Why Are Hearing Aids So Expensive?

When you’re “kicking the tires” on hearing aids, you might be running into sticker shock. Why are hearing aids so expensive? And when you look online for better value hearing aids, they’re not what anyone would call “cheap.”

At Injoy, we understand the concern. We found a way to get top-quality, high-performance hearing aids to the public for half the price of brick and mortar stores.

However, they don’t come for the price of your grandkids’ earbuds. True hearing aids are an investment— for your hearing, and our investment in ever-evolving research and technology.

Contact us so we can answer any questions you have about the where’s and why’s of our pricing. Plus, read on about why your state-of-the-art hearing aids cost what they do.

HOW HEARING AIDS WORK

No matter where you get your hearing aid, most all of them use the same basic parts to get the sound from the outside world to a level where you can experience them. Hearing aids make the sound, or specific wavelengths of the sound, louder.

Digital vs Analog

Both digital and analog hearing aids use a microphone to collect the audio, and electronic signals to get it to your eardrums.

The difference lay in what they do with that signal. Analog hearing aids increase the size of the original sound wave—basically, they make it louder.

Digital hearing aids bring in the audio, then reproduce it within millionths of a second. A computer converts the incoming sound into digital code and makes adjustments based on your hearing loss and hearing needs.

After addressing any noise environment concerns (possibly including reducing wind noise), digital hearing aids convert the final code back into sound waves and deliver to your ears.

Because of the ability of digital hearing aids, they make up the majority of hearing aids worn today.

The Microphones

Just like your eardrum, the microphone has a diaphragm which vibrates when sound waves hit it. The microphone turns those movements into tiny electric signals, and that’s what gets amplified.

One of the reasons a hearing aid works great, is because the microphones they use are aligned to improve audio pick up coming from wherever the wearer faces. Some hearing aids have the ability, using the main microphones or additional rear-facing microphones, to reduce or cancel noise coming in from beside or behind the wearer.

Hearing Aid Power Source

Most hearing aids give the wearer a choice for how they want to power them. Batteries are the power source, but they can be either replaceable batteries, or rechargeable ones.

Replaceable-battery types usually have a slightly lower initial cost, but that is often surpassed by the purchase of batteries over the life of the hearing aid.

The most popular hearing aid power source is rechargeable batteries. This choice provides ease of maintenance by eliminating the need to change batteries. It can also save money in the long run because the batteries don’t have to be replaced.

 

SO WHY ARE HEARING AIDS SO EXPENSIVE?

In the beginning, hearing aids made the sound around them louder for the wearer. That was it. In modern times, hearing aids have made impressive advancements in technology and function. They’ve also made major strides in their design for size and comfort of the devices.

Additional Technology

Hearing aids now incorporate bluetooth capabilities not only for better hearing, but for increased connectivity.

With most quality hearing aids, you can connect them directly to a large number of bluetooth- compatible audio sources:

• Mobile phones
• Bluetooth-enabled TVs
• Computers
• MP3 players
• And more.

At Injoy, our hearing aids feature industry-leading connectivity – with flexible, two-way,

universal bluetooth connectivity. That means you can connect to your cell phone for direct, in-ear listening AND speaking with your bank, your kids, and friends across the country.

It also means you could connect to your computer for video calls. Conduct meetings, contact business associates, or talk to the grand kids about their super-awesome day, all through your hearing aids.

Imagine listening to the TV in your hearing aids. No clunky headphones, no earbuds to trade in and out with your hearing aid. Same for music from your phone, or a bluetooth-enabled stereo. The best hearing aids give you these choices.

Be sure to ask about the abilities of any hearing aids you consider. Most of today’s devices are limited to one-way Bluetooth. You’ll need to inquire whether it’s two-way.

Also check the device’s compatibility restrictions; too many sellers hide that in the “fine print.” The hearing aids might need an intermediary device to pick up the phone or other signal and send it to the hearing aid.

