Oticon hearing aids, reviewed by audiologists
Considering Oticon hearing aids? Our audiologists weigh in on the brand’s pros and cons and which models they prefer.
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Prescription hearing aid brand Oticon is renowned for its portfolio of devices capable of treating mild to profound hearing loss. Since its founding in 1904, Oticon has constantly worked to improve upon and diversify its offerings to meet the growing, changing needs of individuals with hearing loss.
Today, Oticon devices are known for their natural sound quality and innovative technology that addresses common hearing aid complaints like wind noise and microphone static. Our audiologists note that most Oticon devices have tinnitus features built into the software, making these devices a great choice for those with tinnitus.
Keep in mind Oticon hearing aids are only available to purchase through a licensed audiologist and can’t be purchased over the counter.
Oticon hearing aid models
Our audiologists reviewed Oticon’s catalog of devices, and their top pick is The Oticon Real, Oticon’s most technologically advanced device. They also reviewed the following Oticon devices: the Intent, Own, Xceed, Zircon, CROS, and devices for pediatric patients.
This Oticon hearing aids review will show you how these models stack up in terms of typical retail price, technology levels, features, and customization. Keep in mind that the cost of hearing aids varies based on technology and special features added on.
The Oticon Real review
The Oticon Real
Oticon’s most technologically advanced hearing aid is expensive but delivers crisp, natural sound in noisy and windy environments.
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Oticon’s new flagship product, the Oticon Real, is considered the most technologically advanced of Oticon’s devices. The Otticon Real replaced the Oticon More, offering better listening in challenging situations and reduced wind noise than the More.
These devices come equipped with greater access to speech and speech clarity, even in noisy environments like windy conditions — in fact, according to a study by Oticon, 41% of hearing aid users said there was less loud wind noise when they were wearing the Oticon Real.
The Oticon’s BrainHearing technology operates to help the brain — not just the ears — get more sound so you can hear better. Why? Sound goes from the ears to the brain center, where a pair of subsystems called the orient and focus subsystems team up to help you hear the world around you. BrainHearing’s holistic approach ensures both the brain and ears are getting the support they need.
The Oticon Real reduces handling and background noise, such as when a person’s glasses touch a hearing aid. Designed with RealSound Technology, the Oticon Real helps to account for gaps in hearing, reducing cognitive overload and helping the brain re-learn how to process sound.
Customization is available courtesy in four different styles and two charger options. The hearing devices come with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (no disposable batteries = no waste). These devices also come in three technology levels: Real 1, Real 2, and Real 3.
- Real 1. This level has the most robust features to reduce noise in busy environments, making it the most expensive option.
- Real 2. As the middle-tier level, the Real 2 offers less robust background noise features.
- Real 3. The budget option, Real 3 is best for those who avoid noisy environments and live in a quiet home.
| Criteria | The Oticon Real |
|---|---|
| Cost per pair | $4,000-7,000 |
| Warranty | 12-month limited warranty (An audiologist may offer one for 1-3 years) |
| Rechargeable batteries? | Yes |
| Bluetooth capabilities? | Yes |
| Customization options | Yes |
| Type of hearing aid | Behind-the-ear (BTE) and receiver-in-canal (RIC) |
| Degree of hearing loss treated | Mild to profound |
Who would Oticon Real hearing aids be ideal for?
The Oticon Real is known for its whole and natural sound quality, making it one of the best hearing aids for people with mild to severe hearing loss. It’s also ideal for people looking for a rechargeable battery, which cuts down on hassle and cost. People hoping to reduce background noise and feedback often find success with these hearing aids.
The Oticon Intent review
The Oticon Intent
Rechargeable and discreet, the Oticon Intent is ideal for those with severe to profound hearing loss who crave technology.
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A recent addition to the Oticon lineup, the Oticon Intent boasts several new features that make it a next-generation model. The open sound quality that is a hallmark of Oticon devices is customizable because of MoreSound Intelligence 3.0. The 4D sensor technology can be adapted to the user’s intent.
