There are many pitfalls to purchasing hearing aids online or through the mail. The following is a list of things that you DON’T get when purchasing remotely:
1. Face to face consultation to gather information on your hearing and your communication needs.
2. Session spent on orienting you to the parts of the hearing aid and the maintenance required.
3. In the ear calibration of the hearing aid for feedback.
4. Real ear testing to determine what frequency response is being delivered.
5. Several post fitting appointments to answer questions and adjust the hearing aid.
6. Follow up examination to ensure you are caring for the hearing aid properly.
7. Immediate assistance over the phone or quick appointments when the hearing aid isn’t working.
8. Access to loaner hearing aids if your aid needs to be repaired.
9. Ongoing counseling and education on hearing loss and communication skills.
10. A local professional who can keep you up to date on current technology and research.
Legally speaking, hearing aids delivered through the mail in the state of California must be purchased from a dispenser licensed in the state of California. Here is a link to the Speech Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispenser’s Board with information about mail order hearing aids:
http://www.speechandhearing.ca.gov/forms_pubs/mail_order.pdf
Let the buyer beware! These aids may seem cheap but they have little value.