Buyer Beware
1. Who will I see when I get my hearing tested and who will be taking care of my hearing aids?
Hearing aid advertisements can be very misleading for the average hearing aid shopper. Not all practices that sell hearing aids employ Audiologists. In fact, most hearing aid offices employ hearing aid dispensers, which are not Audiologists. Many of these hearing aid dispensers have not gone through years of Audiologic Training at the Doctorate level. In fact, many hearing aid dispensers do not have any formal university training at all and may only hold a high school diploma. If you want the highest level of hearing healthcare, you should always ask if the practice employs a Doctor of Audiology and will that person be testing and caring for your needs. A white lab coat does not mean you are being seen by a 'Doctor'...... buyer beware!.
2. How come some advertisements say I can purchase a hearing aid for a few hundred dollars?
Many of the Hearing Aid stores rely on hearing aid sales as their only source of income to keep their business open. In order to get consumers into their office many of these companies will advertise a very basic entry level hearing aid at a low cost in order to "Bait" the consumer into coming into their office. This type of advertising is called "Bait & Switch" advertising and is used to "Get the Consumer into the Door." Once in the office they will tell you that you need a more sophisticated Hearing Aid at a much higher price or they will tell you that your hearing loss is so bad that you cannot be fit with the low priced hearing aid...... buyer beware!
3. How come I can go to a hearing aid store and get a FREE hearing test and not be charged for all the time that person will spend with me?
Since many of the hearing aid stores rely solely on hearing aid sales to stay in business they entice the consumer to visit their office for a FREE hearing test. The ultimate goal of these stores is to sell you their product, which can create a conflict of interest if you have hearing loss. They are willing to sift through as many people for FREE in order to come across someone that has hearing loss and then try their hardest to "Close The Deal" in order to make money. Many of these offices work off of commissions and they feel if they let you walk out the door without a sale you will not come back. "Hard Sales Tactics" should not be employed toward selling hearing aids to someone experiencing hearing loss. It can take weeks, months, or even years before someone is ready to be fit with a hearing aid and high pressure sales is not the ethical approach toward doing this.........buyer beware!
4. I am very confused about all the different Titles and Certifications that some hearing professionals have - which one should I see?
The title of "Hearing Aid Dispenser" is not always enough for the dispenser when it comes to selling hearing aids. So a variety of independent certifications are available to help give credibility to the dispenser. Adding a credential after a persons name does not mean that person is a Doctor of Audiology, and in fact it is illegal for anyone to impersonate an Audiologist or mislead the general public to think that they are an Audiologist. Here are a few certifications that are used for Hearing Aid Dispensers (Non-Audiologists): Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist (BC-HIS), Certified Audioprosthologist (a fancy name for "One who fits hearing aids.") Here are some that are not even a certification, just self-proclaimed titles. Digital Expert and Factory Trained Specialist. The credentials that should follow a Doctor of Audiology should include Au.D. or Ph.D. Further certification credentials for an Audiologist can include CCC-A (Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology) or FAAA (Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology).............Buyer Beware!
5. How come I can't just buy a hearing aid through the mail or online?
Mail order or Internet hearing aid purchases can present a special set of problems. Many states outlaw ordering hearing aids this way. There could be an underlying medical issue that could be causing the hearing loss and if a hearing aid is purchased without a proper hearing evaluation the medical condition could cause irreversible damage and in extreme cases could even cause death. Having a hearing aid fit properly is crucial to the success of the hearing aid user. An impression should be done by a trained audiologist prior to ordering the device. Once the device is fit properly, care and maintenance of the device has to be taught in order to keep the device functioning at optimal levels. Also, counseling the person with hearing loss on how to use the hearing aid in different listening situations can sometimes be the most difficult part of acclimating to new hearing. Follow-up appointments are crucial toward the Auditory Rehabilitation process. ............Buyer Beware!