Bad OTC vs. Good OTC Hearing Aids

Bad OTC vs. Good OTC Hearing Aids.

Dr. Cliff Olson, Audiologist and founder of Applied Hearing Solutions in Phoenix Arizona, discusses the key differences between Bad Over the Counter hearing aids and Good Over the counter hearing aids like the Sony CRE-C10.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
01:05 Sony OTC Hearing Aids
01:48 Difference 1: Size
03:02 Difference 2: Price
04:01 Difference 3: Build Quality
05:31 Difference 4: Ability to Self Adjust
07:19 Difference 5: Customer Support
09:00 Final Thoughts

[crimlarksSteve]

I bought the Sony CRE-C10 hearing aids when my current (pretty old) hearing aids were no longer working too well. The Sony setup process was very easy. I've had them for about a month now and they're great. Better than my old prescription hearing aids, and about 1/3 the cost of my old ones. I'm really glad I went with them. I also like having in-ear hearing aids rather than the ones that sit behind the ear as my glasses were always causing them to make noise.

[garyganser]

Just bought the Sony CRE C10 from your HearingUp website. I appreciate you mentioning the in this video, because I had missed your review of the 8 months ago. Thank you for your thorough, data oriented reviews!

[zsempai]

I was drawn to this video because I love to research products before spending my money. I am still evaluating the information. Now one thing to keep in mind is that many speakers and presenters race through the presentation as if there is a limited time for presentation. Slowing down your speech with appropriate pauses is a great way to effectively communicate, especially when doing a video for the hearing challenged people. Please consider this and thank you for the good information.

[captainmay]

Appreciate the info, but how can I trust anything you say about the Sony hearing aids when this video is sponsored by Sony? You should know better, or at least give some sort of disclaimer or explanation as to why we shouldn’t worry about bias.

[cosqedg]

This was a shameful plug for Sony products. Sony paid for his company's use of their products and they ethically should not have been included in this video. Instead its just an advertisement for Sony OTC hearing aids. What other higher quality companies? NONE are named -- except Sony. Disappointing at best.

[LovinLnCottage]

I just returned the Sony E10 hearing aids that you rated as best. Sadly, they were way too big to fit into my ear canal even with the smallest fitting on them. I never got to try them out as a result. The only hearing aids I have tried that actually fit into my ears is the behind the ear Widex Sheer using an extra small fitting. My local audiologist that carries them wants $6500 for them, not the $4700 that an audiologist who is 75 miles away lists them. Both prices are WITH service after the sale and real-ear measurements. Both prices are a financial hardship for me so I guess that I must suffer the decline into deafness and dementia that you have talked about. I was a science, math, and Latin teacher to middle school and high school students. These subjects are now in demand but not being able to hear voices in the students range makes it impossible to serve in any way. I also was a scientific illustrator and could teach drawing skills. I used a professional computer graphics program to do some of my illustrations, as well. I can’t do that anymore because my eyesight is not good enough anymore. Our social system is going to fail if you people keep throwing away talent and wisdom in your pursuit of money. The LOVE of money is the root of all evil. The entire medical system in this country sucks. Greed is paramount rather than patient welfare. At my age, I have watched many friends and relatives being “treated” (read fleeced) and sent to an earlier and more miserable death than if they had done nothing at all, which I have also witnessed. Thanks for the info, Dr Cliff. It saves me aggravations trying other brands since I have already tried the best.

[ratlips]

I just went to the Sony hearing aid site. The E 10s are going for well over $1000

[markgood]

Purchased the C10’s 2 days ago. They are definitely invisible and natural sounding. Did have trouble following conversation in a restaurant environment. I do like them but, time only will tell.

[irisjacobson]

Hi Please try to always preface your reviews with whether that model is good for moderate to severe hearing loss. Thanks

[keyblooms]

I have been using some $200 in the ear hearing "amplifiers" called Audien Atom Pros. They are still visible like the cheap OTC hearing aids in your video. I have been impressed with how good the sound is. I was known for needing things repeated and sometimes still did not hear what was said, and I could not hear higher sounds. Now I can. There are some distortions with the Atom Pros, but they have helped me out alot. (I tried the company's newer Atom 2 series and was not impressed at all).

I have been considering the SONY CREs, but my question is...will I notice a big difference?

[juliochingaling]

Excellent video. Thank you Doc. Blessings.

[spdking]

Definitely, the good quality hearing aids are more visible.

[HobbyOrganist]

I bought the MDHearing volt max, but I returned them after a few days, I decided the behind the ear style just doesnt work for me- I wore one of the pair to work as a test and before lunch time it fell out onto the concrete floor TWICE, other than the little wire/tube snaking over and into the canal, there's nothing to hold the body in place, and it fell off so easy.
So I did an RMA and asked them to ship me their in the ear Neo model which I feel should work out better for me and a lot less likely to just fall off

[abarchini]

Hello Dr. Cliff. I took the plunge and bought my first hearing aids at a good discount. They are the Jabra Enhance Select. With $1600 I have 100 days to return and 3 years of online audiology support. The price and service plan are great for a beginner but I’m really not sure if I’m getting the best product for my hearing loss. How does the quality of these hearing aids compare to a higher end product such as the Oticon More or Real, etc? Do you have thoughts on that? Thank you.

[Jss]

I know this video is partial to sony but do you know anything about bossa hearing aids

[AliceSchoonbroodt]

In the fitting section on the Sony App, does it Test and adjust by frequency or more generally? I have more loss the higher the frequency. So, I’d like an OTC hearing aid that adjusts for that.

[boomerrangerron]

Hi Cliff this was a great video! Since I've followed your channel for a couple of years, I'm a three-decade hearing aid user. My last three sets have been RIC's, and my current pair is a PHONAK Paradise 50. I've recently taken a part-time job at Bass Pros Shops in the marine department selling boats and ATVs. (hey retirement is over-rated). The problem has arisen because I need to wear a communications device, an in-house radio, and the earpiece fits over one ear. Can I buy one SONY, place it in my right ear, and still leave my RIC in my left ear? I also have to use the phone and with the microphones on top of the RIC's that' not really possible. Appreciate your advice and comments. Thanks

[wisemaj]

Great information! Dr. Cliff, I have moderate to severe hearing loss and currently have Costco Signature 9 RIC hearing aids. The problem I have is that I cannot wear those devices to bed. I would like a very basic pair of in-the-ear aids so that I can hear my alarm clock or smoke alarm during the night. Can you steer me toward an inexpensive OTC aid that would meet your minimum requirements for quality (ie, domes not getting stuck in my ears, etc.)?

[kaylasmusic]

Which manufacturer (not phonak or starkey) have the best venting for molds?

[TheRCNetwork]

Hey Dr. Cliff - long time subscriber and I need your help! I’m 52 and have had slyly mild hearing loss the past 4 years. I purchased Eargo’s top of the line devices in 12/21 and realized they were garbage and quickly returns them…I then found your video about AirPods Pro and the Mimi app and have been using them since. I just had a proper audiologist test at Kaiser….and it was found that I’m now mild to severe in one ear….but they don’t dispense hearing aids in CA for some reason…they referred me to HearUSA, and even getting an appointment with them is a nightmare, not impressed. How do I go about getting hearing aids these days? Can you make any recommendations? I’ve heard that Costco has both the product and service, but I’m hesitant. Thanks in advance