The four built-in sensors are:
- Conversation. These sensors focus on sound and voices to determine the communication setting and whether or not speech should be prioritized.
- Head. These sensors use head movement tracking to gather data on a user’s focus.
- Body. These sensors track sound as you walk and move through a room.
- Acoustic. These sensors take a 360-degree analysis of a space, examining noises and echoes.
The Intent is rechargeable and discreet (miniRITE) and features Bluetooth connectivity.
| Criteria | The Oticon Intent |
|---|---|
| Cost per pair | $8,000 per pair |
| Warranty | 12-month limited warranty (An audiologist may offer one for 1-3 years) |
| Rechargeable batteries? | Yes |
| Bluetooth capabilities? | Yes |
| Customization options | Yes |
| Type of hearing aid | BTE |
| Degree of hearing loss treated | Severe to profound |
Who would Oticon Intent hearing aids be ideal for?
The Oticon Intent is ideal for people with severe to profound hearing loss who crave technology and a sleek, discreet design. The mini receiver in canal style is easy for others to miss.
What’s not easy to miss? Sounds. The built-in sensors adapt to a user’s environment and focus on the right sounds so you hear what’s important, whether it’s conversations in a crowded room or birds chirping outside.
The rechargeable batteries save users the hassle of having to change (and pay for) new batteries. However, the receiver-in-canal design and rechargeable batteries may be a drawback for people with dexterity issues.
The Oticon Own review
The Oticon Own
One of Oticon’s smallest hearing aids, the Oticon Own is very discreet and best suited for those with an active lifestyle.
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Some people prefer a more invisible style of hearing aid. Oticon Own, the smallest of the brand’s hearing aids, offers in-the-ear devices that are exceptionally discreet. According to a white paper produced by Oticon, the invisible-in-the-canal Oticon Own was invisible in 9 out of 10 ears.
An onboard Deep Neural Network (DNN) has been trained on a massive library of everyday sounds, allowing users to hear the world in a more natural way. Essentially, the DNN learns through a robust library of samples, exactly like the human brain. Through practice, trial, and error, the technology figures out how to analyze, organize, and balance sounds so you can better access the ones that mean the most to you.
The major downside: the invisible-in-the-canal (IIC) and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) styles don’t allow for Bluetooth streamlining or telecoil. If Bluetooth connectivity is important to you, the in-the-ear-half shell (ITE HS), in-the-canal (ITC), and in-the-ear full shell (ITE FS) supports Bluetooth or telecoil.
| Criteria | The Oticon Own |
|---|---|
| Cost per pair | $5,000-$7,500/pair |
| Warranty | 12-month limited warranty (An audiologist may offer one for 1-3 years) |
| Rechargeable batteries? | No |
| Bluetooth capabilities? | Not universally connected |
| Customization options | Yes |
| Type of hearing aid | IIC, CIC, ITE HS, ITC, ITE FS |
| Degree of hearing loss treated | Mild to severe |
Who would Oticon Own hearing aids be ideal for?
The Oticon Own is best suited for people with an active lifestyle. The invisible, in-the-ear hearing aids boast special technology that mimics real-life sounds in a more natural way.
The Oticon Xceed review
The Oticon Xceed
The Oticon Xceed uses disposable batteries, making it a great device for those with dexterity issues.
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The Oticon Xceed debuted in 2019 and is for people with severe to profound hearing loss. Like the Oticon Own, the Oticon Xceed utilizes BrainHearing technology to ensure the ears and brain work together, allowing users to hear the world around them.
An OpenSound Navigator lets people hear high-quality sounds from any direction. At the same time, the OpenSound Optimizer helps reduce whistling and static noise that can interfere with a hearing aid user’s experience. Bluetooth streaming capabilities include TV and phone calls.
Though it’s a behind-the-ear design, seven different colors allow users to match the device to their skin tone, adding to the discreteness.
| Criteria | The Oticon Xceed |
|---|---|
| Cost per pair | $2,500–$7,000/pair |
| Warranty | 12-month limited warranty (An audiologist may offer one for 1-3 years) |
| Rechargeable batteries? | No |
| Bluetooth capabilities? | Yes |
| Customization options | Yes |
| Type of hearing aid | Behind-the-ear |
| Degree of hearing loss treated | Severe to profound |
Who would Oticon Xceed hearing aids be ideal for?
