We Make Hearing Aid Clinics Really Mad

I have just received an email from an audiologist that is upset about our website. I know that he is upset about our website because he began his email with, “I am totally upset about this website”. All kidding aside, this type of email is not uncommon. Consumers are able to purchase hearing aids online for thousands of dollars less than what they sell for at clinics, so I can understand why they are upset.

I have never discouraged anyone from seeing a physician about their hearing problems. In fact, we recommend that anybody with hearing problems or any other health problem, for that matter, see a physician. But what happens when you are diagnosed with typical high frequency hearing loss and they want to sell you a hearing aid that you can buy online for thousands of dollars less?

This scenario is reminiscent of the reading glasses industry. Walk into any drug store, grocery store, or even Walmart. You are bound to see a display or two that is selling reading glasses. Up until about a decade ago, you needed a prescription to get reading glasses. This meant a visit to your eye doctor, who would write you a prescription and then sell you the eyeglasses that they just prescribed to you. For many years, reading glasses were the most prescribed type of glasses. Needless to say, when they became available in your local grocery store for under $10, this made many eye clinics very upset.

Some clinics were genuinely concerned about people buying reading glasses over the counter. They feared that people would stop seeing a doctor regularly and major problems would go undiagnosed. That is a noble concern, but, unfortunately, many doctors were upset for the financial loss that they would take now that the public has access to buying reading glasses without a prescription. Irving Bennet, O.D., professor of Business Practice Management at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry says that displaying readers in the reception area is a nice touch, “but the profit in ready-to-wear is small,” especially when compared to custom made, progressive lenses that can cost $200 or more.

In my opinion, no doctor, be it an audiologist or an optometrist, should be able to prescribe or recommend a medical device that they also sell. You should see a doctor to rule out or diagnose medical problems, but the choice should be yours as to where you purchase the devices that they prescribe or recommend. Unscrupulous doctors whose ulterior motive is to simply make more money can sway their diagnosis to benefit their money making motivation.

One final note is that hearing aids never have required a “prescription”. Hearing aids can only be recommended. For many years there was a misconception that you needed a prescription to purchase them. States even made laws about it, but all along the United States FDA guidelines stated that any informed adult could bypass a physician and purchase hearing aids if they are presented with a medical waiver. A few years ago, the US Court of Appeals ruled that the states could no longer preempt this FDA guideline, which is why sites like this one exist today.

Maybe one day soon, you will see displays at your local drugstore that sell over the counter hearing aids right next to the reading glasses. Until then, you can buy hearing aids online.

As always, discuss your hearing problems with your physician and save a fortune by buying your hearing aids online.