How to Choose a Hearing Aid

Rechargeable models are revolutionary

Just as phone chargers freed us from cords, recharging technology is liberating hearing aid users from the endless job of changing tiny button batteries, which can be a real challenge for older people with vision or dexterity issues. “They’re about 10 percent more expensive than battery-operated models, but you’re going to be spending a dollar a week on batteries with traditional models, so you will recoup the extra cost,” says Brian Earl, associate professor of audiology and director of the Evoked Auditory Response Lab — EARLab — at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio.

Opt for an open-fit hearing aid, if possible

These devices have become increasingly popular for people with mild to moderate hearing loss for several reasons, including near invisibility. “These are high-end aids in very small packages that sit behind the ear and have a thin translucent tube with a speaker that extends into the ear canal near the eardrum,” says Ayasakanta Rout, director of the Hearing Aid Research Laboratory at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. “They don’t require making a mold of your ear canal, so you can try one immediately at your first appointment rather than waiting a week or two for the custom models.” You can expect better sound and comfort, too. “Open fittings don’t block the ear canal, so natural sound enters your ear in addition to amplification. In the past, this caused feedback [squealing], but the newer technology reduces that,” Palmer says. “Having an open ear is much more comfortable for hearing-aid users, and their own voice sounds more natural.”

Consider smartphone capability

If you already use a smartphone, take advantage of that wireless technology, Galatioto says. Many hearing-aid designs are now equipped with Bluetooth, so with the push of a button you can stream phone calls, music, podcasts, or audio books from your phone, tablet, computer or TV directly into the hearing aid. The one caveat: Bluetooth is a notorious guzzler of power, so your charge or batteries will wear down much faster, Rout notes. Very soon all major hearing-aid manufacturers will include a new format known as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) — some already produce them — which should reduce this problem, he adds.

Think about telecoil technology if you’re frequently out and about

Do you enjoy going to the movies, the theater or concerts, or taking classes? Look for an aid with a telecoil (t-coil), which loops into public sound systems to extend the listening range, improve listening comprehension and eliminate unwanted background noise, Galatioto recommends. Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act, all public assembly areas with sound amplification (movie and live performance theaters, courthouses, public classrooms, meeting rooms) now have to be equipped with assistive listening systems. Hearing aids with this feature may be a little larger in size to accommodate the coil, but they won’t cost you any extra because the technology has been around for a while.

Mic up

A remote microphone is a handy accessory for optimizing sound when someone is speaking in a noisy setting. These devices may be free-standing or can be worn on a lapel or a lanyard. You can then point them at, say, a minister speaking in church or a colleague giving a presentation, Earl says. They’re also great for dining out, family dinners or gatherings where many people may be speaking at once, or for having a one-on-one chat with a grandchild in a boisterous setting.

Monitor your health at the same time

Feeling guilty about that tech wearable or smartwatch sitting in your drawer? Some hearing aids can now take their place. Known as “healthables,” these hearing aids are equipped with sensors and artificial intelligence (AI) that can track your health and activity levels via an app, as well as detect when you fall and call 911 or a loved one for you. “Healthables provide greater quality of data than anything you wear on your wrist, because the ear is much closer to the brain,” Rout says.

You don’t need to splurge on the latest technology — unless you want to.

A lower price tag doesn’t mean lower quality. “There is not much difference in speech understanding, sound quality and listening-related effort between premium level technology and basic technology,” Rout says. “More advanced technology gives audiologists more options and flexibility to address patients’ issues, but most people do just fine with basic technology.”

Give it time

Getting and adjusting to a new hearing aid is a process that requires time and fittings by a specialist who will customize the sound for you. “A new hearing-aid user will typically not like them for the first week, because their brain is not used to all the low-level sounds,” Palmer says. “They may feel overwhelmed by sound, like things are too loud and noisy. Consistent, full-time use allows the brain to adapt, and over the first few weeks the annoying sounds will fade into the background as the brain realizes they are not interesting.”

Try a different model, if necessary

If you spend a month or so with hearing aids and still don’t like them, you’re not out of luck. Every state in the U.S. has a law that allows at least 30 days for you to test drive new hearing aids, Rout says. You’ll receive a full refund, with the exception of a small fee for your provider's time, which is also mandated by the state you live in.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on May 19, 2021. It’s been updated to include information about hearing instrument specialists.