As mentioned above, the cost of hearing aids in Canada range between $1,900 and $4,200. The amount you can expect to pay for your hearing aid(s) can vary depending on the funding options available (both government subsidy and health insurance options).  Additionally, the right price range for you depends on your level of social engagement and technological level desired. Read more about how to make hearing aids affordable: Hearing aids financing

The two main reasons for the costs of hearing aids being so high are: continuous monetary investment by hearing aid industries in improving hearing aid technology and the bundled pricing model – it includes both the services of a highly trained hearing care professional and the price of the hearing aid.

In the same way that we pay a higher price for the technology provided in computers, tablets, and cellphones, we can expect to pay for the advanced technology in hearing aids.

The advanced technology used in hearing aids is developed through continuous research. The hearing aid industry spends hundreds of millions of dollars every year to develop the technology for these devices.

Such investments mean that the technology provided today is more advanced than ever. The costs of these advancements must also be balanced by the price they are sold for.

Additionally, hearing aids are part of a bundled price. As mentioned above, the cost of hearing aids includes not only the cost of the hearing aids themselves, but it also includes the services provided by your hearing care professional

1. Your level of social engagement: If you are highly socially engaged and often attend social events such as family gatherings and other social events, you will want to consider a premium or mid-level hearing aid. Those hearing aids can provide a sound experience that caters to your active lifestyle. This is due to the fact that premium hearing aids typically offer higher levels of noise reduction and improved speech understanding.

If your lifestyle involves a lower level of social engagement, and you engage in much quieter activities such as one-on-one conversations or walks in the park, then a basic, lower price range hearing aid might be enough to suit your specific hearing needs.  

2. Technology level desired: If you want to be able to access advanced technology features such as Bluetooth® connectivity, automatic sound adjustment, and rechargeability, you will want to consider investing in a premium or mid-level hearing aid. If such features are not a priority for you, basic, lower-priced hearing aids may be enough to suit your needs.

Guide to finding the best hearing aid for you

7 out of 10 people with hearing loss have hearing loss in both ears, resulting in them needing to have a hearing aid for each ear. Depending on your hearing loss, a hearing care professional may recommend getting a hearing aid for both ears even if the hearing loss is severe in only one ear and mild in the other. The reason for this is that it helps your brain interpret and locate sound in a balanced fashion when both ears are aided.

Other benefits of wearing two hearing aids are that they:

• Provide equal levels of auditory stimulation in both ears (keeping your brain’s listening power in shape)
• Can transfer information back and forth from one another– rather than having one hearing aid working independently to interpret sound.
• Can be set at a lower volume since when the brain is receiving signals from two hearing aids, soft tones will automatically sound louder.