Hearing aids are a boon for the people having a hearing disability which could be mild or severe.
The cost factor involved puts a limitation on the affordability versus quality.
The different varieties of aids available are based on the fit, size and basis of the functioning.
Based on the size and fit, they can be grouped as in-canal, in-ear, behind the ear or open fit.
The canal variety comes in 2 versions namely, completely or partially in-canal.
The former fits well in the ear and stops external wind noise disturbances.
The latter is partially visible outside the ear and this is well suited for conversations over the telephones.
Some varieties are large in size, visible outside the ear and have added features of longer lives of the batteries and directional microphones.
The aid which is in a hook shape with a mold fits behind the ear.
The sounds are captured by the hook, amplified and sent to the mold into the ear.
Smaller sized aids that can be fitted behind the ears are also available in the analog or digital versions.
While in-canal devices are more expensive than the devices fitted behind the ears the aids working on digital mode is more expensive than the analog version.
The costs for these varieties are: • Conventional analog version - $600-1500 for single ear, $1400-3000 for both ears.
• Programmable analog version - $949-2000 for single ear, $2200-4000 for both ears.
• Digital version - $1399-2999 for one ear, $4200-5400 for both ears.
Since this cost is unrecoverable from medical insurance, one should not compromise on the quality.
The cost factor involved puts a limitation on the affordability versus quality.
The different varieties of aids available are based on the fit, size and basis of the functioning.
Based on the size and fit, they can be grouped as in-canal, in-ear, behind the ear or open fit.
The canal variety comes in 2 versions namely, completely or partially in-canal.
The former fits well in the ear and stops external wind noise disturbances.
The latter is partially visible outside the ear and this is well suited for conversations over the telephones.
Some varieties are large in size, visible outside the ear and have added features of longer lives of the batteries and directional microphones.
The aid which is in a hook shape with a mold fits behind the ear.
The sounds are captured by the hook, amplified and sent to the mold into the ear.
Smaller sized aids that can be fitted behind the ears are also available in the analog or digital versions.
While in-canal devices are more expensive than the devices fitted behind the ears the aids working on digital mode is more expensive than the analog version.
The costs for these varieties are: • Conventional analog version - $600-1500 for single ear, $1400-3000 for both ears.
• Programmable analog version - $949-2000 for single ear, $2200-4000 for both ears.
• Digital version - $1399-2999 for one ear, $4200-5400 for both ears.
Since this cost is unrecoverable from medical insurance, one should not compromise on the quality.
Source...