Hearing aids are battery-powered devices that amplify sound and adjust the pitch, tone, and volume of your surroundings to help you hear better. The devices vary in price, Bluetooth connectivity, rechargeability, size, fit, and additional features like feedback cancellation and digital noise reduction. An audiology professional can test your hearing, discuss which product best meets your needs, and help set up your devices. Hearing aids won’t return your hearing to normal, and you’ll need time to get used to them, but they may help you hear and communicate more effectively.
Poll
What is your biggest challenge with your hearing aids?
Hearing Aid Cost in 2024: Breakdown by TypeFact-Checked on September 7, 2023
FAQ
How do hearing aids work?
Hearing aids pick up sound in the environment with a tiny microphone, process it using a computer chip, and deliver the adjusted sound to the ears through receivers. The enhanced sound travels through the tubing into the ear canal.
What are the different types of hearing aids?
Behind-the-ear (BTE), receiver-in-canal (RIC), in-the-ear (ITE), and in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids are available. The differences between these types involve how visible they are and where the device sits in the ear. Many devices offer different styles, colors, and features within a specific type of hearing aid.
Are hearing aids covered by insurance?
Most insurers and Medicare Parts A and B don’t usually fund hearing aids and related costs. However, check with your insurance provider to make sure. You can use funds from a flexible spending or health savings account to buy hearing aids.
How do I clean and maintain my hearing aids?
Hearing aids come with cleaning instructions and tools, so use these during each cleaning. Different types need different levels of thoroughness and frequency for cleaning and maintenance. Hearing aid clinics can clean and maintain the devices for a fee.
Can hearing aids restore my hearing completely?
Hearing aids don’t cure hearing loss or restore former levels of hearing. However, they can significantly improve your hearing, enhance your mental and social health, support your productivity at work, and boost your quality of life.
Everyday Health’s team of board-certified physicians and health professionals contribute to the creation and review of content, ensuring that the information is useful, up to date, and accurate.
Jessica Lee, MD, practices general otolaryngology at Charleston ENT and Allergy in South Carolina. After several years in clinical and surgical practice, Dr. Lee wanted to learn mo...
Kacy Church, MD, practices as a clinical endocrinologist with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation in Burlingame, California. She balances both outpatient and inpatient responsibilitie...
As a practicing audiologist since the 1990s, Brad Ingrao, doctor of audiology, has fitted thousands of hearing aids to seniors and people of all ages. Dr. Ingrao’s first exposure t...
Brian Murray works with hearing clinics across the country as an event consultant. He is registered and licensed to dispense hearing aids in New York, North Carolina, and Virginia,...
Ruth Reisman, AuD, is a licensed audiologist and hearing aid dispenser in New York, Florida, and Bermuda with over 12 years of experience working across multiple sectors. She is a ...
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
Hearing aids: How to choose the right one. Mayo Clinic. September 20, 2022.
