There are 6 major worldwide manufacturers of hearing aids. Each of those companies offer very high-quality products and one manufacturer is not better than another. Every manufacturer offers several levels of technology. When deciding what hearing aid to try, consider your lifestyle, not the name on the hearing aid.
Some hearing aids have noise management to improve hearing in noisy settings, others do not. When considering hearing aids with noise management, there are usually a few levels offered. As you go up in technology level, noise management becomes more aggressive. If you are a very active person and are frequently in noisy settings, you will appreciate a higher level of technology to manage those environments. If you are someone who is typically in quiet settings, more one on one, you may hear perfectly fine with a lower level of technology. Not everyone requires top of the line hearing aids.
One last thing to touch on, there are several hearing aid stores that lock the computer chip in their hearing aids so that no one can adjust the hearing aids but them. If you were to relocate to an area that does not have that store, or if there was an unfavorable change in personnel in the store you were going to, you would not have the option to have someone else adjust your hearing aids. Places like Beltone, Miracle Ear, Audibel, and Costco do NOT make hearing aids. They simply put their name on one of the big 6 hearing aid company’s hearing aids (private labeling). Choose an independent location that does not lock the chips in their hearing aids and you will have greater long-term flexibility, and often pay less.
To summarize, brand does not matter, choosing the proper level of technology and being fitted accurately are the most important factors! If you would like to see one of the Doctors of Audiology at Gardner Audiology, please call 1-800-277-1182 to schedule an appointment.
