Why Are Hearing Aids So Expensive?

One answer is that they really are not expensive, especially when compared to other types of medical and health-related devices. The price of a hearing aid - adjusted to current dollars - is lower than it was 20 years ago, and the quality and performance levels are much higher.

Hearing aids may seem costly because, generally, you have to pay for the device up front, but the per-hour cost of wearing hearing aids, including the cost of the battery, is about the same as the cost of having cable television, and much less than talking on the telephone.

Unlike computers, the worldwide market for hearing aids is very small, yet the amount of money that manufacturers spend on research and development is substantial. The investment they make is reflected in the purchase price.