When it comes acquiring hearing aids, it’s important to take
your time and do your research to find the best device to satisfy your hearing
needs. After all, a hearing aid is a complex
and advanced medical device, not a temporary
accessory to be picked up alongside your groceries.
Additionally, having an acute understanding of hearing aid technologies and how they correlate to your very specific and unique level of hearing loss without the assistance of a hearing specialist is near impossible.
Most individuals are tempted to turn to big box stores in
search of a bargain. We can’t blame people for being bargain shoppers (we’re
right there with you!) but price should not be the single deciding factor when
selecting a hearing aid. We’ve all heard the old adage “You get what you pay for.”
At best, getting your hearing device from a big box store
means you’re missing out on valuable services such as hearing aid programming,
custom fit devices, regular maintenance, and other aftercare benefits. These services
are essential to ensuring your hearing
aid is properly treating your individual hearing loss. At worst, you waste your
money and time on a hearing aid that will not suitably address your hearing
loss or could possibly damage your hearing even further.
The Advantages of Purchasing a Hearing Aid from a Local Provider
A qualified hearing health provider is someone who has been professionally trained in the science of hearing health and is equipped with an understanding of hearing related disorders. Hearing Instrument Specialists are able to diagnose, evaluate, and treat an individual’s hearing loss with incredible success and accuracy. It is difficult to believe anyone would leave their hearing health up to the for-profit approach of a big box store.
With personalized
care and attention, a local hearing healthcare provider offers…
Hearing Health Benefits Over Profits
Hearing health professionals offer their services and
treatment of hearing loss for the sole goal of improving their patient’s health
and wellbeing. Their livelihood and professional reputation lie in their
ability to change lives for the better.
The reality of big box and retail stores is that they are
without question; profit-driven. They’re
able to purchase hearing devices at bulk prices and equipped with the standard basic technologies so they may sell as
many devices as possible as quickly as possible.
This leavesmany consumers at a huge disadvantage when they realize their hearing loss isn’t being properly treated and they have no professional support network to assist them with the many aftercare services they will eventually need. No matter where you purchase a hearing aid, it will require professional programming, cleaning, and repair at some point. Not to mention your hearing loss will change over time and investing in the right device today will save you time, money, and headaches tomorrow.
Personally Selected Hearing Aids & Technology
A local hearing health provider is instrumental in helping you understand the pros and cons of each hearing aid style, technology, feature, and accessory. This knowledge will allow you to choose the hearing aid style and level of technology that is right for you. Differences in lifestyle, dexterity, aesthetics, and of course, hearing loss severity determine which aid will be the perfect fit. A hearing provider will guide you to the best hearing aid to treat your specific level of hearing loss.
Hearing loss is a complicated issue that cannot be fixed
with a one-size-fits-all approach, many areas of your life are affected by
hearing loss and getting the most out of your hearing device can be life-changing. Quality personalized care makes
all the difference.
Personalized Hearing Health Care
When you utilize the services of a local hearing provider,
you’ll receive personally tailored services long after you take your hearing
aid home. Not only will a local hearing provider make certain you have selected
the correct device for your level of hearing loss but they will also custom
fit, program, and teach you how to fully utilize your new device. On top of all
that, they can provide cleaning and maintenance services, performance updates,
and conduct annual hearing tests to help you record and monitor your hearing
loss.
If ever you have a question or concern regarding your
hearing aid, you can be certain a local hearing provider will be there to
assist you. Try calling the customer support line at a big box store and you
will soon learn they are not the qualified hearing professionals you may have
thought them to be.
The Disadvantages of Purchasing a Hearing Aid from a Big Box
Store
Limited Style & Technology
Big box stores often carry narrow selections of hearing aid
styles that are actually limited versions of comparable models designed
specifically for bulk sales with a one size fits all approach. They will not offer
the latest technologies and as a consequence, may not be the best option for
your specific level of hearing loss. When purchasing a hearing aid, you want to
be certain you are getting the best device for your type hearing loss, lifestyle,
and budget.
Lack of Post-Purchase Services
Many large retail stores do not offer any services past the
point of sale. This means if your hearing aid ever requires unique maintenance,
adjustment, or cleaning (and they certainly will) you will be forced to pay for
these extra services out of pocket.
Even worse, if a retailer does not have a hearing health
care specialist on staff, you will have to ship your hearing aids to the
manufacturer for maintenance. This could leave you without your hearing devices
for possibly weeks and without a loner device while you wait.
No Professional Recommendation or Fitting
Hearing aids are intricate medical devices, because of this,
they need to be programmed, tuned, and adjusted to meet the needs of your
specific level of hearing loss. It is not uncommon for hearing aids to require
multiple adjustments over multiple appointments during your hearing aid
acclimation period.
When you purchase hearing aids from a big box store, you may
not be certain whether they will be suitable for your type of hearing loss, if
they will fit comfortably within your ear canal, or if they can withstand the
demands of your lifestyle or living environment.
Choose Personalized Patient Care & Hearing Health
The bottom line is; when you buy your hearing aids from a
big box store, you really don’t know what you’re getting. A quality device? A
fair price? Professional care? Probably
not. But buying your hearing aids through a local hearing health care
provider gives you peace of mind and professional compassionate care.
You can be certain you are getting it all; focused hearing
health care, reputable hearing devices, and the services you’ll need to support
your hearing for the long term.
Start your journey towards better hearing health with the
help of highly trained professionals. We promise high-quality hearing aids paired with high-quality service, take charge of your hearing health today by
scheduling a comprehensive hearing test with your local hearing health
specialist.