Category: Blog

For those of us who rely on hearing aids every day, they aren’t just a nice gadget to have – they’re a lifeline. When they stop working, it’s more than a slight inconvenience – it’s frustrating, upsetting and can even be isolating.

Being without your hearing aids can have a knock-on effect to your confidence, independence, and day-to-day life. However, all is not lost as the good news is that most hearing aid problems can be fixed.

It’s likely that whatever hearing aid trouble you’re experiencing, you’re not alone and you’re not the first to have experienced it. So, let’s take a look at some of the most common hearing aid problems and how they can be fixed – whether at home or by your audiologist.

Signs your hearing aid needs attention

Hearing aids are incredibly powerful devices that should function consistently, providing you have had them fitted by a professional audiologist and fine-tuned to suit your needs.

However, hearing aids, like many things, are vulnerable to wear and tear over time. Too much wear and tear can begin to impact their effectiveness and therefore the quality of your hearing.

So, some of the telltale signs that your hearing aid needs attention include:

1. Sound is weak, muffled, distorted, or cutting out

If your hearing aid has started to sound quieter than usual, the sound seems muffled or it cuts in and out, this could point to a number of different issues.

The root cause could be anything from a clogged microphone or receiver to a problem with the internal circuit. Either way, this shouldn’t be ignored as what starts out as a small annoyance could grow into a full-blown malfunction.

2. Whistling or feedback noises

Hearing aids are susceptible to feedback from time to time but if you’re consistently dealing with this type of high-pitched whistling sound, it might signal any of the following:

• The device isn’t sitting properly in your ear
• A blockage or build-up of ear wax
• A component has come loose

3. Hearing aid powers itself off

Your hearing aid randomly turning itself off is not only highly inconvenient but could be a sign of a serious power issue. If this happens regularly and you’re sure it isn’t just down to a low battery, it’s best to get it checked out.

4. Buttons or controls aren’t working

The physical controls on your hearing aid are essential for making quick adjustments, so if they start to stick, become unresponsive or behave unpredictably, this can make your hearing aids frustrating to use.

This could be due to anything from dirt or debris inside the buttons, or some type of internal damage.

5. Battery drains faster than normal

All hearing aids will come with a rough estimate as to how long a full charge/battery should last. If your hearing aid batteries aren’t lasting as long as they used to, this could point to a malfunction within the hearing aid, or it may just be that the battery contacts on both the hearing aid and charger need cleaning with a soft brush.

6. Physical damage i.e. cracks

Any small cracks in your hearing aids might not seem like a big deal at first – but even minor physical damage can lead to letting in moisture or dust, which can lead to more serious internal problems.

7. Moisture or condensation inside the device

Many of today’s hearing aids are designed to be water-resistant, not waterproof. Hearing aids and excessive moisture don’t mix well so if you spot any signs of condensation inside your device or if it feels damp, it needs looking at.

Even small amounts of trapped moisture can corrode internal components and cause permanent damage if left untreated.

Troubleshooting hearing aids at home

Many hearing aid problems can easily be resolved at home without the need for professional help or special equipment.

Here are a few things you can try at home to get your hearing aids working smoothly again.

Fixing your hearing aid’s sound 

If your hearing aid doesn’t sound quite like it used to, try the below quick fixes:

• Check for blockages: There may be wax or debris in the microphone or receiver, which you can use a soft brush or hearing aid cleaning tool to gently remove.
• Replace the wax guard or filter: These small components can easily clog over time and affect sound quality, which can be resolved by replacing them.
• Change the battery: Even rechargeable hearing aids can sometimes benefit from a reset or a full recharge cycle.

Reducing hearing aid feedback

Feedback can happen when sound escapes your ear and gets picked up again by the microphone. This may be solved by:

• Ensuring the correct fit: Your hearing aid may need slightly repositioning in your ear, making sure it’s fully secure.
• Cleaning the ear mould or dome: Any dirt or debris build-up can cause caps that create sound leakage.
• Checking for earwax buildup: If your hearing aid is in full working order, your ears may need cleaning of excessive wax.

Increasing hearing aid volume

If your hearing aid has started sounding a bit too quiet, there are a few ways this may be resolved:

• Use the volume control: Depending on your model, you may have manual controls or be able to adjust the volume using an app.
• Check for auto volume settings: Some hearing aids automatically adjust based on your environment – make sure this isn’t working against you.
• Make sure the microphone isn’t blocked: Even a small blockage can reduce the level of volume you hear.
• Check your hearing: If your hearing aid still seems too quiet, there is a chance your hearing may have deteriorated, and you may be due another hearing test.

Solving Bluetooth connectivity issues

Issues with connecting hearing aids to other devices via Bluetooth are common but usually easy to fix:

• Restart both devices: Turn your hearing aid and your phone or tablet off and on again.
• Unpair and re-pair: Forget the hearing aid in your device’s Bluetooth settings and reconnect.
• Check for software updates: Ensure both your hearing aid app and your phone’s operating system are up to date.
• Keep devices close: Make sure nothing is interfering with the signal (like thick walls or other wireless devices).

For more help on pairing your hearing aids with your iPhone, check out Matthew Allsop’s how-to videos covering Phonak Lumity, Oticon Real, Resound Omnia, and Starkey Genesis AI.

Can hearing aids be repaired?

If your hearing aid issue seems a little more complex than those above or you’re simply struggling to fix it at home, don’t worry as repairs are still often an option in many cases.

Depending on the type of damage and the device itself, many common repairs include:

• Replacing worn or broken parts
• Fixing sound issues caused by clogged microphones, receivers, or wax guards
• Repairing battery contacts if your device isn’t powering on
• Correcting software glitches
• Re-securing loose components that may be causing feedback

In most cases, simple fixes like cleaning, replacing parts, or adjusting settings can often be handled at your audiology clinic. At Harley Street Hearing, I am a dedicated Hearing Care Assistant who offers an ‘on-demand’ technical support service.

All of our hearing aid patients benefit from this support for their hearing aids and accessories, including resolving any issues pairing with external devices and performing expert level repairs in-house. We’re also happy to assist anyone experiencing hearing aid issues, regardless of where the device was purchased. To find out more about this service, get in touch with us.

For more serious hearing aid issues, such as internal damage or water exposure, we may need to send the hearing aid back to the manufacturer, which we can do on your behalf.

How to prevent hearing aid problems

It goes without saying that preventing hearing aid issues is often easier, and cheaper, than fixing them. We recommend all of our patients to keep up with small daily habits that keep their devices working their best and avoid any unexpected breakdowns.

