The Best Hearing Aids for Seniors (2024)

Listening to loss can occur at any age—together with start—however it’s most typical amongst older adults. Data shows that a few third of individuals 65 and older have age-related listening to loss, leaping to 50 p.c after age 75. For these people, a hearing aid can considerably improve their high quality of life, permitting them to completely have interaction in social actions or speak freely on the cellphone.

Till 2022, when the US Meals and Drug Administration green-lit over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, seniors may solely get listening to aids prescribed by a health care provider. The FDA’s approval of OTC gadgets opened the door to elevated entry and decrease prices, and right now there are extra kinds obtainable than ever. For a lot of seniors, behind-the-ear (BTE) gadgets are well-liked, although in-the-ear (ITE) fashions are wonderful decisions for individuals who desire a extra discreet possibility and may maneuver them with out dexterity challenges. Primarily based on our testing, the Jabra Enhance Select 300 tops our listing for its sound high quality, excessive stage of customer support, and ease of use. Right here’s our full listing of listening to aids for seniors, together with over-the-counter and prescription gadgets, all expert-tested and accepted.

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How We Examined

The market is crowded with listening to aids claiming to be your best option for seniors, and selecting one might be complicated. Which of them are “finest” for you depends upon your wants and tastes, however even that may really feel imprecise and clichéd. To type by way of the choices, I partnered with licensed audiologist Ruth Reisman to conduct hands-on testing of twenty-two listening to aids. We analyzed every product on quite a few dimensions, together with high quality, consolation stage, and efficiency baselines decided by the American Nationwide Requirements Institute (ANSI). Reisman analyzed every listening to assist in her lab and accepted fashions that amplified sounds at secure ranges. I additionally examined these listening to aids in quite a few settings, together with my house, open air, and noisy and quiet environments.

Collectively, we took quite a lot of concerns into consideration to show down the noise on advertising. Learn our Best Hearing Aids information for added particulars about our testing course of.