Oticon Xceeds are ideal for people with severe to profound hearing loss. The behind-the-ear style and use of disposable batteries also make this model a good fit for people with dexterity issues. Seven colors that enable skin-tone matching keep the device less noticeable, though.
The Oticon CROS review
The Oticon CROS
Designed for people with single-sided deafness, the Oticon CROS features Bluetooth capabilities, but only for adjustments within the app.
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The Oticon CROS is designed for people with single-sided deafness, allowing them to hear the whole world around them — both sides of a table during a work meeting or a fun side conversation and the TV during a big game.
The two-part device uses a transmitter with a microphone that wirelessly detects sound. This sound travels from the person’s ear with poorer hearing abilities to the one better able to hear it. Additionally, a hearing aid takes sound from this transmitter and plays it in the better ear.
| Criteria | The Oticon CROS |
|---|---|
| Cost per pair | $1,925 |
| Warranty | 12-month limited warranty (An audiologist may offer one for 1-3 years)* |
| Rechargeable batteries? | Yes |
| Bluetooth capabilities? | Yes |
| Customization options | Yes |
| Type of hearing aid | Receiver in canal |
| Degree of hearing loss treated | Single-sided |
* Most people have a CROS device paired with a normal hearing aid on the other side. So, this is a good estimate of cost just for the CROS device.
Who would Oticon CROS hearing aids be ideal for?
The Oticon CROS is best suited for people with single-sided deafness. The hearing aid’s unique design allows people to enjoy both the conversations and TV content during a viewing party and fully participate in meetings where people are sitting all around them.
Technological features like Bluetooth capabilities for adjustments within the app and numerous colors to match skin tones are added benefits. The Bluetooth capabilities don’t extend to streaming, though.
Oticon for children
Children with hearing loss have specific needs, and Oticon has specific pediatric hearing aids.
One, the Oticon Play PX is the first to use the Deep Neural Network that makes use of deep learning to help children hear the essential sounds in their unique environments, ensuring they can fully experience childhood. A wireless remote microphone assists them in the classroom so they can clearly hear a teacher’s voice and portable SmartChargers are key for overnight adventures. It’s for mild to severe hearing loss.
The Oticon Xceed Play is for children with severe to profound hearing loss. It uses technology like BrainHearing technology to help children clearly hear sounds around them from all directions. Reduction in feedback and whistling also help improve the listening experience, which is essential to speech development, and wireless connectivity makes it simpler to stream media and socialize with friends on the phone.
The 3 key takeaways
- Oticon hearing aids can help a variety of hearing needs — The brand’s diverse range of products offers different levels of support for patients with mild to profound hearing loss.
- Technology is at the forefront of Oticon’s philosophy — Seamless connectivity to Bluetooth and a proprietary sound processor, BrainHearing, have made Oticon a top brand for hearing aids.
- Oticon is a prescription hearing aid — You’ll need to buy an Oticon device through a licensed audiologist or hearing aid specialist who can walk you through choosing a hearing aid.
Are Oticon hearing aids for me?
Oticon’s portfolio is one of the most comprehensive in the industry. With 14 hearing aid families and numerous models to choose from, there’s an option for almost everyone, including pediatric models.
Considered one of the top brands for customer service, there’s a lot to like about Oticon, but, like any other product, it has its downsides, too.
The pros of Oticon hearing aids
- Oticon has solutions for patients with mild, moderate, severe, and profound hearing loss. The diverse inventory allows all hearing loss patients to enjoy improved sound quality, speech clarity, and more.
- Oticon produces miniBTE and miniRITE hearing aid styles. These smaller styles are less noticeable and more discreet, providing peace of mind for those concerned about the appearance or stigma sometimes associated with hearing aids.
