Since you are an audiologist perhaps you can help me a bit. I have always worn aides dispensed by an audiologist as I have been hearing impaired since I was a child. My father developed hearing loss in his late 60's and has always worn beltone in the ear hearing aides. I don't feel they help him as much as they should and do to his other health problems buying better aides is out of the question so I have never suggested it. My question is are beltone dealers pretty decent for dispensing hearing aides or is this someone my dad should have really stayed away from. Personally from what I have seen I would never recommend someone using them but I would like a professional opinion on this.

Well, since you asked for my opinion, here it is.

When faced with buying a hearing aid you have two choices:

1. Buy from a salesman with little educational background.

2. Buy from a healthcare provider with, at least, a Master's Degree in the field of hearing healthcare.

There are two things to consider as well, the quality of the dispenser and the quality of the hearing aid. In my opinion, going the franchise route (Beltone, Miracle Ear), will result in inferior quality in both areas.

Beltone and Miracle Ear hearing aids are both far from being considered top of the line hearing aids. Unfortunately, they are usually priced higher than truly top of the line hearing aids. So, you have an inferior product, sold by an inferior dispenser, priced higher than the superior hearing aid fit by the superior dispenser. Hmmm, doesn’t' seem right, does it?

If you want quality, stick with the leaders in the hearing aid world; Resound, Oticon, Phonak, Widex, Siemens. These are companies that lead the field in research and development and are driven to provide the best hearing possible. The Beltone's and the Miracle Ear's lead the field only in marketing.

Thanks for your reply. You basically reaffirmed what I knew all along. Now my big thing is to figure out how to get my dad to see a reputable audiologist and get new aides. But since he has so many other health problems that is the least of my worries at this time.