A better way to trial hearing aids
Whenever someone buys a hearing aid they have a trial period in which they can decide whether they want to keep the hearing aid or not. If you are buying a hearing aid and aren’t offered a trial period then shop somewhere else.
Normally the way the trial works is that you pay up-front in full for your hearing aid and you take it away. You get an amount of time for the trial and at the end of that you can give it back or keep it. During the trial period you would go back to the audiologist and make any tweaks to the aid’s programme to get it just right for you.
This is good in that the hearing aid is trialed in the buyer’s normal environment – at home, at work, etc, etc.
One thing I don’t like about this is that the money has to be paid in full up front. Of course, the vendor cannot allow you to walk out with an expensive piece of equipment – they’d probably never see you again. So the vendor has to protect their interest, but what about the buyer? It’s scary to have to part with that amount of money and not be sure that you even want the product. Will the vendor definitely give you your money back? It’s scary.
For first time hearing aid wearers it may take them a long time to build up the courage to actually wear their new aid outside. If they don’t start wearing it straight away they are losing trial time.
What I think happens a lot is that someone gets pressure to go and visit an audiologist, buys a hearing aid, never really wears it during the trial and then because it is not configured properly for them never wears it again. Waste of money. Waste of hearing aid.
I think the trial process could be broken up into separate stages to help, in particular, first time wearers.
The software demo
A hearing aid is really about the software inside it. The quality of sound it produces, the noise it limits, etc. It would be great if audiologists could fit people during visits with a basic ear mould that would run the hearing aid software they are thinking of buying.
The audiologist has all the programming software for each aid – why not have the actual aid software too? When someone visits and wants to try a particular aid they can simply pop a generic throw-away hearing aid into their ear, select the hearing aid of choice and then play some common sounds. The buyer can then experience, possibly for the first time, what a hearing aid sounds like.
Are some vendors already doing this?
Time-limited hardware
Once a hearing aid has been selected does someone have to pay up-front for it there and then? I don’t think so. How about the audiologist fitting the buyer with a basic hearing aid mould in which the software is time limited? I.e. the hearing would work perfectly but after say 3 weeks it simply shuts off. It would be a less scary option for the buyer, given them a real world trial and costing the vendor nothing.
What do you think? Are current trials OK? When you buy a hearing aid are you happy to lay out a lot of money up front?
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Perhaps where you are, a full payment is required but in many other locations – particularly the US – there are a lot of audiologists who will take 50% at the time of delivery with 50% paid at the end of the trial period. Hearing aid dealers, who may not have as large a line of credit as the audiologists or who simply run their business more like a business than the audiologist who’s got a medical component as well, tend to not be as magnanimous – at least from what I see. I suspect there will be one or two hearing aid dealers jump in to dispute but anyone shopping around comparatively can determine the facts for their own area without relying on blog commentary.
As to the trial period, many states have a law which specifically requires the trial and states the terms under which it is offered. This should be clearly spelled out in the (generally *required*) purchase and sales agreement. Some regulatory boards have sample contracts on their websites. If they don’t give you the money back, the state steps in and they’re out of business. Worried? Don’t buy from someone you don’t trust and pay with a credit card. Contracts are contracts and although that won’t protect you 105%, it’s very unlikely an audiologist who’s spent all that time getting a Masters (now Doctorate) degree would trash their career to steal a couple of thousand bucks. Not saying it couldn’t happen but what are the odds? (PS: I get twinges buying a car too but….)
As to fitting, anything less than the actual aid you’re going to wear is not going to sound quite the same. Nor will it sound the same in the office as it will outside or at home. This is the entire reason for the trial period. Especially with Receiver-in-Canal aids, the audiologist (or hearing aid dealer) could do what you suggest but most people would rather make adjustments themselves in a ‘live’ environment.
And finally, a reputable audiologist or hearing aid dealer will extend the trial period if there’s a reasonable need for doing so. Major manufacturers allow up to about 90 days for the aid to be returned for credit so there’s room for some extra consideration there. Ask about it beforehand if you think it’ll be a problem. However, in the current economic environment no seller of merchandise wants to be too far away from the items they have out on trial so expect to provide a good reason and some financial assurances.
I like your idea of the software demo. That would be great!
Hi Ed,
Thanks for the comment. Firstly, I must remember to make the distinction between audiologists and vendors in future, sorry about that.
I know that there are laws governing money back periods and from that point of view there is no problem but I still, personally, feel apprehensive about handing over such a large sum up front. I also think that some customers may not have the confidence to ask for their money back and feel pressured into keeping aids they don’t want – I’m not saying that’s common, I’m just saying it’s a possibility.
