Hearing loss impacts roughly every 430 million people, and the World Health Organization approximates that by 2050, 1 in every 10 people will have some level of hearing loss.
Thankfully, there’s plenty of options available to treat hearing loss, from phone apps to surgeries. But how do you figure out which one is best for you, your lifestyle, your budget, and most importantly, your ears?
If you have noticed you’re struggling with a hearing loss challenge, you’re in the right place. There’s a few key options available, so we’ll give you a rundown on which one might be best for you and your hearing health needs.
Things to Consider before Looking at Your Options
With websites and stores all selling the same things at different price points, benefits, and technological advancements, it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed by the different options!
Some things to take into consideration before figuring out which option for hearing care would work best for you include your lifestyle, what you’re looking for in hearing care, your budget, and your preferences regarding working with a local company or a corporation.
There’s a lot to consider, but once you figure out what you’d prefer, you can start thinking about your options for your hearing health.
What Options Are Available to Treat My Hearing Loss?
From low budget to highly advanced, there’s a number of options available to you and your needs. The ones we’re going into here are some of the most well-known options – for mild or profound hearing loss, there are more relaxed and more intricate solutions available.
Some of these options include:
What Options Are Available to Treat My Hearing Loss?
From low budget to highly advanced, there’s a number of options available to you and your needs. The ones we’re going into here are some of the most well-known options – for mild or profound hearing loss, there are more relaxed and more intricate solutions available.
Some of these options include:
- Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
- Big Box Retail Stores
- Audiology Clinic
Each one offers different perks, drawbacks, and price points – let’s delve into each option a little deeper.
Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
Initially, these caused quite a bit of confusion when the FDA ruled that affordable hearing aids would be available over the counter; people believed that prescription hearing aids were at their local chain store, but over-the-counter hearing aids aren’t personalized to your unique level of hearing.
These work well for a generic option that helps in certain situations, but not all. Since they’re not tailored to your specific needs, they won’t be able to provide hearing solutions for all environments.
Online Hearing Aids with Remote Support
Some hearing aids you can purchase online after an at-home hearing test. These often come with remote support options – but they also come with long wait times and no in-person examination of your ears.
These are similar to taking an eye test at home and then ordering glasses online – they work perfectly fine, of course, but there’s no professional support to examine what’s going on in-person.
Big Box Retail Stores
Costco and Sam’s Club often have their own internal hearing aid centers that can provide a hearing test and their own, branded hearing aids.
These have gained a lot of popularity recently, and they’re definitely a step in the right direction compared to buying hearing aids online.
However, due to their retail setting, it can be time-consuming to get support, and a membership fee to the store is often required to access the clinic.
Audiology Clinic
This is often considered the traditional approach. With the help of a trained audiologist, you’ll receive a comprehensive hearing assessment, in-person assistance, and continued support for every step along your hearing health journey.
If you require hearing aids, they’ll come with extended protection and be covered by insurance, and some hearing aid repairs can even be taken care of in-house within a short period of time.
How Highline Hearing Can Help You
If you or a loved one has been debating treatment for your hearing loss challenge, we’re here to help you take the first step on your hearing health journey. Feel free to request a callback if you’d like more information, and a member of our team will reach out to you.
Don’t want to wait? Call our office at (204) 246-8677.
