4 FAQs About Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are a big change in your life. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions.

What types of hearing aids are there?

They fall under three main types: 

• Behind the ear (BTE) is worn with a hearing aid placed on top and behind the ear. This is the most common hearing aid style.
• In the ear (ITE) are custom made to suit your needs, and come in full-and half-shell varieties, allowing you to choose from an array of shades and colors.
• In the canal (ITC) is worn in the ear canal and come in smaller variations like completely in canal (CIC) and invisible in canal (IIC). 

Why aren’t hearing aids covered by insurance everywhere?

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 23 states have insurance provisions to cover hearing aids, but some only cover children and even fewer cover adults. Insurance companies consider hearing aids rather than being classed as urgent or necessary. However, there are certain Medicare advantage plans that will cover hearing aids, traditional Medicare doesn't have any coverage. 

Is there financial aid for hearing aids?    

As hearing aids are usually not covered by standard medical insurance, some insurers offer certain plans which may cover hearing tests and hearing aid fittings. Certain health plans may only pay a certain amount towards the cost of a hearing aid, leaving you to come up with the rest of the funds yourself. You should double-check your insurance plan as there may be a small clause that can help give financial assistance. Some healthcare systems and government bodies provide financial assistance, such as Medicare, the Departments of Human Services and the State Department of Rehabilitation.

What are the important things to remember about used hearing aids?

Many people need to buy a used hearing aid. Once you go through an evaluation with your audiologist, think about a few key factors of used hearing aids:

• The quality of the device, such as how long the device has been used for and if there have been any technical problems, as well as why the person is selling it. 
• The features: Make a list of the features of your ideal hearing aid, such as direct audio input.
• The hearing levels, so you can determine it is suitable for your specific hearing loss. But an audiologist provides an audiogram, a chart that displays particular levels of hearing loss, so you can use this to get a good opinion if a device is going to work.

Hearing aids can change your life, but there are many things to consider before you purchase the ideal one. Everybody has unique situations and lifestyle choices. There are also financial considerations. Before you find the right hearing aid, make sure that you consult an audiologist and get as much information as possible.