Yes, high quality hearing aids are very expensive. However, there are places where you can purchase a good hearing aid at a more reasonable price. First though, you should have your hearing tested by a professional audiologist. Find out where your hearing falls on the spectrum. Get a copy of your audiogram from that tester so you don't have to get retested. It's OK to shop around for the best prices. Use that document. Ask questions.

Many people who have discussed hearing aids on MCC have purchased them at Costco. Those aids are good quality aids, and cost about 1/3 the price of those sold at other places. Those are not 'over the counter hearing aids that you fit yourself. That is an entire different category.

Do keep in mind that the skill of the person who is fitting your hearing aids is extremely important. Costco employes some audiologists, but most of their fitters are hearing instrument specialists that have apprenticeship training. Audiologists with AuD behind their name have doctorate level education.

One really important piece of the hearing aid journey rests in your ballpark. YOU must be the judge as to whether or not they are working well for you. With most providers you get 30 days to figure that out. With Costco you get 6 months. Regardless, it's up to you to test them in every possible situation where you want to be able to hear and understand conversation.

I have severe/profound hearing loss myself, and would likely never be able to purchase hearing aids from any one who is not a highly skilled fitter. Paying the high price for that is worth it to me. On the other hand, for some people it works well to try the less costly options, especially with the option to return them if they don't help you.

Are you willing to get tested? If so, are you willing to shop around and take the time to try those hearing aids in all possible ways within the trial period?