By: Henry

Henry — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:18:35 +0000

aubrey

By: mbledtke

mbledtke — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:10:57 +0000

Belltone Digital

By: twistedi

twistedi — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:56:37 +0000

That is a difficult question to answer. It is sort of like asking, “which car is better, Ford or General Motors” – everyone will have their own opinion, and it’s hard to argue if anyone is right/wrong.
There are about a dozen different manufacturers of hearing aids. Some of the largest manufacturers (and those who are on the forefront of research) are GNResound, Phonak, Siemens, Oticon, Starkey, and Widex. There are many other manufacturers as well who also make good, reliable products.
Many people are familiar with the names, Beltone and Miracle Ear. Both of these places are franchises – only Beltone dealers can sell Beltone products, and the same with Miracle Ear. These names are well known because they spend a tremendous amount on marketing – much more than most other manufacturers. Someone has to pay for all the advertising, right? Enough said.
My recommendation would be to see an independent audiologist, not a “franchise” hearing aid dispenser. As I said, there any many different manufacturers, and by going to an independent audiologist, he/she will have access to all of these different product lines – they are typically not “locked” into using only one manufacturer.
Most manufactuers have a range of products, from very basic aids to high-end digital aids. Some of the best high-end products I’ve used are the Phonak Savia, Unitron Element 16, Siemens Centra, and others. The type of hearing aid you need depends on a combination of factors including your hearing loss, cost, and your listening lifestlye. Hearing aids today are much better than they were even a few years ago. They are able to help reduce unwanted background noise, reduce wind noise when outdoors, help control sudden loud noises, automatically control volume, etc.
Just tell your audiologist what your needs are, what price range you are looking for, and he/she will be able to guide you to a good decision.
If you need to find an audiologist, you can go here:
http://webportal.audiology.org/Custom/FindAnAudiologist.aspx

Comments on: What Is The Best Hearing Aid On The Market Today?

By: Henry

By: mbledtke

By: twistedi