[ad_1]
If you’re thinking about getting hearing aids or looking for new ones, you’re not alone. About 37.5 million American adults have some degree of hearing loss. Many people with hearing loss can benefit from assistive technologies, such as hearing aids.
Buying hearing aids can be difficult, especially if you haven’t purchased them before. Some come with a lot of options and settings, while others are easier to use. We have put together a range of options based on common concerns.
Note that before choosing the right hearing aids for you, it is best to speak to your doctor or healthcare professional and request a hearing assessment. They can refer you to a specialist and help you decide if and what kind of hearing aids you might need.
We only chose hearing aids from manufacturers with a solid reputation. Hearing aids are medical devices and must meet the criteria approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
We have read a lot of consumer reviews online and talked to people who use some of them. We only chose hearing aids that consistently get more positive than negative feedback.
Most of the hearing aids on this list come with financing options, a manufacturer’s warranty, and a risk-free trial of 30 days or more.
We’ve looked at a wide range of features that are important to consumers, including:
- invisibility, or being discreet to wear
- Bluetooth connectivity
- ease of use
- adaptive noise reduction
- tinnitus relief
- custom fit options
- the price
- Charging possibilities
Prices for hearing aids can vary widely from retailer to retailer. We have quoted the price of individual hearing aids. In some cases, these prices are bundled and reflect additional services such as follow-up visits and hearing aid maintenance.
The prices are estimated as follows:
- $ = less than $ 1000
- $$ = $ 1,000 to $ 2,000
- $$$ = more than $ 2000
Most cutting edge hearing aids
Starkey Livio Edge AI
Price: $$$
These state-of-the-art hearing aids have Bluetooth connectivity, as well as many other special features. They are available in several styles, including behind-the-ear, in-ear, in-channel, and in-channel receiver.
According to Starkey, they use artificial intelligence to adapt to your surroundings and hearing needs through automatic adjustments that don’t require manual input.
They remove background noise and amplify speech sounds, making it easy for you to follow conversations. You can program them to listen and transcribe your words or translate foreign languages.
They can also detect falls and can be programmed to notify an emergency contact.
Best invisible hearing aids
Eargo Neo HiFi
Price: $$$
Eargo hearing aids are only sold in pairs, so they cost two hearing aids plus a charger and other accessories.
The company does not need a prescription from an audiologist.
The Neo HiFi is the newest hearing aid from Eargo. They are designed for people with mild to moderate high frequency hearing loss. They are meant to help you with high frequency sounds, so that you can easily hear sounds like human speech.
Eargo hearing aids use a design they call Flexi Tetrapalms which allows them to float in the ear canal and is part of what makes these hearing aids discreet.
They come with four settings that you can manually adjust with just two taps of the ear.
Phonak Lyric
Price: $$$
The Phonak Lyric is placed directly in your ear canal near your eardrum by a professional, making the aids invisible. They use the natural shape and anatomy of your ear to locate sound.
You can leave these hearing aids in your ears for months without removing them.
They also provide relief from tinnitus. Their price is based on an annual subscription.
Best low-cost hearing aids
Audicus Aura
Price: $
These affordable hearing aids have an ergonomic design for a comfortable fit. They are small and almost invisible. Their small size means they can reduce earwax buildup around the device.
You can change settings with just the tap of your ear.
They are intended for mild to moderately severe hearing loss.
MDHearingAid Pro
Price: $
This affordable analog hearing aid is sold through a direct-to-consumer retailer. They’re not customizable, but the manufacturer claims they can help 80% of people with hearing loss hear better.
They don’t have bells or whistles but are easy to use. They come with two audio settings: one for people with hearing loss on all frequencies (flat loss) and one for people with high frequency hearing loss (progressive loss).
They block out a certain degree of surrounding noise and provide crisp, clear sound that makes human speech easily heard.
Best hearing aids for streaming
Signia Styletto Connect
Price: $$
These hearing aids also function as high-tech headphones that allow you to stream TV, music and phone calls.
They are intended for people with mild to moderate hearing loss and provide a natural hearing experience with crisp, clear sound.
