Questions to Ask When Buying Hearing Aids
For anyone with hearing loss, or a son or daughter helping a parent, to take to the consultation with an audiologist or hearing aid dispenser before paying. The questions follow the order of the appointment: your hearing test, the provider and your options, style and features, price and insurance, trial and warranty, then fitting and aftercare. Each has a note on what a good or a worrying answer sounds like and what to do with it.
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The questions
Each question, and why to ask it
Your hearing test
What did my hearing test show, and can you walk me through the audiogram?
Why ask it
A good answer is given with the chart in front of you: which pitches you miss, by how much, in which ear, and how that explains the voices or rooms you find hard. If you get a label such as 'moderate loss' and then a brochure, ask again. You cannot judge a recommendation until you understand what it is meant to correct.
Do I need a hearing aid in both ears, or would one do?
Why ask it
When both ears have a loss, two is the usual recommendation, and the reasons given are about following speech in noise and telling where a sound comes from. Ask for the reason in your own results and what you would lose by starting with one. 'Everyone gets two' is a sales line, while 'your left ear tests like this, so here is what one aid would leave out' is an answer.
What can I realistically expect hearing aids to do for me, and what will they not fix?
Why ask it
Listen for a modest answer: conversation takes less effort, the television comes down, and a loud room gets easier but is still work. Be wary of anyone who says your hearing will be back to normal. Ask what they would count as success after a month, so you both have something to check the trial against.
How well did I understand speech in the test, both in quiet and with background noise?
Why ask it
The beeps find the quietest sound you can detect. Word and sentence tests show how clearly speech comes through once it is loud enough, which is usually the better guide to how much help to expect in a restaurant. If no speech-in-noise test was done, ask whether it can be before you choose a technology level.
Can I have a copy of my test results to take home?
Why ask it
You will want it for a second quote, for an insurance claim, or to set up devices bought somewhere else. Whether you are entitled to it, and whether there is a charge, depends on where you live, so ask how it works there. Make sure the copy has the speech scores on it as well as the chart.
Did anything in the test suggest I should see a doctor before buying?
Why ask it
Earwax, a clear difference between the ears, a recent sudden change, dizziness or ringing on one side are the kinds of finding a provider may want a doctor to look at first. You are checking that someone looked in your ears and asked about your history before reaching for the order form. If the answer is yes, ask who they would refer you to and whether the fitting should wait.
Provider and options
Are you an audiologist or a hearing aid dispenser, and what does your license let you do?
Why ask it
Titles, training and licensing differ from one country and state to the next, and either kind of provider can fit you well. What matters is a plain answer, and that they can name the cases they send on to someone else.
Is there a charge for today's test if I decide not to buy from you?
Why ask it
Some clinics test for free because the test is the first step of a sale, and others charge and treat the results as yours to take anywhere. Neither is wrong. Knowing which kind you are sitting in tells you what leaving with only the audiogram will cost, and how much selling to expect in the next half hour.
Which brands do you fit, and is this practice owned by or tied to a manufacturer?
Why ask it
Some clinics fit one or two brands, and some belong to a maker or a chain with its own label. That does not rule them out, but it explains why you are hearing about one brand. Where a clinic fits several, the follow-up is why this maker suits your loss better than the one beside it.
Are these locked to your company, or can another clinic program and repair them?
Why ask it
Some chains sell aids that only their own software can adjust. That is fine while you live nearby and like the service, and a problem the day you move or the branch closes. Get the answer before you pay, and if the aid carries the chain's own label, ask which maker's model it is underneath.
Would an over-the-counter hearing aid be a reasonable option for my hearing loss?
Why ask it
Where they are sold, over-the-counter aids are meant for adults with milder loss who are willing to set them up themselves, and the rules differ by country. A provider you can trust answers from your audiogram: yes and here is the catch, or no and here is why. It is also fair to ask whether they would see you for a check or a cleaning if you went that way.
Style and features
Which style do you recommend for my hearing loss, and why that one over the others?
Why ask it
The main choices sit behind the ear with a thin wire into the canal, or fill part of the ear itself, down to ones that hide inside the canal. The reasons should come from your results, the shape of your ear canals and how well your fingers and eyes manage small parts. If the smallest one is suggested, ask what you would trade away, since battery life, a telecoil and wireless features are often the first things to go.
What are the technology levels, and what difference would I notice between them?
Why ask it
Makers commonly sell one design at several levels, and the higher ones do more automatic work in noisy, changing places. Describe an ordinary week and have them say where each level would and would not earn its price. Someone whose days are mostly quiet rooms and one or two voices may notice little above the middle.
Which features would help in the places I struggle most, and where will nothing help much?