Some quick and easy tips you can follow include:

• Clean them daily (and gently) to remove ear wax, moisture, and debris
• Keep them dry – avoid water and store in a watertight case when not in use
• Handle with care to prevent drops or physical damage
• Replace wax guards and clean openings regularly
• Charge or replace batteries before they run low
• Schedule routine check-ups for deep cleaning and adjustments

For any further help with your hearing aids, please get in touch with Harley Street Hearing. Alongside our Hearing Aid Repairs & Adjustments service, our highly qualified clinical audiologists will ensure that you are wearing the most suitable device for your hearing needs.

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Signia launched their IX family of hearing aids at the tail end of 2023, which included a collection of receiver-in-canal style hearing aids and also a modular completely-in-canal model. From the Pure Charge & Go, the Pure Charge & Go T IX, the Pure Charge & Go IX CROS, the Silk Charge & Go IX, and last but definitely not least, the Silk Charge & Go IX CROS. But something was missing. In fact, something was missing that we didn’t even know was missing. And you’re about to get the full lowdown now.

Drum roll, please. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the Signia Pure Charge&Go BCT IX.

Breaking down the name

“Pure” relates to this being Signia’s receiver-in-canal form factor, which doesn’t replace but is in addition to their EX, T IX, and CROS models.

The “Charge&Go” element means that it’s rechargeable, with a single three-hour charge providing up to 36 hours of battery life.

The “BC” stands for Bluetooth Classic, which is the main focus of this new model, meaning all-around connectivity to any classic Bluetooth device without the current Bluetooth restrictions that come with LE Audio.

“T” means that this tech has a telecoil, which is not so common nowadays, with some manufacturers following the introduction of Auracast technology.

And then finally, “EX” stands for Integrated Experience, which is Signia’s latest platform.

Now, it’s also worth noting that this new hearing aid doesn’t supersede Signia’s previous EX models, but it nicely fills a gap in Bluetooth connectivity, which until now was only achievable with both Phonak and Unitron hearing aids.

Suitability

These hearing aids are suitable for a wide range of hearing losses. And if your audiogram fits within the gray shaded area on any of these images, then they’re technically suitable for you.

Each graph represents different powers of the receiver or speaker, of which your audiologist should technically choose the most appropriate one for you and your hearing loss. So if you have mild, moderate, severe, or profound hearing loss, there is technically an option suitable for you.

Technology levels

Signia is initially releasing this new hearing aid in three different technology levels — the 7X, 5X, and 3X, with the former being the most advanced of the range.

I’ll cover the differences fully in my full review later on in the year when I’ve had the opportunity to test them out.

Speech understanding in background noise

Speech understanding in background noise is the holy grail for anybody with hearing loss. And Signia utilises something called directional beamforming technology in these hearing aids, which, in brief, is when the microphones on your hearing aids work together in a noisy environment and heavily focus on what’s in front of you – all with the goal of avoiding picking up sounds that you’re not looking at, so things that are going on to the side or behind you.

In practical terms, if you’re in a restaurant, for example, they’ll aim to focus on the person opposite, reducing extraneous sounds.

Directional beamforming explained

Whilst this isn’t a new concept, Signia is boasting that they have supercharged these hearing aids and taken them to the next level with their new real-time conversation enhancement technology, which, in their words, “analyses, augments, and adapts to the dynamic flow of conversations.”

How do they do this?

Well, these hearing aids are continually analysing your listening situation, to the tune of measuring 192,000 data points per second – deciding on the most appropriate way for the hearing aids to react, and then delivering the most likely sounds that you want to hear by utilising this adaptive directional beamforming technology.

This means in practice that these hearing aids not only focus their microphones forward when you’re in background noise, but they are also capable of accurately pinpointing multiple moving speakers in real-time conversations and then adapting the microphones to follow these conversations.

Signia claims that with this faster processing, the hearing aids are not only detecting who you’re speaking to, but they’re also monitoring their movement. And, they will lock onto that person speaking in front of you and then update the microphone position 1,000 times per second – tracking and highlighting each person speaking amongst any background noise and then adapting the microphone position to their movement.

Now, Signia has so much confidence in this feature that their research shows 95% of participants in their studies showed an improved performance with this feature enabled. This demonstrated a 12-decibel improvement in signal-to-noise ratio in a simulated noisy group conversation scenario, with 80% of participants preferring real-time conversation enhancement being switched on in a real-world noisy group conversation.

They’ve even done a fair amount of work comparing their hearing aids to the latest technology from other hearing aid manufacturers too – who, in this instance, they’ve chosen not to name – and they can demonstrate a 22% improvement in speech understanding in noise and a 77% improvement in further speech reception tests.

Bluetooth connectivity

Since the dawn of time, Signia has utilised something called LE Bluetooth in their hearing aids. And whilst this was the original way that we saw the first-ever hearing aids connect to a smartphone, it’s flawed in a couple of different ways, especially around functionality with Android devices and non-smartphones.

Whereas the likes of Phonak and Unitron had, until today’s announcement, uniquely utilised something called Classic Bluetooth connectivity, which allows you to connect to any Bluetooth source – including regular phones, landlines, smartphones, tablets, and computers.

This integration supports a wide range of audio codecs, ensuring high-quality streaming regardless of the source. It also supports dual streaming, allowing you to connect to multiple devices simultaneously.

When you visit your audiologist, you’ll be able to choose from Signia’s LE Audio model or this Classic Bluetooth model, which makes Signia the only traditional hearing aid manufacturer to give you access to all of their hearing aid features and to have the choice between the two without any compromises.

CROS compatibility

You’ll be delighted to hear that this new hearing aid is also CROS-compatible. This means it will work with the Pure Charge & Go IX CROS system, which is a setup designed for somebody with an unaidable hearing loss in one ear, and either normal hearing or a hearing loss that requires a hearing aid on the other side.

A CROS system is essentially designed as a transmitter that detects any sound that arrives on your poorer-hearing side and then wirelessly transmits that signal to your better-hearing ear, giving you access to the world of sound in 360°. And they can have an incredibly positive impact on people’s quality of life.

For example, if you’re sitting in the passenger seat of a car with your unaidable ear towards the driver, a CROS system would transmit the driver’s voice to a hearing aid in your better-hearing ear, allowing you to be able to hear them.