Remote Control

We know, we know—back when you were a kid you had to walk across the room uphill both ways to change the channel on your hearing aid, right? Well, something like that.

Today, hearing aids can come with a remote control or smartphone application. This allows you to adjust features without touching the hearing aid.

This is important because hearing aids should be discreet, and that means smaller. Those miniature controls can be far too small to manipulate easily by hand. So, Injoy’s smartphone-connected hearing aids allow considerable user adjustments via an interface you can easily see and manipulate.

Be sure to ask about this wherever you get your hearing aids, because it may not be available with other instruments.

Pre-programmed Settings

Another cool aspect (we know, geeky—but we really do geek out about these features!) is that your hearing aids can store several pre-programmed settings for various listening needs and environments.

Say you’ve fiddled around with settings to get the perfect listening experience for classical music. And you’ve created a setting that makes conversations so much easier to hear. They are probably not exactly the same. So, with some hearing aids you can save those settings and apply them when appropriate!

Most people purchase two hearing aids, because most of the time hearing loss affects both ears. Our devices can be programmed to function together. With this ability, any adjustments you make to a hearing aid on one ear (volume control or program changes) will also be made on the other hearing aid. Your clarity and volume will match, and it makes controlling your hearing aids much easier.

Value That Goes Beyond Tech

Great technology without great customer service means you’re on an island with no one to help you. How do you crack a coconut? Can you condense drinkable water? How do you make a radio out of clamshells, a bike tire, and fishing lures, Professor?? Yeah, being marooned by your hearing aid supplier is 100% no bueno.

The beauty of the Injoy online model is not only the savings you get compared to brick and mortar stores, it’s the service. Not to brag—but we’re totally going to brag: who else will help you 24/7? That’s what we do at Injoy. We have online assistance available to you whenever you need it, period.

Were you woken up by a 2AM phone call, but need some help getting your hearing aids to hook up? We’re there. 8:37PM and you’re trying to get a setting saved for your grandkid’s orchestra recital tomorrow? We got you. Anytime you need help adjusting your aids, or a refresher on how to go about it? Ta-da, we’re there when you need us to be.

THE QUICK-LIST OF VALUE FACTORS

We’ve gone over, in depth, details for why hearing aids have a price tag that may surprise/shock users. Let’s boil it down to a quick-list of why hearing aids cost what they do.

The Tech

First and foremost, it’s the product itself. Decades of research in hearing loss, in technical advancements, and in user needs, go into every hearing aid.

• Innovation
• Cutting-edge features
• Application design
• Constant research
• Programming
• App design & innovation
• Algorithm research & updates
• Constant advancements in connectivity

The never-ending quest to be the best impacts the cost of the best hearing aids.

Internal upgrades

This isn’t your grandfather’s hearing aid.

Not only are computer chips part of the design, rechargeability, multiple microphones, and manufacturing design constantly improve the abilities of today’s devices.

Level of Hearing Aid Capability

At Injoy, we allow you to choose from several levels of device capabilities. This way, you have the freedom to utilize the basic (but still amazing) level of device functionality—or go for the ultimate package with all the hearable, enjoyable, bells and whistles.

As with any product, the more you want it to be able to do, the more it will cost.

Replaceable vs Rechargeable Batteries

When choosing your hearing aids, remember that rechargeable batteries have a slightly higher initial cost ($50). Replaceable battery models cost a little less, because they don’t require the additional technology inside the hearing aid and in the charging station.

Support When You Need It

We’ll be there for you, period. We won’t kid you; it costs a lot to have a staff ready to go whenever you need it. However, we’re glad to hire the right people to help you, and provide constant training on new innovations.

That’s one of the blessings of the telehealth/telehearing business model. Because we’re not glued to a brick-and-mortar location, Injoy is nimble enough to get you support wherever you are, whenever you need it.

 

On-staff Audiologist

At Injoy, Dr. Jaime Parks director of Audiology and co-founder, brings over 2 decades of experience as an audiologist to our team. Dr. Parks has helped patients in clinical settings across the country, and leads our team of licensed audiologists to provide the same outstanding service to you through our telehearing platform.

