*Choosing a hearing aid and having it fitted to your hearing needs can have a big impact on your quality of life. Therefore, we also recommend that you get advice from one of our hearing care professionals when choosing the best hearing aid for you.
What is the best hearing aid for you?
Finding the ideal hearing aid to suit your needs will depend on your level of hearing loss, budget, and lifestyle preferences. Hearing aids are not one-size-fits all solutions, so take the time to discover what to look for when deciding on the best hearing aid for you.
What is the best hearing aid in 2024?
The best hearing aid for you is unique to your personal hearing needs and preferences. In addition to receiving your hearing test results, getting familiar with your personal needs and preferences will help you choose the best hearing aid. In finding a hearing aid that benefits your personal needs, you might consider looking for a hearing aid that:
Step 1. Compare the available hearing aid styles
Start out by using the overview below to understand the differences between each type of hearing aid.
The overview will prepare you for Step 2 of the guide, where we will explain the six important factors that you should consider when choosing hearing aids.
Invisible-in-the-canal | Completely-in-the-canal | In-the-canal | Half/Full shell in-the-ear | miniRITE (Receiver-in-the-ear) | miniRITE R (Receiver-in-the-ear) | Behind-the-ear Plus Power | Behind-the-ear Ultra Power | |
Most discreet | ✔ | ✔ | ✗ | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ | ✗ | ✗ |
Bluetooth connectivity | ✗ | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Long battery life | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Easy to adjust volume and programs | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Exchangeable battery | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ |
Rechargable battery | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✔ | ✗ | ✗ |
Mild to moderate hearing loss | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Severe hearing loss | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Profound hearing loss | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ |
Step 2. Consider these six factors when choosing a hearing aid
In this step we will describe six different factors that you should consider when choosing the best hearing aid for you.
Factor 1 - Your level of hearing loss
The severity of your hearing loss has an impact on the types of hearing aids that you can choose from. Therefore, getting your hearing tested and knowing your level of hearing loss will help you to understand what hearing aid types will be best suited to accommodate your needs.
Factor 2 - Hearing aid technology
Today’s advanced technology provides a more natural sound experience by allowing you to experience an open, 360-degree sound experience, all while providing higher sound clarity with less effort. Tinnitus support settings are also new features which benefit users. Hearing aids today can also reduce feedback (or the “whistling sound” that some hearing aid users can experience). It is also possible to connect modern hearing aids to your smart devices and TV, so that you can hear your smart device and/or TV sounds directly through your hearing aids.
Factor 3 - Comfort
When you’re looking for the best hearing aids for you, it’s important to consider how comfortable they will be for you to wear.
Factor 4 - Price and quality
The styles represented in Step 1 are available in multiple price ranges – in order to meet all budget needs.
The price of your hearing aid can depend on the number of benefits you are hoping to get out of your new hearing aid. Such benefits can include automatic volume adjustment and wireless connectivity. Depending on your needs, these additional benefits can have a noticeable impact on the overall experience. Read further to read more about the benefits provided by hearing aids today.
Factor 5 - Style
Some appearance factors to consider are:
Size
Do you prefer a longer battery life or is discreetness more important to you? Larger hearing aids (behind-the-ear or full-shell in-the-ear hearing aids) could be the best hearing aid for you if you are looking for larger batteries with high-tech capabilities and a longer battery life while small, in-the-ear hearing aids could be the solution for someone with mild to moderate hearing loss who is most interested in discreet, nearly invisible hearing aids.
Colour
Did you know that hearing aids are available in different colours? You have the option of finding hearing aids that blend with the colour of your hair or skin tone – or just choosing a colour that appeals to you.
Factor 6 - Lifestyle
Whether you enjoy spending time at home or out of the house at restaurants or social events, the best hearing aid for you will be one that matches your level of social engagement. The more active you are socially, the more “advanced features” you may want to look out for, and the less socially engaged you are, the more basic your hearing aids may be.
When considering which type of hearing aid will best fit into your lifestyle, your hearing care professional will most likely ask you about the activities you enjoy in your everyday life. It can be beneficial to explain to your hearing care professional which situations you look forward to hearing better in so that they can help you find the best hearing aid solution for your needs.
Hearing aids can improve your quality of life, and because everyone’s hobbies and social preferences are unique, it is a good idea to have this lifestyle discussion with your hearing care professional so that you can find the hearing aid that will help you get the most out of your everyday life.
Step 3. Trial hearing aids for free at a hearing clinic
The knowledge that you have obtained in this guide can help you understand the most important factors to consider when choosing a hearing aid.
The next steps in the process are the following:
- Book a hearing test at a hearing clinic
- Discuss your preferences and any questions you might have with your hearing care professional
- Trial a hearing aid for free – with the opportunity of trying another model if the first model does not suit your needs
- Take the hearing aids home and wear them as a part of your everyday routine to determine if they are the right hearing aids for you
Discover some of the best hearing aids in each of the following four categories
1. Significantly improved hearing ability
The continuous development of hearing aid technology is the central focus for hearing aid manufacturers. The primary goal is to provide hearing aid users with a hearing experience that is as close as possible to normal hearing.
