Most people don’t start shopping for hearing aids until they need them—in fact, research shows that the average hearing loss sufferer waits a decade before finally buying a pair.
So most people have very little knowledge of how much a hearing aid actually costs, and the number may shock them when they find out: as of 2014, the average price for a pair of hearing aids is roughly $4,500, with prices often reaching $6,000 to even $8,000. The New York Times has looked for solutions: The hunt for an affordable hearing aid. And AARP have also written about why the average cost is so high: Why do hearing aids cost so much?.
Why do hearing aids cost so much, and are there other, more affordable options available?
Part of the cost of a hearing aid comes from the complex technology that powers many modern electronic devices, including processors, microchips, and receivers, developed in labs around the world.
But much of the sticker price of a hearing aid—and the reason costs can be so high—comes from the way hearing aids are sold.
Hearing aid retail shops must cover costs that come from running a “brick-and-mortar” storefront, including rent, equipment, and staff salaries. In addition, they typically serve only a select local customer base so these exceptionally high fixed costs must be spread over very few customer orders.
With online retailers like Embrace Hearing, buyers get access to the same quality audiologist programmed hearing aid technology they could find at a brick-and-mortar retailer, but at a cost of thousands of dollars less. Why? Embrace Hearing keeps costs down by:
- Buying directly from the German manufacturer
- Selling exclusively online, thus enabling high volume through an international customer base
- Eliminating the costs of retail storefronts and retail staff while maintaining a highly experienced audiology and customer service team
In fact, Embrace Hearing delivers hearing aids directly to your home for about 1/3 of the cost charged by the typical local retailer. That’s a savings of $2,500 - $4,000.
For many, shopping online cuts down on the cost of hearing aids in terms of both time and money, while ensuring the same level of quality and experienced 24/7 service and professional reliability you would find at your local hearing aid retailer.
