Hearing aids have been around for a very long time. Initially, it was something like a horn inserted into its ear with its narrow end. The electric hearing aid appeared in 1878 - it was designed by the notorious Werner von Siemens. The first model, like many subsequent ones, worked on the principle of a telephone and was very cumbersome. But gradually such devices were improved. Now, some hearing aids have such miniature dimensions that it is difficult to notice them even if a person has a short haircut. But in this article we will talk not only about the smallest devices, but about the best ones. Most often, buyers to the models we reviewed today do not have any serious complaints.
Content:
Hearing aid which company to buy
Under the Bradex brand, several models of auditory amplifiers are manufactured. All of them are distinguished by their very low price. If suddenly your main hearing aid is broken, and there is no decent amount of money at hand, then buying a device under the Bradex brand is the best option! But you should not expect serious quality from such a product, yet it is a purely budget device.
Oticon
Oticon is not the first decade. Over a long period of existence, the number of its employees has increased to three thousand people. This allows not only to produce products on a huge scale, but also to distribute it across several dozen countries of the world. This includes purchasing Oticon hearing amplifiers on the territory of Russia. It should be noted that the staff of the enterprise includes not only engineers versed in electronics, but also real scientists - they are engaged in research and new developments. This contributes to the continuous improvement of Oticon products.
Phonak
It is she who introduces the largest number of innovative solutions in the field of hearing correction. The company dates back to 1947, when a small office in Zurich was founded. Throughout its history, the company produced not only hearing aids, but also FM radio receivers, as well as other simple equipment.
Siemens
Siemens has been manufacturing auditory amplifiers for many years. Now her creations are supplied with a flesh-colored body. In this case, the devices are very small - they are barely noticeable behind the human ear. Unfortunately, German products have an excessively high price tag. But then you get a high-quality device that can function from one set of batteries for a very long time. And the sound quality of such devices is very decent. All this is so encouraging to forget about saving.
Widex
A very large Danish company, founded back in 1956. Engaged in the production of hearing aids on a huge scale. This indicates at least the number of employees in excess of 2,400 people. The company is investing heavily in the development of new technologies, thanks to which Widex hearing aids are gradually becoming smaller. Now the company's products are exported to at least 90 countries.
Rating best hearing aids
In today's rankings based on customer feedback, we consider:
- Approximate cost in specialized stores;
- Type of construction;
- Device visibility;
- Sound amplification level;
- Support for additional features;
- Complaints of the owners.
Best hearing aids
Phonak VirtoQ90 Nano
As the name implies, this device is completely invisible to other people. But his main merit is not in this.The Swiss manufacturer tried to endow the device with so many functions that some modern smartphones would envy! But such a device is extremely expensive - it certainly will not afford an ordinary retiree.
Advantages:
- It is almost impossible to notice a stranger;
- Very serious sound enhancement;
- Automatic focus on the speech of certain people;
- The voice of the interlocutor on the phone can be heard in both ears;
- Connecting to the device MP3-player, smartphone and TV;
- Good legibility even where there is an echo;
- Elimination of wind and whistle noise.
Disadvantages:
- Astronomical price tag.
This hearing aid has no flaws, if you forget about its high cost. But experts from Switzerland knowingly require such money. They tried to endow their creation with adaptive intelligence, which adjusts the device to the specific nuances of everyday life. As a result, you will hear much better than healthy people. This is what the reviews on Phonak VirtoQ90 Nano tell.
Siemens Motion 101 SX
Very worthy product from the German masters. Belongs to the class of BTE hearing aids. Differs full automation. This allows a person not to be distracted by the settings of certain functions. Do we need to say that for an elderly person it is the setting of any electronics that causes the biggest problems?
Advantages:
- Suppression of sharp sounds;
- Focusing on the voice of certain people;
- Suppression of feedback and whistle effect;
- Suppression of wind sound;
- Auto tune.
Disadvantages:
- The price is very high;
- Not able to remember the acoustic environment of a particular room.
Reviews on the Siemens Motion 101 SX indicate that this hearing aid does not whistle and almost perfectly does its job. However, it takes some time to adjust to a specific room. It is a pity that the Germans did not allocate a device with a memory in which such settings would be saved, then choosing automatically. You can also regret the price tag, which many older people seem transcendent.
Bernafon Chronos 5 CP
At least one economy class hearing aid could not fail to get into our rating. However, it should be noted that even cheap devices of this kind cost a couple of tens of thousands of rubles. In this regard, not every elderly person can name this budget device. But to consider even cheaper devices does not make any sense, because in our material we are talking only about the best of the best.
Advantages:
- Convenient use;
- Non-channel signal processing;
- Automatic background noise reduction;
- Stable feedback suppression;
- Individual setting for each patient;
- Wireless connection of smartphones and other equipment.
Disadvantages:
- The battery charge is not very long;
- Not the richest functionality in comparison with more expensive devices;
- Not the best sound quality.
Reviews on Bernafon Chronos 5 CP show that many buyers are quite satisfied with their auditory amplifier. The device comes in a good case and is powered by standard 13-volt batteries. They can be used for hearing loss III-IV degree. You can only regret that the batteries regularly require replacement, which after a while will definitely start to annoy.
Phonak cassia
If not ideal, then the apparatus is very close to that title. The manufacturer offers several varieties of this model. As a result, you can choose the in-the-ear, intra-channel and more habitual BTE option. In this case, all versions of the device have excellent sound perception and support for many modern features.
Advantages:
- The presence of the focus function on the speaker;
- Proper suppression of extraneous noise;
- Lack of whistle, usually caused by the feedback effect;
- 17 color options.
Disadvantages:
- The functional is still not the maximum;
- Some complaints about sound quality;
- Overcharge.
If you read the reviews on Phonak Cassia, then it seems that buyers were satisfied. This is not surprising, because the device has the basic functionality that allows you to once again hear the world in all its volume. However, you must understand that this is still the entry-level model in the range of hearing aids Phonak. There are no advanced features like a wireless smartphone connection, which can boast of more expensive creations of the company.
Widex Mind 440
A very expensive hearing aid, characterized by durability and excellent appearance. There are three modifications of this device that have their own type of design. All of these versions offer a 15-channel setting that allows you to hear the world in all its colors. Voice messages are used for customization, so there are no problems with it.
Advantages:
- 15-channel tuning;
- Speech command support;
- Able to focus on speaking people;
- Background noise is almost inaudible;
- The sound quality does not cause serious complaints;
- The user does not encounter an annoying whistle;
- Can connect to FM equipment;
- Included is a remote control.
Disadvantages:
- The cost is much higher than average.
Reviews on the Widex Mind 440 show that the owners of this device do not even think about it. You can find fault here only at an inflated price tag. The rest of the hearing amplifier works almost perfectly. It gives an excellent sound, concentrating on the speaker's speech, and not on extraneous noises. At the same time it has the minimum size - to see it on the head of a person is very difficult.
Which hearing aid to choose
Your purchase of a hearing aid will depend entirely on exactly what amount you have prepared. The ideal device is the Phonak VitroQ90 Nano, but it costs a lot of money. All sorts of Phonak Cassia, Widex Mind 440 and Siemens Motion 101 SX are cheaper. But even they cannot afford many of our elderly people, which is bound to upset ...
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