Methodology: How We Picked the Best Bluetooth Hearing Aids of 2024

Publish Date : 2024-01-09 03:47:55

What Is a Bluetooth Hearing Aid?

A hearing aid is a wearable, electronic device typically prescribed by an audiologist that amplifies sound for the user. A Bluetooth hearing aid has the capacity to connect to other electronic devices like smartphones, laptops and televisions, which means it can be controlled through the user’s device of choice rather than through tiny on-device buttons or a remote. It also means users can play audio from their devices—such as music, movies or phone calls—directly through their hearing aid’s speakers.

How Do Bluetooth Hearing Aids Work?

Just like other devices with Bluetooth connectivity, Bluetooth hearing aids connect to other devices by using radio frequency to transmit data. The radio waves involved are weak—much weaker than those used for cell phone calls, for example—and as such only travel short distances. Connecting devices via Bluetooth is called “pairing” them and is most often done through an accompanying smartphone app. Beside this ability to connect to other devices within a short distance, Bluetooth hearing aids function the same as traditional hearing aids.

Can You Get Rechargeable Bluetooth Hearing Aids?

Some Bluetooth hearing aids come in rechargeable versions for users who prefer to avoid disposable batteries. Phonak offers rechargeable Bluetooth hearing aids, including the Paradise model on our list, with a single charge lasting a full day. (Most users charge these hearing aids overnight.) The Oticon More and Resound One hearing aids on our list can also be rechargeable.

How Much Do Bluetooth Hearing Aids Cost?

Many hearing aid manufacturers don’t offer their products directly to consumers, so it can be tough to find accurate pricing with only a click. Hearing aids are also often sold as part of a “bundle” with additional services (like necessary follow-ups with an audiologist) so it may not be clear what a “sticker price” actually reflects. While many people with hearing loss are affected in both ears, hearing aids are usually priced individually, not as a pair.

There are many hearing aid options on the market with price tags reading less than $2,000, though not usually less than $1,500. Higher-end products often exceed $3,000, but it’s unlikely for a single hearing aid to exceed $4,000 significantly.

The Benefits of Using Hearing Aids With Bluetooth

There are several perks to choosing hearing aids with Bluetooth compatibility, including:

• Enhanced sound quality. Bluetooth technology is known for providing high-quality hearing experiences because it streams sound directly to the ears in a reliably stable manner, minimizing feedback and other unwanted sounds.
• Hearing with both ears. For people who wear hearing aids in both ears, Bluetooth technology allows the hearing aids to communicate with one another and regulate sound appropriately, helping the user to hear more clearly.
• Easier personalization. Most Bluetooth hearing aids feature a variety of personalization options that the user can control without the assistance of an audiologist. From volume to sound frequency, these hearing aids can be adjusted so the audio the user is streaming matches their hearing needs.
• Remote access. Bluetooth-compatible hearing aids can be controlled via another connected device, such as a phone or tablet, making it easy to adjust settings or change programs through the device’s accompanying app instead of pressing small buttons on the aid manually.

• Are Bluetooth Hearing Aids Safe?

  There’s no current evidence to suggest that Bluetooth hearing aids pose any threat to users’ health. While some question whether the radiation from wireless hearing aids is associated with brain damage, no reliable research supports such hypotheses. In fact, Bluetooth technology has been used safely in hearing aid models from leading manufacturers for more than a decade.

  Audiologists published in The Hearing Review state: “Consumers should be confident knowing that wireless hearing aids are safe and strictly regulated medical devices that meet governmental wireless communication standards in addition to those set forth for medical devices.”