Hearing aids are so costly, is there a cheaper way?

Exactly what do you hope to accomplish? Hearing is fairly easy, it is understanding speech that is the complicated part.

I don't have personal experience in this area but just read in the October AARP Bulletin about a new federal law that was recently passed allowing the FDA to set quality standards for hearing devices sold in pharmacies. Apparently, this is expected to help encourage a new market of kind of "middle of the road" hearing aids -- not the cheapie amplification devices you can get over the counter and not the super expensive hearing aids prescribed by a audiologist. The article doesn't mention any specific new products but they are expected to start coming down the pike. I would start looking around. Good luck!