer. A critical and separate piece of equipment is required. It is ONLY when the clinician can measure and SEE what parts of speech are being amplified (and how they're amplified) that ANY responsible programming or adjustments can be performed. Without measuring speech at the eardrum, the clinician is working completely blind. He or she literally has no idea what the individual is/isn't hearing or how to make any competent or accurate adjustments. Real-Ear measures require these three steps:
1) A microphone must be placed near the eardrum. This is a simple and painless process.
2) A recording of average American speech sounds must be played aloud in the room via loudspeaker, at various loudness levels, so the clinician can measure and see what you hear in order to intelligently and safely adjust your aid to science based prescriptive targets... similar to the prescription based fitting of an eyeglass lens.
3) A series of loud sounds must be presented to ensure the aids are not uncomfortably or dangerously loud. The real-ear screen would show exactly which loud sound(s) to turn down without unnecessarily diminishing other sounds of life.
APPROXIMATELY 75% OF THE CLINICS IN THE U.S. DO NOT UTILIZE REAL EAR MEASURES.
Summary
1- Comparison shopping for hearing aids is typically impractical due to the relatively high cost.
2- Starkey, Signia, and Phonak tend to manufacture the best hearing aids today.
3- Avoid franchises such as Beltone, Miracle Ear, or Costco as they unnecessarily limit individuals to one specific office, clinician, or brand. Audiologists rarely work at a Beltone, Costco, or Miracle Ear office.
4- Recognize the huge training and education disparity between a Doctor of Audiology and a Hearing Aid Specialist. Hearing aid specialists are not required to have a high school diploma. Maximum hearing aid benefit is not a topic on the Hearing Aid Specialist basic skills test. Check the credential abbreviation after the clinician's name. AuD is the Doctor of Audiology designation. HIS is the designation for Hearing Instrument "Specialist."
5- Try to ensure the clinician is using a Real-Ear system to actually measure and verify hearing aid performance when fitting and programming (tuning) new aids. After the initial selection and fitting process, nearly any office located anywhere can reliably help you get your hearing aids cleaned or repaired.
6- Find an audiology office that offers a trial period. The initial 60 days are most important when the aids are selected, physically fit, and programmed or tuned to produce individually customized sounds. This is the critical span of time to strive to identify & obtain each individual's maximum aided benefit.