Hearing Aid Consumer Reports

Who's got the best, and who got the worse service? The findings may leave you flabbergasted. Below is a listing of hearing aid manufacturers and what their customers think of their service. My initial research revealed more complaints about Siemens quality, customer service, and repair costs, which were frequent. But lets find out what's really happening.

Consumer Reports did a survey and followed 1,100 people for six months who had purchased hearing aids in the last 3 years. Shopper purchased two pair each, or 48 hearing aids in total, spending between $1800-$6800 per pair. Consumer Reports had audiologist assessed how well these people were fitted with their hearing aids and found over half of the shopper's hearing aids were not fitting properly, and they either amplified too much or not enough.

Even in the face of this information, 73% of respondents to the survey indicated they were happy with heir hearing aids. It was held that many were so happy to be able to hear just a little better, they neglected to go for adjustments that could improve their hearing even more.

Information is Rare:

In this same survey conducted by Consumer Reports, they found respondents who had no idea whether they had the two components instrumental for functionality:

1/4 of respondents didn't know if they had feedback suppression on their devices 1/3 didn't know if they had a directional microphone

Buying a hearing aid is by far a grueling process. You are entering into a contract that you should have a lawyer look at before signing it, plus you need to know the provider you are dealing with. Additionally, you will need to have the patience to get accustomed to wearing the aid and to make room for adjustments.

Spending a lot of money is not always the best route to take. The more features you add to your hearing aid, the more its going to cost you. You could end up like many who spent $6000 for their aids only to not get any benefit from them at all.

Consumer Reports suggest:

If you are a veteran, utilizing the VA Hospital you may be able to get your hearing aids at a huge discount. For others, the best option is to see an ear doctor (otolaryngologist), who works in conjunction with a audiologist. Approximately 1 in 5 people receive their aids from a doctors office and were satisfied with the service.

Whom ever you choose, they should have a wide variety of aids to choose from. Their service should be able to provide their customers:

• Choice of styles, features, and brands


• Convenient office hours to include service in a hurry if you need it


• Soundproof booth for hearing testing

Make certain that you get a real-ear test that measures hearing loss against how the hearing aid responds. On your initial visit you should receive a complete exam and several diagnostic tests to determine the degree of hearing loss.

When considering an aid, focus on the features and their advantages. Not many are aware of the 117% markup on the price of a hearing device. When picking up your aids, be sure to spend a little time getting familiar with the maintenance of the aid and removal of the battery before going home. You should make a repeat visit with the doctor at least once to address any concerns or problems with your new hearing aid.

by Barb Hicks, RN/LMT