If you strained this Thanksgiving to hear a child's voice or a conversation across the table, you may be ready for your first hearing aid. "Around the holiday times, people miss things without hearing aids," says Andrew Tewksbury, a retail marketing executive for Starkey, the nation's largest manufacturer of custom hearing aids. No wonder the company ramps up its promotional events every December.
If you're starting to look now for aids, check out our shopping video at right, as well as Consumer Reports' comprehensive hearing aid report, including evaluations of features in more than 35 different models. Keep in mind, though, that shopping for a hearing aid isn't like shopping for, say, a pair of glasses. You can't just put on an aid or aids and expect to suddenly hear better.
It takes time—at least a month—for your brain to adjust to the auditory stimulus. During that time, you'll need to practice using your aids in different environments—restaurants, parties, TV-watching, talking on the telephone—and return several times to the professional who fits your aids for adjustments. So don't expect to gain full advantage from your aids during the holiday season. (By Superbowl Sunday, however, you could be well on your way!)
When shopping for a hearing aid, you're likely to hear a lot of come-ons and encounter a wide range of prices, as well. When Consumer Reports sent 12 mystery shoppers—all with real hearing losses—to buy a total of 48 digital hearing aids in the New York metro area, they encountered prices ranging from $1,800 to $6,800 per pair. That can be a real strain on the pocketbook, which is why we've provided suggestions on being a smart shopper, and a list of options for financing your hearing aids, which typically aren't covered in full by health insurance.—Tobie Stanger
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