Why ask it
Name three places: the family dinner, the car, a grandchild's voice on the phone. A provider who knows the product ties a feature to each one and admits where none will do much. A string of feature names with no link to your life is a brochure read aloud.
Should I get rechargeable or disposable batteries, and what happens when a rechargeable one wears out?
Why ask it
Rechargeables spare stiff fingers the job of changing a tiny battery every several days, but a built-in battery ages. The details to get are how long a charge lasts on a day with phone calls and streaming, what a new battery costs once the warranty ends, and whether the aid has to be sent away for it. With disposables, find out the battery size and how many days each one lasts.
Will these work with the phone I own, and can they stream the television?
Why ask it
Bring the phone, because compatibility depends on its make, model and software. Have them pair it in front of you and take a call. If the wearer does not use a smartphone, ask what is lost without the app and whether a simple remote can change the volume.
Do these have a telecoil for the hearing loops in theaters and places of worship?
Why ask it
Where a venue has a hearing loop, a telecoil lets the aid pick up the sound system directly, but it is not in every model and is often left out of the smallest. Think about which places you go that have one. Some venues are moving to a newer broadcast audio standard, so check whether this aid supports that as well.
How easy are these to put in, clean and charge for someone with stiff fingers or poor eyesight?
Why ask it
Have the person who will wear them do it in the room, with nobody's help, more than once. A good provider hands them over and watches the hands. If it is a struggle, ask about a larger style, a drop-in charger or a custom mold before agreeing to anything.
How do these hold up to sweat, rain and dust, and what should I take them out for?
Why ask it
Many aids carry a rating for moisture and dust, and a rating is not a promise about the shower or the pool. Mention the gym, the garden, a humid climate or hair spray, and have them say which of those the warranty would treat as damage. If you sweat a lot, ask whether an overnight drying box is worth having.
My ears ring. Do these have anything for tinnitus, and is it included at this level?
Why ask it
Some aids carry a built-in sound generator, and some people find that hearing more of the world makes the ringing less noticeable. Check that the feature is in the model quoted, who sets it up and whether that costs extra. Nobody honest promises that the ringing will stop.
Is this the current model, and when was it released?
Why ask it
Last generation's aid can be a sound buy at a lower price, as long as you know that is what it is. The thing to avoid is paying this year's price for it, so ask whether a replacement is expected soon.
Can I listen to a pair today, or take demonstration aids home before I order?
Why ask it
A quiet office is the easiest place there is to hear well, so walk them out to the waiting room or the street if you can. Some clinics lend a demonstration pair for a week or so. If neither is possible, the trial period carries the whole weight, which makes its terms worth reading twice.
Price and insurance
What is the total price for the pair, and what exactly does that include?
Why ask it
Ask for it line by line: the devices, the fitting, follow-up visits and for how long, the charger, cleanings, and supplies such as domes and wax guards. Many clinics fold several years of appointments into one figure, which is why two prices for the same model can sit far apart. Write the inclusions down beside the number.
Do you offer unbundled pricing, where I pay for the devices and the visits separately?
Why ask it
Paying as you go can suit someone who lives far from the clinic or expects few adjustments, while the bundle tends to suit a first-time wearer who will need several. Get the fee per visit so you can work it out both ways.
Is there a less expensive option that would still suit my hearing loss, and what would I give up?
Why ask it
You should be shown at least two price points and told what separates them in your daily life. Sometimes the truthful reply is 'very little, for how you live', and a provider who says so has earned some trust for the rest of the appointment.
Does my insurance pay toward hearing aids, and will you confirm the benefit before I order?
Why ask it
Coverage ranges from nothing to a fixed amount every few years, and some plans pay only through named providers or a discount network with its own list of models and visits. It depends entirely on your plan, so have the clinic check and give you the figure in writing. Then call the insurer yourself with the same question.
Am I eligible for a public program, a veterans' benefit or other help with the cost?
Why ask it
What exists depends on your country, your state, your age and sometimes your work or service history, and not every provider is approved to fit under every program. Raise it before choosing a model, because a program may limit which aids it pays for.
If I pay in installments, who is the lender, and what happens to the loan if I return the aids?
Why ask it
A plan run by the clinic is one thing, and financing through an outside company is a credit agreement with its own terms. Read what the interest becomes after any promotional period. Make sure, in writing, that a return during the trial cancels the loan.
What will these cost me each year after I buy them?
Why ask it
Count batteries or an eventual battery replacement, wax guards, domes, cleanings, and visits once the included ones run out. A rough yearly figure lets you compare a cheaper aid with costly upkeep against a pricier one with everything included. If they cannot estimate it, ask what a wearer of this model typically buys in a year.
