Most hearing loss is gradual, which may lead people to think that it’s just a normal part of ageing. But untreated hearing loss may have serious consequences. StudiesTrusted Source link uncorrected hearing loss to:
- loneliness
- isolation
- dependence
- frustration
Untreated hearing loss can also lead to:
- depression and anxiety
- strained relationships with family and friends
- misunderstandings on the job or at school
- reduced productivity at work or school, which may affect income and career opportunities
Summary of Hearing aids are
A hearing aid is a small electronic device that you wear in or behind your ear. It makes some sounds louder so that a person with hearing loss can listen, communicate, and participate more fully in daily activities. Atlantic Hearing Care is a great place to get your hearing aids. A hearing aid can help people hear more in both quiet and noisy situations. But they don’t work for everyone and they’re not appropriate for all types of hearing loss .
It’s recommended that anyone thinking about using a hearing aid see or compare hearing aids an audiologist to have their hearing tested. The audiologist will check the type and degree of hearing loss to determine whether a hearing aid would be helpful.
Hearing aids usually aren’t covered by health insurance unless there’s a medical reason for the hearing loss, such as chronic ear infections, head injuries or extremely loud noise exposure.
Hearing aids are designed to improve your hearing. They’re programmed to meet your exact needs, whether you’ve lost most of your hearing or only a little.
The goal of hearing aids is to amplify the sounds that you want to hear while ignoring the background noise that can make conversations difficult.
Many people find that hearing aids give them back their ability to communicate with friends and family, enjoy social events and feel more involved in the world around them. Hearing aids can also give you back the ability to hear warning signals like emergency sirens and smoke alarms, which keeps you safer.
Types of hearing aids
Hearing aids are small, electronic devices that help people with hearing loss hear more clearly. They amplify sound vibrations entering the ear.
There are several styles of hearing aids:
- behind the ear (BTE)
- in the ear (ITE)
- in the canal (ITC)
- completely in canal (CIC)
No matter how they’re worn, each style has the same basic parts and works in a similar way.
Why do hearing aid prices are so high?
According to a 2016 report by the Hearing Industries Association, Americans purchase only 20 per cent of the hearing devices they need. The rest go without the benefit of hearing aids because the price is seen as prohibitive.
In 2015, a report on hearing technologies was compiled by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. This report identified several factors that escalate the cost of hearing aids. These factors include:
- lack of health insurance
- improved innovations in technology but not reduced consumer costs
- bundling of costs associated with hearing aids (discussed in detail below)
- manufacturing and sales practices, plus state regulations that inhibit consumers from cost-comparison shopping
What are the reasons for the high hearing aid price?
At the heart of this issue is that hearing loss is not considered a medical condition. Hearing aid price are therefore not covered under medical insurance or Medicaid plans, which contribute to their high price tag and leave consumers on their own to find ways to pay for them. In fact, Medicaid programs cover less than 1 per cent of all U.S. purchases of digital hearing aids annually.
Many public health organizations have advocated for increased coverage for the treatment of hearing loss, but it has yet to be implemented. Some states may have some coverage options.
