Hearing Aid Cost for Pensioners Explained

Did you know that half of all pensioners have some form of measurable hearing impairment? To make matters worse, of this 50%, only 30% of pensioners who would benefit from hearing aids have tried them.

One of the significant challenges present is the hearing aid cost for pensioners. State-of-the-art hearing aids for seniors are not cheap, which translates to many believing they are inaccessible.

At EarPros, we believe that quality hearing is something that should be available to everyone. Let’s look at the best hearing aids for pensioners, their costs, and how you can access them.

The Best Hearing Aids for Pensioners

There are special pensioner hearing aids aimed at seniors experiencing hearing loss. Since one of the biggest causes of hearing impairment is aging, a special pensioners’ hearing aid can dramatically improve quality of life.

From mild hearing impairment to crippling hearing loss, there are many hearing aids aimed specifically at alleviating various severities of hearing impairment.

Here are some of the best hearing aids available now for pensioners struggling with hearing loss.

1. Oticon Opn S1

The Oticon Opn S1 isn’t just a hearing aid but a wearable piece of technology. With many pensioners connected to the digital world, Oticon easily connects to mobile devices for full media streaming.

Coping with difficult listening environments is a breeze with the ConnectClip remote microphone. Connect it to the speaker’s collar, and their voice will come through crystal clear while filtering out any distracting background noise.

The Opn is available with traditional batteries and fully rechargeable alternatives. Various fast-charge accessories enable pensioners to keep their hearing aids working 24/7.

2. Signia Silk 7nx

Many pensioners don’t want hearing aids because they don’t feel comfortable having a visible hearing aid. If you value discretion above everything else, the Signia Silk 7nx is an In-the-Canal (ITC) hearing aid that’s practically invisible.

This hearing aid utilizes a soft silicone sleeve for a comfortable ear fit. No custom earmolds are required with the 7nx model.

Signia Silk 7nx hearing aids use the latest hearing technology to increase speech quality and filter out unwanted ambient noises. To give you more control over your hearing experience, you can set up custom sound profiles using the touchControl mobile app.

The 7nx is such an intelligent model, that it can make automatic adjustments based on your current hearing environment.

If you also suffer from tinnitus, Signia hearing aids include tinnitus sound therapy to limit the symptoms.

Pensioners with mild, moderate, or severe hearing loss can enjoy a vastly improved listening experience with these quality hearing aids.

3. Starkey Livio i2400 AI

If you’re not worried about hearing aid cost for pensioners, consider Starkey Livio i2400 AI hearing aids. These hearing aids use emerging artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to tailor the listening experience to the user.

Furthermore, these Bluetooth-compatible hearing aids come with several features geared towards pensioners, including:

  • Physical and brain health monitoring
  • Real-time heart rate monitor
  • Automatic fall detection
  • Conversation transcription
  • Foreign language translation

These hearing aids aim to create a hearing solution specifically for the needs of pensioners. With the accompanying Thrive Hearing app, pensioners can continue to live full, exciting lives despite their hearing loss.

4. Widex Evoke 440 Passion

Wireless technology is becoming increasingly important to pensioners connected to the digital world. Widex aims to incorporate cutting-edge wireless technology with best-in-class sound quality to provide a full hearing experience.

Perhaps the most important feature of Evoke 440 Passion hearing aids is adaptation. These hearing aids can be fully customized according to the wearer’s needs. They learn as you wear them and automatically adjust themselves to take into account wind and ambient noises.

They do all this through 15 different sound processing channels. Whether you’re living an outdoorsy lifestyle or attending a dinner party, Widex ensures you’ll be ready for anything.

5. Phonak Marvel M90 2.0

Phonak is one of the biggest names in the hearing aid industry. For the latest in hearing aid technology, consider Phonak Marvel M90 2.0 hearing aids.

They are fully compatible with Bluetooth devices and can even connect to two separate devices simultaneously. Unlike other hearing aids, these are geared towards pensioners suffering from severe to profound hearing impairment.

Phonak Marvel M90 2.0 hearing aids are fully compatible with RogerMic accessories, which are universally viewed as the benchmark for hearing aid accessories.

These hearing aids are fully rechargeable and are the perfect special pensioners hearing aid for those who lack the dexterity to replace small batteries.

Whether taking hands-free calls or streaming media, these Phonak hearing aids can do it all.

How Much Do Hearing Aids Cost?

With hearing loss affecting three in four people over the age of 70, it’s clear that the nation is experiencing a hearing crisis.

Even though there’s a clear need for cheap pensioner hearing aids, the cost of new hearing aids is immense. The top models can cost as much as $12,000 per pair. While a pair of hearing aids should last anywhere from 3-5 years minimum, this is often still too much for most pensioners.

There’s a whole range of prices on hearing aids for seniors, so it’s possible to find older models costing only $4,000 per pair, but these won’t come with the cutting-edge features mentioned above.

Of course, not everyone needs the latest hearing aid models. It largely depends on your lifestyle, degree of hearing loss, and what you want to get out of your hearing aids.

How to Get Free Hearing Aids for Pensioners

Thankfully, not everyone has to bear the brunt of the full hearing aid cost for pensioners. There’s government assistance available for eligible Australians, which is handled through the Office of Hearing Services Voucher Scheme.

The first step is to check your eligibility.

How to Apply for Free Hearing Aids

If you qualify, you’ll be eligible for free or discounted hearing tests, hearing aids, hearing aid repair, and replacement fees.

The only way to apply is to check your eligibility with the Office of Hearing Services, which can be done through the website.

Alternatively, you can also get in touch with us at EarPros, and we’ll help you check your eligibility for free or discounted hearing aids.

How to Select the Right Hearing Aids

Wondering how to select the right hearing aids for you?

We always recommend speaking to a licensed hearing care specialist first. With so many makes and models on the market, it’s important to get a professional opinion to help narrow down your choices.

Here are our top tips for selecting the right hearing aids.

  • Budget – The first step is to figure out your budget. What can you afford, and how much government assistance do you expect to receive? It doesn’t make sense to look at hearing aids that will stretch your budget.
  • Features – Not everyone needs the same features. Why pay for hearing aids offering tinnitus sound therapy when you don’t have tinnitus? Similarly, why pay for Bluetooth streaming from your smartphone if you don’t own a smartphone?
  • Hearing Loss – Your degree of hearing loss will influence which hearing aids are right for you. Most pensioner hearing aids are aimed at differing degrees of hearing impairment.
  • Style – Everyone has different priorities when it comes to style. Some people prefer discretion, so In-the-Ear (ITE) models should take precedence.
  • Lifestyle – Think about your lifestyle and the areas where you have the most trouble hearing. Many pensioners spend a lot of time outdoors, so your hearing aids should take that into account.

Overall, the right hearing aid for you isn’t necessarily the right hearing aid for someone else. Take the time to think about your needs and speak to a licensed audiologist about what you want to get out of your new hearing aids.

Bottom Line

With hearing loss being such a pervasive problem, hearing aid cost for pensioners is a major concern. There is government assistance available, however. Don’t think that just because you can’t afford the latest hearing aid models that you have to suffer in silence.

Begin your journey to better hearing by getting in touch with EarPros for your appointment with a licensed audiologist.

We can help you find out your options for free or discounted hearing aids for seniors. To book a free hearing test and a talk with a consultant now, contact EarPros.

Schedule a free hearing aid consultation