AS
Amy Slosser
May 12, 2026
Beware of Miracle-Ear — and not just this location, but the company model in general.
The Hearing Instrument Specialists (HIS) are sales-based employees who work on commission. The more expensive the hearing aids they sell, the more money they make. Consumers should understand that an HIS is not a medical doctor or physician, despite the language sometimes used in these offices.
At this location specifically, the receptionist repeatedly referred to the HIS as “the doctor” or “physician,” which felt intentionally misleading and designed to build false medical authority around a sales process.
When we decided to return my father-in-law’s hearing aids, we explained that instead of paying nearly $8,700 through Miracle-Ear, we would be purchasing comparable medical-grade hearing aids through Costco for around $1,600. Those hearing aids also include warranties, cleanings, repairs, follow-up adjustments, and ongoing support.
What was especially surprising was that the HIS actually called another employee at the Lakewood location to question whether Costco truly offered medical-grade hearing aids at that price. Ironically, the employee he called previously worked for Costco and confirmed that yes — Costco absolutely provides legitimate medical-grade hearing aids at a fraction of the cost.
Consumers deserve transparency, not pressure tactics or misleading terminology. Before spending thousands of dollars, do your research, compare options, and get pricing from places like Costco first. It could save you thousands.