Water resistance

I’d be disappointed if these hearing aids didn’t have anything other than an IP68 rating, which is pretty much the industry standard nowadays throughout the hearing technology world — although it’s worth mentioning that this doesn’t apply to OTC hearing aids.

This means that they could technically be submerged in a meter and a half of water for 30 minutes, and they should still work without any issues.

Now, please, please don’t go swimming on the back of me saying this while wearing them. However, it does mean that if you get caught in the rain or accidentally jump into the shower, then you don’t need to panic.

Battery power

There’s no question that Signia has the most stylish charger out there, which, in my opinion, has a bit of an Apple-type feel to it. And despite the hearing aids themselves packing a punch of 35+ hours per charge, the pocket-sized case will also give you three extra charges.

So, you can go away for a long weekend and not have to worry about finding a power source.

Trial the Signia Pure Charge&Go BCT IX

The Signia Pure Charge&Go BCT IX and all other Signia hearing aids are available at Harley Street Hearing. Call us or complete our online form to book a consultation.

Signia Just Released What?! The New Pure Charge & Go BCT IX Review Video

Matthew Allsop is a Partner at Harley Street Hearing and a content creator for Hearing Tracker, where he shares his honest opinion on all new hearing aid technology. Hearing Tracker is the world’s first truly independent resource for hearing aid customers. You can watch his review of Signia’s Pure Charge & Go BCT IX below.

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Oticon’s latest update to their Own family of hearing aids has seen a huge AI upgrade, but are they a game-changer or more of the same?

Let’s take a look at what’s new with the Oticon Own SI, what is missing and whether or not this could be the hearing aid that ends your search.

What’s new in the Oticon Own SI?

Oticon’s last custom hearing aid family—the Oticon Own—was released nearly 3 years ago, in August 2022. It included five models, ranging from invisible-in-canal (IIC) to full-shell, all with varying features.

These are custom-made devices, meaning an audiologist takes an impression of your ear so it fits perfectly. However, Oticon has chosen not to replace the entire range this time around. Instead, they’re only updating two models:

1. The Invisible-in-Canal (IIC)
2. The Completely-in-Canal (CIC)

If you’re looking for In-the-Canal (ITC), In-the-Ear (ITE) half-shell, or ITE full-shell, you’ll need to stick with the 2022 versions for now.

So, what makes the Own S different?

It keeps all the size and style benefits of the previous generation, but there are three standout upgrades:

Artificial Intelligence developments

Noise is the enemy for anyone with hearing loss. Oticon claims to lead the pack in improving speech understanding in noise—thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Because there’s not enough room for dual microphones (which help with background noise), Oticon turned to AI as a solution.

Oticon’s new Sirius chip is the heart of this device. It houses a deep neural network, essentially giving your hearing aid its own brain.

This AI has been trained using millions of sound samples, including speech, music, traffic and nature sounds. It learns to distinguish speech (what you want to hear) from noise (what you don’t).

Sudden Sound Stabiliser

But, then what about sudden loud noises which aren’t really noises in the traditional sense but something that my patients often complain about, such as the clattering of emptying the dishwasher or door slamming?

Well, Oticon have developed a feature which consistently monitors the incoming sounds using advanced algorithms, and they’ve named it their Sudden Sound Stabiliser. This is designed to smooth out those sudden loud sounds, so instead of getting a jarring spike in volume, the hearing aid is intelligent enough to adjust the amplification and make it more comfortable before it reaches your ear.

Does it actually work?

Well, in Oticon’s studies they found:

• Up to 5.4 dB signal-to-noise ratio improvement
• 2.7 dB clearer speech vs. the 2022 model

In simple terms: speech should sound more distinct, helping you follow conversations in noisy environments and reducing listening fatigue.

Manufacturer claims should always be taken with a grain of salt. For independent testing, check out HearingTracker.com for unbiased results across multiple brands.

Life inside the ear (IP68 Rating)

Let’s face it: the life of an in-ear hearing aid is… rough. They live in a dark, damp, waxy human orifice. Not ideal for electronics.

Thankfully, the Oticon Own S is rated IP68: Water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes, and dust-resistant too.

They’ve achieved this with nano-coating inside and out. Still, I always recommend storing your hearing aids in a drying cup with a drying tablet – no matter the brand.

What’s missing in Oticon Own Sirius?

Now, I don’t just hype the positives—sorry, Oticon—but there are a few downsides you should know:

1. Only for IIC and CIC

The new AI-powered models are only available in the smallest sizes. If you want a larger model, you’re stuck with the older generation—and here’s why that matters…

2. No Bluetooth

No streaming calls, music, TV, or podcasts. If you want Bluetooth, you’ll need to pick an older model.

3. No Telecoil

This would’ve allowed connection to sound sources in theatres, cinemas, and places of worship. It’s not here—likely due to space limitations.

4. No Rechargeable Option

Despite over 90% of my fittings now being rechargeable, Oticon still hasn’t included it in their custom range. You’ll need to change batteries every 3–5 days.

In 2025? That’s a miss. Disposable batteries are just… very 2024.

Oticon OWN Sirius Hearing Aids (2025) – Big AI Upgrade, But THIS is Missing… Video

Matthew Allsop is a Partner at Harley Street Hearing, and a content creator for Hearing Tracker, where he shares his honest opinion on all new hearing aid technology. Hearing Tracker is the world’s first truly independent resource for hearing aid customers. You can view his first look at Oticon Own Sirius video below.

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In a world where inclusivity and accessibility are becoming increasingly important, it’s crucial for us to consider the role we play in creating those inclusive spaces. As audiologists, our role extends far beyond the walls of our clinic, and we have a constant commitment to inclusivity, raising awareness on hearing loss and advocating for the hearing loss community.

This year, it was a privilege to bring back Hear Here for another inspiring hearing loss networking event. Hosted by Harley Street Hearing & Musicians Hearing Services and EY, the event brought together individuals from all walks of life, to connect and share their lived experiences with hearing loss.

The highlight of Hear Here was the truly powerful stories shared by our speakers: Lena Batra, a hearing care and deaf awareness consultant; Ray Hill, a social worker, author and inclusion advocate; and Matt Frost, a musician and audiologist at Harley Street Hearing. Each speaker offered a unique perspective on navigating life with hearing loss, showing resilience and strength in the face of challenges. The stories they shared not only inspired but also sparked important conversations around self-advocacy, community and building more inclusive spaces.

