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from CityNews 200604
A second opinion on hearing loss – you need professional advice, not a sales pitch
An elderly woman with hearing Recently I was told by two different loss came to my clinic for a second patients that they were quoted opinion, after she had recently $16,000 for a pair of hearing aids. been to a hearing aid sales person. This seems a ridiculous amount I found the cause of her hearing of money to pay and is most likely loss was simply the fact that she not appropriate for the majority of had build-up of wax in her ears, the people (or possibly anyone). salesperson had failed to inspect them. You might be surprised how 5. If you are a pensioner or partoften this happens! pensioner, or a DVA gold or white card holder, you should carefully Here are some things to consider if you want to use the do to avoid getting free-to-client government ripped off: 1. A visit to the GP “In an unregulated market hearing aids or if you’d like to top-up to a different hearing aid. may save you there is a lot of opportunity from being ‘sold’ something to take advantage of people. The free-to-client hearing aids are when your only Yes you have read correctly, appropriate for many problem is wax in your ears. there is no licensing of people who sell hearing aids.” people, however if you have great difficulty hearing 2. Look for someone who is – Dr Vass background noise (for example in restaurants) independent and then you might trial the can offer you unbiased top-up hearing aids, but only advice, not just give you a if you can afford them. There are sales pitch. a range of top up options and prices, if you are disappointed after a trial, you 3. There are a range of hearing aid should return them and trial the free-toprices. Finding the right hearing aid client hearing aids. might save you money and it will also give you the best chance of If you get the feeling the person success. you’re dealing with is just trying to sell you something, then take a step 4. Hearing aids can be expensive. back and get a second opinion.
