New, lower-price hearing aids promise to help people with mild to moderate hearing loss. But when you buy one, how well does it work out?



Six months ago, over-the-counter hearing aids began showing up in retail stores and websites following a new rule by the Food and Drug Administration. They offer an attractive alternative to doctor-prescribed hearing aids, which can cost $5,000 or more and come with a deeper commitment.

Though sales of these over-the-counter models are up, the better gauge of their success is the feedback from the people using them. Two men who purchased OTC hearing aids in that time offer a pretty compelling review. They say OTC hearing aids require a lot of experimentation with fitting and sound settings, and that frequent and reliable customer support from the manufacturer is critical.

David Davies, a 74-year-old who runs a water-filter business in Houston, bought a $299 pair of Volt hearing aids from MDHearing in November after receiving a postcard from the company with a limited-time offer. (A pair currently costs $399.)


David Davies wanted a simple hearing aid, with no app, so he could go places without taking his phone.
Mr. Davies had never worn hearing aids but had been struggling to hear conversations. He figured the price was low enough to give them a try.

He initially had trouble getting them to fit comfortably in his ear, but says the company sent him different sizes until he found one that worked. “That’s one of the negatives of ordering hearing aids online—there’s a lot of trial and error,” Mr. Davies says. “The adjustment of sound is also a challenge.”

Mr. Davies, whose hobbies include music mixing, guitar playing and film editing, has a better ear for sound quality than many people. That meant getting on the phone with a customer-service representative for help fine-tuning his hearing aids to suit his needs.

MDHearing Chief Executive Doug Breaker says customers often need help long after they have bought hearing aids, which is why his company includes lifetime support from licensed hearing-aid specialists and audiologists.


Mr. Davies worked with a customer-service representative to adjust his hearing aids for his needs.
Marc Tosiano, a retired statistician from Hampton, N.H., in December bought a pair of Eargo 6 hearing aids for $2,450.

Mr. Tosiano, 68, says the hearing aids didn’t sound right at first so he called the company. A customer-service representative reviewed his audiogram and programmed the aids remotely, through an app. He’s since called the same representative a few times with other questions.

“When they send you the device, they arrange for a welcome session with someone. I thought when you buy an over-the-counter hearing aid, it’s, ‘Bye, you’re on your own’—but customer support is part of the purchase price,” Mr. Tosiano says.


Marc Tosiano says he talks more quietly now that he’s used to wearing hearing aids.
PHOTO: MARC TOSIANO
That is, many over-the-counter brands do include it. Others don’t.

Eargo CEO Christian Gormsen says providing customer support for hearing aids is important, because without it, people hit a rough patch then give up. Eargo’s hearing aids are carried by some Verizon Wireless resellers where customers can have their hearing screened. The manufacturer, which had been able to sell directly to consumers online, saw quarterly sales rise by more than 60% after the FDA rule change.

As for advice, Messrs. Davies and Tosiano offer plenty after their experiences over the past few months:

Consider your lifestyle. Mr. Tosiano likes using his phone to change the settings on his Eargo hearing aids, but Mr. Davies purposefully chose a basic pair that doesn’t come with an app. “That’s an added level of complexity,” Mr. Davies says. “I wanted to be able to go out for walks or to synagogue and not have to take my phone with me.”

He only wears one in his left ear, where his hearing is worse, and says he can change its settings by tapping on it.

Mr. Breaker, the MDHearing CEO, says it’s a trade-off. Some people want to keep it simple, while others want app-based benefits, such as the ability to get remote adjustments from the manufacturer.


Mr. Davies says over-the-counter hearing aids require a lot of trial and error.
Compare features. The National Council on Aging assembled a group of reviewers who collectively spent more than 5,000 hours testing and interviewing customers about OTC hearing aids. They came up with seven winners based on such criteria as affordability, style and fit. (Eargo and MDHearing devices are on the list.)

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Would you try an over-the-counter hearing aid? Join the conversation below.