- Bluetooth connectivity. Many models of Oticon hearing aids boast Bluetooth capabilities, allowing wearers to stream phone calls, music, and more.
The cons of Oticon hearing aids
- You’ll need a prescription. The Food and Drug Administration approved over-the-counter hearing aids in 2022, but Oticon is a prescription brand, so you will need to visit an audiologist before purchasing your device.
- They can be costly. Some devices, like Oticon’s budget option, the Ruby, may cost under $2,000 (per ear). However, like most prescription devices, Oticon’s costs can run pretty high.
- No rechargeable in-the-ear technology. Patients looking for in-the-ear devices with rechargeable batteries may want to consider other brands like Phonak, Starkey, or ReSound.
Oticon apps
Downloading an Oticon app gives you the chance to discreetly and quickly swipe and tap your way to an improved, customized listening experience.
- Companion app. The Oticon Companion app includes volume control, remote support, and battery life information. You can also use it to locate your device if you lose it or switch between listening programs. People with tinnitus applaud the ability to use the app to control relief sounds for the condition, which they can set up with their hearing care provider.
- Oticon ON. The Oticon ON lets users adjust the volume, stream music or TV, and set hearing goals using the HearingFitness feature. Oticon Tinnitus Support is also available on this app. However, it’s being discontinued.
Oticon accessories
Oticon accessories can add to your experience with a hearing aid, providing everything from convenience to benefits that make it easier to hear the sounds most important to you.
- ConnectClip. This accessory lets a user make hands-free phone calls and stream music using their mobile phone. A remote microphone lets you hear someone speaking from a distance ($399).
- SmartCharger. SmartCharger is Oticon’s sleek black desktop charger that combines style, functionality, and ease of use — just put the devices in the appropriate port and let them recharge. The portability is ideal for one-the-go types who love to travel. ($300 through an audiologist).
- TV Adapter 3.0. Ditch family feuds while watching Family Feud (or your family’s TV shows and movies of choice). The TV Adapter 3.0 lets Oticon hearing aid users adjust the volume to their needs while letting the rest of the family keep it at a level that fits theirs ($250).
- EDUMic. The EDUMic is a wireless remote microphone that lets users hear noises, including voices, like a distance. It’s a useful tool for classroom learning and workplaces, and the school system will often provide it once notified of compatible hearing devices in a classroom. It will pair with numerous Oticon devices. It is ideal for teachers with at least one student using an Oticon hearing aid. ($750).
- Remote control. Remote Control 3.0 lets a person easily adjust their hearing aids without another person noticing. It works with numerous models, including the Xceed, Xceed Play, and Oticon More (198.99).
- Oticon Desktop Charger. The Desktop Charger isn’t a case like the SmartCharger but offers a chic black style, portability, and easy-to-use ports for simple charging ($290).
- Phone adapter. Hearing aid users who use landlines at home or work can benefit from the Phone Adapter 2.0’s ability to connect to an analog phone. It’s usable during incoming and outgoing calls. It works with a ConnectClip or Streamer Pro for easy, hands-free phone calls ($100-150).
- Streamer Pro. The Streamer Pro acts as a personal remote, getting an audio signal and sending it to both ears. It transforms hearing aids into wireless headsets and has dedicated buttons for phones, TVs, and microphones ($299.99).
Oticon customer service
Oticon offers different levels of support.
Brochures and instructional videos for hearing aid use are online. They can also help you locate a hearing care provider. An online guide has self-driven solutions for technical support, including answers to frequently asked questions about TV Adapters, Remote Control, and maximum ranges between an Oticon hearing aid and an iPhone or Android device. It also has more information to help you troubleshoot the Oticon ON App.
However, if you aren’t able to find the help you need, Oticon has a helpline. Customers can call 855-400-9766 to receive support from a representative for mobile phone/electronic devices, ConnectLine devices, and Oticon ON App.
