How Much Do Hearing Aids Cost in Sioux Falls?

Author: Dr. Lori Miller

Overview: Prescription hearing aids can range from a few thousand dollars to several thousand dollars per pair depending on the technology, features and professional care included. The right price depends on your hearing needs, lifestyle and the level of technology that makes sense for you.

If you’ve started looking at hearing aids, you’ve probably noticed something frustrating: it can be surprisingly hard to figure out what they actually cost.

You’ll find hearing aids online for a few hundred dollars. You’ll see options at Costco. You’ll see prescription hearing aids that cost several thousand dollars. And after about ten minutes of searching, it can feel nearly impossible to tell what you’re comparing.

We get this question all the time at High Tone Hearing, so here’s the answer we give our patients.

How much do hearing aids cost?

Prescription hearing aids can range from a few thousand dollars to several thousand dollars per pair, depending on the technology, features and professional care included.

But price alone doesn’t tell you whether a hearing aid is right for you.

Two people can have similar hearing test results and need very different technology. Someone who spends most of their time in quiet environments may not need the same level of technology as someone who works in meetings, travels frequently or regularly eats in noisy restaurants.

That’s why we don’t start by asking, “Which hearing aid do you want?”

We start by asking where you want to hear better.

What are you actually paying for?

This is where hearing aid pricing gets confusing.

When you purchase prescription hearing aids through an audiology practice, you aren’t simply buying two small pieces of technology. You’re also paying for the professional care that makes that technology work for your hearing.

At High Tone, that process includes evaluating your hearing, understanding where you struggle, recommending appropriate technology, professionally fitting and programming your hearing aids, verifying the fit and making adjustments as you begin wearing them in real life.

Those adjustments matter. A hearing aid can be excellent technology and still perform poorly if it isn’t appropriately selected and programmed for the person wearing it.

Does everyone need premium hearing aids?

No. And we think that’s important to say.

More expensive technology can offer meaningful benefits for some people, particularly in complex listening environments. But that doesn’t mean everyone needs the highest technology level available.

Our job isn't to put you in the most expensive hearing aid. It’s to help you understand what you're paying for and determine what makes sense for your hearing, lifestyle and budget.

What about lower-cost hearing aids?

Lower-cost hearing devices and over-the-counter hearing aids have created more options for consumers, which can be a good thing.

But they aren't interchangeable with professionally selected and fitted prescription hearing aids.

If you're comparing options primarily by price, ask what is included. Is your hearing being comprehensively evaluated? Who is selecting the device? Will it be programmed specifically for your hearing? Is the fitting being verified? What happens when something doesn't sound right? Who helps you six months from now?

Those questions often explain more about the price difference than the hearing aid itself.

Does insurance cover hearing aids?

Sometimes.

Hearing aid benefits vary significantly by insurance plan. Before making a decision, it’s worth understanding what your plan covers, whether it limits where you can purchase devices and whether there are restrictions on brands or technology.

Our team can help you understand your options before you move forward.

So, how much should you spend?

That’s the better question.

And we can’t answer it without knowing more about your hearing.

If you come to High Tone Hearing, we’ll talk through what you're experiencing, evaluate your hearing and explain the options we think make sense. If a lower technology level will meet your needs, we'll tell you. If we think you'd benefit from something more advanced, we'll explain why.

You should leave understanding what we recommend and why we recommend it.

Because hearing aids are a significant purchase. You deserve more than a price tag.

High Tone Hearing is an independent audiology practice in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Our audiologists work with hearing technology from Phonak, Oticon, ReSound, Starkey, Widex and Signia.

Ready to understand your options? Schedule a hearing evaluation with High Tone Hearing.