Our office no longer provides these services at this time (though at some future point, we will offer again). Please contact Nikki Butler, AuD for these services at 540-495-8601 or Gainesville Audiology at 703-754-0951.

Cost of Hearing Aids

The total cost PER AID for obtaining a new hearing aid will vary between $500 and $1500+. The table below provides a general idea of how the cost may vary between different makes and models of hearing aids. Some practices charge for hearing aids under a fee-for-service model which provides transparency of the actual cost of the hearing aid and each service provided. With this model patients pay for services as they need them, not up front. Other practices bundle ALL of the costs for the hearing aid, professional services, supplies and any follow-up care into the initial total cost. Under this model, future visits seem to be at no charge, but those services have already been paid for.

Fauquier ENT Hearing Aids, LLC operates under a fee-for-service model.


Approx Cost for ONE Hearing Aid Before Adding Optional Features	~$500 (45 day trial period)	~$900 (45 day trial period)	~$1200 (45 day trial period)	~$1500+ (45 day trial period)
Appropriate Lifestyle	Good hearing and speech clarity for someone with a relaxed lifestyle who is primarily in calm and low noise listening environments.	Great hearing and speech clarity for someone with an active lifestyle who is in an average variety of listening environments from calm to moderate background noise.	Exceptional hearing and speech clarity for someone with a very active lifestyle who is in an above average variety of listening environments from calm to background noise. Excellent sound processing in quiet, noise, TV and music.	Optimal hearing and speech clarity for someone with an extremely active lifestyle who is in an ever changing variety of listening environments throughout the day. Ultimate sound processing in quiet, noise, car, phone, wind, TV and music.
Optional Features for Additional Cost	Hearing aids can connect to home and cell phones, TV, computers, music, loop systems in churches, schools, airports and much more.	Hearing aids can connect to home and cell phones, TV, computers, music, loop systems in churches, schools, airports and much more.	Hearing aids can connect to home and cell phones, TV, computers, music, loop systems in churches, schools, airports and much more.	Hearing aids can connect to home and cell phones, TV, computers, music, loop systems in churches, schools, airports and much more.
Styles Available	BTE, ITE, ITC, HS, RITE, Open, CIC	BTE, ITE, ITC, HS, RITE, Open, CIC	BTE, ITE, ITC, HS, RITE, Open, CIC	BTE, ITE, ITC, HS, RITE, Open, CIC
Total Additional Fees to Counsel, Fit, and Program the Hearing Aid (non-refundable)	$540 (click for fee breakdown)	$540 (click for fee breakdown)	$540 (click for fee breakdown)	$540 (click for fee breakdown)

Hearing aids differ in cost based upon the style, size, and level of technology. In general, the cost for the hearing aid increases as the size of the hearing aid decreases. In addition, the cost for the hearing aid increases as the level of technology increases.

That said, when comparing between models, there are 11 main features you should take into consideration when trying to decide what to buy.

Hearing Aid Style: This is basically what the hearing aid looks like and what most people take into consideration first when selecting a hearing aid. However, most patients unfortunately immediately choose the ones that are "invisible" which may not necessarily be the best. For example, the ITC (or in-the-canal) models are inserted completely into the ear canal. As such, these models are VERY small and if the patient is 90 years old with poor hand-eye coordination, not easy to use, change the battery, are under-powered given their small size, etc. More info on hearing aid styles here.
Amplification: Amplification power of a given hearing aid must be taken into consideration relative to how much hearing loss is present. As mentioned above, tiny hearing aids are completely under-powered if a patient has severe hearing loss.
Color: Either you don't care, you want them to be fashionable (like colorful earrings or eyeglasses), or you want them to be invisible (matched to skin or hair color).
Telecoil: Telecoils are amazing wireless technology that can connect to looped facilities like Churches and Theaters. Such looped facilities will display a blue symbol as shown to the right. They can also help a patient hear better on a phone that is Telecoil ready. If a patient has a substantial hearing loss, you would be silly to overlook the telecoil.
IP Rating: An IP68 is the highest rating you can get. The first number indicates dust and particulate resistance (6). The second number is the moisture resistance (8). If a patient spends much time in moist or dirty environments, or have a tendency to perspire, this should be an important consideration.
Batteries: Basically disposable or rechargeable. If rechargeable, mainly are lithium-ion (Li-ion) or nickle-metal-hydride (NiMH). Disposable and NiMH batteries can be replaced by the user whereas Li-ion hearing aids typically have to be sent back to the manufacturer to have the battery exchanged. Just something to keep in mind!
Battery Size: If a hearing aid uses disposable batteries, there are a variety of sizes to choose from. The smaller the battery, the shorter the battery life. However, smaller batteries usually means a smaller hearing aid if that's important to you. Also, if you have poor hand-eye coordination, changing a tiny battery in a tiny hearing aid may be difficult to perform.
Phone connectivity: Some hearing aids have the capability to directly connect to your smartphone to allow the phone's audio to directly stream sound into the hearing aid.
Tinnitus Relief Program: If a patient also suffers from tinnitus, make sure the hearing aid has this feature which may help reduce if not eliminiate this annoying sound.

