How to Select The Best Hearing Aid? | 6 Key Considerations

Dr. Cliff Olson, Audiologist and Founder of Applied Hearing Solutions in Arizona discusses 6 key considerations when selecting the Best Hearing Aids for you.

Website: DrCliffAuD.com

Clinic Website: AppliedHearingAZ.com

Deciding on which hearing aids to buy requires more than just looking at a hearing test. It requires a comprehensive hearing evaluation and careful consideration of your specific hearing needs.

I constantly receive emails asking me to look at a hearing test and recommend the best hearing aids for that particular individual. The problem is, the hearing test only one small part of the equation. Even the best audiologists in the world aren’t able to adequately recommend the perfect hearing aid based on hearing test results alone.

#1. Hearing Loss Severity - The simple fact is that you need a hearing aid that is capable of providing enough Amplification. If you have a severe hearing loss, you need a device that can produce an adequate amount of sound.

#2. Speech in Noise Score - This is something that should be added on to every hearing evaluation. One common test is the Quick SIN (Speech-In-Noise) Test. This will indicate if hearing aids alone will help you understand speech in a noisy situation.


#3. Accessibility of a particular Brand - if you have difficulty getting in to see your hearing care professional, you may benefit from remotely programmed devices. You may not have accessibility to a particular brand in your area so this may restrict your options.

#4. Important Features - There is a long list of questions you should be asked when deciding which Hearing Aid Features would provide you with the most benefit. This can't be done by just looking at a hearing test. This can take time to make sure it is done well.


#5. Consideration of Lifestyle - Recommending a specific technology level depends on your lifestyle. This has nothing to do with the severity of your hearing loss. The more complex listening environments you find yourself in, the higher technology you will require.


#6. Does your Hearing Care Provider follow “Best Practices”? - Even the perfect hearing aid purchased from and fit by a provider who does not follow “best practices” will not provide you with the maximum benefit of that hearing aid.

What are “best practices”?
Basically they are the fundamentals that a hearing care professional should follow when recommending, fitting, and programming a set of hearing aids.
They include a long list of procedures which include:
1. Comprehensive Audiologic Evaluation
2. Thorough Needs Assessment
3. Hearing aid Diagnostic Checks to ensure hearing aids meet specific specifications
4. Real Ear Measurement to ensure hearing aids are matching the users hearing loss prescription
5. Validation outcome measures to assess your “real world” benefit



Hearing aids can dramatically improve your life, but only if you are selecting the right devices. Unfortunately, this process is more complex than most people realize. It cannot be done by simply looking at a hearing test, but it can be done very well if you take all of these factors into consideration.