Any opinions on the hearing aide "Miracle-Ear"?

Question

We are in search of a good hearing aide. How does Miracle Ear rate to other ones on the market?

Answer 1

Hi, I'm an Audiologist.

Miracle Ear is a company that manufactures hearing aids and has a chain of franchise dispensaries that deal with their product exclusively. As far as the technology of their devices goes, they are fairly compatible with other brands. However, they tend to charge more, as they need to recoup the money for their advertising.

I've had several patients that have had bad experiences with Miracle Ear products and Dispensers. But then again, if they were happy, they wouldn't be coming to see us. Still, it is an important investment you are making, and you need to not only consider the cost and convenience, but also the service and professional support you will receive.

I strongly recommend that you consult a few Audiologists (rather than Hearing Aid Dispensers) in your area, to shop around for the product and service. Especially if you have never worn hearing aids before, it is important that you fully understand the options available to you (each person and each hearing loss is different); and to have someone that will explain to you what to expect, how to adapt to hearing all the sounds you've been missing, and how to get the most from your investment. For example, if both ears hear about equally, you would do much better if you have amplification for both ears.

No matter where you purchase, you should get a trial period that is AT LEAST 30 days long, during which you have the option to return the aid(s) with no questions asked (most places do have some portion of the cost that is not refunded). Make sure you go in for at least one follow-up visit during that trial period and that you get all your questions answered promptly and professionally.

If at all possible, have someone accompany you to these visits -- it's a lot of information, and the some of my patients can seem intimidated by the process. Unfortunately, some patients (especially seniors) can be easily influenced or will just want to keep it simple and just stay with the first person they talk to. You're spending a lot of money and these devices need to help you for the next five years or so -- it's better not to make a hasty decision.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to click on my name/avatar and the on Contact HearKat and send me a note.

Answer 2

I would suggest you investigate hearing aids with open ear acoustics. They reduce the feeling of having “plugged” ears. Also ones that include noise-reduction programs that change hearing aid settings when speech is detected in the presence of background noise.

You get what you pay for. Talk to an audiologist to see what's best for your situation.

Answer 3

My grandpa has gone through several hearing aids. He says each on has its pluses and minuses. None of them can compare to regular good hearing though.

My recommendation is search around the Internet for customer reviews.