Best Hearing Aids for Single-Sided Hearing Loss, Tested and Ranked by Audiologists

Best Hearing Aids for Single-Sided Hearing Loss, Tested and Ranked by Audiologists

Best Hearing Aids for Single-Sided Hearing Loss, Tested and Ranked by Audiologists

best hearing aids for single sided deafness

How We Tested the Hearing Aids

Our tech team conducted over 100 hours of hands-on testing to compare the top UHL hearing aids apples-to-apples. We focused on a wide range of factors that could affect efficacy and comfort for users with single-sided hearing loss and took notes on every aspect of our experience.

Here’s what our testing process looked like for OTC hearing aids that could be ordered online without a prescription:

  1. We tried out each brand’s online hearing test, comparing our results to in-person evaluations from an audiologist.
  2. Then, we selected our hearing aids and made our purchase, evaluating the overall purchasing process. We considered the price and value of each hearing aid model, keeping seasonal promotions, extra fees, and upfront costs in mind.
  3. Once the devices arrived at our doorstep, we followed the instructions to set them up. If the brand had a mobile app, we downloaded it to our phones and set it up as well. We evaluated the ease of use and the total number of steps required to get our hearing aids out of the box and fully functional.
  4. We reached out to customer service several times to evaluate the quality of care by phone, mobile app (if applicable), and online chat features.
  5. Our team tested each hearing aid for a week, using them at home, in noisy environments, and in more intimate, conversational settings. We evaluated the hearing aid’s features, sound quality, and ease of use in each location.

For prescription hearing aids that can’t be ordered online, we spoke with Dr. Reisman about her expertise with each brand. We used her experience prescribing and testing these hearing aids, along with feedback from her patients, to evaluate and rank them.

How We Chose the Best Hearing Aids

Choosing the right hearing aid can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time shopping for one. To help you decide, we’ve compiled a list of the best hearing aids for single-sided hearing loss. We spent hours testing models, consulting audiologists, and evaluating providers based on the following criteria.

  • UHL features: This is the most important factor we considered while evaluating hearing aid providers. We made sure to include providers that offer one hearing aid or pairs, CROS systems, Bluetooth streaming, and customizable sound settings. All of the providers on our list offer at least one important feature that makes them better for balancing sound inputs and living with single-sided hearing loss.
  • Comfort: It may feel a little unbalanced to have a device in only one ear, so we tested different models and looked for those that were the most comfortable. We also considered providers that offer multiple ways to enhance hearing in one ear without feeling lopsided, like the ability to add a CROS or BiCROS system.
  • Price: We included more affordable OTC hearing aids, as well as pricier prescription hearing aids that are custom fit to meet your needs. While all of the providers on our list offer competitive pricing and good value, some are better suited for budget shoppers than others.
  • Remote care: Many providers offer remote care, which is a major benefit for seniors with single-sided hearing loss. We included providers that offer various forms of remote care to help you adjust your hearing aids.
  • Battery life: Some of our top picks have batteries that can be worn for months or even years on end without replacement, while others offer rechargeable batteries that can be left to charge while you sleep. Having these options gives you more control over how you use and maintain your hearing devices.

Why Trust Us

Our team of tech experts tries out the latest gadgets and devices for seniors each year. We’ve logged hundreds of hours testing and reviewing hearing aids from dozens of providers.

We also worked with experts like our resident licensed audiologist, Dr. Ruth Reisman. She has personally tested and prescribed hearing aids from providers on this list. She’s also worked alongside us to choose the best ones for single-sided hearing loss and offered her feedback on specific providers and models. Dr. Reisman has more than three decades of experience working with older adults with hearing loss, so we take her word seriously!

This post was last modified on November 24, 2024 11:37 am