The event also featured exhibitors from the likes of Phonak, Oticon, Widex, MED-EL, Neuromod, TinniSoothe and CityLit, showcasing the latest advancements in hearing technology and tinnitus solutions. The world of audiology is ever evolving, and the industry advancements are truly making a difference in the quality of life for individuals with hearing loss and tinnitus.

By creating spaces where people with hearing loss can share their stories, ask questions and learn from one another, we’re continuing to build a network of support that extends far beyond the walls of an event. It’s through these shared experiences that we can continue to challenge the misconceptions surrounding hearing loss and work toward a more inclusive future.

A huge thank you to our speakers, exhibitors, and everyone who attended and shared their experiences – your participation made Hear Here a truly special event. We’re excited to continue growing this community and working toward a more inclusive future for those with hearing loss.

Here’s to next year – let’s continue to empower, break down barriers and build a more inclusive world for individuals with hearing loss.

If you enjoyed our recent Hear Here event or missed out and would like to be part of the next one, we’d love to hear from you. Simply register your interest by clicking here or by scanning the QR code below. We’ll make sure you’re the first to know about upcoming dates, exciting speakers, and exclusive opportunities to get involved.

We look forward to welcoming you to our next Hear Here event!

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Harley Street Hearing’s Matthew Allsop managed to get an inside look at the groundbreaking Widex Allure platform in this exclusive interview with Widex’s Sonie Harris, at the company’s headquarters in Copenhagen.

Read on as we dive into the five major innovations behind Allure – from enhanced sound quality and real-time AI personalisation to next-gen feedback control.

Kicking things off at Widex HQ

Matthew: Sonie, it’s great to see you. Thank you so much for having me here today in Copenhagen at Widex HQ, talking about all your latest tech. I have to say, I’m exhausted—exhausted from spending the whole day immersed in everything about the new Widex Allure hearing aids.

You’ve got some really exciting stuff, and I think we need to share it with the world over on the Hearing Tracker YouTube channel.

Okay, so—there are some real game-changers here, both for audiologists and for hearing aid users. I’d love for you to talk us through what’s most important.

Helping both the wearer and the provider

Sonie: What’s really important is that we’re bringing solutions that, as you mentioned, not only help the wearer but also support the provider. These solutions are clear, intuitive, and future-ready.

When we talk about that, we mean a hearing device that balances crystal-clear speech with accurate awareness of surroundings—so wearers can feel fully immersed in their environment the way they want to be.

That’s the Widex philosophy. It’s the Widex sound philosophy.

Matthew: I’ve definitely had that drilled into me all day! You’ve got some impressive new features too, right?

Sonie: Yes! Widex Allure is the name of our new platform, and what makes it special is the W1 chip that powers it. It’s incredibly fast and has the memory to support a whole new range of features.

So, it’s not just one standout—we’ve introduced five key features that really meet the needs of the wearer.

Five new features of Widex Allure

Matthew: Let’s hear them all—sorry to put you on the spot!

1. PureSound — Now even More powerful

Sonie: Allure PureSound combines advanced tech like a broadband beamformer for directionality, noise reduction, and feedback management—all while keeping our signature zero-delay processing.

Matthew: PureSound was already great on the Moment platform. But the limitation was that you couldn’t overlay other features on top of it.

Sonie: Exactly! Now you can. Research shows a 4.3 dB improvement in speech-in-noise performance with the Allure PureSound program compared to the previous version.

Matthew: Would you say it’s your “hero feature”?

Sonie: One of them! But it’s really about how all five features work together. It’s not just one star—it’s a full ensemble.

2. Speech Enhancer Pro — Mastering Noise

Sonie: Next up: Speech Enhancer Pro. It builds on our previous tech that kept noise comfortable. Now, we’re adding fast and slow-acting components to better extract speech in noisy environments.

Matthew: That’s why people come in—because they can’t hear well in noise.

Sonie: And it’s compatible with PureSound too, so users don’t have to choose between features anymore.

Matthew: Nice. Another feature you told me about—and I hope I get the name right—is the… Dynamic Feedback Cancellation Controller?

3. Dynamic Feedback Controller

Sonie: Close! It’s called the Dynamic Feedback Controller. It uses adaptive frequency shifting that’s targeted and minimal, which helps reduce whistling without harming sound quality.

Matthew: That’s exciting. Feedback control isn’t something you notice… until it’s not working.

Sonie: Exactly. We call it a “hygiene factor.” A hearing aid shouldn’t whistle. But doing that without hurting sound quality? That’s a big deal.

Matthew: The universal program really stands out too – super adaptive.

4. Smarter Sound Classification

Sonie: Yes! With Allure, we’ve enhanced the sound classification system. It now includes a beat detector to reduce errors—like misclassifying background music and disabling key features.

Now, we still classify across 11 industry-leading sound classes, but with more accuracy—so wearers can just put them in and forget about adjustments.

Matthew: Does that reduce the need for lots of fine-tuning appointments?

Sonie: That’s the goal. We’ve used anonymised cloud data from previous fittings to see which adjustments providers most often make. With that, our new fitting algorithm starts users off closer to their ideal sound—making fittings more seamless.

This can evolve over time, and we’re adding another layer on top: AI.

4. AI for real-time personalisation

Sonie: We’re focused on using AI for real patient benefit.

In the Allure app, we’ve implemented AI that helps wearers fine-tune their hearing aids in real time. It uses global user data to make intelligent suggestions based on what’s worked for others in similar situations.

Matthew: Your AI learns from real-world use, not just presets?

Sonie: Yes! And it runs on the smartphone—not the hearing aid—so we avoid battery drain and keep devices small.

5. Dedicated Streaming Compressor

Sonie: Here’s one more: We’ve separated the streaming compressor from the environmental sound processor. So now, loud surroundings won’t mess with your streaming audio quality.

Matthew: Amazing. So… the big question: When can everyone get this?

Sonie: The global launch was March 19th. Availability depends on the region.

The Widex Allure platform is now available at Harley Street Hearing. If you’re interested in a trial, get in touch with us to book a consultation.

Widex Allure: The BIGGEST Hearing Aid Upgrade of 2025? Video

Matthew Allsop is a Partner at Harley Street Hearing, and a content creator for Hearing Tracker, where he shares his honest opinion on all new hearing aid technology. Hearing Tracker is the world’s first truly independent resource for hearing aid customers. You can view his first look at ReSound Vivia video below.

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Hearing aids are the most effective treatment option for hearing loss but they can take some time to get used to, especially if you’ve never worn them before.

From the physical aspect to the way your brain processes sounds, there are a lot of different factors that come with adjusting to hearing aids.

