Hearing Aids

What manufacturers do we work with?

At UR Medicine Audiology we work with four major hearing aid manufacturers:

• Phonak
• Oticon
• Resound
• Widex

What is the process of getting a hearing aid like?

Our audiology team members are able to walk with you through every step of the hearing aid process; from the initial audiologic evaluation to determine hearing aid candidacy, the initial hearing aid consultation where we pick out the right devices for you, and the fitting and fine tuning of the devices to your personal needs. 

Hearing aids are an adaptive and adjustable management option for hearing loss; the average hearing aid lasts between 5-7 years and within that time it will be adjusted, fine-tuned, and repaired as needed by our dedicated team to ensure you get the most out of your devices for years to come.

What styles of hearing aids are available?

Hearing aids come in two main styles of hearing aid, in-the-ear (ITE) or behind-the-ear (BTE), although there are variations within those two groups, such as the receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) style that is a variation on a traditional BTE hearing aid.  We work with all of the different styles of hearing aids at UR Medicine Audiology, and our audiologists work with you to determine which style of hearing aid is most appropriate for your listening needs.

[A: completely-in-canal style ITE, B: half-shell/canal ITE, C: full-shell ITE, D: BTE, E: RITE]

What do hearing aids cost?

There is a wide range of variability in hearing aid cost, depending largely on the level of technology of the devices in question.  In general, when purchasing hearing aids out of pocket a single device can cost anywhere from about $1600-$3000, and a set of two devices can cost anywhere from $3000-$6000 dollars.  There are factors that can influence the cost however, including insurance coverage, coverage through the University of Rochester’s Financial Assistance Program, or coverage through other community agencies like ACCES-VR.

Does my insurance cover hearing aids?

It depends! Every provider is different and there is a wide range of coverage for devices, from none at all in some cases to partial or full coverage in others.  Furthermore, some insurance coverage is very flexible with their benefits and allow their consumers to use benefits at any in-network provider, while others are discount programs only that must be used at specific participating providers.  The best way to determine if you’ve got hearing aid coverage is to contact your insurance directly for those details.

Is there a funding or payment plan available for hearing aids?

Yes, as mentioned above if you do not have insurance coverage (or if the coverage is insufficient for your needs) there are outside payment plan options available with resources like Care Credit or funding through the University of Rochester Financial Assistance Program or from community agencies like ACCES-VR for qualified individuals.

What if I have hearing aids that were dispensed elsewhere or gifted to me?

We are happy to have individuals with hearing aids dispensed elsewhere come and establish hearing aid services at our clinic.  In order to establish services through this clinic we must first determine if your hearing aids from one of the above listed manufacturers, if not we are unable to adjust or repair them unfortunately.  With any gifted aids part of the process of establishing services at this clinic would include determining if the gifted hearing aids are functional and appropriate for your type and degree of hearing loss.  There is also a fee to establish services, and all policies and procedures related to these services are laid out in our Policy Form.