Buyer Beware: Online and Mail Order Hearing Aids
Recently mail order hearing aids have become a hot topic among audiologist and hearing aid specialist. A recent United Health Care backed group began selling hearing aids direct to consumer through the mail. The immediate advantage that consumers see to this model is cheaper hearing aids. The problem I see with purchasing hearing aids this way is it removes the expert. I have seen several patients who purchased hearing aids this way. The problem that I saw is that these patients had very little understanding of how to use their hearing aids. The hearing aids themselves are a very cheap circuit with very limited abilities. Patients experienced problems that are not common with most modern digital hearing aids.
Hearing aids require adjustments and modifications. The problem with the mail delivery model is that each time the patient needs an adjustment they have to mail the hearing aids back to the lab in Minnesota. At the lab the technician guesses on what adjustments need to be made and mails them back to the user.
Last summer I agreed to see patients who had purchased hearing aids through the mail. I thought I could help people with their hearing. After only two weeks I informed the vendor that I no longer wanted to service their hearing aids. Although the thought of more economical hearing aids sounds appealing the problem is the patient loses out. I saw how bad the model was and I did not want my name associated with the mail delivery model.
Mail order hearing aids are cheaper but ultimately you are getting what you pay for. I think that most people would do as well buying a twenty dollar personal amplifier. In fact, Desert Valley Audiology sells a personal amplifier that works as well for much cheaper. Remember the adage, Buyer Beware!
