More than 35 million Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss. If you’re one of them, you may be shopping for an assistive device. Before you buy any product to enhance your hearing, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, says it’s important to understand the various types of hearing loss, the differences between a hearing aid and a personal sound amplification device, and what to consider when you’re shopping so you get the product that’s most appropriate for your particular kind of hearing loss.
What are the common types of hearing loss? Three types of hearing loss are the most common:
Sound Advice: If you think you are losing your hearing, see your doctor. You may be referred to a health care professional who specializes in ear health and hearing loss.
A hearing aid is a small electronic device worn in or behind the ear. The device has three parts: a microphone, an amplifier, and a speaker. It receives sound through the microphone, which converts the sound to electrical signals and sends them to the amplifier. The amplifier increases the power of the signals and sends them to the ear through the speaker.
The device doesn’t work unless you have some ability to hear. And because hearing loss affects people in different ways, you need to get the device that’s appropriate for your condition. For example, if you have hearing loss in both ears, two hearing aids may be recommended because two aids provide a more natural signal to the brain.
The price of a hearing aid can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the style and features.
Sound Advice: Price is a factor, but it’s not the only one to consider when you are determining your best option for an assistive hearing device. A more expensive device isn’t always better for your needs.
A personal sound amplification product (PSAP) is a device used to amplify hard-to-hear sounds by people with normal hearing. For example, if you are sitting at the back of a lecture hall, eating in a crowded restaurant, or bird-watching, a PSAP may be helpful.
Sound Advice: If your hearing is impaired, don’t use a PSAP as a substitute for a hearing aid. That may delay the diagnosis of a potentially treatable condition, and cause more damage to your hearing.
Your doctor may refer you to a hearing health professional for an examination and evaluation. It may be an otolaryngologist, an audiologist, or a hearing aid dispenser. Only two types of people are authorized to measure hearing loss and fit and dispense hearing aids in the U.S.: an audiologist and a hearing aid dispenser.
Sometimes, a hearing loss can be a symptom of a medical condition. A medical examination may uncover any underlying illnesses or medical problems associated with your hearing loss. In fact, a medical evaluation is so important that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires hearing aid sellers to tell you about your need for a medical examination before you buy a hearing aid. If you decide to forgo an evaluation, you must sign a waiver.
Sound Advice: Don’t patronize a business that dismisses the need for a medical examination prior to the purchase of a hearing aid.
Once you’ve had a medical examination and determined that a hearing aid will help you, look for a hearing health professional who offers products from several manufacturers. You can check out sellers with your local Better Business Bureau, your state or local consumer protection agency, your state Attorney General, your state licensing or certification boards, or the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). These organizations may have records of complaints against licensed hearing health professionals, and can tell you how they responded to the complaints. You also may be able to enter the professional’s name
and the manufacturer’s name into a search engine online, and find out what other people have to say.
Your contract should contain information about the following items:
While health insurance plans, including Medicare, typically pay for diagnostic hearing evaluation, many plans do not cover hearing aids. If you can’t afford a hearing aid, contact the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders’ (NIDCD) Information Clearinghouse for information about organizations that offer financial assistance.
Sound Advice: Take your time when you are shopping for a hearing aid. Resist sales pressure. It’s an expensive purchase, so buy only when you’re satisfied with the answers to your questions. Make sure the person you are dealing with puts any promises or guarantees about service and maintenance into the purchase agreement.
The FTC enforces regulations that prohibit the use of misleading sales and advertising practices, including giving inaccurate information about hearing loss, hearing aid performance, refund policies, or warranty coverage.
The FDA enforces regulations that deal with the manufacture and sale of hearing aids. Before selling a hearing aid, a dispenser must:
Many states also have laws governing hearing aid sales and implied warranties. Your state Attorney General’s office can tell you what laws apply in your state.
Sound Advice: Buying a hearing aid online or through the mail is risky. In fact, some states don’t allow hearing aids to be sold through the mail at all. That’s because an aid needs to be custom fitted and tested to be sure it’s working properly.
Food and Drug Administration
Hearing Aids – www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/HomeHealthandConsumer/ConsumerProducts/HearingAids/default.htm
National Institute on Deafness and
Other Communication Disorders
www.nidcd.nih.gov
1-800-241-1044 (TTY: 1-800-241-1055)
Federal Trade Commission
ftc.gov/whocares
To report problems with medical devices, including hearing aids, contact the FDA via the MedWatch program. Visit: www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch (MedWatch Online Reporting Form 3500) or call: 1-800-FDA-1088.
To report deceptive business practices or other types of consumer fraud, contact:
Federal Trade Commission – Go to ftc.gov/complaint, or call 1-877-382-4357 (TTY: 1-866-653-4261).
Your state Attorney General – Check naag.org for a list of addresses and phone numbers.
Better Business Bureau – File a complaint about a business or website at complaint.bbb.org.
Your local consumer protection office – Find an office near you at consumeraction.gov. Look under “Where to File a Complaint.”
The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.