Hearing aids are designed to serve a basic purpose of helping people with hearing impairments and enable them to listen to sounds just like normal people. This is applicable for both people who were born with certain hearing impairments and people who have lost the ability to hear very recently. When the receptors in the ear canal which pick up sounds and help transmit to the brain become damaged or worn out, it then results in a hearing impairment. Over the years, hearing aids have evolved in shapes, sizes, uses, make, and models spread across a number of brands which have established a name for themselves in the market. But choosing from the best brands available for comparison is just one part, there are several types of hearing aids which makes the task a lot harder. Digital hearing aids: The simple concept of sound amplification is enhanced with digital hearing aids by turning sounds into digital signals to provide a much better output, which almost sounds natural to the listener. Digital aids boast a number of innovative technologies from speech recognition, noise reduction, feedback reduction, and more. Programmable hearing aids: The biggest advantage of programmable hearing aids are that they can switch between different environments, to adapt and provide the best possible sound amplification.

There are a number of different brands and models to choose from, thus making it very difficult for you to narrow down the best hearing aids. They are a bit on the pricey side and hence choosing the right brand to suit you hearing purposes is essential. Here are a few ways to compared amongst the popular brands. Technology matters: Analog v/s digital has always been the ongoing debate. Analog hearing aids are only designed to amplify the sound, but digital aids are designed to provide an enhanced quality and natural hearing experience. Digital aids are also a bit pricier than the analog ones but are your best bet when it comes to investing in a good hearing aid. Performance: Hearing aids are designed to run on batteries which do not have a shelf life of more than a couple of weeks at the most. Of course, you want to buy the compact ones since they are virtually undetectable and more comfortable to wear compared to the bigger models. But when it comes to battery life, the bigger aids will have a better power supply and lasts longer. Choose hearing aids depending on your use, while both will provide quality hearing output.

Hearing aids serve a simple purpose, but with so many options available now, you probably might be a bit confused as to what brand or middle to go for. Here is what you should look for while buying hearing aids for the first time. Types of hearing aids: Hearing aids come in four distinct types mainly behind the ear (BTE), on the ear (OTE), in the ear (ITE), and in the canal (ITC) hearing aids. The type of hearing aid will directly depend on the severity of the hearing loss, from mild, moderate, and severe to suit the patients hearing standards. Technological advances: – Hearing aids were simple trumpet devices back in the day, then came analog versions of the hearing aid which amplified sound to be more audible. With innovation combined with technology, hearing aids now feature noise reduction technology which includes a directional microphone, multiple channels to process sound and wind noise manager. All of these combined increase the quality of hearing to make it sound more natural to give the best possible listening experience. Hearing aids today are designed to reduce feedback, which is calibrated accurately to ensure proper working of the mechanism. Feedback can be any echo which is heard when something is blocking the sound from escaping out of the ear canal.

5 alternatives to Medicare for hearing aid assistance Under original Medicare, you do not get insurance for hearing aids and other related services. With supplementary insurance, that is Part C, and your state’s Medicaid program, you can get cover for your hearing aid needs. Also, there are a few alternatives to Medicare that can get you financial assistance when you require hearing-loss related tests and services. Private insurers: Although there are very few private insurance providers who provide cover for hearing aids, Arkansas, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island have made it mandatory for insurance providers to give coverage for hearing aids. The cost coverage ranges from $700 to $1500 for three to five years. The cost and time differs according to the specific state. Federal employee assistance: Some insurance plans provide coverage to federal employees and their families. These plans pay for basic hearing devices. If an employee wants to upgrade or needs to replace batteries and repair the hearing aid, they have to pay for such services themselves. Nonprofit organizations: There are many civic service and not-for-profit centers that provide assistance to the hearing impaired and make treatments and services accessible to alleviate hearing loss. These centers help people from low-income groups to get access to affordable hearing aids and quality hearing-loss related care.

How to get hearing aids under Medicare Advantage Cover for hearing aids is not provided under Medicare Parts A and B. However, Part B does provide up to 20 percent cover for hearing tests prescribed by your doctor who belongs to the Medicare network. Under Medicare, hearing aids are considered as elective item. This means that hearing aids are not considered necessary for survival. Hence, they are not provided under Medicare. However, you can avail of insurance for hearing aids through supplementary insurance such as Medicare Advantage and Medicaid. Medicare Advantage through Part C is provided by private insurance providers. Depending on the Medicare Advantage plan you have, you will get benefits that include hearing aids, hearing aid fitting exam, and hearing aid replacement cost as well. With Medicare Advantage, ensure that you carefully read your policy documents. Your plan will have a specific list of hearing aid providers. If you want financial assistance for your hearing aid, you will need to purchase it from providers mentioned in the list and not from anywhere else. Also, your plan might require you to follow a certain process. The cost of hearing aids range from $1250 to $3000. So, make sure that you follow the procedure specified by your plan so that you do not have to pay a hefty out-of-pocket cost for your hearing aid.

