The 10 Best Hearing Aid Brands Of 2022
Horizon: Best Rechargeable Digital Hearing Aid
Hear.com Safety Score:
Hearing Test & Consultation: Hear.com was rated highly for the accuracy of its hearing tests but received a low rating for the accessibility of its test.
Fitting & Follow-Up Care: Hear.com offers remote programming but the follow-up care may be costly.
Device Safety: Meets industry standards for device safety, including safe decibel limiting.
*Safety Scores were conducted by a panel of independent audiologists. Read our methodology for more information.
Founded in 2012, Hear.com was one of the first companies to take a digital approach to hearing care. Today, Hear.com offers one of the most comprehensive online hearing aid services. It works with a network of over 3,000 partner audiologists and hearing instrument specialists located throughout the United States to provide resources about hearing loss and hear care, and to conduct consultations and hearing tests. Hear.com helps its customers along every step of the way in the hearing aid purchase process, providing educational information and connecting them with local providers for hearing tests and to find the right hearing aids.
Hear.com carries devices from the top hearing aid manufacturers on its online marketplace. It focuses on hearing aids with the latest technology, including a wide selection of rechargeable hearing aids.
Hear.com Hearing Aid Device Features
The Horizon
Pros and Cons of the Hear.com Hearing Aid Brand
Pros:
Eargo Safety Score:
The Cost Of Hearing Aids
Hearing aid costs can vary dramatically depending on the type of device, its basic and premium features, and the manufacturer. As demonstrated in our list of the Ten Best Hearing Aids, some hearing aids can be purchased for just a few hundred dollars, while other, more advanced models may cost upwards of $2,000. Below, we cover three key things you should consider before purchasing a hearing aid to ensure you choose a suitable device for your needs and budget.
Access to Professional Care and Assistance
While in the past you would have to work with an audiologist to obtain a hearing aid, modern companies offer a direct-to-consumer model. Today, you can easily buy hearing aids online without any input from an audiologist. However, that doesnt mean you should.
Though most DTC hearing aids offer online hearing tests and some form of customized programming, be aware that its not the same level of personalization and care you would experience working with a hearing care professional. For those with mild-moderate hearing loss, these DTC devices are often sufficient and in general, theyre much less expensive. But for those with more advanced hearing loss or other audiology-related concerns, it may make more sense to work with an audiologist to get your hearing aid .
Payment Structures
Long-Term Costs
Best Overall: Widex Moment
Widex is a widely loved brand, first launched in Denmark in 1956. It pairs high-value technology with quality sound and comfort. Widex Moment was specially designed with the iPhone in mind, allowing you to directly stream music and take phone calls without skipping a beat. This hearing aid is designed for those with mild to severe hearing loss and comes with a ZeroDelay accelerator that cuts delay to under 0.5 milliseconds. Over time, with its machine learning technology, it will be able to tell your preferences and adjust accordingly.
This hearing aid is barely visible in your ear, sitting right in your ear canal. While it may be small, its still extremely powerful and creates pure, natural sound. Widex Moment may be on the more expensive side at around $2000 or more, but its well worth the investment.
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How Do I Know If I Need A Hearing Aid
Unless a doctor or audiologist has recommended hearing aids, you may not know if you need a pair. But, if you’re noticing hearing loss in one or both ears, it might be time to consider hearing aids.
Some signs of hearing loss to be aware of include:
- shouting when talking
- requiring electronic devices to be turned up louder than normal
- asking people to repeat themselves because you can’t hear or understand what they are saying
- straining to hear
- ability to hear better out of one ear
- difficulty hearing people on the phone
- certain sounds and voices sound muffled
If you’re experiencing any signs or symptoms of hearing loss, consider seeing a doctor or hearing specialist. They can perform a hearing test to determine the degree of hearing loss and recommend different hearing styles and brands.
Phonak Hearing Aids From Costco
Phonak, a subsidiary of industry leader Sonova, manufactures Phonak Brio hearing aids for Costco to sell. The latest Brio model, Brio 4, has been compared to Phonak Marvel hearing aids in terms software capabilities.
The Brio 4 hearing aids start at $1,249.99 per hearing aid for a standard behind-the-ear model, and $1,349 per hearing aid for a custom in-the-ear model. Brio 4 BTE models have often been compared to Phonaks Bolero M models while the Brio 4 ITE models have been compared to the Virto M. The M indicates that the models are part of Phonaks recent Marvel product family.
The Brio 4 lineup at Costco includes BTE and ITE models, and a series of new Phonak accessories.
Brio 4 features Phonaks sophisticated sound processing system that analyzes your sound environment and automatically adjusts program settings. In Costco lingo Phonaks AutoSenseOS 3.0 is referred to as Automatic 3.0 Premium. Learn more about AutoSenseOS and see community feedback for the technology.
You can also download the myPhonak app for your smartphone as a remote controller for your hearing aids. The new app allows more granular control of the sound environment, with controls for volume, noise reduction, and speech focus. The app also allows you to select listening programs, and may in future facilitate remote hearing care services from Costco.