Whether you’re wearing a hearing aid for the first time or you’ve just upgraded to a new device, this step-by-step guide should help you adjust to it and improve your confidence in wearing it in all listening situations.

1. Understand the adjustment period

With any new hearing aid, there will usually be an adjustment period. Getting used to hearing aids is a journey, not an overnight change and you need to give yourself time to adjust to them.

Not only are you tasked with getting to grips with how they work, but your brain will also need to relearn how to process sounds it might not have heard in a long time. Some sounds might sound strange at first – even the sound of your own footsteps or a loved one’s voice – but that’s completely normal!

The hearing aid adjustment period can sometimes take up to four months until you’re completely used to them, but it may even take longer than this. Everyone is different, and there’s no need to worry if you’re taking a little longer than expected.

2. Wear them at home first

You really can’t beat the comfort of your own home, and this is the best place to try out your new hearing aids. Your home is the perfect low-stress environment as it’s familiar and quiet, and you’ll be able to focus on individual sounds you recognise a lot easier.

Using your hearing aids at home will give you the best opportunity to adjust the different layers of sound around you without feeling overwhelmed. For example, you can experiment with adjusting the volume on the TV and honing in on quiet sounds such as the clock ticking or the tap running. This is also a good chance to get used to adjusting the settings on your hearing aids to adapt to the sounds around you.

3. Start slowly, gradually increasing usage

If you’re a new hearing aid user and you’re really struggling to adjust to your new listening capabilities, it’s a good idea to build up your tolerance slowly.

You don’t need to wear your hearing aids from morning until night right away if that’s not comfortable. Starting with just a few hours a day in calm settings whilst gradually increasing the duration can make all the difference.

If you’re starting to feel fatigued, take short breaks and try again later. Over time, your ears and brain will adjust, making it easier to wear them for longer periods without any discomfort.

4. Listen to everyday sounds

When wearing hearing aids for the first time, you might just be surprised by how much sound you’ve been missing! Simple sounds like the rustling of leaves or the kettle boiling might stand out to you more than before.

It’s normal for this to feel overwhelming at first but it’s a good sign as it shows your new hearing aids are working for you! Try to re-familiarise yourself with these kinds of sounds by taking the time to focus on them – that way, your brain will start to recognise and filter them naturally.

5. Practice in different environments

Once you’ve gained your confidence at home and your hearing aids are starting to feel more comfortable, it’s a good idea to challenge yourself in different environments. Simply taking a trip to your local shop, cafe or park can be the switch-up you need to start adapting to different sounds and spaces.

Placing yourself in these environments can help you practice picking out voices from background noise and getting used to identifying directional sounds. If it feels like too much at first, take it one step at a time and start with quieter locations before moving to busier ones.

6. Take time to educate yourself

Your audiologist will help you select the hearing aid that best suits your needs and ensure it’s set up correctly to help you get the most out of it, but taking the time to educate yourself can make a huge difference in speeding up the adjustment process.

The more you understand about how your hearing aids work, the better your experience will be. Learn how to adjust settings, clean them, and troubleshoot minor issues. Many modern hearing aids now also come with smartphone apps that allow you to personalise your listening experience.

We have a useful selection of hearing aid how-to videos here that guide you through pairing different devices with your phone and TV.

7. Participate in different conversations

It’s natural for conversations to feel a bit different when wearing new hearing aids for the first time, especially in group settings.

A great way to help you get over this hurdle is starting with one-on-one discussions in quiet places to allow you to focus on a single voice and adjust to how speech sounds. Then as you get more comfortable, introduce yourself to group discussions and then move on to busier environments like small gatherings.

If background noise makes it difficult to follow a conversation, here are a few helpful strategies:

• Face the speaker – Watching lip movements and facial expressions can help you understand speech more easily
• Position yourself carefully – Sit with your back to a wall or in a quieter part of the room to minimise background noise
• Let others know you’re adjusting – Friends and family can help by speaking clearly, facing you directly, or reducing background noise where possible

8. Be patient

Along with the tips above, the key to adjusting to new hearing aids is really being patient with yourself. In many cases, you are likely to see a noticeable improvement immediately after getting your new hearing aids fitted but it isn’t always plain sailing – and that’s okay!

Retraining your brain to process sound in a new way can take some time, so it’s completely normal to experience some moments of frustration along the way.

Set realistic expectations and focus on small victories like being able to hear sounds you haven’t heard for a while, and being able to participate better in conversations. Consistency is key and there’s no need to try and rush the process.

9. Get support from your audiologist

Remember, you’re not on this journey alone – your audiologist is there to support you and ensure you have the smoothest transition with your new hearing aids. If something doesn’t sound right, or if you’re struggling with discomfort, always reach out to your audiologist as they can help to make adjustments, provide tips, and ensure you’re getting the best possible experience from your hearing aids.

This is why choosing the right audiologist is crucial, as finding someone you can trust to help you get the most from your hearing aids has a huge impact on your journey. At Harley Street Hearing, all of our hearing aid patients receive lifetime aftercare with regular follow-up appointments to ensure their hearing aids are still working optimally for them.

These follow-up appointments are hugely important to your journey as they give you the opportunity to discuss how you’ve been getting on and if you’ve been having any problems. Similarly, our audiologists can also identify if there are any settings that need to be adjusted or changes that need to be made.

At Harley Street Hearing, you’re always in safe hands. We pride ourselves on our passion to always find the right treatment for our patients and offer them unrivalled aftercare.

Our clinics are based in London, and we offer a range of different hearing care services to help you reach your full hearing potential. To book an appointment, call us on 020 7486 1053 or contact us online.

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At Harley Street Hearing, we understand that effective communication is fundamental to providing the highest standards of audiological care.

To cater to the diverse needs of our patients, our team includes multilingual clinical audiologists fluent in several languages, ensuring you receive personalised support in the language you’re most comfortable with.

We believe that language should never be a barrier to quality hearing care and we’re passionate about ensuring that our services are highly accessible. Our dedicated professionals are here to provide expert audiology services tailored to your needs, in a language you understand.

Learn more about our multilingual audiologists below.

French audiology services

Our Clinical Lead, Jordon Thompson, offers comprehensive audiology consultations and services in French.

Whether you require hearing aid consultations, tinnitus management, or ear wax removal, Jordon ensures seamless communication throughout your care.

Click here to learn more about Jordon or get in touch with us to book an appointment.

