The audiologists.org Reviews Team puts in the hours. Check out how we get to our recommendations.

Product review
methodology

All of the products we review are carefully tested and evaluated by product testers and a board of licensed audiologists.

Our team evaluates products on six key criteria:

  • Cost

    We evaluate the price point, the financing options available, insurance coverage, and the product’s warranty options to give you insight into the product’s affordability.

  • Battery life

    When a product has a rechargeable battery, it helps save you both time and money, which plays into how we rank the product. A product with a rechargeable battery will rank higher than a product that does not include rechargeable batteries.

  • Bluetooth compatibility

    If a hearing aid or listening device is Bluetooth enabled, it makes for a much easier customer experience. We factor this, along with the ability to self-adjust using smartphone apps, into our product ranking.

  • Customer service

    When it comes to hearing aids, you want to make sure you have a robust customer service team available to assist you. We evaluate the ease with which you can contact customer service as well as customer service reviews when we rank a product.

  • Customization options available

    Hearing aids that can be customized and fitted specifically for the patient have a higher chance of success. We look at the customization options available and use that as part of our ranking system.

  • Expert insights

    We present each over-the-counter and prescription hearing aid we review to our audiologists so they can offer their professional opinion on the product’s durability, features, and other aspects of the device. Then, we input their numerical rating and personal commentary into our reviews.

Taking all of these factors into consideration, we assign each hearing aid a score, with 30 being the highest-possible score. Our ratings are distributed as follows:

Raw score Star rating
25-30 5 stars star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon
20-24 4 stars star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon
15-19 3 stars star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon
10-14 2 stars star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon
Any score below 10 1 star star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon

Highly-rated products earn a place on our lists of top models, and we’ll also let you know when a hearing device does not meet our standards for quality.

Every article undergoes a robust editorial process including multiple revisions by health-focused writers and editors who are up-to-speed on the latest audiology science and hearing health trends followed by a medical review from a member of our Board of Audiologists led by Dr. Ruth Reisman.