Hearing Aids Review: The 4 Leading Makers
You want to get a new hearing aid but you don't know where to look. The perfect place to start is to know what the major makers are. Siemens hearing aids, Starkey hearing aids, Phonak hearing aids, and Beltone hearing aids are the foremost hearing aid makers that I will be reviewing.
There are two types of hearing aids--analog and digital. Digital hearing aids are more costly than analog hearing aids. The problem with analog hearing aids is that the sound quality is not as good as that of digital hearing aids. Digital hearing aids are not only clearer, but they have more features built into these devices that can be customized using a computer. Nowadays, digital hearing aids are inexpensive and so more people are now using digital hearing aids.
If you are not certain which one is right for you, a hearing aid expert is available to assist you. You need to bear in mind that the nearer the hearing aid is to the eardrum the clearer is the sound quality.
Below are four different kinds of hearing aids available in the market.
A hearing aid that can be fitted over the ear and can rest behind it is the behind the ear (BTE) which is also very affordable. A hearing aid that can sit just inside the ear is the in the ear (ITE) which is regularly used. A hearing aid that fits somewhat low into the ear is the in the ear canal (ITC) which is also hardly perceptible. The last kind of hearing aid which can be fitted down the ear is the completely in the ear canal (CIC). Even though totally hidden from view, the completely in the ear canal has to adapt to the shape and size of the ear canal.
Quality and excellence is what makes these four brands the top manufacturers of hearing aids. Their primary concern is not only excellence but the type of service they provide in order to satisfy their customers and to continually develop better hearing aid solutions.
Siemens Hearing Aids
Consumers have trusted in Siemens when it comes to hearing aids. Siemens has been in the hearing aid industry for more than 125 years and is the largest manufacturer of hearing aids in the US. Each of Siemens' hearing aids is created to perfection and with the same expertise as any of their line of hearing aids. Their hearing aids are available in three styles--basic, values, and ultimate features. All Siemens hearing aids are available with a warranty for two years. Siemans hearing aids have a higher price but with more channels and more features than lower priced versions. If you are worried about your budget, you can give their Phoenix and Cielo models a try. The most expensive Artis e2e has wireless ear-to-ear technology.
Beltone Hearing Aids
Another leading hearing aid brand is Beltone. It has an exceptional reputation and posseses more than 1,300 branches in the United States of America. They offer an aftercare program called Belcare to assist you with your ongoing needs. Beltone has a lifestyle assessment program called Personalized Hearing Health Assessment (PHHA) wherein specialists will help you decide the appropriate Beltone hearing aid. Beltone provides a wide variety of hearing aids including basic, quality, advantage and premier styles. Each group has products matches your needs. The three-channel Edge model is Beltone's most inexpensive line of hearing aids. The Mira is a mid-range model with 6 channels. Oria is Beltone's top-of-the-line twelve-channel hearing aid.
Starkey Hearing Aids
The title of world's biggest hearing aids maker belongs to Starkey Laboratories. Their hearing aids are created by bearing in mind the kind of lifestyle you live and the magnitude of your hearing loss. Starkey provided the first in the hearing aid industry-a warranty and free trial. They have plenty of hearing aid models available beginning with the 3-channel Aspect. There are several models of Starkey's mid-level Destiny. Your Bluetooth-capable phone would be perfect with the top-of-the-line Eli models with its wireless capability.
Phonak Hearing Aids
A global company called Phonak has its base of operations in Switzerland. You can have your Phonak hearing aid customized to fit to your hearing needs and lifestyle. The six channel eXtra model is Phonak's basic entry-level hearing aid. Valeo and Elva have sixteen channels and are the mid-range type of hearing aid. Their top-of-the-line Savia model has twenty channels and extra features that maximize the capability of the hearing aid. Phonak hearing aids have wireless solutions.