I recommend you investigate the models offered by Sam's Club. An advantage of Sam's Club is availability of service after purchase. Hearing aids that are used every day may need service after 2 years. Most of these do not have an on-off switch. These are turned on by closing the battery door and the battery door is partially opened to turn off. The battery door is held closed by some sort of plastic detent and this wears out or the plastic 'spring' weakens. Repair is simple by replacing the battery door, and at this point, the user discovers the difference between brands - availability and cost of service! When I needed hearing aids, my doctor referred me to his group audiologist. A hearing test was made and an audiogram produced. A pair of hearing aids from the Doctor cost from $3000 and up. I opted to try a pair offered by my insurance (United Health). These cost in the neighborhood if $1200 to $1400, but were not available locally. I had to send a copy of my audiogram to Minneapolis, MN where the hearing aids were programmed and mailed to me. These H. aids had the receiver (speaker) in the hearing aid case and the sound was sent to the ear via an air tube and ear bud. At first, I was satisfied with these. After one year, the flimsy batter door was loose. That's when I found there were no repair stations in or near my metropolitan area. There were sales offices, but no repair. To get repair, one had to ship the units back to Minneapolis and arrange payment via phone or internet. Meanwhile, the user is without aids, I do not know the turn-around time in Minneapolis; I estimate the entire process would take a minimum of 2 weeks. If your hearing changed, a new sonogram would be needed and again, a 2 week process to get the change. It was at this point where I began to look for alternatives. The hearing aids i purchased from Sam's Club were higher quality ( and higher priced). A hearing test to make the sonograms was available in the store at no additional charge. I chose a pair of digital hearing aids with telecoils. These aids had storage for 4 different programs. 2 microphones within each unit, and the receiver in the ear canal. The programs currently in my aids are normal, noisy environment, and telecoil. There's room for one more program if needed. These aids cost $2000 for the pair. I added replacement insurance in case of loss, failure, or damage. There are telephones that can couple to telecoils. (Most phones do not have this option.) Telecoil coupling to a phone greatly helps with phone calls. Also, it can be useful in auditoriums and theaters when present. In a 2 year period, I have had only one occasion where I was able to use the telecoil and that was at a lecture in a library auditorium. It was great. We have movie theaters that supposedly have telecoil capability, but apparently, they do not activate it by default. I do plan to get a telecoil phone when we replace our present one. My left ear is very bad so I hold the phone to my right ear. However, Its very awkward to write notes since I am right handed. I've had this pair from Sam's Club for more than 2 years. When I took these in for new battery doors, they also re-tested my hearing and re-programmed the hearing aids at no charge. Prompt service is an important item.

Here testing by an audiologist or hearing aid specialist is free regardless of age. And most offer free 30/45 day trials. I have had better luck with the hearing aid specialist company than my local audiologist. The specialist has a direct line to an audiologist at Phonak, the brand that I have. I have the top of the line and also purchased the TV and Music set. Mine are 4 or 5 years old so technology has changed. My hearing loss is in the lower frequencies as opposed to higher frequencies. Mine is much harder to correct and I have struggled for years. I had a free checkup last week and learned that my right ear loss has increased. And of course, they wanted to sell me the latest and greatest new model. Haven't decided yet. I wish we had a Costco. The closest is an hour and a half away. Anyway, good luck!

After my 2nd child, I began to have hearing loss. I was 33. It continued to get worse, and I had more loss on my right side than my left. So I would always turn my head towards whoever was talking so I could hear them better. Even DH picked up on this, and he would always sit on my left side. When I was 48, I had health insurance that covered hearing aids, so I decided to get my hearing tested. I was shocked at how much my hearing had deteriorated. I'm now on my 2nd pair of hearing aids. 1st pair I got over 12 years ago, they were Oticons. They were around $5000. They didn't have any bells or whistles, just plain. They worked -- okay. I had to have some parts replaced through those years, never more than $250 for repairs. The costs to replace had gone up considerably (and insurance didn't cover them anymore) so I just kept maintaining them. I went through an ENT and then audiologist when purchasing. 6 months ago, after much researching, I decided to take the plunge and check out Costco. An licensed audiologist checked my hearing, and before she'd sell me anything, she made me go to an ENT and get checked out. There I had another audiologist check my hearing, the ENT MD went over everything -- both reports (from Costco & his office) and they were exactly alike. My insurance wouldn't pay anything for the h-aids, but did the office visit. I asked him about the hearing aids from Costco and he said they were great quality, and that his office could not even come close to matching their prices. I then took that report back to Costco, and the audiologist worked with me to find the best that fit me. The brand I now have is Phillips -- which is manufactured by Oticon. (Oticon is one of the top manufacturers of hearing aids.) The h.aids cost about $2100. If I'd not gone w/the "generic" version, it would have been around $8000. They are rechargeable, which I really like! I can control the volume w/my phone, phone conversations feed through my ears, same with the music on my phone. I do not have the TV connection, although I think I could get it. They are so comfortable. My previous pair, I couldn't wait to take them off when I got home. Not from the sound, just the feeling of wearing them. So far, I've not had any problems. I have, (I think a year?) or so to take them back if I don't like them. They are warrantied for 4 years. They provide the domes & filters for free for life. These are very comfortable. I don't rush to take them off when I get home from work. In fact, I probably wear them more than I didn't the 1st pair. If I can answer any questions, just let me know!! Came back to add w/the app, I also have these features: Find my hearing aids Battery Status -- I put them in at 7:30 am this morning, it's 2:00 pm, and I still have 78%. I love not having to mess with tiny little batteries! Microphone (this turns my phone into a microphone.) I've not had to use it, but if I were in a meeting in large room, I could put my phone closer to the speaker and it would play it through the H.aids. And both of these, -- although I've not used either of them yet. IFTTT Hearing loop And probably some things I don't even know about. LOL!!

DH's hearing aids are from Costco. He's had nothing but good experiences with them. He's really good about having them serviced regularly. Our nearest Costco is 55 miles away but he drops them at the audio dept as we begin to shop and picks them up when we've finished - about every other month. He was having some issues with them charging fully a couple of years ago and they replaced to cord to his charger (no fee) and that solved the problem. There is a part of the warranty for loss or destruction that is longer than the 4 years, without looking, I think its free replacement of one if lost for 5 years. It does happen, my sisters husband lost one in their driveway one week and before it was found it had been driven over. Costco replaced no charge. DH is not particularly vain but I don't even see his. When he ordered them, he said the audiologist had suggested he buy the silver color and he didn't know why but was fine with that choice. 😊 She was surely matching his hair color, and it was a good choice. They are all but invisible - not that it matters. Not repeating myself all day every day had been more a gift to me than I can describe..... Worth every penny of the approx $1400....