A common argument among those who have objected to the cost of hearing aids is, “I can get an iPhone or iPad for very little, so why is the price of a hearing aid not the same?” After all, they are both technical devices, essentially small computers, so what’s the difference? “The difference in hearing expenses of a gadget from other best in class electronic gadgets comes Hearing devices run fast in these areas, and we will know why?
Research and development contribute to the cost of hearing aids
The manufacturing process is a small but important element of the cost of a hearing aid. The material that makes the hearing aid is not so expensive; Even with specialized equipment such as microprocessors and microphone materials, only about 10 percent of the cost is made. However, similar to any cutting edge gadget, amplifiers require broad innovative work which is later changed over to cost. At last, the examination into the assembling of gear would itself be able to be multiple times the expense of the material itself.
Each manufacturer of hearing aids uses an extensive team of professionals to design and build new devices and platforms; These range from professional electrical engineers and audiologists to computer programmers and even musicologists. Due to the desire to create the best possible product, developing a new high-tech hearing aid can involve 200 to 300 people over a period of three to four years. In addition, any new facilities require labor intensive user testing, which may take one to two years.
Just 8 to 10 percent of the all out cost of listening devices is creation (crude materials, work and hardware). The staying discount costs incorporate R&D, showcasing, testing, and overhead for the maker.
Getting the hearing aids into your hands
The retail price of hearing aids includes distribution fees and administrative salaries, which are left after the hearing instrument manufacturer. Not at all like different gadgets, for example, iPhones, portable hearing assistants are medicinal gadgets. This means that unlike walking into an Apple store, spending an hour with a sales person, making your purchase and moving out, getting a hearing aid is an involved process that involves several hours of fitting, adjusting, and maintenance, All of which factor cost. This means that when you are paying for equipment, you are also paying the services of highly trained professionals for the life of the equipment.
Here are some services that are included in the retail cost of the hearing aid:
- Cost of hearing test (patient history and complete audiometric evaluation)
- Consultation
- Programming
- Fitting
- Follow up appointments
- clean
- Regular maintenance
- Device warranty
- Year Supply of Hearing Aid Battery
- Counseling
- Education
Since portable amplifiers are restorative gadgets, these administrations are performed by a prepared and instructed proficient. Not only is all this initial training and education expensive, but a qualified hearing care professional regularly attends seminars and trainings to ensure that they are protected, along with the latest medical information. And the equipment required to fit your hearing aids and keep them in tip top shape is typical, including computers and other dedicated high-tech equipment.
Other expenses also include the cost of hearing aids. For example, the clean and comfortable office you appoint needs electricity such as rent and overhead. Insurance, staff and marketing salaries are some of the expenses that help care professionals to listen to, and which turn into cost of hearing aids. At certain points, hearing care professionals may possibly cut some corners to slightly reduce the cost of the hearing aid to benefit the patient. In any case, lamentably there are sure factors over which hearing consideration experts have no control, for example, the economy.
The economy of scale
And make no mistake; Economics definitely comes into play when it comes to the cost of hearing aids. First, there is competition between hearing aid manufacturers, which increases marketing costs. Beyond this, economic theory, called an economy of scale, has great value when it comes to pricing hearing aids. Basically, when a product (in this case hearing aids) is produced on a large scale, the company can spread some of the costs associated with production (such as design and research and development) more closely, and the company’s Have an opportunity to reduce their costs. And pass those savings on to the consumer. However, since approximately 2 million hearing aids are sold in just one year (as opposed to 32.4 million iPhones in the U.S. in 2011), cost reductions based on economies of scale are unlikely to occur in the near future.