Best/worst hearing aid brands?

I’ve had a lot of issues w/ Resound products breaking on me

My last resound hearing aids, the button that changed programs and the volume broke… and I sent it in to get fixed (which is a PAIN because I have to go without…no loaners) and they sent them back…without the problem fixed.

I chose to just go without fixing it because I couldn’t afford another 2 weeks of not being able to hear

I am looking for my first HA device. I compared Siemens, Widex, Rexton and will try Phonak too. Which one would you recommend?

The best HA, imho, are the implants like Envoy Esteem and Vibrant Soundbridge, hope their price will drop soon.

My favourites in order are Phonak, Unitron, Oticon, Widex, Starkey, Resound.

Rant warning: I am not a fan of Siemens Hearing aids as they have been nothing but trouble for my clients and I (and for a lot of my collegues) and their feedback management is absolutely useless. I have spoken with technicians who have advised me that Siemens hearing aids corrode much more easily internally compared to other brands, despite their supposed moisture proofing. I have fitted many Siemens hearing aids in the past (working for employers who only offered Siemens), but now steer well clear of them as this has been a continuing trend even in their latest models (which I have tried to my dismay after the reps convinced me these issues were solved). Siemens hearing aids are supplied by many practices as they offer some of the largest bulk discounts (up to 60% off wholesale!) in the industry. These are just my personal experiences and resultant bias though as there are quite a few people who are very happy with their Siemens hearing aids.

@gunnar said:

I don’t like that Rexton has their data sheet hidden under a password, and the only public info are the marketing leaflets, without any technical detail.
Why ? Are their parameters too low compared to other manufacturers? Or too similar to Siemens aids? Can someone provide me some tech details about high-end Rexton devices?

Since every single Rexton hearing aid is manufactured by Siemens, of course they are similar. As a matter of fact, they are identical . As well as Electone, AM-Hearing and so on.

You can find some of the Rexton datasheets here:

http://factsandfigures.rexton.com/search.htm1

@regal1945 said:

Is this why they are rated #3 in the top 10 best H/A???

You should note they, which I assume is Siemens, is rated by sales not quality. I never said Siemens was bad at selling -note the massive discounts to move their products. Siemens’s interest in hearing aids makes for less than 1% of their total business income and to them it is just another income stream. The hearing aid only companies cannot afford to produce unreliable or poor quality products without significantly affecting their bottom line or even their future sustainability as it takes massive amounts of resources to develop a new product which if it fails is disasterous.

@hearnow said:

You should note they, which I assume is Siemens, is rated by sales not quality. I never said Siemens was bad at selling -note the massive discounts to move their products. Siemens’s interest in hearing aids makes for less than 1% of their total business income and to them it is just another income stream. The hearing aid only companies cannot afford to produce unreliable or poor quality products without significantly affecting their bottom line or even their future sustainability as it takes massive amounts of resources to develop a new product which if it fails is disasterous.

I’m not sure of your point . . . for the most part sales is a rating of quality – or at least percieved quality. If the general opinion of Siemens was that the quality was inferior then the sales wouldn’t be third (if the sales are third). Conversely, to be third there must be a lot of folks that believe their HAs are worth buying.

Not pro or con . . . just sayin’

Grandpa

@Grandpa said:

I’m not sure of your point . . . for the most part sales is a rating of quality – or at least percieved quality. If the general opinion of Siemens was that the quality was inferior then the sales wouldn’t be third (if the sales are third). Conversely, to be third there must be a lot of folks that believe their HAs are worth buying.

Not pro or con . . . just sayin’

Grandpa

Valid point, but you nailed it by the words “perceived quality”. Perception of quality is generated by a tool called marketing, which Siemens can afford as they have lots of $$$ considering that 1% of billions $ is still many millions $.

Another factor alluded to before is their incredible bulk discount structures which are far more aggresive than their competitors, meaning large chains and smaller supplies of hearing aids looking to make $ (of which there are a lot) will choose Siemens to supply as you make significantly more profit or alternatively you can undercut your competitors. This has nothing to do with the quality of the product, but has to do with optimizing profits for both wholesaler and retailer. Thus many retailers offering only their products or those of their sister companies compared to other brands i.e a large supply chain based on cost savings.

Siemens also has a significant benefit in their brand name as they are well known and even respected in other fields apart from hearing aids. Then their hearing aids are certainly passable and do work as hearing aids and their specs look fantastic on paper. Its just a shame about actual performance (compared to other brands with similar features). I am just saying there are a lot better options out there and I will not be fitting them anymore as my unhappiest group of clients are Siemens users. I choose to supply what is most likely to benefit my clients, not my bottom line.

@ed121 said:

Perhaps, we should examine the underlying motivations of those who knock a widely accepted brand.

Let me tell you something about my “underlying motivation”: few years ago, Siemens offered me a contract where it says: “we will grant you a fee for your intensive efforts to strenghten the brand names Siemens and Rexton in your market” an then “we are in a position to grant you a discount of 10% for mentioned price list. The price difference will be transferred to you as marketing support twice per year or upon individual agreement”.