Our entire team of providers are licensed audiologists and hearing healthcare professionals. We do the best-of-the-best for our customers. No matter who you choose, ask about their staff, and their licensing.

Market Conditions

Quality hearing aids cost more than most smartphones, but can’t show you the latest plumbing tip videos on youtube, or originate a phone call without an actual phone.

So why are hearing aids so expensive compared to smartphones? Part of the reason is the market size.

The massive number of smartphones sold helps those manufacturers buy in bulk and sell for less. We’re talking 1.43 BILLION smartphones sold in just 2021. Would we love to have sold that many hearing aids? Yes! And no!!

Those kinds of sales numbers would be amazing, but we don’t want that many people to suffer hearing loss. As a matter of fact, we’re fully aware that no one wants to buy hearing aids. People get them because they have to, if they want to hear better and connect better with other people.

We do our best to lower product costs through purchasing power, the telehearing model, and not having the overhead that brick-and-mortar locations have. But our excellent products cost so much to research and improve every year, we can’t sell for what 1.43 billion smartphones do and still provide the service and quality we do.

WHEN CHEAPER ISN’T BETTER

There’s a difference between hearing aids vs amplifiers.

Less scrupulous retailers call their product a “hearing aid” when technically it isn’t. As you explore the answers to “why are hearing aids so expensive,” you’ll need to understand why the 2 types of amplification products shouldn’t be confused for hearing aids.

PSAP

PSAP is the acronym for “personal sound amplification products.”

A PSAP device makes sound louder, but isn’t designed to support the different wavelengths/environmental control that impacts hearing loss.

PSAPs mostly get used where people want to hear any small sound in the immediate surroundings. For example, hunters use a PSAP to help pick up animal movement. People who birdwatch use a PSAP to make bird calls louder.

PSAP devices amplify everything, and weren’t designed for, nor are they suitable to address, hearing loss. The scary thing they don’t tell you, is that a PSAP could cause more damage to your hearing by unnecessarily increasing frequencies already contributing to your hearing loss.

OTC

This means “over the counter.” OTC devices amplify audio, but usually with limited control that you adjust yourself. There’s no direction from a licensed audiologist, and there’s no help when you need to adjust the product. This product puts you on that island we talked about earlier.

If you have severe hearing loss, we truly do not recommend OTC hearing aids for your safety, and for the future of your hearing. They generally don’t have the proper amplification for the required frequencies, and like PSAP devices could actually deliver further damage.

PSAP and OTC devices have very low price tags by comparison to Prescription Hearing Aids. But you don’t get what you don’t pay for. Remember those sage words of wisdom: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

INSURANCE MAY HELP

Some private health insurance providers may offer benefits for device prescriptions. The insurance world is waking up to the value telehearing providers offer, and we’ll be happy to help you find out if your health insurance is willing to help you hear better.

We also offer financing to assist, because the most important thing to us is you getting back this part of your life. That’s why for qualified buyers, we can get prescription hearing aids delivered to your door for $49 dollars a month! Plus we have financing for as little as 0% interest.

Remember—hearing aids won’t return your hearing to exactly as it was. Nothing can. However, we have the expertise and technology to help you hear much better, and regain that access to the sounds of your life.

What You’re NOT Charged For

You may be more comfortable going to a brick-and-mortar store where you can talk to a person in-person, right there, and physically touch the product before it goes to your home.

We get that, and support your decision. You gotta’ do you.

However, keep in mind that at your nearby(ish) hearing aid store, the price you see—at twice what we charge—may not be the final amount you pay.

There can be extra charges waiting to be sprung on you, such as fitment services, dispensing fees, adjustment costs, warranty costs, future appointment costs, and more.

We don’t do that. The cost of your hearing aid INCLUDES support. It also includes our no-holds-barred, all-inclusive 3 year warranty. And we don’t charge for shipping, either!

