How much should you pay for your hearing aids?
Welcome to the second episode in this four part series, unravelling the world of private hearing aid providers. Written by our very own Independent Audiologist Tracy James MSc CAC RHAD.
Each month Tracy will we letting you in to this undiscovered world, and the ‘need to knows’ of the industry, ensuring you are fully informed when it comes to making choices regarding your hearing health.
Episode 2: How much should you pay for your hearing aids? Navigating the different costs between hearing aid providers - 10 top tips
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Most people try the NHS first before deciding to go private – but some people have very specific requirements or needs and go private first. Private hearing aids can be justified if it means your ability to benefit from hearing aids (and quality of life) is improved compared to NHS. Here are some of the main reasons why I moved to private:
1) Your NHS service not being accessible enough in terms of location, waiting times or opening hours. Private services are often available in town centres which can make the service very accessible, particularly if they have their own parking available. Some private services will also offer home visits, if required
2) You don’t like the style of hearing aids you’ve been offered, or they’re not comfortable. Private audiology services often offer a range of styles of hearing aids (as well as brands), that can be a lot more discrete or even invisible. Some style of hearing aids can look like Bluetooth airpods or earphones. Custom fit hearing aids can be more comfortable, as they take the shape of your ear
3) You need specific technology to work with electronic equipment, such as mobile phones, Alexa and laptops. Some hearing aids come with several Bluetooth pairings so that you can work with electronic devices seamlessly; others come with a fall alert and some can translate or transcribe speech for you.
If your NHS hearing aid service is accessible and you’ve tried NHS hearing aids that benefit you, and work for your health needs and your lifestyle – then the NHS may be right for you at this time.
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All private hearing aids are expensive – so if you’re going to pay that much (and can afford to) – ensure that you’re getting the best hearing aid for you and for the level of service provided.
In the Which Survey 2024, Independents received the highest overall customer score in their survey of hearing aid wearers. They excelled in a number of areas, including waiting times, staff skill, facilities, the suitability of the hearing aids, comfort and after-care – with their highest five-star rating for all these measures, vs four-stars for the big brands.
The details: the overall average price of a pair of private hearing aids is £2700, but if you go independent, the average price is £3275 (Which Survey 2024).
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A 2024 Which Survey revealed that customers who used the provider with the lowest average price (£1,993) were more likely to report problems with their hearing aids.
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As there is such a variation in hearing aid prices, keep in mind that aftercare and extras matter too, so don't just go on price. Make sure you ask exactly what’s included, so you know what you’re comparing when shopping around.
A good aftercare service should include free clean and checks and a 5 year warranty (see top tip 10)
It is also worth checking to see if you will be charged for any additional services.
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Consider whether you qualify for home visits with your private audiology service, or whether you may require this in the future
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Ask who the follow-up appointments will be with and how often they'll take place. How do you get hold of the audiologist if there is a problem and how quickly should you expect a problem to be rectified? One of the biggest gripes I hear from clients who have used bigger chain providers, is that they were not supported once the hearing aids were fitted and could not resolve a repair or access a change in hearing aid settings when their hearing changed.
Consider whether you’d prefer to be seen by the same audiologist at each appointment and whether your service allows for that.
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Ask about servicing, maintenance and parts (such as batteries and wax-traps) – has the audiologist explained what is required and indicated the ongoing costs? Will there be a cost for follow-up? Do they charge extra for home visits?
If you need wax removal regularly, private audiology services who provide free wax removal to their hearing aid clients could provide significant savings for you
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It's all about your needs: if you're mostly at home, you may not benefit from a top-spec hearing aid with many channels, whereas if you socialise a lot and work in a range of environments, this might be exactly what you need. Do check that you're being offered the manufacturer's latest range, but don't assume you need to pay more for the highest spec.
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Checking that there are a range of hearing aids to choose from (preferably whole of market), ensures that the best option can be found for you
Review the pros and cons of different hearing aid types, and whether extra hearing aid features such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Bluetooth, remote control, Telecoil, additional programs and volume control are what you need.
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Fees and charges: Check the details of any trial period and money-back guarantee (this should be a minimum of 28 days, but could be as many as 60days). Are you charged a cancellation fee (which could be as high as 12.5%) if you return the aids within the trial period?
Understand your warranty: Is there a warranty period and, if so, what does it cover? For example, replacing a lost aid or repairing it, and replacing non-functioning ones? A 5-year warranty will offer the most value, as repairs become more frequent after your aid is 2 years old and will be more frequent when you have other ongoing health factors that affect hearing aid use (e.g. dexterity issues, ear health etc.)
Be prepared for expensive repairs: Out-of-warranty repairs can be expensive (anything from £90 - £500 per aid)
Source: Which Article
Written by: Tracy James MSc CAC RHAD Director and Owner of Tracy James Audiology Services