Will your Medicare pay for your hearing aid? It is estimated that about 37 million Americans suffer from hearing loss. The number is so huge that hearing loss is close to being considered as the largest disability class in the US. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. A majority in this statistic belong to the senior citizen category, that is people who belong to the age group of 65 years and above. Most of these seniors are retirees whose income was in the low-to-middle bracket. Almost all of them depend on the federal health insurance policy, Medicare. With the average cost of hearing aids being about $2300, it is obvious that many would require financial assistance to purchase hearing devices. However, buying a hearing device is just one part of the expense. With continuous wear and tear, the hearing device will require repairs and occasionally replacements as well. You will have to change the batteries or perhaps require additional accessories such as ear hooks. You will need to monitor and test your hearing device regularly from a professional to ensure that your device is working to its optimal level. All these will incur additional costs. With so many expenses, it is natural to ask whether your traditional Medicare will cover the cost of your hearing aid and related services.

How to compare hearing aid prices There is no denying that buying a hearing aid is an expensive bet. You can however, make the smartest choice and buy them at the best price with thorough research and prudent comparisons. While buying hearing aids online is not the most advisable step to take, you could surely spend some time on the internet to educate yourself and compare various brands, features, warranty information, price, and other useful specifications before taking the plunge. Several websites provide useful information and comparison tools for various price points and features. Make sure you compare the parameters below before making your purchase! When it comes to hearing aids, technology is the key. Latest the technology, higher is its price. Before you get swayed by all the amazing features of a premium hearing aid, ensure you know your needs rather well. An elaborate Internet research can help you determine all the advanced features and technologies available, it is important to narrow down your searches and focus on devices that address your hearing needs and requirements. One of the crucial factors while deciding to buy a hearing aid is the level of hearing assistance needed and the kind of usage.

Popular types of hearing aids by price The most common factor that affects the price of hearing aids is the level of technology. Depending on the technological intricacy, most hearing aids are categorized and grouped into three broad types. Check out some of the most popular hear aid categories below. Basic hearing aids These usually come at a price range of $800 to $1600. Basic hearing aids come with features including speech recognition in quiet settings, feedback, and good hearing comfort. These devices enable proper hearing experience without irritable whistle sounds. This hearing aid is best suited for people who spend most of their time at home. These hearing aids are reliable, have easy to use accessible controls, and come with customizable hearing programs. Mid-range hearing aids Mid-range hearing aids are priced between $1600 to $2450 approximately. The most striking features of these aids include wireless connectivity with external auditory sources, speech recognition and enhancement, and unproblematic directional hearing. These devices automatically eliminate annoying background noises and ensure comfortable hearing experience. Some devices can also be integrated with cell phones and you can even make phone calls. Premium hearing aids These are the most powerful hearing aids and offers crystal clear sound production.

Hearing aids are essential for people who are suffering from mild or severe hearing impairment. Though they are essential in the medical sense, there are a number of benefits of wearing hearing aids on a regular basis. Listen carefully: One of the most obvious benefits of having a hearing aid, you will be able to hear things properly again. You might not know this, but there a number of sounds and interesting background noise in the environment you might just be missing out on. Studies have shown that a person feels detached after a while, without the background elements that generally make up our day. Be aware of your surroundings: Our senses are vital, they help us adjust and adapt to our surrounding. The sense of hearing is a crucial one since through sound, we identify so many things in our surroundings. If you are not wearing your hearing aid and are walking on the road, you just might not hear someone honk or hail you in case of an emergency. Our sense help us be aware of or surroundings better, hence ensure you wear your hearing aid before venturing out, or in your home for that matter. Helps improve your confidence:

Modern day hearing aids are mostly electronic in order to produce a better-quality amplification of the sound energy and is also a much more comfortable alternative compared to its predecessors. Hearing impairment is caused when the nerves which stimulate the brain to process sounds, loses its cells and is unable to effectively transmit and interpret sound. There are minute hair-like receptors in the ear canal which process sound and interpret their various frequencies. In case of a hearing impairment, these receptors are damaged which renders a person unable to distinguish between the sounds. There are a few factors which affect the overall hearing of a person, even with hearing aids. The efficiency of such aids is affected by what is known as the occlusion effect and the compression effect. Any person who has been using a hearing aid for a while will experience either of the effects. While the occlusion effect is mostly for people who are using hearing aids for the first time, the compression effect is a more common compliant amongst hearing aids users. Occlusion occurs when the person wearing a hearing aid, tends to hear booming and hollow echo sounds of their own voice. A very common example is when normal people chew, the sound escapes through the ear canal.

2017 to bring affordable hearing aid to Medicare beneficiaries Hearing loss and deficiency can cause several limitations and create a dent in the lifestyle of a person. Not only does it affect relationships but also alters the way one lives.  Amidst all this, large number of people are deprived of an effective hearing aids due to the exorbitant price that it comes at. To make it worse, most insurance companies do not cover this necessity under the medical claim. Hearing aids are considered elective, but for those with hearing loss, this one is a lifeline. However, the year 2017 brings with it a fresh breath of air.  More than 1 million people are expected to benefit through 25 Medicare health benefit plans that will be offered across the United States. The new plan will provide high-quality hearing aids that come with several great features for a co-payment of less than $999. This amount entirely depends on the hearing aid selected by individual. This is less than half the total amount that a person otherwise shells out for a hearing aid. More affordable and accessible to many! Large number of people have come to ignore hearing loss issues due to the high cost involved and this move indubitably comes as a great move.