Best Hearing Aids

How to Choose the Best Hearing Aid for You

Reading trustworthy research is a great starting point for choosing the best hearing aid to fit your hearing loss and lifestyle. Later in this guide, you’ll learn about other key factors to take into consideration when you’re in the market for hearing aids. Being an informed consumer will help you make the right buying decision when you meet with a licensed hearing care professional.

Hearing loss is a common problem, especially among older adults. As such, many hearing aid choices are available for people with hearing loss. Of course, having such a wide array of options to choose from can be confusing. You can certainly ask friends or family members who already wear hearing aids for recommendations or look online for reviews.
The challenge is that it’s not always easy to know if the reviews and recommendations you’re reading are unbiased and from trusted sources. We’ve asked some of our experts and taken some of the guesswork out of the equation in this guide on best hearing aids.

Top Hearing Aid Brands

This guide includes brands that garnered top reviews for a wide range of reasons – from ultimate comfort to high-tech options such as artificial intelligence (AI).

Phonak

Rechargeable batteries
Leader in developing hearing solutions for children and classrooms
Choice of more than 20 different hearing aids
Price range: NZD 2,000 to NZD 5,300

Select Features

  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Smartphone connectivity
  • Rechargeable solutions
  • Telecoil options
  • Remote control
  • Wireless clip-on microphone
  • Digital feedback reduction
  • Noise reduction
  • Wind control
  • Speech enhancement
  • Biometric calibration
  • Tinnitus masking
  • 100% invisible hearing aid

ReSound

Best Apps
Partnered with the GN Group to develop first software-based hearing aids
Choice of three primary product lines
Price range: NZD 2,400 to NZD 6,200

Select Features

  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Smartphone connectivity
  • Rechargeable solutions
  • Telecoil options
  • Remote control
  • Wireless clip-on microphone
  • Digital feedback reduction
  • Noise reduction
  • Wind control
  • Speech enhancement
  • Music mode
  • Tinnitus masking
  • Tinnitus app (ReSound Relief)

Signia (Formerly Called Siemens)

Best mobile app and connectivity
Own Voice Processing™ technology and acoustic-motion sensors
Choice of three primary product lines
Price range: NZD 2,000 to NZD 3,500 per ear

Select Features

  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Smartphone connectivity
  • Rechargeable solutions
  • Telecoil options
  • Remote control
  • Wireless hands-free remote (also works as stereo streamer)
  • Digital feedback cancellation
  • Noise reduction
  • Wind control
  • Speech enhancement
  • Tinnitus masking
  • 360-degree microphone steering (myControl App)

Oticon

Best for comfort and quality products
Can be quite expensive
Specialized technology for children with severe-to-profound hearing loss
Choice of five primary product lines
Price range: NZD 3,200 to NZD 7,000

Select Features

  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Smartphone connectivity
  • Rechargeable solutions
  • Telecoil options
  • Remote control
  • Wireless clip-on microphone
  • Digital feedback reduction
  • Noise reduction
  • Wind control
  • Speech enhancement
  • Tinnitus masking
  • Smart hearing technology (BrainHearing™)
  • Wireless connectivity and binaural processing (TwinLink™)

Starkey

Best largest variety and tinnitus technology
First to introduce nanotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI)
Choice of 11 primary product lines
Price range: NZD 2,600 to NZD 5,500

Select Features

  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Smartphone connectivity
  • Rechargeable solutions
  • Telecoil options
  • Remote control
  • Wireless clip-on microphone
  • Digital feedback reduction
  • Noise reduction
  • Wind control
  • Speech enhancement
  • Geared to music listening
  • Tinnitus masking
  • Thrive hearing app (e.g. body and brain health tracker, foreign language translator, etc.)
  • Free hearing aids for those in need through Foundation

Widex

Best overall, sound, and smart hearing aid
First to introduce laser technology that enables customization to fit the user’s ear and hearing aid for babies
Choice of six primary product lines
Price range: NZD 1,300 0 to NZD 5,000 per ear

