With household bills and the cost of living dominating the news for the best part of year, when it comes to your hearing, you’ve probably asked yourself: are hearing aids worth the money?
They might seem like an extravagance. A ‘nice to have’. But not a priority. The majority of the UK population don't prioritise their hearing. This isn't an empty statement it's a fact.
Research from the RNID showed that just 6% of UK individuals (without a diagnosed hearing loss) had a hearing test in 2022, compared to 44% who had an eye test.[1]
And unlike eye tests, most hearing tests are free on the high street.
Why can hearing aids cost a lot?
Depending on the model, hearing aids can be costly; there is no hiding that. This is due to the huge amount of research and development that goes into creating the technology inside of them.
For example, the most advanced Oticon hearing aids feature a deep neural network (DNN), a kind of artificial intelligence, embedded directly on the microchip. This DNN has been trained on 12 MILLION real-life sound scenes, using a 360° microphone to record this huge amount of sounds in different situations. These hearing aids can scan the environment up to 500 times per second, balancing out the sounds before delivering them to your brain, while at the same time being no bigger than a fingertip.
And since everyone’s hearing is different, there is no ‘one-size fits all’ hearing aid. So hearing aids have to be made to be adaptable, and need to have the ability to be adjusted to your specific listening preferences.
What you stand to gain…
Our hearing is so personal. It’s part of who we are.
But because we live with it every day, experiencing hundreds of thousands of sounds daily, it can be hard to notice if it starts to fade. We don’t realise we’re missing sounds because they’re simply not there.
And hearing loss can be incredibly gradual. It can typically take 9–10 years[2] between developing a problem and taking action, and it’s usually the person’s spouse or partner who realises first, which can be incredibly frustrating and exhausting for them.
Although sometimes hearing aids may not be cheap, the mental and physical benefits that you could gain cannot be overstated.
Better quality of life, better relationships with your spouse or partner, a more active social life, higher-quality sleep – these are just some of the improvements that hearing aid users gain, as well as a lower risk of developing depression, social isolation and even dementia.
So, are hearing aids worth the money?
Ninety-five percent of hearing aid users say that their aids improve their quality of life.[3] And the improvement to your hearing that aids can make is related to the quality of the device and its cost.
Like all things in life, you get what you pay for: the higher-quality, higher-end hearing aids incorporate some of the most sophisticated audio-processing technology around. It all comes down to you: your budget, your lifestyle and what you want to get out of your hearing. There are more basic, entry-level hearing aids with a lower price tag, but they won’t have the capabilities of the more sophisticated options.
Hearing aid prices vary widely, due to the different variations of size and technology levels in the cheapest hearing aids compared to more expensive, premium models.
We offer a range of hearing solutions, from some of the most sophisticated hearing technology around, like the Oticon Real™, to entry-level options – and everything in between.
The best way to find out which solution is right for you and your budget is to book a free consultation with one of our experts. Just call 0800 0372 080 now to book, or book online.