You can find some pretty inexpensive “hearing aids” online. They come in different form factors, behind the ear or in the ear, like the one pictured below.
This one is the AXON K-88 In-Ear Hearing Aid Enhancer which sells for $22.79 on line.
What accounts for the big difference between this low price and the thousands that some hearing aids cost? This is a common and legitimate question, so I hope to explain it to the best of my understanding. Hearing aids that cost between $10-$200 are junk. They do make things louder but only in a narrow frequency range that is centered in the low frequencies which is also where noise is centered. So, they make noise louder. They give the sense of volume because you get an enhancement in the low frequencies, but it does not do a good job at amplifying high frequency sound, which is where speech clarity is found and also where the majority of people have hearing loss.
Hearing aids that cost $200-$1000 are better (although almost anything would be better) and often have good components inside of them, but they have limited adjustment abilities and are often approximating the volume needs at each frequency. They are not generally programmed to the specific needs of your unique hearing loss, nor can the adjustments be as precise. The frequency range for amplification is smaller as well, and the sound quality less natural. As well, the warranty would be short and there would be no ongoing follow up with an Audiologist.
Hearing aids ranging from $1000-$3000 would be those that would be found in most hearing clinics. The price on hearing aids also includes follow up services for the lifetime of the aid. This often means several appointments to have hearing retested and have the hearing aids reprogrammed over a 5-8 year period. The warranties are three years and include loss warranties as well. The biggest difference though, is that these are the aids that are made by major hearing aid manufacturers world-wide who spend millions on research and development each year. They will have the backing of these manufacturers as well as the Audiologist who will spend lots of time in programming and adjusting the aids as people’s needs and lifestyles change over time. They will include the latest in processing chips to enhance sound quality and improve speech in background noise environments.
As you can see, not all hearing aids are created the same, which is perfect because not all people are the same either.
You have the freedom to choose.