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Remember To Take Your Time
Take your time. Choosing the best hearing aids is going to take time and research.
Go through this checklist to make sure that you feel confident in your decision.
- Seek medical advice and talk to an audiologist for recommendations
- Think about your future needs and wants
- See if the hearing aid comes with a warranty
- Start planning financially for the hearing aid purchase
Beware of hearing aids that claim to “restore your normal hearing”. Some companies even say things like the hearing aids “eliminate all background noise”. While some hearing aids have the best technology, hearing aids simply can not restore normal hearing or eliminate all background noise.
Make sure that when you are planning for the cost of hearing aids, check with your insurance. Most insurance does not cover hearing aids, however, some private companies do. It is worth having all the information before you make your purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hearing Aids
How do I know if I need hearing aids?
Most run-of-the-mill hearing loss is about clarity, not volume. That means most people with hearing loss can hear the voices, they just arent sure what they are saying. If you think you are experiencing hearing loss, youll need to see an audiologist or an otolaryngologist for a full and proper diagnosis.
What are the best hearing aids for glasses wearers?
In-the-ear , in-the-canal and completely-in-canal hearing aids are typically for those with mild to moderate hearing loss and cause no problems for glasses wearers. If you suffer from severe hearing loss and require a behind-the-ear hearing aid, many newer models are smaller and made with an open fit design to accommodate glasses. It is best practice to put your BTE hearing aid on after you put your glasses on.
Why are hearing aids so expensive?
The research and development costs for manufacturing hearing aids can be high especially for companies committed to product innovation. There are also many consumer safety regulations and insurance challenges impacting healthcare product companies and healthcare service providers.
Whats the story with the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017?
Does Medicare cover hearing aids? What about Medicaid?
No to Medicare. However, Medicaid may be able to help. The government does not require Medicaid to cover hearing aids, so each state set its own coverage criteria. Currently, 28 states offer some type of coverage. Heres the breakdown:
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What You Must Consider Before Buying A Hearing Aid
Approximately 48 million Americans are living with significant hearing loss. While hearing loss can occur at any time in life, the problem becomes more common with age. The National Institute on Aging, a part of the National Institutes of Health, estimates that one in three adults between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss, and nearly half of people older than 75 experience hearing difficulties. Most of us, at some point in our lives, will either experience hearing loss or know someone who does.
It may surprise you to know, however, that only one in three adults who could benefit from hearing aids has ever used them. In fact, people with hearing loss tend to wait an average of seven years before seeking treatment. The American Academy of Audiology outlines some issues that may be preventing those with hearing loss from seeking help:
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Personal Sound Amplification Products
PSAPs do not require a doctors prescription and are available over the counter. They come in many of the same designs that the prescription-grade hearing aids mentioned above do. But keep in mind that in-the-ear and in-the-canal varieties won’t be custom-molded, and a behind-the-ear model may be more comfortable.
“Both hearing aids and PSAPs can take some getting used to. Your brain may need time to adapt to recognizing and separating the important sounds from the unimportant sounds.”
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Fsa Hsa And Payment Plans
Conversely, most Flexible Savings Accounts and Health Savings Accounts offer at least partial reimbursement for new hearing aids. As hearing aids can be very expensive, many local audiologist offices also offer payment plans, but these will be subject to their credit checks or requirements.
AARP and some unions also offer discounts on hearing aids for their members. Finally, past active service members and some federal employees can also qualify for special benefits for hearing loss. These can be accessed through Blue Cross Blue Shield or your local Veterans Affairs organization.
Best Hearing Aids Of 2020
iPhones and big-screen TVs arent the only things flying off the shelves in 2020. Believe it or not, hearing aids are the next big thing in wearable technology. The old stigma that hearing aids are for old people is fading quickly. With features like Bluetooth, rechargeability, and award-winning designs, todays hearing aids are attracting a younger, more tech-savvy audience. As a result, many brands are coming out with sleeker and more advanced hearing aids that will surely become hot sellers in 2020.
2019 saw a number of awesome innovations in the hearing aid industry. And as we enter 2020, it seems like hearing aids will continue to get smaller, smarter, and stronger than ever before. Heres a sneak peek of some of the latest and greatest devices in 2020.
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How Do Hearing Aids Work
Hearing aids are worn in or behind your ear. They are designed to make some sounds louder by magnifying sound vibrations entering the ear, which helps improve your hearing and speech comprehension. How a hearing aid works is fairly simple to understand. First, a microphone inside the hearing aid picks up nearby sounds. These sounds are analyzed and converted to electrical signals based on your hearing loss, which are then sent to the amplifier. The amplified sounds are sent to the speaker or receiver, which are transmitted to the inner ear by a tube or thin wire. Once in the inner ear, the sounds are transformed into electrical impulses that your brain processes into sound.
Which Is Better: In
Hearing aids come in several styles including behind-the-ear and in-the-ear. Finding the best device for you depends on several factors.