The software demo seemed like a great idea to me (thanks Sarah for agreeing!) as it gives someone a change to experience new sound for the first time. Sure, it won’t be the same as the ‘real world’ but I think it’s one big step in answering a question that I bet is asked many, many times, “What are things going to sound like with these aids?”. How can an audiologist answer that? They can’t. And giving someone a quick demo can.
I don’t think that all vendors and audiologists are crooks, cheats or people out to make a quick buck. If I have ever said that on this site then I need to correct that text. What I do think though is that people buying hearing aids need more information, more transparency and more confidence when paying out such large sums.
Couldn’t agree with you more, Steve, about the expenditure of money AND about the fear that may arise from asking for a refund. I’ve heard a bunch of horror stories including vendors making threats etc. Particularly to an elderly person, perhaps alone in life, this can be horribly intimidating and sadly there’s no way that this can be 100% eliminated.
I’m trying to find an article I saw not long ago about the type of trial you’ve suggested.
I’m a Hearing Instrument Specialist/Licensed Hearing Aid Dispenser and I demo the exact hearing aid
the potential buyer is considering purchasing right in the office- allow the potential buyer wearing the demo aids to hear everyday sounds through programs which simulate “real world ” environments like noisy restaurants, meetings, classrooms, etc in my surround sound test suite. They know exactly what sounds
wil be like with the exact aid they are considering purchasing. I an’t imagine doing business otherwise.
How does a person know that what they are getting is what they actually paid for? Say for example, I order a Series 8 of a particular hearing aid. Do I know it is a Series 8 when I receive it? How would one know if a Series 4 or 6 is substituted? I am sure you will say one must have in confidence in the seller, but ??? How will the buyer know?
Gloria,
Hearing aids normally have their product name and some kind of serial number printed on each one – I guess that’s one indicator. You could ask the Audiologist to plug your new aids into their programming system and the make/model will show up.
If you are in doubt at to whether you’d get the product you paid for you’d be better off shopping somewhere else.
Thank you Steve for this information and other responses you have helped me with. What a boon to have this website for the “uniformed” … thank you again … I am sure you haven’t heard the last of me
.
To all on the above thread [and any others really]
Could I ask you to identify about which country you are speaking? The methods, licensing, laws etc appertaining to supplying hearing aids vary a lot and so some questions and respective answers could lead in the wrong direction.
That said, anyone in the UK who doesn’t get a demonstration of a number of potential solutions before even placing an order should go elsewhere. Then when you arrive to collect the one[s] you have ordered they have to be programmed for you but before walking out of the practice so you already have some idea. Then a good professional would recreate a range of typical sound environments plus ideally you would have with you a “significant other” so that you can hear a familiar voice in these surroundings. I, personally, would also take the patient into the reception area and into the street to experience various sounds and insist that that return in no more than 10 days [with a booked appointment before they leave] for a follow-up and to call/call in immediately if there are more pressing problems. That, to my mind, is the minimum to offer in a professional practice.
The point about paying up front is purely a commercial situation. Examine the facts: You have a hearing problem and have decided to investigate buying hearing aids to see if they will help. A professionally qualified and licensed hearing aid audiologist will take copious notes to form a case history, perform a range of tests including otoscopy to check for referable conditions and test your hearing to arrive at your thresholds for the quietest puretone you can hear; the loudest one you want to hear; the most comfortable level you prefer and your bone conductivity. From this they can assess what will best help you and explain the options with reference to your avaible budget and then demonstrate.
All of this takes time [not to mention ongoing professional development] in a properly fitted & staffed environment and … all this costs money. As with free lunches there is no such thing as a free trial.
If the aid bought after a suitable period for adjustment is not correct, we would change it for something else [though usually it is the wearer, not the aid that can't adjust] and change again etc. If after 6 months you’re still not satisfied we would refund the cost of the aid but not the professional fees.
In 7 years we did it twice!
Hope this helps.
Steve,
The reason I haven’t purchased hearing aids yet is that I can’t afford to buy without test-driving something first. I want an in-office demo, or I just won’t do it. One audiologist told me, “You have 30 days to return your hearing aids, but they will take about 30 days to get used to…” Pretty awful.
Rick: Are you anywhere in Northern California? I’d love to visit your office.
I’d also consider purchasing hearing aids through this site. Is that set up yet?
Thanks for everything, Steve!
Craig
how can i find or bay a software for opticon spiri 3? please give me an answer