Can I have the quote in writing, with the exact model name and technology level?
Why ask it
Comparison is impossible without the maker, the model and the level, since 'premium' and 'advanced' mean something different at every clinic. A written quote also fixes what was promised about visits and warranty.
Is this price only good today, or will it hold while I think it over?
Why ask it
A real price is still there next week. Seasonal promotions exist, but a discount that vanishes when you leave the room is pressure, so ask for the date the quote expires and take it home.
Trial and warranty
How long is the trial period, and on what date does it start?
Why ask it
Whether a trial is required, and how long it runs, varies by state and country, so ask what applies there and what this clinic adds. The clock may start at the order, at the fitting or when a remade earpiece arrives, and those can be weeks apart. Ask as well whether it pauses if you are ill or away, and get the end date in writing.
If I return them, how much money do I get back, and what do you keep?
Why ask it
Fitting fees, restocking charges and custom earmolds are the usual deductions. Ask for the refund as an amount, not as 'most of it', and how many days it takes to arrive. Check it against the purchase agreement before you sign, because that document is what counts.
Can I switch to a different model or level during the trial, and does the trial start again?
Why ask it
The first pair is not always the right pair, and a clinic confident in its fitting will say an exchange is normal. Find out whether moving down a level refunds the difference. A fresh trial on the new pair is the fair answer.
How many adjustment visits will I have before the trial ends?
Why ask it
First settings are a starting point, and a trial with no fine-tuning tests the wrong thing. Two visits inside the window is a reasonable thing to ask for. Book them before you leave so the deadline does not arrive first.
How long is the warranty, and what does it cover?
Why ask it
Repair coverage commonly comes from the maker and can run for a different length depending on the model, so ask for the end date and not a number of years from memory. Check whether receivers, chargers and custom molds are in it. Anything the clinic adds on top should be written down separately.
If I lose one or damage it, is that covered, how many times, and what would I pay?
Why ask it
Loss coverage is often a single replacement per aid with a fee each time, and the fee can be large. For a parent in assisted living, or anyone heading into a hospital stay, this is the clause that matters most. Ask whether a claim on one aid uses up the coverage for both.
When the warranty ends, can I extend it, and what does a repair cost without one?
Why ask it
Many people wear a pair well past its first warranty, so this is a real cost and not a detail. Get the flat fee for an out-of-warranty repair and whether the repair itself carries any coverage. Your home or renters insurer can tell you whether the aids could go on that policy instead.
If one needs repair, how long will I be without it, and do you lend a replacement?
Why ask it
Repairs often go back to the maker, which can mean a week or more, so a loaner set to your prescription is the answer you are hoping for. For someone who lives alone or depends on the aids for the phone, it can decide between two clinics.
What happens to my warranty and prepaid visits if I move or this practice closes?
Why ask it
The maker's warranty generally follows the device, and another clinic that fits the brand may honor it, sometimes for a fee. Visits you paid for in a bundle are a promise from this business only. If a move is likely, that is an argument for paying per visit.
Fitting and aftercare
Will you check the fitting with real-ear measurement?
Why ask it
A thin probe microphone in the ear canal measures what the aid delivers in your own ear, against the target for your loss. Without it, the settings rest on the software's estimate for an average ear. Ask whether it is done at every fitting and whether it is in the price.
How many follow-up visits are included, for how long, and what does one cost after that?
Why ask it
'Free service for life' needs a definition: your life, the aid's, or the clinic's. Expect several visits in the first months and then routine checks and cleanings, and get the later per-visit fee now, while it is easy to ask.
What should the first few weeks feel like, and how many hours a day should I wear them?
Why ask it
People commonly describe their own voice sounding odd, silverware and paper being too sharp, and being tired by evening. A good provider gives you a wearing schedule and says which of these fade and which mean a setting needs changing. Without that, a new wearer tends to decide the aids are faulty and leave them in a drawer.
What should I call about right away instead of saving it for the next appointment?
Why ask it
Soreness, whistling that will not stop, an aid that keeps working loose, or sound that suddenly drops are worth a call. Ask who answers, how soon you would be seen and whether walk-in hours exist. Trial days spent waiting with a problem are days you do not get back.
Can you adjust them remotely, and which problems still need a visit?
Why ask it
Many current aids can be fine-tuned through the phone app, which matters when the wearer no longer drives or the clinic is an hour away. Physical fit, wax and repairs still mean a trip, so the thing to pin down is who answers a remote request and how quickly.
How do I clean and store them, and which parts do I replace myself?
