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Consumer
Publications List
Listen
Up! Shopping Wisely for Hearing Aids
Evelyn
spent $2300 for hearing aids, but found them to be useless. Although
she informed the seller, he repeatedly
insisted
she simply needed more time to get used to them. The sales contract didn't
include the 30-day notice of cancellation as required by law. After contacting
the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, she was able
to get a refund.
Hearing aids can be expensive. It’s important to know your rights
in a hearing aid purchase and how to choose a reputable seller. Otherwise,
you could end up with a costly device that doesn’t work properly
for you, or that you might not even need. Some Maryland seniors have
been cheated out of thousands of dollars by dishonest hearing aid sellers.
The first step in buying a hearing aid is making sure your problem
is diagnosed properly, since a hearing loss may be a symptom of a
more serious
medical condition.
A hearing aid seller is required by federal law to inform you that
it is in your best interest to have a medical exam by a licensed physician.
In fact, your hearing must be evaluated by a doctor before you buy
a
hearing aid, unless you sign a statement saying you've waived that
protection. Don't sign it. It's always wise to have a doctor test your
hearing so
you can find out what's causing your hearing loss and exactly what
your hearing needs are.
What kind of doctor should you see to have your hearing evaluated?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends an ear, nose and throat
specialist (otolaryngologist), an ear specialist (otologist) or any
licensed
physician.
Look for the right seller. Once your doctor confirms
you need a hearing aid, you'll need a fitting. Hearing aids can be
difficult to fit, often
requiring several adjustments. Fitting involves careful testing of
hearing loss and selecting the right aid.
That's why it's important to find a seller who will promptly respond
to your concerns and work with you to resolve fitting and volume adjustment
problems. Also look for a seller who will teach you how to use the
device, and will be available to service it. Get a referral from your
doctor
- or friends who were happy with the services they received.
Who's qualified to fit hearing aids? Under Maryland law, audiologists,
hearing aid dispensers and physicians may fit hearing aids.
- Audiologists hold
a master's degree in audiology from an accredited university. They
must complete a period of supervised professional
practice according
to state requirements and pass a national examination.
- Hearing
aid dispensers must be high school graduates who have completed
at least six months of training under a licensed hearing aid dispenser.
They must pass both written and practical state examinations.
- Medical
doctors, especially otologists and otolaryngologists, may fit hearing
aids. These professionals are licensed by the
state.
Contact
the Board of Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers and Speech-Language
Pathologists (410-764-4725) to verify a seller's license.
You may contact the Maryland Board of Physicians (410-764- 4777
or 1-800-492-6836
toll-free)
to confirm that a doctor is licensed to practice medicine
in Maryland.
Get it in writing. Find out exactly what's included in the
price of the hearing aid, and get it in writing. Are there
extra charges
for
molds,
accessories or adjustments? Does the purchase price include
maintenance service, follow-up checks and free hearing
aid inspections?
As with any consumer purchase, beware of extraordinary
claims. The FDA has warned several hearing aid manufacturers
to discontinue
claims
that
their hearing aids reduce background noise and improve
speech recognition in noisy environments.
Know your cancellation and refund rights. Under Maryland
law, consumers who purchase hearing aids may cancel their
purchase
for any reason
within 30 days of delivery and receive a full refund, less
10% for services.
In situations where sellers document expenses greater than
10%, they may withhold their actual expenses up to 20%
of the sales price.
Sellers may, however, retain fees for diagnostic tests
that are billed separately
from the hearing aid.
If the seller is unable to resolve problems in the first
30 days, it's best to cancel the sale. If the seller agrees
to
extend your
return
privilege to continue adjustments beyond the 30 days, get
the extension in writing.
If the sale was in your home, the seller is responsible
for picking up the aid and providing the refund. However,
if
the sale took place
at
the business, you are responsible for the return.
It is illegal in Maryland for a seller to come to your
home to sell hearing aids without an appointment. However,
if
you or a relative
do purchase
a hearing aid from a seller who comes to your home with
an appointment, you have three days from the date of the
sale
to cancel the purchase
and get a 100% refund.
Don't be fooled. Some Marylanders have
been cheated out of thousands of dollars by dishonest
hearing aid sellers.
One
seller, using phony
free hearing tests, persuaded low-income, elderly consumers
to buy hearing aids they didn't need, at an average cost
of $2,000 a pair.
Protect yourself:
- Call
the Board of Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers and Speech-Language
Pathologists (410-764-4725)
to verify
that
the seller is licensed.
You may also file a complaint with the Board against
an audiologist or hearing
aid dispenser.
- Contact
the Health Education and Advocacy Unit (see box) to see if any complaints
have been filed
against
the hearing
aid
seller.
- Never
pay cash. Use a check (payable to the company, not a salesperson)
or credit card so you can
stop payment if
necessary.
- Pay
as small a deposit as possible, and get a receipt.
- Get
a second opinion on any recommended repair not covered by your warranty.
Updated
Nov. 2007
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