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There are several over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription hearing aids in the market today which can make it difficult for you to make a choice. While a pair of basic hearing aids costs about $1,000, premium hearing aids can cost over $6,000 per pair. Choosing the most expensive hearing aid doesn’t guarantee the best results which is why it is important to consider the specific features that will meet your needs. For instance, if you spend a considerable amount of time in a noisy environment, you would benefit from hearing aids that have noise reduction. On the other hand, if you are typically in a quieter environment but want to improve your hearing during conversations, you would need directional microphones. In addition to making sure that your hearing aids meet your needs, you should also invest in a reliable brand as they offer good continued support should you need it.
Hearing – artistic concept. Image credit: Oleg Magni via Pexels (Free Pexels licence)
Jabra Enhance
Jabra Enhance is one of the best companies for OTC hearing aids. They offer a wide variety of hearing aid types from in-the-ear, completely-in-canal, in-the-canal and receiver-in-canal at affordable prices. Depending on the type of hearing aid you choose, you can expect to spend anywhere from $799 to $1,995 for a pair. They also offer a free trial period of 100 days and a one year or three year warranty, depending on the model. Although there are cheaper options like the $99 Audien Atom, the Jabra Enhance has better sound quality and offers far more features. If you’re looking for the best on a budget, you can compare the most affordable hearing aids to see which ones are the right fit for you.
MDHearing
MDHearing has four OTC hearing aids that are either behind-the-ear or in-the-ear types. The most popular of these are the Neo and the Volt Max. While the Neo fits discreetly inside your ear canal, it only has one environment setting which is a major drawback for most users. The Volt Max offers better sound quality with improved noise reduction and feedback cancellation. It also connects to an app so you can test and finetune the settings for four programs for different environments. Unfortunately, these behind-the-ear hearing aids are not very discreet as they have tubes that stick out and are noticeable. However, the cost of these hearing aids is one of the main reasons why they are popular – they range from $299 to $699 for a pair.
Eargo
Eargo offers the most discreet OTC hearing aids which are invisible from the front when used correctly, mainly because of their tiny size. Despite their size, they are rechargeable and you have the ability to program and customize them via the app. Depending on the model, a pair of Eargo hearing aids can cost anywhere from $1,650 to $2,950 which is more than your basic hearing aids but on the lower end of the mid-range hearing aids. They also offer free lifetime support from an audiology team but the downside is that these devices do not have Bluetooth streaming. Another drawback is that they have feedback issues in some environments but this can be addressed by switching programs.
Oticon Own
The Oticon Own is a prescription hearing aid that is suitable for those with mild to severe hearing loss. It has exceptional sound technology with a built-in deep neural network (DNN). While many hearing aids sound tinny, the Oticon Own has a more natural and open sound. It also ranks among the best for fit, comfort, and discretion. While the price is high at about $7,000 per pair, Oticon is known to produce hearing aids that last for years so they are good value for money. There are two potential drawbacks to the Oticon Own – it requires disposable batteries and some people with Android phones have issues with their Bluetooth connection.
Phonak Naída Paradise
The Phonak Naída Paradise is a behind-the-ear hearing aid that requires a prescription. It delivers powerful sound and connects with multiple media sources, allowing you to switch seamlessly between them. There are two models – the Phonak Naída P-PR and the Phonak Naída P-UP. While the P-PR is meant for those with mild to moderate hearing loss, the P-UP is meant for those with severe to profound hearing loss. Each model offers different additional features – P-PR hearing aids detect if you are moving which makes it easier to have conversations while you’re on the go and the P-UP comes with 4 power levels depending on the severity of your hearing loss and the settings can be finetuned to suit your needs. These hearing aids range from $2,400 to $7,000 depending on the model and power level but the range of tones and pitches that you can hear with these hearing aids make them worth every penny!
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