Over the Counter Hearing Aids: Pros and Cons

In the late 1970s, the Food and Drug Administration enacted its Hearing Aid Rule, which required anyone seeking to purchase a hearing aid to see a physician prior to the purchase. This rule only provided one option to get around the physician rule, to sign a waiver acknowledging the risks of bypassing a visit to a physician. In recent years, the proliferation of internet and television ads promoting cheap, over the counter hearing aids has caused some serious competition to traditional hearing aid manufacturers as well as controversy over the effectiveness of non prescription hearing aids.

Not all audiologists believe in over the counter hearing aids and their benefits. Many hearing professionals believe only a licensed audiologist can correctly diagnose, prescribe and fit hearing aids. Of course, it is always recommended to see a physician prior to purchasing hearing aids. In some cases, mild to moderate hearing loss can be caused by a simple build up of ear wax; while more serious cases are caused by nerve tumors or ear infections.

An argument against OTC hearing aids is the proliferation of shady companies selling products over the internet and through mail order that may fall apart or not work at all.
The pros of purchasing over the counter hearing aids, after proper diagnosis by a physician and investigation of the company offering the hearing aids, is they are less expensive and often work with better results than bulky prescription hearing aids. In general, most insurance companies do not cover the cost of hearing aids, making traditional hearing aids out of reach for most budgets.

HearPods is a company that manufactures and sells digital hearing aids that are affordable and work well for many levels of hearing loss. The founder of HearPods has dedicated himself to providing high quality digital hearing aids for a price that is affordable. HearPods are not your typical over the counter hearing aids that can be purchased through mail order. They are programmable to your specific hearing test results, provided by your physician. Being programmable to each patient makes HearPods an affordable, comfortable and effective alternative to traditional hearing aids.

They also have the HearPal, which is a non-prescription digital hearing device that is ideal for hearing better in meetings, conferences and church, or even just the TV. HearPal is produced according to FDA standards, and offers the highest quality non-prescription sound magnification. It’s intended for those who don’t require a prescription hearing device, but find that there are certain occasions where sound amplification makes it easier for them to hear.

While most patients complain of the sensation of their ears being plugged up when wearing traditional hearing aids, or even larger OTC hearing aids, HearPods offers a smaller solution to most types of hearing loss. They produce a discreet, small hearing aid that fits openly, without the plugged ear sensation. An additional benefit of purchasing HearPods is the excellent customer service, available 24/7 via phone and email. HearPods also provide simple owner’s instructions with an accompanying video to instruct the user in how to clean and maintain their hearing aids.

Over the counter hearing aids are not right for everyone, but a quality affordable product from HearPods can go a long way toward alleviating the symptoms and anxiety of hearing loss. HearPods provides both custom programmed solutions for those experiencing hearing loss, as well as a non-prescription product for those who do not yet need a customized device. Do your research in how hearing aids can benefit you, see your doctor if you are experiencing even mild to moderate hearing loss and contact HearPods. Experience a world of difference in your relationships, your life and your well being.

Should You Buy Hearing Aids Online?

The internet is an excellent source to explore various hearing aids that are available on the market. The convenience of not having to run from store to store to check quality and prices is invaluable, and when compared to hearing aids purchased in stores, the prices are amazingly lower. A reputable, online hearing aid website will offer products and services that are specific to patients’, audiologists’ and doctors’ orders.

Because so many people are plagued by loss of hearing, the online market for digital hearing aids is booming. You may wonder if buying one over the Internet is a good idea. There are some facts that should be taken into consideration.

The first thing to do if you are having trouble hearing is visit your physician and ask for a hearing test. If you are suffering from hearing loss and decide to go to the Internet as an alternative choice, make sure that the websites you check have a medical protocol that they follow.

If you are a first time hearing aid buyer, you’ll probably have lots of questions. Make sure that the company you are dealing with online has a customer support policy and the person answering your questions is qualified to answer your questions correctly. You might inquire as to whether there is an audiologist or licensed fitter available to assist you. Questions to consider asking are, “If I buy my hearing aid online and it needs repairs, can you repair it and how long will it take?” If the company’s repair policy is vague and there is no guarantee as to the amount of time it will take to repair, keep in mind that it will be an inconvenience to you living without your hearing aid while it is being repaired.

Shop around and research hearing aid websites. Because there is a huge market for digital hearing aids, there are many manufacturers that use the internet to sell their products and pricing is extremely competitive. Compare several companies and know what they are offering you for the money you are willing to spend. You should be assured that you are buying a top of the line product at a substantially reduced cost.

Because shopping over the internet can be somewhat impersonal, it’s very important to develop a good relationship with the company you choose. This can be tricky and unfortunately, some online sellers end their relationship with you once a purchase is made. But again, if you’ve done your homework and know who you are dealing with, you should be able to establish a positive relationship that carries on after the purchase.

Another fact to be wary of is that online vendors may make an offer to you that seems too good to be true. Beware of such deals because oftentimes the low price is attached to an outdated or low quality hearing aid. Know what you are purchasing. On the other hand, there are some online dealers that can keep prices low because they manufacture their own digital hearing aids and only sell online. This eliminates the middleman, and there are some great deals available.

Start your hearing aid search by going to www.myhearpod.com. HearPods offer the very best in digital hearing aid technology at a fraction of what most companies charge. Their support staffed is trained and qualified, and they will answer all of your questions. HearPod hearing aids are the result of over 30 years of technological research to help those with hearing impairments find an effective solution. Their hearing aids are digital and offer exceptional features like noise canceling and sound amplification computer chips that are second to none. To purchase a HearPod, a customer can either send their exact audiogram results, choose an audiogram that closely matches your results or go with the many other non prescription options available. You can visit their website here.

Better Listening With A Hearing Aid Repair Service

Hearing aids are a vital part of a wearer’s life. They are your integral link to the world of sound and as such, you cannot afford to be without your hearing aid. This is why choosing a good and reliable hearing aid repair service is vital to keeping yours functioning optimally. Hearing aids all need regular repairs and routine maintenance to make sure that they are working properly every day, all the time.

If they do not work well your aids can be a source of a lot of frustration, anger and unhappiness for you. Because your hearing aid is an extremely important part of your life and it is a relatively expensive part of your life it is important to know certain things before you step inside a hearing aid repair shop.

One thing you need to be certain of is the warranty on your hearing aid. Different brands of hearing aids have different rules and regulations in their repair policies. Some also have varying warranty lengths. You can save lots of money on a hearing aid repair service by choosing hearing aids from manufacturers and brands that make repair an easy part of your life.

Hearing Well

Some hearing aids make it easy to access a hearing aid repair service without too much trouble or money spent. Others have strict policies that direct you to the actual manufacturer for repair, such as the Beltone hearing aid repair policies. If your hearing aid is still under warranty you may have to take it to a specific, certified hearing aid repair shop.

This is in order to have it fixed in accordance with the warranty and to save you money. If it is no longer under warranty you can enlist the help of any hearing aid repair service you are comfortable with. Sometimes repairs are less likely to be because of a broken hearing aid and more because of changes in your hearing.

When your hearing worsens you will need to see an audiologist. Your audiologist will test the aid and your hearing and provide you with instructions for the hearing aid repair service of a hearing aid repair shop.

You can then take it in to have the adjustments made. If the hearing aid repair service requires you to leave your aid with them for a week or two you may want to get in touch with your audiologist. They will often have hearing aids that you can loan so that you can continue with life as normal until you get your own hearing aid back.