Select Features

  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Smartphone connectivity
  • Rechargeable solutions
  • Telecoil options
  • Remote control
  • Digital feedback reduction
  • Noise reduction
  • Wind control
  • Speech enhancement
  • Tinnitus masking
  • Tinnitus app (ZEN)
  • Digital pinna (ear auricle) effect
  • Diverse sound profile adaptation (SoundSense)

Bernafon

Sister company to Oticon
ChannelFree™, the world's first digitally programmable hearing instrument specifically created for playing and listening to music
Choice of five primary product lines
Price range: NZD 2,600 to NZD 5,600

  • Smartphone connectivity
  • Rechargeable solutions

Unitron

Owned by the same parent company as Phonak
User-centric design philosophy garnered five Red Dot design awards in three years
Choice of four primary product lines
Price range: NZD 2,400  to NZD 5,500

Select Features

  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Smartphone connectivity
  • Rechargeable solutions
  • Telecoil options
  • Remote control
  • Wireless clip-on microphone
  • Digital feedback reduction
  • Noise reduction
  • Wind control
  • Dynamic and personal spatial awareness
  • Speech enhancement
  • Tinnitus masking

Miracle Ear

Best warranty and easy online service and sign-up
GENIUS 3.0™ technology recognizes and prioritizes speech sounds
Choice of seven primary product lines
Price range: NZD 2,600 to NZD 5,500

Select Features

  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Smartphone connectivity
  • Rechargeable solutions
  • Telecoil options
  • Remote control
  • Digital feedback reduction
  • Noise reduction
  • Wind control
  • Speech enhancement
  • Tinnitus masking
  • Binaural direct streaming
  • Free lifetime service (e.g. cleaning and adjustments)
  • Free hearing aids through Foundation (for individuals in need)

Eargo

Best overall, design, and innovative
In-the-ear models feature soft silicone instead of rigid plastic for maximum comfort
Choice of three primary product lines
Eargo is ordered online without a fitting or hearing test
Price range: NZD 2,900 to NZD 4,800

Select Features

  • Smartphone connectivity
  • Rechargeable solutions
  • Digital feedback cancellation
  • Noise reduction
  • Speech enhancement
  • Four different sound profiles
  • Regular and large flexi fibers
  • Lifetime licensed online-only support

Key Factors to Consider When Buying a Hearing Aid

Your hearing care professional is a partner in this journey and will help you make the best decision based on a combination of all of these key factors.

Price: As you noticed, this top-brands roundup includes a hearing aid price comparison. Every person has a different financial situation, and for many, price is a serious factor when selecting hearing aids. Rest assured, reputable brands offer a wide range of price points, and many hearing aid centers offer free trial periods that enable you to try devices risk free. Your health insurance may cover the cost of hearing devices. Both Starkey and Miracle Ear offer free hearing aids to people in need through their respective foundations.

Degree and Type of Hearing Loss: When hearing loss is more severe, device amplification needs to be stronger and capable of producing higher sound levels. Moreover, if you have a specific problem that needs to be addressed, such as a frequent complex listening situation or difficulty hearing speech in noisy settings, specific models can remedy these issues.

Type: Modern hearing aids are wireless, and most offer smartphone connectivity. However, you’ll discover quite a few types from which to choose. These include Receiver-in-Canal (RIC), Behind-the-Ear (BTE), Completely-in-Canal (CIC), In-the-Canal (ITC), and Invisible in the Canal (IIC). Selecting the right style depends on the severity of your hearing loss, personal comfort, and desired features.

Features: While you may not require a top-of-the-line device with all the bells and whistles, you should ask your hearing care professional about these features:

  • Number of channels (more may not be the best choice for you)
  • Advanced or adaptive microphones
  • Feedback suppression
  • Smartphone and radio/TV connectivity
  • Noise reduction technology (e.g. telecoil)
  • Wind reduction technology (more important if you work or spend a lot of time outside)

Now that you know a little more about top brands and factors to consider, the next step is to compare hearing aids.

Continue your journey to better hearing – sign up for a free consultation with a licensed hearing care professional today.

Ready to Start Your Journey?

Untreated or inadequately treated hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline, depression, social isolation, and an increased risk of injury from falls. If you’re struggling with your hearing – don’t delay – schedule a no-obligation consultation with a licensed hearing care professional today.

With you on your journey to better hearing.

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