The majority of this company is owned by Sonova Holdings who also own the hearing aid manufacturers Phonak and Unitron. Here is a list of the various national companies together with some background information:īoots Hearing Care. This entitles the company to state that they are the only ones that can provide that particular model and stops people comparing prices online. This means that the hearing aid name is changed and the true identity of the hearing aid is therefore obscured. Some national companies get certain hearing aids “rebranded”. It is unlikely that they will volunteer this information so a little research can be useful. This means that the national company that you may be dealing with may be biased towards one particular manufacturer. In order for the hearing aid manufacturers to secure their share of the market, many have bought into national hearing aid retailers. Perhaps the most disconcerting development associated with national companies is their ownership by or “agreements” with the hearing aid manufacturers. As a result, you can expect to pay anything up to double the price that would be charged by an independent company. All of these people and departments require financing and it is the consumer (you) who must foot the bill. National companies have company infrastructures, area managers, marketing departments, head offices etc. Generally, they charge less than the national retailers but not always (see our tips later on how to find the right hearing aid dispenser). As the name suggests, they are not tied to any particular hearing aid manufacturer and offer a wide choice of hearing aids without prejudice. They are frequently family businesses and sometimes operate by home visit only but not always. Independent companies are local, small businesses employing between 1 and perhaps 10 dispensers. There are important differences between national companies and independents which you should be aware of. National companies, as the name suggests, operate on a national basis and usually employ between about 15 and 300 hearing aid dispensers. Hearing aid retailers can be broken down into 2 groups, national companies and independents. Likewise, if you need your hearing aid repairing or servicing then you would need to go to a retailer as most manufacturers do not deal direct with the general public. Generally speaking, you cannot buy hearing aids from a manufacturer, it has to be from a retailer. Hearing aid retailers are the ones who actually prescribe and sell the hearing aids to the general public. Their customers are the hearing aid retailers so their information is usually of a technical nature, aimed at presenting unique selling points to persons or companies knowledgeable about audiology. This guide is written impartially so we have no vested interest in any particular brand, make or retailer.Ī manufacturer is the company who designed and developed the hearing aid. The vast majority of information however is provided by hearing aid retailers and it is important to understand the difference between a retailer and a manufacturer. If you subsequently read a BMW advert your thoughts and opinions may change. If you were to believe the marketing hype then you would conclude that the only option would be to purchase one of their cars. This is a little like reading an advert for Mercedes cars. Firstly, if the information is provided by a hearing aid manufacturer then they are understandably compelled to sing the virtues and praises of just their make and models of hearing aids. There are several reasons why unbiased information is difficult to come by. By the fact that you’re reading this guide suggests that you may have already embarked on your quest to find the right hearing solution for you or someone you know. Finding the right information and guidance about hearing aids can be very confusing. Thankfully things have changed and this is largely due to the internet. Prices would never be disclosed until the end of your consultation with the hearing aid dispenser. If you were to clip the coupon or call these companies then you would probably receive a deluge of junk mail or be called to arrange an appointment (again and again). You would regularly see adverts in newspapers with headings like “invisible hearing aids from £99”. Consumer Guide - A Comprehensive Guide about Hearing Aidsįor many years information about hearing aids has been scant.
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