What was not written in the contract is their suggestion to open a bank account in a different country (on my own name, not the company name) to receive the discount there. Well, in my opinion, this is not a way to do business. I’m not stealing from my own company.

So much about the “underlying motivations” and the Siemens way to do business. Btw., I still have the original contract, but I didn’t bought even a cable from them.

@ed121 said:

It has been my experience in other business fields that brands that have loose distribution policies tend to get knocked by certain retailers regardless of the product’s intrinsic quality.

Siemens will sell their aids to almost any dealer…even Ebay merchants.

Hence, audiologists and dispensers that wish (or need) to maintain high gross profit margins will shun those brands that fail to protect them by widely distributing their products to dealers who do not want (or need) those high gross profit margins.

My personal experience is that Siemens builds high quality products fully the equal of the best available from the other manufacturers.

Perhaps, we should examine the underlying motivations of those who knock a widely accepted brand. And also be aware of the emotional bias of those that tout a brand they own and like. (= I bought it, I like it, my sense of personal self worth and judgment is wrapped up in this purchase.)

Unfortunately there is no objective unbiased system of testing hearing aids available. No Consumer’s Report Magazine. Ed

siemens sells to ebay merchands? Most maf, ban internet sales.
is this a fact?

Xbuilder: I have purchased a pair of top line Siemens aids with a large discount from dispenser prices from an Ebay dealer. The aids were shipped direct from Siemens and I received a guarantee from Siemens. The TEK remote went bad and Siemens replaced it free of charge with a newer model…again direct from Siemens. It appears that if a dealer pays his bills on time and has a license, Siemens will ship to him.

I am surprised that you are not aware that one of the major manufactures, just last year, effectively cut off their Internet dealers.

Lancaster: Many multi-national conglomerates use sales techniques that are unsavory. Such an offering as you describe is patently illegal in the USA. I believe that Siemens is in trouble with the German government over some of their commercial practices.

But, from the consumer’s point of view, these practices, if true, have little,if any, impact on the quality vs retail price of their product. Ed

@ed121 said:

Unfortunately there is no objective unbiased system of testing hearing aids available. No Consumer’s Report Magazine. Ed

I opened this months consumer reports magazine and you’ll NEVER guess what’s in it! Unfortunately the nature of the magazine is such that is really is not appropriate for them to do into nitty gritty detail of specific instrument, which they don’t. They do give some good advice for the n00b about the process and different types.

@zafdor said:

I opened this months consumer reports magazine and you’ll NEVER guess what’s in it! Unfortunately the nature of the magazine is such that is really is not appropriate for them to do into nitty gritty detail of specific instrument, which they don’t. They do give some good advice for the n00b about the process and different types.

Great! I have not seen the article yet but CR certainly could report on and test the fundamental characteristics and capabilities of a number of specific hearing aids. For example, it could measure the ability of a hearing aid to:

1. Correct for a variety of hearing loss profiles (frequency selective gain control),
2. Limit the intensity of overly loud sounds (frequency selective compression)
3. Measure the effectiveness of various noise reduction systems (omni vs directional microphones, fixed vs.adaptive).
4. Measure the effectiveness of feedback cancellation systems.
5. Compare the quality of sound that is delivered via open tube vs. speaker in ear.
6. It could measure and compare these into a standard ear model as well as conduct tests with real people.
7. Evaluate the effectiveness and ease of use of the available adjusting software (e.g., America Hears’ Virtual Office).
8. Evaluate the satisfaction quotient of people who already wear hearing aids (e.g. annual questionnaire)

IMO, these are entirely within the charter and capability of Consumer Reports. It does as much when comparing HDTV sets! This information would be of enormous benefit to all hearing challenged people (est 60 million in US, alone).

Everyone should try to contact CR and encourage them to expand the study!

What about the Major Hearing Associations etc…
Sponsoring Hearing Aid …
Terminology Standards
Tests/Comparisons???

Hearing Loss Association of America
Better Hearing Institute (BHI)

@ed121 said:

Xbuilder: I have purchased a pair of top line Siemens aids with a large discount from dispenser prices from an Ebay dealer. The aids were shipped direct from Siemens and I received a guarantee from Siemens. The TEK remote went bad and Siemens replaced it free of charge with a newer model…again direct from Siemens. It appears that if a dealer pays his bills on time and has a license, Siemens will ship to him.

I am surprised that you are not aware that one of the major manufactures, just last year, effectively cut off their Internet dealers.

Lancaster: Many multi-national conglomerates use sales techniques that are unsavory. Such an offering as you describe is patently illegal in the USA. I believe that Siemens is in trouble with the German government over some of their commercial practices.

But, from the consumer’s point of view, these practices, if true, have little,if any, impact on the quality vs retail price of their product. Ed

From what I read on this Forum … Nearly all Manufacturers offer volume and price incentives to Audiologists. Audiologist also tend to specialize in a particular brand; since they don’t have as much to learn. It is a big time saver and hence money maker.

For most items… getting support for them does not necessarily have to come from the same place you buy them. Homes, Cars, Major Appliances, Prescription Drugs.
In fact, many ethical questions have been raised about Doctors who also own Drug Stores… often on premice.