Make sure wherever you buy your hearing aids, that you get the “out the door & nothing more” price before you dot an i or cross a t.

ARE YOU ALMOST READY?

Now that you know the answer to “why are hearing aids so expensive?”, we would like to suggest a couple more things before you pull the trigger. I know, weird, isn’t it? Why aren’t we rushing to “make a sale?”

We don’t want to make a sale. We want to make a relationship, based on trust, delivering you great results and excellent support. At Injoy, we want to help you now, and in the future. And when you have a family member, a friend, who’s suffering from hearing loss, we want you to have 100% confidence recommending us to them.

Those are big boots to fill. The more you research, the more you compare, the more we think you’ll see that we walk tall in those shoes.

DO SOME HOMEWORK

Check with your insurance company, and call us to discuss your situation. You may have immediate help covering your hearing aid costs.

TALK TO A LICENSED AUDIOLOGIST

Our team that takes your call and IM’s online— they’re ALL hearing professionals. We’re not messing around here. We want you to have the best service. That requires the best people to answer your questions. And if your situation appears to be medically related, we’ll tell you that and recommend you see your primary care physician before doing anything.

TAKE A HEARING TEST.

You may not need a hearing aid—but a test will tell whether or not it’s likely you do. Our online hearing test is free. Just have headphones on, be in a relatively quiet environment, and check it out.

SHOP AROUND

How weird is that? Aren’t we supposed to be closing right now? At Injoy, coffee is for everyone, not just closers. Ask us questions about your options- we will shoot straight with you (this is our first rodeo).

We invite you to compare us to other hearing aid companies. When you look tech-to-tech and service-to-service, we think you’ll find us to be the best investment for your hearing future.

CHECK OUT THE DETAILS

Does the company you’re looking at truly offer a risk free, no money involved trial period? As in, no worry about a refund if you don’t like the hearing aids because you didn’t pay a dime in the first place?

That’s what we do. Plus we lay out all the details not in fine print, but in big letters that don’t hide. We’ll walk you through the details by phone, by video conference, however you feel comfortable. Are you kidding? We would love the chance to show you how good it can be with Injoy.

A LITTLE ABOUT US

Your Injoy team consists of dedicated, licensed hearing professionals. More than a few of us have spent years working with and at some of the largest practices in the world. We’ve got the pedigrees—and gray hairs—to prove it!

We gather together here, at our computers, in our meeting rooms, online with customers across the country, for one goal: helping people find the best hearing aid for their needs.

At half the price of brick-and-mortar, with literally zero risk for you, all we ask is for the chance to help you hear better.

WE MAKE HEARING AIDS AFFORDABLE

So we’ve already mentioned we’re half the price of brick and mortar. We also have our real 30 day trial period. That means you get to test out your new hearing aids for up to 30 days.

If you’re not absolutely satisfied, return them and you don’t pay a dime. No worries about refunds, no hassles, you haven’t been charged and won’t be.

But if you love what these amazing hearing aids do for your hearing loss, we can help you see if there are reimbursement programs from your insurance or your state. Plus, Injoy has financing available for qualified buyers that goes from 0% interest, to $49 a month!

Imagine that—your new hearing aids delivered to your door for just $49 a month. Sounds like you just got better hearing!

THE BENEFITS OF INJOY

Buying Injoy hearing aids online allow you to have

• A free hearing test designed by a licensed audiologist
• Service from licensed hearing specialists
• Free delivery at your door in 2 to 3 days
• 24/7 available assistance
• Process simplicity that’s smart and effective
• Face-to-face virtual consultation
• Literal zero-risk trial period
• Super-nice people who geek out about hearing aids

LOSING YOUR HEARING SUCKS. LET’S MAKE IT SUCK LESS.

The Injoy team makes buying hearing aids easy. Contact us with questions/concerns about prices, about help with financing, and how you can have better hearing every day.

We’ve helped people across the country find hearing solutions. Let us help you too, with the best behind the ear hearing aid available online, and anywhere.

Listen. Hear. Live! Injoy.