Portuguese audiology services

Senior Clinical Audiologist, Andreza Oliveira, provides full audiology services in Portuguese.

From hearing assessments to custom ear protection, Andreza is dedicated to delivering expert care tailored to your needs.

Click here to learn more about Andreza or get in touch with us to book an appointment.

Tamil audiology services

For Tamil-speaking patients, Senior Clinical Audiologist Barathy Ganeshakumaran offers a range of audiology services, including hearing aid consultations and balance testing, all conducted in Tamil to ensure clarity and comfort.

Click here to learn more about Barathy or get in touch with us to book an appointment.

Afrikaans audiology services

Clinical Lead, Romy Cohen and Senior Clinical Audiologist, Nadia Abbott, are both fluent in Afrikaans.

They provide comprehensive assessments and treatments, including tinnitus management and auditory processing disorder assessments, in your native language.

Click here to learn more about Romy and Nadia or get in touch with us to book an appointment.

Swahili audiology services

Senior Clinical Audiologist, Lulu Mohamed, offers full consultations in Swahili, with specialised insights into tinnitus and hyperacusis management, ensuring you receive expert care in a language you understand.

Click here to learn more about Lulu or get in touch with us to book an appointment.

Interpreting services

To further accommodate our patients, we also offer interpreting services in Polish, Hungarian, and Indonesian, facilitating clear communication and personalised care.

At Harley Street Hearing, our commitment to multilingual services reflects our dedication to accessible and inclusive audiological care. Our leading audiology services are available for appointments at various hearing clinics across London. To book an appointment, call us on 020 7486 1053 or contact us online.

We offer leading audiology services, supporting the hearing needs of patients through professional hearing tests, hearing aid consultations, ear wax removal and more.

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This blog post was last updated on 07/03/2025

Looking for the most advanced hearing aid technology for 2025? Well, look no further.

Artificial intelligence, motion sensors, Auracast, and LE Bluetooth audio are a few of the incredible new features that have been loaded into new hearing aids over the last 12 months. But the burning question is: which hearing aids are the best in 2025?

In this blog, we’ll list our top picks from each major hearing aid brand – including Phonak, Oticon, Signia, Starkey, ReSound and Widex, comparing their features and outlining what’s unique for each of them. Hopefully, we’ll be able to guide you in the right direction to find the best hearing aid for you.

Best hearing aids for 2025

• Oticon Intent
• Phonak Infinio
• Widex Moment
• Starkey Edge AI
• Signia IX
• ReSound Vivia

We’ll start by comparing them all physically and then throughout this blog, we will compare all of their individual features to help you make an informed decision.

Physical Characteristics

It makes sense to start by comparing the physical aspects of 2025’s newest hearing aids before diving into their individual features.

Kicking things off with Oticon, their Intent miniRITE is currently the only hearing aid available on their latest platform.

Phonak offers two models in their Audeo Infinio lineup:

• Audeo Infinio R
• Audeo Sphere Infinio R

Starkey provides a wider selection within their Edge AI family, featuring three receiver-in-canal (RIC) models:

• mRIC R
• RIC RT
• RIC 312

Widex currently has four hearing aids under its Moment platform:

• RIC 10 (the smallest model)
• RIC 312D
• sRIC RD
• Smart RIC

The ReSound Vivia family is the newest addition, launched in February 2025, and includes three models:

• Vivia RIE 312
• Vivia RIE 13
• Vivia Micro RIE

Finally, Signia has three receiver-in-canal (RIC) models in its IX lineup:

• Pure Charge&Go IX
• Pure Charge&Go TIX
• Styletto IX

Before I break down individual features, let’s talk about size. If cosmetics are a priority, and you asked me to rank the top five smallest receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids, here’s how they compare:

1. Widex Moment RIC 10 (the smallest)
2. ReSound Vivia Micro RIE
3. Starkey mRIC R
4. Phonak Audeo Infinio
5. Widex sRIC RD

However, let me stop you there – choosing a hearing aid based solely on looks is a terrible idea. The most discreet models often lack important features, which I’ll cover later in this video.

If, on the other hand, you’re interested in fashion-forward hearing aids designed to be seen rather than hidden, both Widex and Signia offer stylish options in their latest lineups. Phonak Slim is another option, but since it’s not on Phonak’s newest platform, you’d be sacrificing advanced technology—something I wouldn’t recommend given the innovations packed into their latest models.

Colour options

There are far more important things to discuss when choosing the best hearing aid of 2025, so I won’t waste time going over colour options for each brand. Most manufacturers offer a wide range of colors designed to match various skin and hair tones, and no brand stands out significantly in this regard.

That said, based on what my patients typically choose, I recommend selecting a hearing aid that matches your hair color for the most natural look.

Suitability

Each hearing aid model has its own fitting range, which essentially determines the level of hearing loss it can accommodate.

You might be thinking, “I’ll just get the most powerful hearing aid available so it lasts as long as possible.” While that makes sense to some extent, there’s a catch—a more powerful hearing aid requires a larger speaker, and the more powerful the speaker, the bigger it is.

So, if discretion is your top priority, selecting the right power level is essential.

Beyond size, the power of the speaker also affects frequency response. More powerful speakers tend to provide less high-frequency gain, which is why it’s crucial to choose a power level that perfectly matches your hearing loss.

One of the many reasons I consider receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids to be the best is their interchangeable speakers. This means If your hearing changes over time, you don’t necessarily need new technology—your hearing aid can be physically adapted to meet your needs.

The following outlines the fitting ranges for each manufacturer and their key models.

• Oticon Intent – Various receiver power levels
• Phonak Infinio – Includes a unique MAV (ActiveVent) receiver, which I’ll discuss shortly
• Starkey Edge AI – Multiple fitting options
• Widex Moment – The Moment RIC 10 has limited power due to its size 10 battery, only supporting S or M receivers
• Signia IX – Broad fitting range across their lineup
• ReSound Vivia – Features a specialist M&RIE receiver, similar to Phonak’s MAV, which I’ll highlight next

If your hearing loss is borderline for a particular model, I recommend choosing a 312D or Sheer option (where available). That way, if your hearing declines in the future, you’ll have more flexibility for adjustments.

Up next, I’ll dive into some specialist receivers that stand out for their unique features.

Phonak ActiveVent

Phonak ActiveVent is, without question, my favorite unique receiver technology. It’s been around for a few generations of hearing aids now, and trust me—you’ll want to stick around to hear what this thing can do.