Look for the following qualities in a hearing aid as you search for the best hearing aid for you:
- Delivers clear speech, even in crowded, noisy situations
- Provides access to the full sound scene'
- Helps you select what sounds to focus on
- Enables you to hear all the sounds around you (360-degree sound experience)
- Helps to minimize mental strain
If you're looking for a hearing aid that delivers the best possible hearing experience, then look out for a hearing aid that provides the qualities above.
If you want to try the latest hearing aids for free, book a free appointment in one of our clinics.
Hearing aid finder: See what type suits you
Take one minute to find out which hearing aid model suits your preferences.
Your result
Based on your answers the following hearing aid types would suit your needs:
- miniRITE R
*The result of the test may only be used for guidance and is not meant to replace a more accurate measurement of your hearing abilities and needs by one of our hearing care professional.
Would you like to visit us for your free trial?
Book a FREE trialYour result
Based on your answers the following hearing aid types would suit your needs:
- miniRITE R
*The result of the test may only be used for guidance and is not meant to replace a more accurate measurement of your hearing abilities and needs by one of our hearing care professional.
Would you like to visit us for your free trial?
Book a FREE trialYour result
Based on your answers the following hearing aid types would suit your needs:
- miniRITE
- BTE Plus/Ultra Power
- In-the-canal (ITC)
*The result of the test may only be used for guidance and is not meant to replace a more accurate measurement of your hearing abilities and needs by one of our hearing care professional.
Would you like to visit us for your free trial?
Book a FREE trialYour result
Based on your answers the following hearing aid types would suit your needs:
- miniRITE
- BTE Plus/Ultra Power
*The result of the test may only be used for guidance and is not meant to replace a more accurate measurement of your hearing abilities and needs by one of our hearing care professional.
Would you like to visit us for your free trial?
Book a FREE trialYour result
Based on your answers the following hearing aid types would suit your needs:
- miniRITE R
*The result of the test may only be used for guidance and is not meant to replace a more accurate measurement of your hearing abilities and needs by one of our hearing care professional.
Would you like to visit us for your free trial?
Book a FREE trialYour result
Based on your answers the following hearing aid types would suit your needs:
- miniRITE R
*The result of the test may only be used for guidance and is not meant to replace a more accurate measurement of your hearing abilities and needs by one of our hearing care professional.
Would you like to visit us for your free trial?
Book a FREE trialYour result
Based on your answers the following hearing aid types would suit your needs:
- miniRITE
- Invisible-in-the-canal (IIC)
- Completely-in-the-canal (CIC)
- In-the-canal (ITC))
*The result of the test may only be used for guidance and is not meant to replace a more accurate measurement of your hearing abilities and needs by one of our hearing care professional.
Would you like to visit us for your free trial?
Book a FREE trialYour result
Based on your answers the following hearing aid types would suit your needs:
- Halfshell/full shell
- miniRITE
*The result of the test may only be used for guidance and is not meant to replace a more accurate measurement of your hearing abilities and needs by one of our hearing care professional.
Would you like to visit us for your free trial?
Book a FREE trial2. The most comfortable hearing aid
Modern hearing aids are more comfortable than ever, and most hearing aids offered at HearingLife clinics have a comfortable style. Since hearing aids are smaller than ever before, even behind-the-ear hearing aids can be difficult to spot.
Some hearing aid models are so small that they are virtually invisible. The smallest models available are placed inside the ear canal, making them virtually invisible to people around you.
3. The best value for money
Price is a significant factor when choosing a hearing aid. It's important to find a solution you are comfortable with, while also ensuring that you are getting the best quality possible.
Compare hearing aid prices
In order to determine what hearing aid provides the best value for your money, we recommend that you book a free hearing test. During the test, a hearing care professional will test your hearing and ask you questions about your lifestyle, your preferences and your listening situations in a typical day.
Based on the results, you will select a hearing aid that suits both your hearing needs and your budget.
Book a free hearing consultation to find the best solution for you
4. The most comfortable fit
Having a comfortable hearing aid will help to ensure that you get the most wear out of your devices. Over time, your hearing aids become a natural part of your everyday routine, so finding a comfortable solution will ensure that you reap all the benefits that your hearing aid can offer.
Here are a couple areas to consider when finding a hearing aid that is most comfortable for you:
- The shape of your ear canal can influence which hearing aid will be most comfortable for you (i.e. in-the-ear hearing aids vs. behind-the-ear hearing aids)
- Digital hearing aids offer optimal comfort since they work to support your brain's natural way of processing sound, while hearing amplifiers merely make the sounds around you louder. For this reason, HearingLife only offers digital hearing aids.
Schedule a free appointment in one of our clinics, where you will have the opportunity to see and try different hearing aids. This will give you the opportunity to find a model which is most comfortable for you.