Q&AAt Hear Florida Audiology Group, we are committed to providing you with complete care for all your hearing needs, including the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hearing and balance problems. Our Doctors of Audiology created this Ask the Expert section to provide you with helpful answers on questions about hearing loss, hearing aid devices and the latest technology to combat deafness and hearing impairments. Please feel free to Ask a Question by completing the form below. One of our friendly Hear Florida staff members will answer your question within 24-48 hours.
Ask a Question for our Q&A!
Hearing Aid Pricing
Q. I can’t seem to find the cost of any of your products on the website. Why?
A. That’s a good question and a concern that we’ve heard from others before. We do not have prices listed on our site for many reasons, and price is certainly not one of them. To start, there are hundreds of different hearing devices available. Being able to update prices on the web would be nearly impossible when a manufacturer publishes a price increase or decrease.
Even though the names may sound the same, the technology provided inside the devices are very different. Different hearing losses and different lifestyles require different technology to accommodate the individual. Without consulting an appropriately trained professional one would not know which technology or device would be most appropriate.
Assuming you did have the correct recommendation of technology, price is affected by the service provided by the professional and the supporting office. Hearing devices should never be looked at as a one time event. Hearing must be monitored and settings must be adjusted to accommodate slight changes in hearing that happen naturally with having more birthdays. Does the office include different warranties or repair or loss and damage replacement coverage? Do they include batteries? If so, for how long?
I know you can price hunt for devices online, and initially you will save a few hundred dollars, but like everyone else, proper care of the devices and your hearing always cost the patient hundreds to thousands of dollars more than if they had started with a trusted professional initially.
State of Florida law requires that all prices be published and available for patient/consumer review. Our prices are printed in the office and there are no high discounts available to make inflated prices seem like a bargain. The only discount offered is up to $400 off when a pair is purchased, called a binaural discount.
We offer all our patients a 3 year repair policy, 3 year loss & damage replacement coverage, 3 year supply of batteries and our Doctors of Audiology are the highest educated and highest trained and credentialed professionals available. Our staff is trained to provide the absolute best and most personal experience to our patients. Most of our patients are referred to us by physicians or present patients.
Bottom line is you have to purchase devices from a professional that you feel comfortable and confident with, that can provide the care you desire. The best technology in the world can go unrealized without the appropriately trained and qualified professional. Before you purchase devices, ask if they are a Doctor of Audiology and if they are Audigy Certified. If you can’t get a yes answer to both, evaluate where you make your decision for better hearing.
I hope this helped answer your question and if you have any needs that we may assist you with, please contact us as we will be happy in assisting you with your hearing needs.
How Do I Know It’s Time for a Hearing Test?
Q. My wife complains that I can’t hear, but I keep telling her people just don’t talk as clearly as they used to. How do I know when its time for a hearing test?
A. It’s true that not all people enunciate as clearly as others, but in reality there have been mumblers throughout history and there probably is not a higher percentage today than in the past. The fact of the situation is, if hearing is normal, you can generally understand people in spite of their poor speaking habits. If you find that you ask for frequent repetitions, turn the television higher than others, have difficulty hearing in crowds or noisy places, or find that you hear a conversation but have difficulty understanding the words, it’s time to schedule a hearing test. Call us today to find out the facts about your hearing and the options available to help you hear more clearly.
Advice For Helping Relatives With Difficulty Hearing
Q. Over the past several years I have noticed that my mother-in-law is having increasing difficulty hearing at family gatherings. She seems to be extremely reluctant to have her hearing tested or to consider the use of hearing aids. Do you have any suggestions that might motivate her to correct this problem? She is missing so much.
A. It is very common for some people to deny the existence of their own hearing loss. Sometimes this is because their hearing has remained normal for soft low-pitched environmental sounds (dripping faucets, furnace fans, etc.) so they feel the problem is not too bad. However, they may indeed be missing the important higher-pitch components of speech (consonants like s, sh, th, ch, t, k, and voiceless c) making communication difficult. Others are reluctant to admit to their hearing loss, as they fear nothing can be done, or have heard of people who were unsuccessful with hearing aids.
Encourage your mother-in-law to make a complimentary, fact-finding appointment with one of our offices. We strongly believe that one should not embark on hearing correction without knowing what they are getting into. At this appointment the hearing care professional will obtain a baseline test, discuss the implications of any existing hearing loss and present the alternatives available to correct the problem. The good news is that there have been many advances in technology and today most everyone can obtain help.