Why are hearing aids expensive? Plus, Our Top 5 Hearing Aids Under £1,000

Updated 16/02/2021

Why are hearing aids expensive?

Plus, Our Top 5 Hearing Aids Under £1000

But First - Why are hearing aids so expensive?

This is, without doubt, one of the most common questions we get asked by our customers. As most people with hearing loss need two hearing aids - the price tag eventually becomes a huge factor in people deciding to get help or not.

Digital hearing aids are an important investment for your health and quality of life. They are something that you wear practically all day every day, so it's important to remember that you are investing in far more than just the devices themselves. UK statistics show that 6.7 million would benefit from hearing aids, however, only 2 million people wear them. If we take a look at the reasoning - price, appearance and stigma are up there when considering hearing aids.

Are expensive hearing aids worth it?

When it comes down to cost - there's a lot to consider when researching hearing aids, as well as making sure that the money and time spent is well worth it. At the end of the day, everyone has their own idea of what 'expensive' looks like. Hearing aid price is dictated by things such as level of amplification needed, hearing aid brand, lifestyle choice, dexterity, technology and Bluetooth connectivity.

So, why are hearing aids expensive? Hearing aid brands set their prices based on various criteria, but to simplify things it is mainly because of the degree of design and research needed. Over time hearing aids have become more advanced and modernised due to research and technical design. How the brain manages sound, how the ear works and how we can support the brain and deliver better sound information are a few key research areas. Oticon's BrainHearing technology breakthrough is one great example of this.

Affordable hearing aids

Hearing Aid Costs - The truth

The research and development costs for hearing aids are a lot higher than many similar sectors. This is because hearing aid chips are not reused technology that is also in other devices. They are custom made by the hearing aid manufacturer, specifically for that line of hearing aids. As well as the hardware development costs there is the research to refine the hearing aid features which are software-based. Such development is important, as hearing aid manufacturers need to be on top of their game to remain competitive and offer better solutions to make you hear better. Hearing aid price is reflective of this so that it covers the cost of research, staff and obviously they also want to make a profit.

The good news is that due to advances in technology you get more for your money now than you would have done a few years ago and most premium hearing devices back then are now considered to be relatively basic. Therefore you may well be able to spend a lot less than you did on your previous pair of hearing aids but still get better performance.

Hearing aid manufacturers know that price often influences choice, and this is the reason why they are dedicated to offering various technical specifications to suit different budgets, price points and therefore accessibility. Introductory performance levels will include fewer and less advanced features and the premium specifications will have all the top features. It all depends on what you want.

While hearing aids can be pricey, the ongoing support and aftercare you will receive from your local audiologist goes in some way to make the amount more reasonable. The gift of communication, health benefits and quality of life that investing and wearing hearing aids bring - surely outweighs the cost?

Affordable hearing aids

What is the most expensive hearing aid?

How expensive are hearing aids? Are expensive hearing aids better?

To give you a rough idea, the most expensive hearing aid is £1895 (per aid) and the most expensive hearing aids are £3695 (for a pair). However, this would be even more expensive if you decided to not purchase hearing aids from us, as you may find yourself paying up to 40% more. Just for comparison's sake, hearing aids generally start from around £445 per aid and £795 a pair.

In regard to more expensive hearing aids being better, the premium devices provide you with top technology. They include more hearing solution features and better programs to personalise your experience. The more features you want, the more expensive the hearing aids will be. That being said, cheaper hearing aids are still very powerful and effective. You just need to ask yourself what you want from your aids and what your audiologist thinks your hearing loss needs.

Good Inexpensive Hearing Aids - What is the best inexpensive hearing aid?

Are inexpensive hearing aids any good?

Hearing aids are costly, but in all honesty, they don't have to be. There are some great hearing aids out there from the top hearing aid manufacturers in the industry that are jam-packed with fantastic technology. Hearing aids that cater to all budgets as well as simply helping you to hear better.

The cost of hearing aids is generally determined by two things, the type of hearing loss and your lifestyle. Generally speaking, there is no need to buy top-end hearing aids if your hearing requirements are quite simple. Cheaper hearing aids have fewer features and less finesse, they are not lower quality products.

With that in mind, we thought it would be beneficial to show you our top five best inexpensive hearing aids under £1000. Offering value for money as well as a comparison to those you might consider to be expensive hearing aids.

Below is our audiology expert's list of the best inexpensive digital hearing aids currently available in the industry.

Why are hearing aids expensive?