They come with a lithium-ion charging case that offers 4 days of streaming without the need to recharge.
They pick up and process the sound of your own voice separately, making it as natural to you as it is to others.
The MyControl app for iOS or Android allows you to change and customize your settings.
Best hearing aids for unilateral hearing loss
Signia Cros Pure Charge & Go X
Price: $$
This tiny behind-the-ear hearing aid has Bluetooth connectivity, so you can stream phone calls, music and TV directly to your ear from other devices. They are designed to improve hearing in noisy environments.
They’re also designed to charge overnight for a full day of reliable hearing performance, plus a fast charge option.
Plus, they detect your voice and process it to generate natural sound.
Best hearing aids for natural sound
ReSound One
Price: $$$
These behind-the-ear hearing aids have three microphones:
two on the hearing aid itself and one at the opening of the ear canal.
This technology supports your ability to identify and locate sound.
The ReSound One is designed to mimic the ear’s natural ability to channel sound through the ear canal.
You can buy this hearing aid as a rechargeable device or with disposable batteries.
Widex Moment
Price: $$
These hearing aids are designed to process sound quickly so that what you hear in your surroundings reaches your eardrums in real time. This eliminates out of sync distortion and metallic sound. They do not amplify low level noise.
These hearing aids have a water resistant coating that reduces damage from moisture.
You can choose from intra-canal and intra-ear models.
Best rechargeable hearing aids
Miracle-EarEnergy
Price: $$
These hearing aids are available in behind-the-ear and in-channel receiver models. They have bluetooth connectivity so you can pair them with devices.
They use a lithium-ion charger, so you don’t need to replace the batteries in the hearing aids. Charge them overnight and they last about 24 hours.
Miracle-Ear assesses both types appropriately for all levels of hearing loss, including deep and high frequency hearing loss.
Best hearing aids for severe hearing loss
Oticon Xceed
Price: $$$
These hearing aids are designed to isolate sound and focus on the person in front of you, to differentiate between speech and background noise.
They use technology the manufacturer calls BrainHearing to scan your surroundings repeatedly, providing clarity of speech and reduced listening effort. They can eliminate feedback noise caused by proximity to the speaker, such as hissing and static electricity.
They also feature Bluetooth technology and direct streaming capability.
Feedback from audiologists
If you work with a healthcare professional such as an audiologist, they will give you a comprehensive hearing test (audiogram), which will provide you with concrete information about your level of hearing loss.
They can also explain the differences between styles of hearing aids and make a recommendation on which style is best for you.
Audiologists may not offer the same variety of brands and styles that you might get from an online retailer.
Hearing tests
If you buy hearing aids from an online retailer, you may have the option of taking a hearing test online. These tests can be precise, but may not be as comprehensive or personalized as some people would like.
Trial period
Hearing aids are an investment, so be sure to buy only those that come with a risk-free trial of at least 30 days, as well as a manufacturer’s warranty.
Correct and comfortable fit
To avoid this, make sure the ones you choose fit properly and feel comfortable in your ears, even after all day use.
Technology preferences
Some people like bells and whistles. Others just want to put on their hearing aids and forget about them. Choose hearing aids that suit your technical skills.
Features for tinnitus
If you have tinnitus, look for a hearing aid that specifically addresses this condition. Many hearing aids come with apps that provide built-in tinnitus therapy sounds or reduce overstimulation.
Compare prices and cost breakdowns
Shop for the best price. Many online retailers and big box stores sell hearing aids at significant discounts.
Ask if the price you are paying is bundled or unbundled. Unbundling the costs of your hearing aids can eliminate the items you don’t need.
Filter PSAPs
Make sure you buy an FDA regulated medical device instead of a personal sound amplification product (PSAP). PSAPs are sold over the counter and do not require an audiogram or prescription. They are not intended for use by the hearing impaired.
About 37.5 million adults in the United States have hearing loss and would benefit from wearing hearing aids.
Put on hearing aids and make sure the ones you buy are snug, comfortable, and suited to your tech style.
Hearing aids can be expensive, and while they are usually not covered by insurance or Medicare, it is possible to find the ones that work for you and ways to cover the costs.
Source link