Why ask it
Ask for a demonstration with the wearer doing each step: brushing, changing a wax guard, swapping a dome, drying overnight. Leave with written or video instructions and a first supply of spares. A blocked wax guard is a common reason an aid goes quiet, and it is a fix you can do at home.
Will you show the person who helps me how to handle them?
Why ask it
For a parent with memory trouble or shaky hands, the helper is the one who will change the wax guard and notice a dead battery. Ask for them to be invited to the fitting, and for the clinic to note who may call on the wearer's behalf. If care staff will be involved, ask for a one-page sheet they can follow.
How often should my hearing be retested, and can these aids be reprogrammed if it changes?
Why ask it
If your hearing shifts during the years you wear them, the aid needs power in reserve, so ask how much room this model has above your present loss. One that is near the top of its range today may have to be replaced sooner. Find out whether retests are part of what you are paying for.
How long should these last, and how long will the maker keep repairing this model?
Why ask it
You will hear a range of years, not a promise, and it depends on moisture, wax and care. The more useful half is how long parts and software support continue after the model is replaced. Use the answer to turn the price into a cost per year.
What accessories might I want later, such as a remote microphone or a television streamer?
Why ask it
There is no need to buy them on day one, but find out which ones work with this model and what they cost. A small microphone clipped to one speaker can do more in a noisy room than a step up in technology level.
How to use these questions at a hearing aid consultation
Practical guidance for the conversation itself
Before the appointment
Write down where hearing fails you
List five real situations from the past month: the restaurant booth, the back seat of the car, a soft-voiced grandchild, the television volume other people complain about. A provider can only match features to your life if you bring your life in with you, and the same list becomes the test for the trial.
Bring a familiar voice
Take a spouse, a friend or a grown child. They will remember what was said about price and returns, and when the aids are first switched on, a voice you know well is the quickest check of whether speech sounds right.
Call your insurer first
Ask whether hearing aids are a benefit, how much it pays, how often, and whether you must use particular providers. Benefits vary too much to guess, and knowing the figure before you sit down keeps the quote from being shaped around it.
Pack the phone, the glasses and any old aids
Phone pairing and the fit behind the ear with glasses on both change the recommendation. If there was an earlier pair, bring it, along with what you liked and what made you stop wearing it.
Mark the questions for the room
The list is longer than one appointment allows. Your hearing test and Trial and warranty are the two groups to get through face to face. Most of Price and insurance can be confirmed by email once you have the written quote, and Fitting and aftercare can wait for the fitting itself.
At the consultation
Understand the test before the catalog
Stay on your results until you could explain them to someone else. Every later choice, from style to price level, should trace back to that chart, and you can only check the link if you understood the chart.
Let the wearer answer
If you are there for a parent, sit beside them, not between them and the provider. Aids chosen over someone's head tend not to get worn. Your job is the notes, the paperwork and the questions they forget.
Ask for the reason, then the alternative
After each recommendation, ask why that one and what the next option down would be. You are not doubting the provider. You are finding out whether the recommendation was made for you or for the average customer.
Take paper home, not a receipt
Leave with the test results, a written quote naming the model and level, and the trial and warranty terms. A loss that has crept up over years can wait a weekend while you read. A sudden change is a question for a doctor, not a reason to buy faster.
Comparing two quotes
Match the model, not the adjective
One clinic's 'advanced' is another's 'standard'. Line up the maker, the model name and the technology level, and if a clinic sells under its own label, ask which maker's aid it is based on.
Count what comes with it
For each quote, write down the number of included visits and for how many years, the warranty end date, the loss deductible, and whether real-ear measurement is part of the fitting. A lower price with one year of visits and a higher one with four are not the same offer.
Set the trial terms side by side
Compare the days, the start date, the amount kept on a return and whether you can exchange. Where the prices are close, the more generous trial is the safer purchase for a first-time wearer.
Work out the cost per year
Add the yearly running costs to the price and divide by the years the provider expects the aids to last. That makes a mid-level aid with full service and a top-level aid with none much easier to weigh.
Reasons to slow down
A price that expires today
A discount tied to signing before you leave is there to stop you comparing. Ask for the quote in writing with its expiry date. If that is refused, you have learned what you needed to.
No copy of your results
Without the audiogram in your hand, a second opinion starts with a second test. Ask what the rule is where you live, and consider having the test done somewhere that hands it over.
Only one option shown
Most hearing losses can be fitted at more than one price. A consultation that presents a single model, or only the top level, has skipped the part where your budget and your week were taken into account.
Talk of hearing like you used to
Hearing aids make sound easier to use. They do not hand back the ears you had at twenty, and a provider who says so plainly is the one whose other statements you can rely on. Big promises at the sale tend to become disappointment in the trial.