Gauge the level of support. Once you’ve narrowed down the brands that fit what you’re looking for, call their customer-service lines to understand the level of help they’ll provide. Ask whether they provide unlimited customer service. Is it included in the cost of the device or is it extra? Do they employ licensed hearing-aid specialists or audiologists to provide help? Will they do video calls?

Understand your options if you’re dissatisfied. Find out the companies’ return policies—the longer the return period, the better. Do they offer warranties on their hearing aids, and how long are they?


Mr. Davies bought a pair of Volt hearing aids for $299. He wears just one, in his left ear.
Be patient. Getting used to hearing sounds you haven’t heard in a long time can be jarring. It can take several weeks for your brain to adjust. Mr. Davies says water from a faucet sounded like a rushing river after he began wearing the hearing aid.

Mr. Tosiano says he didn’t realize how loudly he was talking until he heard his own voice through the hearing aids. “This has been good for my wife,” he says. “I’m no longer shouting at her.”


link https://www.wsj.com/articles/b...sjhp_columnists_pos2

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Would you try an over-the-counter hearing aid?

I tried the Eargos about 18 months or so ago. The sound was terrible. Very "tinny", and while adjustable, still not a natural sound. Couldn't get used to them and sent them back.

In February, I went to Costco and ordered some Rexton in-the-canal hearing aids after a full audiology exam. $2500/pair. Initially, I had pretty much the same sound as from the Eargos. Several adjustments later, they were better, but still not at all close to a natural sound. My main problem is hearing voices over other noise. I could adjust them to where I could hear the voices much better, but everything else was louder as well and too distracting. Additionally, one thing that drove me nuts with them is that if I snapped my fingers or reached out and flipped on a light switch for example, I wouldn't hear that noise where I should hear it (in front of me where it came from), I'd hear it coming from behind me. It drove me nuts and was unacceptable, so I returned those just last week.

I've ordered a set of behind the ears that should be in next week. After testing them out walking around the store, the sound is very natural and what, to me, I should be hearing. I'm not crazy about having them hanging on my head, but they are so light that they're hardly noticeable. I've spoken with half a dozen other folks who have gone down the same road and every one of them has said that they prefer the behind the ear type for the best most natural sound. $1599/pair.

I don't remember what the Eargos price was. I want to say around $2K but could be wrong.

Whole bunch of discussions here, https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...020065594#6020065594

Pretty much trial and error. Glad that you can get some professional assitance if you buy OTC. Glad yours seems to be working out.

You get what you paid for.
I have spent 7K 15 years ago. And replaced those with a new 7k set 2-3 years ago.
I could not be more pleased with the results. My hearing made me 4F in 1970. It is that bad and years on, is getting worse.
Hearing aids can be worth their weight in gold at times. The rest of the time they are a big nuisance. The only thing worse is reading glasses when you don't need them all the time.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Would you try an over-the-counter hearing aid?

I've ordered a set of behind the ears that should be in next week. After testing them out walking around the store, the sound is very natural and what, to me, I should be hearing. I'm not crazy about having them hanging on my head, but they are so light that they're hardly noticeable. I've spoken with half a dozen other folks who have gone down the same road and every one of them has said that they prefer the behind the ear type for the best most natural sound. $1599/pair.

You got these at Costco? Do you remember the brand name? Let us know how they work out.

I believe the OP meant for the forum to be aware of the cost vs the service for hearing aids.

There are a myriad of threads here on brand cost performance comfort already.

A competent or better audiologist with a quality product will be worth more than a mail order set. How much more is a reasonable question.

quote:

Originally posted by ranger312:

You got these at Costco? Do you remember the brand name? Let us know how they work out.

The local Costco (Altamonte Springs, FL) has three brands, all in the $1,600 per pair price range: Jabra, Phillips, and Reston.

quote:

Originally posted by ranger312:
You got these at Costco? Do you remember the brand name? Let us know how they work out.

Yep, Rexton brand from Costco.