Oticon vs. other hearing aid brands
| Brand | Average retail price per pair | Styles | Rechargeable batteries? | Degrees of hearing loss | OTC or prescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oticon | $5,000 | IIC, CIC, ITC, ITE, RIC, and BTE | Select models | Mild to profound, plus single-sided deafness | Prescription |
| Jabra Enhance | $800 | ITC | All models | Mild to moderate | OTC |
| Signia | $3,000-$4000 | IIC, CIC, ITC, ITE, RIC, and BTE | Select models | Mild to profound, plus single-sided deafness | Prescription |
| Lexie | $799 | RIC, BTE | Select models | Mild to moderate | OTC |
Some quick facts about Oticon hearing aids
Oticon, which began more than a century ago, is one of the nation’s leading hearing aid brands. A few things to know:
- Queen Alexandra of England inspired the founder to start the company. Hans Demant, the founder of Oticon’s parent company, learned that the queen wore a hearing aid at her coronation in 1902. He then bought one for his wife, who was hearing impaired, and so the brainstorming began.
- Oticon began in 1904. Demant won a contract with American manufacturer General Acoustic Company and sold his first hearing aid in Odense, Denmark’s third-largest city, in 1904.
- Oticon is part of Demant A/S of Denmark. Oticon is the company’s flagship brand, which also produces and sells Sonic and Philips hearing aids. Demant A/S is one of the largest hearing aid manufacturers in the world.
- BrainHearing technology was introduced in the Oticon OPN line in 2016. Oticon’s proprietary sound-processing platform, BrainHearing, helps the brain filter sound based on content, not pitch, loudness, or direction, reducing listening effort.
What our audiologists say about Oticon hearing aids
Dr. Jessica Hinson
“Oticon is a great option when considering new hearing aids. They are known for their natural sound quality, and the newest technology is improving common hearing aid complaints such as wind noise and noise created when you touch the hearing aid microphones. The behind-the-ear aids come in 8 trendy colors to match most hair colors, and the in-the-ear devices come in 5 colors to closely match most skin tones. If you’re looking for hearing aids that are only in the ear with no component behind the ear, do note that Oticon does not offer rechargeable in-the-ear technology, so I recommend Resound or Starkey for those products.”
Dr. Danielle Morgan
“Oticon is a trusted hearing aid manufacturer that makes hearing aids for both children and adults. They have a large portfolio of products that can fit anything from mild to severe hearing loss. Oticon is constantly improving and making products that are reliable and user-friendly. They put a lot of research and development into their products, and it definitely shows. As a provider, I rarely see complaints regarding Oticon products.”
Dr. Ruth Reisman
“Oticon is a highly advanced medical-grade hearing aid. Most patients are very successful with these devices, given all the flexibility and options that these advanced hearing aids have to offer. The Oticon REAL has been highly successful, especially for patients adapting to new hearing aids.”
What customers say about Oticon hearing aids
Customers say their favorite feature is…
People love the seamless Bluetooth connectivity that Oticon provides. The improved listening capabilities give them the opportunity to have day-to-day and meaningful conversations, and they adore the numerous options for personalized settings. An Oticon device truly feels like something that can meet nearly any individual’s needs.
Customers say their least favorite feature is…
Though Oticon is known for its respected products, these hearing aids aren’t for everyone. Some users say that hearing in a crowd was challenging, and the lack of advanced functions like voice conversion reduced clarity. Some noted that the higher costs did not meet their budgets.
Frequently asked questions
What is the life expectancy of an Oticon hearing aid?
Oticon’s in-the-ear hearing aids usually last up to five years, and the behind-the-ear products can last up to six years. A person’s lifestyle, wear and tear, and care will affect a hearing aid’s lifespan.
How much should I pay for Oticon hearing aids?
It depends on the family, model, and features you’re adding on, but Oticon hearing aids typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500.
Which is better: Signia or Oticon?
This answer will be highly individualized based on your needs, budget, and preferences. A hearing care provider can walk you through your options. That way, you ensure you find the best product for you.
Where are Oticon hearing aids made?
Oticon was founded in Denmark and is still headquartered there today.
Is it recommended to purchase Oticon hearing aids online?
You cannot purchase Oticon hearing aids online or over the counter. They require a prescription from your hearing care provider.