Best Hearing Aids Brands

Hearing aids are now more accessible and affordable than ever, thanks to the 2022 ruling from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that made it possible for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss to buy hearing aids over the counter (OTC).

Hearing aids contain a microphone, amplifier and speaker. These parts work together to detect or increase the volume of sounds and send these louder sounds into your ear. They’re battery-operated, and some models use rechargeable batteries.

Only 1 in 5 people who can benefit from hearing aids actually use them, however, and those who do often wait about seven years before getting them, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America. However, this doesn’t need to be the case — read on to see what you need to know about these devices.

If you’re trying to decide whether you need hearing aids, you’ll want to figure out the reason for your hearing loss and the degree of its impact. There are different ways to go about this, but it’s important to establish whether you really need a hearing aid and do what you can to keep your hearing loss from getting worse.

Because certain medical conditions, such as infection or built-up earwax, can cause hearing loss, start by visiting your primary care physician or an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist to see if you can improve your hearing without a hearing aid.

If the doctor finds that your hearing loss is permanent, they can refer you to an audiologist for a hearing test (called an audiogram) to assess how extensive your hearing loss is and what frequency ranges it affects.

Hearing tests are usually performed in a closed environment (such as a soundproof booth) and are available at audiologists’ offices and certain stores, including Costco and Sam’s Club. These tests take a few minutes each and are often free or covered by insurance, depending on the provider and your location.

Alternatively, you can try to self-diagnose your range of hearing loss by using an app that tests your hearing and helps determine whether you are a better candidate for an OTC hearing aid, a prescription hearing aid or a cochlear implant.

One such app is Hearing Number, provided by Johns Hopkins University. It’s similar to an audiogram in that it assesses how well you can hear speech sounds and your brain’s ability to make sense of sounds you hear regularly.

» MORE: Hearing aid statistics

Hearing aids come in a variety of styles:

• Behind-the-ear (BTE): This is the most common type, fitting over and behind your ear. These are ideal for children because they’re easier to manage and clean than other types. BTE hearing aids are good for people who have a whole range of hearing losses, those looking for a lower-cost option and those who don’t mind wearing a visible hearing aid. 
• Open-fit hearing aids are a smaller version of the BTE model with a thinner tubing that leaves the ear canal open. These work well for those who are more prone to earwax buildup.
• Receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids are also similar to BTE models, but instead of tubing, they have a small wire that connects to a speaker in the ear canal. They’re good for people with mild to severe hearing loss, but since they can get clogged more easily than other models, they may not be good for people who have earwax buildup.
• In-the-ear (ITE): This type of hearing aid fits inside the outer ear and accommodates those with mild to severe hearing loss. They aren’t recommended for children — they need to be replaced as the ear grows.
• Canal hearing aids: These come in two types: in-the-canal (ITC), which are molded to fit your ear canal, and completely-in-canal (CIC), which are inserted into the canal and almost completely hidden. Both are ideal for those with mild to moderately severe hearing loss who want a discreet option.

  Canal hearing aids are small and can be hard to handle and adjust, so those with arthritis or dexterity concerns may find them difficult to use. They aren’t recommended for children or those who have more severe hearing loss because they offer less power and volume than others.

As you look for a hearing aid, it's a good idea to check out different providers and compare prices, financing options, price-matching commitments and discounts. Make sure to note if the prices are per pair or per ear. Hearing aid prices vary significantly, so don’t be discouraged if the first prices you see are outside of your budget.

Over-the-counter hearing aids became available in 2022 after a long-awaited FDA rule was put in place to increase access to hearing aids and potentially lower prices. As of April 14, 2023, hearing aid manufacturers have specific regulations they need to follow to comply with the FDA.

These devices are available without a prescription, hearing exam or fitting from an audiologist (unlike traditional hearing aids), and many hearing aid brands have introduced OTC models since the FDA’s ruling.

The biggest advantages of OTC devices are that they’re usually:

• More affordable than prescription hearing aids
• Easier to purchase than prescription hearing aids
• More user-friendly than prescription hearing aids

The disadvantages of OTC hearing aids are that they often:

• Have fewer features than prescription hearing aids
• Aren’t as adaptable to different hearing environments
• Come with limited follow-up care and support (such as tunings, cleanings and warranty coverage)

OTC hearing aids are also limited to adults (age 18 or older) with mild to moderate hearing loss, so they aren’t suitable for everyone.

