If you’re looking to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on an OTC hearing aid, make sure you’re getting a product that provides a sustainable long-term solution to your hearing loss needs. Aside from the obvious things like sound quality, take a few minutes to check out these specs.
What size and style works best for you? Most hearing aids on the market are classified as either behind-the-ear (BTE) or in-the-ear (ITE). BTE hearing aids are probably what you think of when you picture a hearing aid, a plastic case that contains the electronics, a thin wire that goes over the ear and into the canal, and a small speaker called a “receiver” that sends boosted audio from a person’s surroundings to their ear. In contrast, the ITE models are self-contained units that look like a standard pair of wireless earbuds. In-the-ear hearing aids are popular for their stealthy aesthetic, and they can pop in and out much more easily than behind-the-ear hearing aids. Still, contemporary BTE hearing aids are significantly smaller than those of “the old days.” It just comes down to what fits you most comfortably.
Best OTC Hearing Aids
Replaceable or rechargeable batteries? Much like wireless earbuds, most OTC hearing aids come equipped with a rechargeable battery and (usually) a portable charging case for easy transport. If you take the case’s battery life into account, you’ll see most OTC models a week before you need to connect to a power source. Without the case, rechargeable hearing aids offer 10 to 24 hours of battery life per charge (but that drops to a few hours if you use them to stream via Bluetooth). Replaceable batteries, such as those found in the Sony CRE-C10, can last for 70 hours or more before the battery dies. Sounds great, but it means having spares on hand and wrestling with tiny cells, which can be difficult for people with dexterity issues.
Are you comfortable making adjustments? While prescription hearing aids are fitted in the office by a licensed hearing care professional, OTC devices are self-fitting. In most cases, OTC hearing aid users are expected to be able to tune the devices to their ears, usually with a smartphone app. Making your own adjustments on the fly is certainly nice, but it can cost you in the way of personalized care.
How is the company’s customer support? If you can count on quality support from every hearing aid manufacturer! Unfortunately, OTC hearing aid companies are just that. There is no “standard” for customer service in the industry. Companies like Jabra offer extensive patient support, but other brands can leave you on your own.
Have a trial run? If you’re not happy with your hearing aids, you’ll probably want to have the option to return them without writing off all that money as a sunk cost. Most states require manufacturers to provide patients with one Minimum trial periodBut I recommend playing it safe by looking up this information before buying.
What about the warranty? Equally important to a reasonable trial period is the inclusion of a comprehensive manufacturer’s warranty Most brands cover manufacturing defects for up to one year, but it goes without saying that the longer the coverage period, the better the deal. Whichever OTC hearing aid you end up with, make sure the warranty covers damage, loss, and wear.