At the heart of ActiveVent is a built-in moving piston within the custom mould. This piston automatically adjusts based on your listening environment, redirecting sound naturally through your ear canal or via the hearing aids. This dynamic adjustment enhances:

• Speech clarity
• Hearing in noisy environments
• The natural sound of your own voice
• Music and phone call quality when streamed

There are pros and cons to having your ear canals open or closed, and depending on your hearing loss, both configurations can be beneficial at different times. Before Phonak introduced ActiveVent, hearing aids couldn’t dynamically switch between the two—but now they can.

How ActiveVent Works in different environments

• Quiet environments → The vent remains open, allowing sound to move naturally in and out of your ear canal. This provides a more natural listening experience, helping you feel more connected to your surroundings.
• Noisy environments → The vent closes, ensuring that all sound is processed through the hearing aid’s noise reduction system. This prevents unprocessed background noise from reaching your ears and improves speech clarity.

Think about it—if unprocessed noise is traveling through your ear canal without passing through the hearing aid, it won’t have been filtered, cleaned, or optimised for clarity. ActiveVent solves this issue.

When you stream music or calls from your phone, ActiveVent automatically closes, blocking outside noise and enhancing sound depth and richness. This results in a more immersive listening experience, making streamed audio sound fuller and more dynamic.

ReSound M&RIE

ReSound offers its own innovative receiver technology called M&RIE (Microphone & Receiver In Ear). It’s the only receiver technology that features an extra microphone positioned at the entrance of your ear canal.

ReSound claims that by placing an additional microphone inside the ear, the hearing aid can better account for the natural shape and size of your ear anatomy. This results in a more immersive hearing experience with greater depth and also a sense of spatial awareness.

This microphone is automatically enabled in a quiet environment when you want to hear everything that’s going on around you, and then when the hearing aid detect any degree of background noise — let’s say in a restaurant for example — this additional microphone switches off, and then the directional microphones on the hearing aids kick in, giving you the most effective speech understanding in background noise that ReSound can produce.

As a result, ReSound claims that this improves sound localisation by around 15% when compared to omnidirectional BTE microphones, and around 10% when compared to hearing aids that provide pinna compensation.

From my clinical experience, both M&RIE and Phonak’s ActiveVent are more prone to feedback than conventional receivers. Because of this, I am very selective about which patients I recommend them to.

However, if you have mild to moderate hearing loss, M&RIE could be a fantastic option for you.

Personalisation

All receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids can be physically customised to suit both your anatomy and your specific hearing loss. This is done by selecting either rubber domes, which provide a more generic fit, or custom-made ear molds that require your audiologist to take an impression of your ear and create a personalised fit.

The choice between these options is often left to your audiologist’s expertise, but I strongly encourage you to take an interest in this decision. If this part of your hearing aid isn’t right, then your devices simply won’t function as well as they should. While many people assume the tip is only about comfort, the reality is that it plays a crucial role in the clarity and sharpness of sound, the richness of audio, the quality of phone call and music streaming, and most importantly, how well your hearing aids perform in background noise.

The easiest and quickest option for both you and your audiologist is to fit a generic rubber tip, and while this can work for some people, it’s not always the best solution. I’ve seen many patients come into my clinic with hearing aids that weren’t performing as expected, and in many cases, a simple switch to a custom mold, combined with real-ear measurements and some fine-tuning, has completely transformed their experience.

If you are in the process of getting fitted for a hearing aid, I would strongly recommend asking your audiologist whether custom tips would be suitable for you. Whenever possible, I aim to fit them, as they can make a real difference in overall performance and comfort.

Looking at the fitting ranges of the hearing aids I’ve covered today, they all follow a similar pattern. Unless you have severe-to-profound hearing loss, most of these devices could be a great option for you. There’s plenty more to cover, so stay tuned!

User Controls

When it comes to controlling hearing aids, different users have different preferences. Some people like the ability to adjust their settings on the go, while others prefer their hearing aids to handle everything automatically without any manual changes. Each manufacturer offers a different approach to user control, which can be divided into two main categories: physical adjustments and adjustments made via a mobile app.

Rocker switch

The most versatile option, and my personal favourite, is the rocker switch. This design includes two soft keys on each hearing aid, allowing for a variety of customisable functions. The buttons can be programmed to control volume, mute the hearing aid, change programs for different environments—such as connecting to a loop system, TV, or a specialised setting for noisy restaurants—and even answer or hang up phone calls.

Single button

The second type of physical control is a single button, which still allows for some degree of adjustability, though it can be a bit more cumbersome to use. Instead of separate volume up and down buttons, the right hearing aid increases the volume, while the left decreases it. Other functionalities remain similar to those found in rocker switch-equipped models, but they require a bit more patience to use effectively.

Tap Control

For those who prefer an even more seamless interaction, the third category of user controls includes tap control. This feature is made possible by accelerometers built into the hearing aids, which also play a role in automatically adjusting settings based on movement. With tap control, users can answer or decline phone calls simply by tapping their ear. Phonak takes this a step further with the Audeo Infinio, allowing users to activate Siri or Google Assistant without even taking their phone out of their pocket. While not everyone takes advantage of this feature, those who do tend to love the convenience it offers.

No physical controls

For the fourth and final category—although it’s difficult to call it a full category when there’s only one hearing aid that fits this description—the Widex RIC 10 has no physical buttons at all. This means that all adjustments must be made through an external device.

Although physical buttons provide quick and easy access to essential controls, they do have their downsides. Adjusting settings using buttons on the back of the hearing aids can feel a bit fiddly, and while the devices will beep to confirm any changes, it’s not always as intuitive as visually seeing those changes on a screen. This is why mobile apps have revolutionised the way hearing aid users interact with their devices.

Each manufacturer has its own app, and while they all serve similar functions, some stand out above the rest. If I had to pick the best, my top recommendations would be Phonak’s MyPhonak app and the ReSound Smart 3D app. These apps are not only reliable and user-friendly, but they also provide access to a range of advanced controls that aren’t available through physical buttons alone.

For those using the Widex RIC 10, which lacks built-in Bluetooth (a topic I’ll cover in more detail soon), there’s still a way to make basic adjustments using the Widex ToneLink app. Instead of Bluetooth, this app communicates with the hearing aid through ultra-high-frequency sound. While not as advanced as other options, it still allows for some level of customisation and control.

Water Resistance

All the hearing aids I’m covering today come with an IP68 water resistance rating. This means they can technically be submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes and still function afterward. This isn’t a rating exclusive to hearing aids—you’ll also find it on many smartphones, possibly even the one you’re using to read this right now.