Prescription hearing aids and OTC hearing aids also differ in their degree of customer service. Prescription hearing aids usually come with an extended trial period, a multiyear warranty period and regular services from the audiologists who prescribed them — such as cleaning and adjustments — included in the price.

Many audiologists and manufacturers also offer free replacements if a hearing aid no longer functions properly or is lost (usually limited to one loss replacement per ear).

OTC hearing aids tend to come with less customer service. You have to fit the device to your ear yourself, and setup and support are usually limited to email, online chats or phone calls. OTC trial periods can be short (often 30 to 45 days), and the warranties aren’t as long. Also, if you lose an OTC hearing aid, there’s often no replacement guarantee.

When you’re choosing a hearing aid, one of your most important considerations is the type of device you want, also referred to as its style. The right type of device for you depends on how the hearing aid fits in your ear, how it works, your level of hearing loss and the device’s appearance.

Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids

SUITABLE FOR Mild to profound hearing loss AVERAGE COST $400 to $1,700 per ear

Open-fit hearing aids

SUITABLE FOR Mild to moderate hearing loss AVERAGE COST $300 to $1,400 per ear

Receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids

SUITABLE FOR Mild to severe hearing loss AVERAGE COST $600 to $2,000 per ear

In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids

SUITABLE FOR Mild to severe hearing loss AVERAGE COST $500 to $1,500 per ear

In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids

SUITABLE FOR Mild to severe hearing loss AVERAGE COST $900 to $1,500 per ear

Completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids

SUITABLE FOR Mild to moderate hearing loss AVERAGE COST $900 to $3,000 per ear

While you might not need or want all of these features, it’s helpful to know what is available so that you don’t miss out on what your new hearing aid might offer.

Hearing aids can be a significant expense, so it’s important to define your budget and figure out how much you can pay for them. As of publishing, prescription hearing aids cost $1,000 to $4,000 per ear, on average, but OTC hearing aids often cost just $600 to $1,000 per pair.

Beware — cheaper hearing devices may actually be personal sound amplification products, often called PSAPs, not real hearing aids. A ConsumerAffairs investigation found that these devices are often mislabeled as hearing aids online despite not being suitable for people with hearing loss.

Does insurance cover hearing aids?

Typically, health insurance does not cover hearing aids, including Medicare Parts A and B and Tricare. There are some Medicare Advantage plans that offer partial hearing aid coverage. Medicaid offers some coverage. Coverage is sometimes available for children, veterans and employees of the federal government.

Currently, about two dozen states mandate that health insurance companies provide full or partial hearing aid coverage for children, and five states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, New Hampshire and Rhode Island) also extend those mandates to adults, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Certain organizations, such as Easterseals and Lions Clubs International, might also be able to help you afford a hearing aid. ASHA maintains a helpful list of other funding resources, and the Hearing Industries Association has a full guide to financial assistance for hearing aids.

Hearing aids might not improve your hearing instantly, but don’t worry. It might take a few weeks for your hearing aids to be tuned to your personal needs and for your brain to adjust to processing different sounds. It could also take time for you to get comfortable with the fit and operation of your hearing aids.

It’s a good idea to try out hearing aids in different environments and situations to see how they adapt. However, your adjustment process will depend on the type of hearing aid you purchase.

With a prescription hearing aid, if you don’t hear as well as you think you should, you might ask your audiologist to make the necessary adjustments or show you how to make the adjustments yourself.

If you go the OTC route and your hearing aids don’t meet your expectations within the first few weeks, you should consider returning them and trying a different model. If you experience significant problems with your OTC hearing aids past the return period, you may even consider filing a complaint with the FDA.

When you first receive your hearing aids, practice putting them in and taking them out. If you have prescription hearing aids, you can do this in the provider’s office. Make sure you know the difference between the right and left hearing aid, and practice cleaning them and changing the batteries.

Make sure you understand how to adjust the volume if the hearing aids don’t have it programmed automatically.

If you have Bluetooth capability with your hearing aids, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to pair your hearing aids with your device.