Cost
How much do hearing aids cost in Ontario?
At Hear & Co, hearing aids range from about $4,200 per ear at entry level to $5,900 per ear for premium technology. The price includes the professional fitting, three years of follow-up adjustments and a three-year manufacturer warranty. Ontario's Assistive Devices Program contributes toward the cost for eligible residents. Premium is the level we recommend, and this page explains why.
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By technology level
Hearing aid price ranges by technology level
All prices below are per ear, for a single hearing aid. Most people with hearing loss in both ears do better with two, and manufacturers price pairs accordingly.
Entry level: about $4,200 per ear
Suited to quiet, one-on-one situations only. Entry-level aids have no noise management and process sound through fewer channels, so sound is less natural. Rechargeable batteries and Bluetooth features are available on some models. Something is better than nothing, but they are limited in performance.
Mid range: about $5,500 per ear
Moderate noise management and some automatic adjustment as you move between environments. Rechargeable batteries and Bluetooth are standard on most models. These hearing aids are noticeably better in restaurants and group settings than entry-level hearing aids.
Premium: about $5,900 per ear
The manufacturer's top level of processing. Premium hearing aids have the best handling of speech in noise, wind and echo. They offer the widest range of automatic programs and the newest connectivity and app features, and they are equipped with artificial intelligence that focuses on optimizing speech over any noise, with the most sophisticated music processing. This is the level we recommend.
What you are paying for
What drives the cost of a hearing aid
Two hearing aids that look identical can differ significantly in price. The difference is inside.
- Technology level. The processing chip and the software it runs. This is the main driver. Style (behind the ear, in the canal) has little effect on price within a brand.
- Research and development. The major manufacturers spend heavily on the sound processing that makes speech clear in noise, and the price of every aid carries a share of it.
- Custom manufacturing. In-the-ear styles are made individually from an impression of your ear.
- Professional care. Testing, selection, fitting, programming, and the follow-up visits over the life of the aids are usually bundled into the price rather than billed separately.
- Warranty and loss coverage. Most aids include a three-year repair warranty and three years of loss and damage coverage.
Included
What is included in the price at Hear & Co
Everything you need is included, with no surprises afterward. We provide written quotes on request. Here’s what you get:
- The hearing aids and charger or a starting supply of batteries
- Custom earmoulds or tips where needed
- The fitting appointment and initial programming
- Follow-up adjustments and reprogramming for three years, with no limit on visits
- Cleaning and checks for as long as you have the aids
- A three-year manufacturer warranty, and three years of loss and damage coverage
- Help with funding applications and insurance paperwork
If something is not on the list, ask us about it, and we will tell you before you sign anything.
Why are hearing aids so expensive in Canada?
It is a fair question, and the honest answer has three parts. First, the devices are sophisticated: a modern hearing aid is a pair of tiny computers doing real-time sound analysis for sixteen hours a day, built to survive sweat, wax and being dropped.
Second, the price includes professional services that in other countries are billed separately, so while the sticker looks higher than the device alone, having those services built in means a more positive experience and a focus on your hearing health.
Third, and most important, public coverage in Canada is limited. OHIP does not pay for hearing aids, and Ontario's Assistive Devices Program contributes a fixed amount that has not kept pace with prices. That leaves most of the cost with the individual, which is why we put so much effort into funding and financing.
Bringing the cost down: funding and financing
Depending on your situation, the price you actually pay may be reduced by:
- Ontario's Assistive Devices Program (ADP), which contributes a set amount per hearing aid for eligible Ontario residents
- Private and workplace extended health plans, many of which cover a few hundred to a few thousand dollars every few years
- WSIB, for hearing loss caused by workplace noise
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Non-Insured Health Benefits for eligible First Nations and Inuit clients
- The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
- The federal medical expense tax credit, since hearing aids are an eligible medical expense
We have also partnered with Medicard to offer monthly financing, so a pair of hearing aids can be paid over time. The application is quick and simple, and you complete it yourself. We check what you qualify for before you decide, and handle the paperwork. We are a registered ADP vendor and authorizer, so ADP is part of every hearing aid conversation.
Good to know
Common questions about hearing aid costs
How much do hearing aids cost in Ontario?
At Hear & Co, from about $4,200 to $5,900 per ear depending on technology level, with fitting and three years of follow-up care included. ADP and insurance can reduce what you pay.
How much should I expect to pay for a good pair?
Hearing care is an investment. The premium level, about $5,900 per ear before funding, is what we recommend: it offers the most flexibility and the best performance in quiet and in noise, and it gets the most out of the fitting.
Why is there such a big difference between entry level and premium hearing aids?
Processing power and software. Entry-level aids amplify in quiet only, with no noise management, while premium aids also manage noise, wind and multiple speakers automatically. Our fit and follow-up care is the same at every level at Hear & Co.
Do I really need two hearing aids?
If you have hearing loss in both ears, almost always yes. Two aids let your brain locate sound and separate speech from noise, which one aid cannot do alone in these circumstances. Two aids at any level serve you better than one premium aid.
Are hearing aids covered by OHIP?
No. OHIP does not cover hearing aids. Ontario's Assistive Devices Program contributes toward the cost for eligible residents, and other funding may apply.
Can I pay monthly?
Yes. We offer monthly financing through Medicard, and your clinician will explain the terms clearly before you commit.
Book
Know the full cost before you decide
Start with a complimentary hearing test if you are 55 or over, or a complimentary demo if you already have a recent audiogram. You leave knowing the full cost and the funding you may qualify for, and a written quote is available on request.