Are Self Programming Hearing Aids Any Bargain?

One of the reasons cited for the sky high cost of hearing aids is that they have to be tailor made for each customer. The reasons for hearing loss differ from person to person. When you buy hearing aids, you are also buying the services that go along to adjusting and fitting the hearing aid to your unique ears. Many hearing aids need to be programmed with a computer in order to work their best, if at all. So, hoping to bring the cost down, self-programming hearing aids have been released to the general public.

Not Too Popular

Self programming hearing aids have been on the market for years but are not selling well. The reason is that you have to learn whole new skills to get self programming hearing aids to work. Many elderly people also have not grown up with computers and really do not want to have to learn a whole new technology when there’s bingo night happening. And, quite frankly, who can blame them? Self programming hearing aids are akin to knowing car engine repair. How many people have the time, money and dexterity to take and remember any car repair classes?

But some self programming hearing aids are really very basic – they work like a teeny tiny amplifier. The “self programming” is merely adjusting the volume. They are often called “self-adjusting hearing aids”. If you have very common mild hearing loss, perhaps this king of self programming hearing aids will help you get buy. These kinds of hearing losses include “noise induced hearing loss” and presbycuis (you’re loosing your hearing because of old age). In fact, with those kinds of hearing losses, you can even try over the counter hearing aids and they may help.

Not Easily Available

Good luck finding self programming haring aids that are not merely self adjusting hearing aids. Sadly, there are no Hearing Aids R Us chain stores across the country. Self programming hearing aids need to be specially ordered by your doctor or audiologist. Keep in mind you will also have to get a software program for your computer and calibrate your new hearing aids to the computer program. Self programming hearing aids, as well as most other kinds of hearing aids, contains a computer chip which tells it what noises to amplify and what noises to screen out. Sadly, there as yet is no hearing aid which only lets you hear things worth hearing.