Hearing aids are like an extension of yourself: you rely on them to fully experience the world around you, and when they malfunction, you can feel helpless and frustrated. It is therefore natural to want high-quality hearing aids that work well and stand the test of time.
Buying hearing aids
But as soon as you start comparing options to choose your first pair, you quickly feel overwhelmed. Why are hearing aids so expensive? Is it a good idea to buy a cheap pair, or will it end up in the trash a few months later?
Fortunately, CLARIA can answer all your questions. We help you easily find the best affordable hearing aids on the market, with real quality, at a price you can afford.
How much do hearing aids cost?
Before explaining why hearing aids are so expensive and how to find the best ones at a low price, let's lay the groundwork. How much do they actually cost? You may have heard a figure circulating, but does it really correspond to the market price?
According to a Consumer Affairs report, the average price of a single hearing aid is between $1,000 and $4,000, with top-of-the-line models reaching a staggering $6,000 each. And if you aren't aiming for premium, you will still have to shell out a tidy sum: a mid-range hearing aid costs between $3,000 and $4,500.
This is enough to cause real shock to anyone who needs hearing aids, even knowing that this price includes a hearing test, consultation, fitting, and subsequent adjustments.
How the price of hearing aids is determined
Now that the sticker shock is out of the way, let's see how the price is constructed. Many factors go into the cost of hearing aids, and unfortunately, most have little to do with the actual cost of the hardware.
1. Technology
As with smartphones, tablets, and computers, a large part of the price of a hearing aid is due to the technology required to manufacture it. Audio technology is constantly advancing, and as it progresses, the cost of hearing aids decreases.
This may seem hard to believe (were hearing aids even more expensive before?), but today's devices offer much more for your money than those of the past. Even if the price has remained stable, a $4,500 pair today performs significantly better than hearing aids from just a few years ago.
2. Competition
If you've ever taken an economics course, you know that competition lowers prices and makes products more accessible. Unfortunately for those suffering from hearing loss, there is very little competition in this market.
There are only a handful of major hearing aid manufacturers, which allows them to lock up the market and keep prices high. Until recent years, these companies had no one to challenge them: their customers had to pay the full price or go without. Good news, however: online hearing aid brands have recently started to change the game.
3. The visit to the hearing care professional
In general, expensive consultations with a hearing care professional are built into the price of a pair of hearing aids. In other words, when you pay for your devices, you are also paying for a consultation, fitting, and follow-up appointments once the hearing aids are in place.
This arrangement is convenient for those who can afford it, but it drives the price up to astronomical levels. An in-person visit to a hearing care professional is not strictly necessary to obtain quality hearing aids suited to your needs, and if you do not wish to pay this premium, you should not be forced to.
Fortunately, online hearing aid brands have cut out the middleman, allowing consumers to get affordable devices without paying for costly consultations.
4. Manufacturing
We have seen how much technology drives up the price of hearing aids. Manufacturing contributes to this as well. Such a tiny medical device requires specialized machines to assemble the device correctly, and all of this is reflected in the final price tag.
Once these hearing aids are on the market, other margins can be added. Wholesale and retail prices are designed to cover overhead costs: operations, salaries, rent for a physical store, etc. But for lack of competition, hearing aid manufacturers take the opportunity to inflate prices to simply incredible levels.
5. Research and development
Research and development is one of the final elements that goes into the price of hearing aids. The industry spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year to advance technology and equipment, and to make devices more comfortable and useful to those who wear them.
Of course, anyone concerned about hearing loss would be delighted to have better-performing hearing aids and improved hearing. But the cost of this research and development can far outweigh the benefits. Not everyone wants to fund the thousands of people working full-time on improving hearing technology. Unfortunately, most consumers are unaware that another option exists.
What is the difference between a hearing aid and a Personal Sound Amplification Product (PSAP)?
Many consumers comparing hearing aids are surprised to come across devices costing $50-$100. Products in this price range are generally considered Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAPs). PSAPs contain technology similar to that of traditional hearing aids, with a few key differences.
Entry-level PSAPs are not FDA-regulated and are mainly used to amplify sound without advanced feedback reduction; hearing aids, on the other hand, are FDA-regulated and are generally adjusted precisely to your needs. Hearing aids are intended for people who have been diagnosed with hearing loss. PSAPs may be suitable for people with a diagnosis but cannot, under current regulations, be represented as capable of diagnosing, treating, or curing hearing loss.
Entry-level PSAPs amplify all sounds in the same way: you will therefore hear construction work on the street during your phone call, or your spouse crunching chips while you are watching television. Because they do not offer feedback control, sound amplifiers can sometimes damage your hearing.
CLARIA devices occupy a kind of gray area between these two categories. We offer compact, rechargeable technology with a decibel gain comparable to that of premium hearing aids. Our devices technically remain PSAPs, but years of testing have shown us that many customers actually prefer the sound quality of an analog device to that of digital devices with feedback control. The distortion was lower and the sound quality was more consistent. Furthermore, many expensive hearing aids are designed for people whose hearing loss only affects certain frequencies.
For now, universal products like ours sit in that gray area between PSAPs, OTC hearing aids, and hearing aids as currently defined by the FDA.
Where to find the best affordable hearing aids
You will have to decide between an expensive digital hearing aid and a more affordable hearing solution, but we recommend trying a low-cost option first before investing a large sum in a pair of hearing aids. From experience, an accessible product like ours is often enough.
By removing expensive consultations with a hearing care professional and the overhead costs of a physical storefront, CLARIA offers the best affordable hearing aids on the market today. Our hearing aids feature the same technology as a $5,000 pair, for only $89 a pair.
CLARIA hearing aids were voted the most comfortable in 2019. Hearing care professionals recommend our hearing aids more than any other, thanks to their premium technology, comfort, and convenient rechargeable battery. And you don't need a prescription to order a pair. Our U.S.-based company offers free, fast shipping, easy returns, and a one-year warranty on all devices.
Order the best affordable hearing aids today
If you are ready to regain remarkable hearing at a truly affordable price, order your CLARIA hearing aids today. With a 45-day money-back guarantee, you have no reason to hesitate.
CLARIA offers the best affordable hearing aids on the market, with superior sound that enriches your daily life. They come from an FDA-registered facility and are discreet enough that no one but you will know you are wearing them.
Check out our FAQ page to get to know us better, then order your CLARIA hearing aids and start hearing what really matters.
