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Q. Are discount hearing aids bought online as good as the pricier models sold by audiologists?
A. It's natural to want to avoid the markup on hearing aids—117 percent on average, according to Consumer Reports' last investigation. But the savings from going online to buy discount hearing aids could be offset by what you lose in service.
You need a hearing test and help in choosing the right device, and such expertise isn't always available if you aren't working with an audiologist or a specialized hearing-aid shop. (Some discounters, such as Costco, provide assistance.)
Alternatively, find an audiologist who "unbundles" services, offering testing, advice, and fittings without insisting that you purchase the hearing aid from him or her.
Learn what causes hearing loss and find out about the new hearing helpers in our hearing aid buying guide.
This article also appeared in the October 2014 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.
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