Only 5 percent of CR members who said they use any kind of assistive hearing device used one of these options, which was not enough for us to be able to score individual brands. (For more on the distinctions between these sorts of devices, see our guide to hearing helpers.) Then as now, there’s also the option of purchasing non-hearing aid sound amplifiers, known as personal sound amplification products (PSAPs). At the time, in addition to traditional hearing aids procured via an audiologist or licensed hearing aid dispenser, consumers also had the option of buying hearing aids direct-to-consumer (DTC) online or via mail order (the safety and efficacy of these devices were largely unregulated). When our survey was conducted, OTC hearing aids weren’t available. And all got low marks when used for one-on-one conversations in noisy places, and in loud social settings generally.
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(Phonak and Miracle-Ear also received high marks for listening to the TV or radio.) All brands received average scores for use when talking in small groups. Performance in different situations: The Kirkland, Phillips, and Oticon brands received high marks for some of the situations in which people commonly use hearing aids: while listening to the TV or radio and talking on a cell phone.But for battery life, Audibel, Bernafon, Lucid, and Unitron fared less well than the others we rated. Charging and battery life: All but one brand received high marks for ease of changing or charging their battery (the exception was Lucid, which received an average score), and all received average to high marks for reliability and visibility to others.Sound clarity: Oticon got high marks for sound clarity (as did Costco’s discontinued Kirkland brand), while the other brands we rated received average scores.Here are some of the features we surveyed CR members about.
This was followed by rechargeable batteries, wireless connectivity to other devices, automatic switching/adjustment to level of noise in the room, and digital noise reduction.
Smartphone capabilities were the most frequently chosen feature among our members in the hearing aid brand ratings sample. If you’re trying to decide which features you may want in hearing aids, CR members reported on what they consider some of the most important ones.
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