A behind-the-ear hearing aid sits behind your ear with a plastic earmold that fits inside the outer ear. The case that sits behind your ear holds all the electronic parts necessary to make it work. BTE devices are bigger, so they are typically easier to use and handle, making them a good choice for kids and seniors. They’re also able to house a larger battery, which provides a longer battery life. Plus, the bigger size makes them more durable and able to provide more features. BTE hearing aids serve a range of ages and hearing loss. They are appropriate for all ages and work well for anyone with mild to profound hearing loss.
In-the-ear hearing aids fit inside the ear, either partially or completely, and work well for mild to severe hearing loss. Some ITE devices come with a telecoil, which is a small magnetic coil, that enables you to hear sound through the circuitry rather than the microphone. This may improve the quality of phone conversations or help you hear in environments that use special sound systems like induction auditoriums. ITE aids are more discreet than BTE, but they are still bigger than nearly invisible options like a completely-in-the-canal hearing aid.
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The Best Hearing Aid Models
For the 466 million people around the world with hearing loss, hearing aids offer an effective and non-invasion solution. Hearing aids have the potential to dramatically improve lives, with the benefits felt in almost every aspect of a persons life. Most of the many hearing aid models now available will help you to strengthen your relationships with friends, family members, and co-workers.
Hearing aids are also widely known to help reduce stress and social isolation, increase energy and boost your mental alertness. In a world that is full of different sounds, hearing aids can help you hear what you want to hear while reducing interfering background noise.
A Review Of Top Brands And Models
A lot happened in the world of hearing aids last year, with all major manufacturers releasing new innovative products. The class of 2021 offers superior sound processing, excellent wireless connectivity, and pandemic-friendly telehealth capabilities. But each product has its strengths and weaknesses, and weve waded through the options to find the very best hearing aids on the market for 2021.
Well be sure to update this page when the new products are released, so check back often, or .
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Most Healthcare Insurance Policies Dont Cover Hearing Aids
Unfortunately, most insurance companies dont fully cover hearing aids since they see them as elective rather than a necessity. The reason is that insurance companies tend to insure things that are unlikely to happen naturally, such as accidents, and they typically dont insure things that are likely to happen due to age.
In the United States, 48 million people are affected by hearing loss, so the odds of someone claiming hearing loss benefits from their insurer is high. Nevertheless, some insurance companies cover other things related to hearing loss, such as diagnostics and balance exams, such as Medicare Part B.
However, there is hope for affordable hearing aids in the future, as the US government is taking the initiative to promote over-the-counter hearing aids to ease Americans wallets. These hearing aids would be programmable, so you can take them to a hearing specialist to fit them to your hearing needs. Most recently, the Biden administration signed an executive order to address this.
Phonak Audo Marvel: Best Bluetooth Hearing Aid
Reasons to avoid
The award-winning, high-tech Phonak Audéo Marvel is truly one for the audiophiles, offering excellent clarity and rich sound. The best hearing aid for musicians, it features Marvel technology with universal Bluetooth connectivity making it the first hearing aid to support binaural direct streaming from Android, iPhone and countless other devices.
Meanwhile, the myPhonak app can be used to swiftly and intuitively control your hearing aid, for real-time adjustments, access to video support, as well as a hearing diary. And, of course, you can also adjust the hearing aids volume and set up preferences for certain environments, as well as control the Bluetooth phone call configuration.
Additional accessories for tech lovers include the Roger microphone, a discreet gadget used in combination with a receiver in your Phonak Audéo Marvel hearing aid. The Roger comes in the form of a small disc-shaped unit or a pen that helps you hear more clearly in noisy surroundings such as restaurants.
- Read our in-depth guide to the Phonak Audéo Marvel
- View the Audéo Marvel at Phonak
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What Level Of Hearing Loss Requires A Hearing Aid
There are five levels of hearing loss, ranging from mild to profound, according to the Hearing Health Foundation . If you have mild to moderate hearing loss, you may be eligible for personal sound amplification products or hearing aids, depending on an individual evaluation conducted by a hearing health professional.
Mdhearingaid Air: Best Cheapest Hearing Aid
Reasons to avoid
The MDHearingAid AIR is a popular choice with many not only is it affordable, but its reliable and discreet too. There are four settings on the AIR to suit your environment including quiet, social and noisy. This makes it suitable for most places from noisy restaurants to quiet one-on-one meetings. There is also technology to alleviate the whistling that can occur when hearing aid wearers are within close proximity of each other.
The volume control and settings are easy to operate on the hearing aid itself, but one of the best things about the AIR is how slim it is with clear tubing that offers a barely there look. It also fits well with glasses.
The MDHearingAid AIR is a great budget choice, whether youre buying a single hearing aid or a pair, and keep an eye out for discounts too. There is also a 45-day trial period and excellent customer service to further make these hearing aids an excellent choice.
- Read our in-depth guide to the MDHearingAid AIR
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