| You go to the clinic and they tell you that you have | | | | to consumers. That means that you no longer have |
| "typical" high frequency hearing loss, but you need | | | | to pay ridiculous marked up prices at a clinic for what |
| "custom" $3,000 hearing aids. This is an all too | | | | you can purchase yourself. |
| common scenario and one that doesn't have to be. | | | | One particular company that stands out is Rosebud |
| High frequency hearing loss is the most common | | | | Hearing LLC. Rosebud has created a line of ready to |
| form. This type of loss is also referred to as age | | | | wear digital aids for those that suffer from typical |
| related hearing loss. There is no particular cause for | | | | hearing loss. The company offers open fit and in the |
| this. It mainly strikes with changes in the inner ear that | | | | canal aids direct to consumers at many major retail |
| occur as you grow older. Other factors include family | | | | outlets. |
| history, exposure to loud noises, and smoking (smokers | | | | There are other companies that have produced similar |
| are more susceptible). | | | | lines of instruments and that list is growing. The best |
| Symptoms of high frequency or age related hearing | | | | part about buying direct is that these ready to wear |
| loss include: | | | | hearing aids average just $279. That's a huge |
| - not understanding speech in the presence of | | | | difference from what the clinics want you to pay. |
| background noise | | | | Sites like Perfect Hearing Aids offer the Rosebud |
| - understanding men's voices more easily than women | | | | Hearing Aids and others with a 45 day in home trial |
| and children's voices | | | | period. |
| - ringing in the ears Hearing aids are the most common | | | | The hearing aid industry is reminiscent of what we |
| treatment for this type of hearing loss. In the last few | | | | saw with the reading glass industry about a decade |
| years, the Open Fit Hearing Aid has become the | | | | ago. Prior to being able to purchase reading glasses |
| hearing aid of choice to treat high frequency hearing | | | | at retail stores, you had to pay a fortune for them at |
| loss. The downside has been that they can cost | | | | the clinic. |
| upwards of $6,000 a pair, but this has recently | | | | Certainly, there are instances where programmable |
| changed. | | | | hearing aids from a clinic are the best choice, but for |
| Up until recently, misinterpretations of FDA rules have | | | | those that have "typical" hearing loss, you should |
| kept these instruments off of the shelves at retail | | | | seriously consider a ready to wear digital hearing aid |
| stores. Thanks to clarifications from the US Court of | | | | available on the Internet. |
| Appeals, hearing aids are now widely available direct | | | | |