Push Button Availability: Most hearing aids have push button availability but a patient may want more than just a push button for program changes. For example, a patient may want a volume control. To allow for these additional features, the hearing aid needs to be correspondingly larger. Today, most hearing aids also allow the user to make program and/or volume changes using their smartphone.
Accessories: Different hearing aids have access to different accessories. Make sure you consider which accessories you may need or want and select a hearing aid that has access to these accessories.

The following features are not significant enough for most hearing aid users to worry over or obsess about.

Channels: Beyond a certain point, more channels does not equal better performance. Even a professional musician will not be able to tell the difference between a 38 channel and 48 channel hearing aid.
Feedback Cancelers: All major hearing aid brands have good feedback cancellation. The biggest factor that will determine how much feedback you experience will be the physical fit of the devices and that is largely the responsibility of your hearing aid dispenser.
Noise Reduction: Like channels above, noise reduction capabilities between different models and manufacturers are not distinguishable for most hearing aid users and should not be an important factor when selecting a hearing aid.
Any Trademarked Features: All manufacturers name their features differently, but they all basically do the same thing. A catchy name does not equal better performance, just better marketing.

Fauquier ENT offers several payment options for hearing aids. The hearing aid companies that our office works with primarily are WIDEX and PHONAK, but we also service RESOUND, OTICON, SIEMENS, UNITRON, and STARKEY.

Terms of Purchase

All hearing aid users will be given a Trial Adjustment Period of no more than 45-days beginning the day of the fitting. If the hearing aid(s) are returned for any reason within this 45-day period in the original condition, Fauquier ENT Hearing Aids, LLC agrees to refund the full purchase cost of the hearing aid(s). Professional fees are NON-REFUNDALBE and include: Hearing Aid Evaluation, Hearing Aid Fitting and Dispensing, Custom Earmolds and Accessories. If the hearing aid(s) are damaged in any way from the new condition, are lost, or if the Purchaser does not return the hearing aid(s) within the 45-day Trial Adjustment Period no refund will be given and the hearing aid(s) will be deemed purchased in full.

Cost of Hearing Aid Services After Purchase

Appointments for maintenance, checks, or repairs that occur after the 45-day Trial Adjustment Period will be billed for professional services. Maintenance checks are recommended at least every 6 months. When a hearing aid malfunctions and cannot be repaired in-house, it will be sent to the manufacturer for an in-warranty or out-of-warranty repair. Professional servicesrelated to hearing aid checks, adjustments and/or reprogramming will billed for every repair, regardless of warranty status. Out-of-warranty repairs will incur a service charge from the manufacturer and our office.

WARRANTY

Hearing aids dispensed by Fauquier ENT Hearing Aids, LLC are dispensed with a manufacturer’s service warranty for a period of 1 to 3-years. This warranty covers manufacturer services ONLY, not services performed by our office.

Appointments for maintenance, checks, or repairs that occur after the 45-day Trial Adjustment Period will be billed for professional services.
Maintenance checks are recommended at least every 6 months. Patients can choose to be seen as often or as little as they deem necessary.
When a hearing aid malfunctions and cannot be repaired in-office, it will be sent to the manufacturer for an in-warranty or out-of-warranty repair.
Professional servicesrelated to hearing aid checks, adjustments and/or reprogramming will billed for every repair, regardless of warranty status.
Out-of-warranty repairs will incur a service charge from the manufacturer and our office.
Please see the attached list of charges associated with each visit type.
All services provided are self-pay, we do not bill any health insurance for hearing aids or related services.

Health Insurance

Fauquier ENT Hearing Aids, LLC does not participate with any health insurance carrier. Therefore, we do not bill health insurance for hearing aids or any hearing aid related services. For those patients with hearing aid benefits, an invoice will be provided to you to submit for direct reimbursement from your carrier. Please see the attached fee schedule for the costs of hearing aid related services per visit.

Hearing Aid Payment Plans

Full Payment:Payment is due in full at the hearing aid fitting.

Care Credit Financing: Online application process with instant approval available. No interest plans are available for 6 / 12 / 18 months with no down payment required. Payment options, terms and conditions are determined solely by Care Credit.

Why Hearing Aids May NOT Completely Restore Hearing

There are some reasons why hearing aids may not completely restore hearing that patients should be aware of. The most important one is that human hearing is based on volume and reception. The best analogy is to imagine your hearing to be a radio. A given radio has a volume knob that one can adjust up or down as well as antenna reception which allows one to get a clear signal vs one full of static. If there has been damage to the radio's antenna, it does not matter how much you increase the volume...the signal will still be full of static.

Similarly, hearing loss may be a volume issue and/or a reception issue. Hearing aids can only amplify volume. Hearing aids CANNOT improve reception. The hearing test we perform gives us an idea of both volume and reception aspects of your hearing loss and provide guidance in how much hearing aids may help.

For more information, please email our audiologist directly or contact our office and ask to speak to her.

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