Before buying hearing aids, experts urge you to get an in-person hearing evaluation to rule out any medical contraindications (any signs that hearing aids may actually be harmful for you), as well as to determine the type, severity, and configuration of your hearing loss. Armed with this information, you’re ready to shop around.
At this stage, our reviews team recommends considering a few things: severity of hearing loss, budget, and features.
Severity of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss ranges from mild to profound, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and it refers to how loud sounds need to be for you to hear them.
Single-sided hearing loss or tinnitus are also common hearing loss challenges. If you have severe to profound loss, you might consider the Phonak Naída Paradise UP, which won “Best for Profound Hearing Loss” in our best hearing aids review. The Signia CROS was selected for “Best for Single-Sided Hearing Loss,” and Widex Moment for “Best for Tinnitus.” If you have single-sided or profound hearing loss, or tinnitus, be sure to speak with a healthcare provider to ensure that these hearing aids will meet your needs.
Budget
Cost is an important factor for many when choosing a hearing aid, and the range of prices varies from $100 to $6,000. If budget is a top consideration, consider that we chose Audien as “Most Affordable” and MDHearing for “Most Versatile.” (Read more about that company in our MDHearing review.)
According to Brian Murray, a hearing instrument specialist in Raleigh, North Carolina, the more expensive a hearing aid, the better it performs (in general). “Sound quality, clarity, and performance” will generally improve “as you move up in cost.” So, if you’re opting for a budget-friendly hearing aid, first ensure that it has the necessary level of sound quality you need according to your hearing test.
Features
Advanced technology such as directional microphones, feedback cancellation, and Bluetooth streaming can be important features for some hearing aid users. We chose the Oticon Own as “Best Sound Technology,” the Starkey Evolv AI for “Best with Fall Detection,” and the Audicus Wave for “Best Budget-Friendly Bluetooth.”
