Hearing aids can get pretty expensive these days. So, people who probably need hearing aids don’t buy them. The average cost of buying and being fitted for hearing aids is $1,000 and $2,500. But the Wall Street Journal’s recent research shows that it’s possible to get hearing aids for much less. Some are not marketed as hearing aids because using that name requires the companies abide by all kinds of rules and requirements. For instance, you can go into Radio Shack, and get a hearing device for about $100. Songbird is another device that costs about $60. You forego the fitting, but you get the same results. Others include the “EarMate” and “Crystal Ear,” which are both about $300. Hunters also use devices that basically magnify sounds and work a lot like a hearing aid. You can find these in sporting good stores for about $150. We need an unregulated marketplace for hearing aids so that people who can’t afford the outrageous devices can still get help. Here is a list of a few sites:
• songbirdhearing.com - Songbird hearing aids
• hearinghelpexpress.com - EarMate
• crystalear.com - Crystal Ear FlexiSoft