That said, two manufacturers, Phonak and Starkey, have gone a step further by putting their hearing aids through extreme durability testing to ensure they can withstand the daily wear and tear that comes with regular use. Their robustness tests include exposure to simulated sweat, seawater, saltwater, chlorinated water, and freshwater.

Phonak has taken extra precautions to enhance durability. They’ve added additional microphone protection, sealed the seams with silicon, and coated the internal components with Parylene, a protective coating also used by NASA on spacecraft. These added reinforcements help protect the hearing aids from moisture, dust, and other environmental factors.

Starkey, on the other hand, has developed their Pro8 HydraShield waterproofing system. This includes a Kevlar-reinforced receiver—yes, the same material used in military-grade bulletproof vests. They’ve also redesigned the acoustic ports, added an internal microphone mesh barrier, sealed the casing with silicon, and applied a specialised coating to all internal components to maximise protection.

For most users, the standard IP68 rating will be more than enough to handle daily life. However, if you lead an active lifestyle that involves frequent exposure to water or moisture—whether it’s from intense workouts, outdoor activities, or working in humid conditions—one of these more robust models may be the right choice for you.

Battery power

As you’ve probably noticed by now, I like to group hearing aid technology according to their functions, and battery power is no exception. There are three main categories when it comes to hearing aid batteries and rechargeability.

Disposable batteries

The first group consists of hearing aids that rely on disposable batteries. Interestingly, the battery life isn’t determined by the hearing aid itself but rather by the size of the battery. Smaller batteries require more frequent changes. For example, the Widex RIC 10 is the only hearing aid in this discussion that uses a size 10 battery, which typically needs replacing every 3 to 5 days.

Other hearing aids in this category use a size 312 battery, which lasts approximately 5 to 7 days. The ReSound Vivia RIE 13 stands out as the only hearing aid in this review that utilises a size 13 battery, extending the lifespan to around 7 to 10 days before requiring a change.

Rechargeable batteries

Rechargeable hearing aids can be further divided into two subcategories. The first includes those that provide around 24 hours of battery life per charge, which has become the industry standard since rechargeable hearing aids became widely available.

The second group consists of models from manufacturers such as Signia and Widex, which offer up to 35 hours of battery life on a single 3-hour charge. Starkey takes it even further, boasting an impressive 51 hours per charge. While you might assume this extended battery life is designed for all-night parties in Cancun, the real reason is more practical.

Lithium-ion batteries, which are also used in phones and laptops, tend to degrade over time. After a few years, a full charge may no longer last an entire day. Unlike a phone or laptop, where a dying battery is inconvenient but manageable, a hearing aid running out of power mid-day is a serious issue. The advantage of these extended battery-life models is that even as battery health declines over time, they should still provide enough power to last through a full waking day.

Patients who prefer disposable batteries are often those who travel frequently and don’t want to worry about carrying a charger. Others simply like the security of having spare batteries on hand.

For those opting for rechargeable hearing aids, the overall battery life varies between manufacturers, but I wouldn’t recommend choosing a hearing aid solely based on battery performance as long as it lasts a full day. If battery life starts to decline significantly, most manufacturers now offer replacements under warranty.

Technology Levels

Not only do these hearing aids come in various models, but each model is also available in different technology levels. These levels differ in how well they manage background noise, how clearly they provide speech distinction, and how effectively they perform in complex listening situations. Naturally, the more advanced the technology level, the higher the cost, and pricing can vary depending on the audiologist you visit.

To give you a better idea of these differences, I’ve compiled tables comparing the features of various technology levels within each hearing aid family, which you can see in the video at the bottom of this blog. For instance, you’ll find a breakdown of the Oticon Intent models, an overview of the varying features in the Phonak Infinio lineup, and a detailed comparison of Starkey’s Edge AI hearing aids. Additionally, there’s a table showing the different levels available within the Widex Moment family, another outlining the ReSound Vivia models, and finally, a feature comparison for the Signia IX hearing aids.

I’d strongly recommend taking the time to look through each table carefully, identifying the features that matter most to you, and discussing them in depth with your audiologist to ensure the best fit for your hearing needs.

Connectivity

Bluetooth has become an industry standard in modern hearing aids, allowing users to stream phone calls, music, radio, and podcasts directly to both hearing aids. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, each manufacturer’s app enables manual adjustments to hearing aid settings. However, connectivity isn’t as simple as it might seem—there are different types of Bluetooth protocols, each with its own pros and cons.

To break it down, I’ve categorised the top hearing aids of 2025 into five distinct connectivity groups.

Classic Bluetooth

Phonak is the only manufacturer that utilises classic Bluetooth, and its primary advantage is universal compatibility. These hearing aids can connect to any Bluetooth-enabled device, whether it’s old or new, a smartphone or a landline phone. No other hearing aid manufacturer offers this level of universal connectivity.

LE Audio (Original)

The second category includes hearing aids that use Low Energy (LE) Audio, originally introduced in 2010 as the way hearing aids connected to iPhones. This method is efficient and effective but does come with some limitations. While iPhone users benefit from bi-directional Bluetooth (allowing for hands-free calling using the hearing aids’ built-in microphones), Android users do not have access to this feature. Additionally, not all phones support Bluetooth streaming, meaning some users may experience compatibility issues.

LE Audio (Auracast-Ready)

The third group consists of the latest hearing aids from Signia, ReSound, Oticon, Starkey, and Phonak, all of which come equipped with the newest version of LE Audio, making them Auracast-ready. Auracast is set to revolutionise hearing aid connectivity, allowing public venues to broadcast high-quality audio directly to compatible hearing aids. Imagine being able to hear train station announcements, football commentary, or church sermons streamed directly into your hearing aids with better clarity and lower battery consumption.

While these hearing aids already have Auracast hardware built in, most manufacturers have not yet activated the feature. This is because there are still very few Auracast transmitters installed worldwide, and manufacturers are prioritising further testing before rolling out support via a simple (and free) firmware update.

Loop System

The fourth connectivity category is a tried-and-tested alternative to Auracast—the loop system. This is essentially the 20th-century version of LE Audio, allowing sound from public venues to be transmitted directly to hearing aids. Until Auracast technology becomes widespread, the loop system remains a reliable way to access enhanced audio in places like theaters, airports, and lecture halls.

Telecoil

Most hearing aid manufacturers—except Phonak and Widex—offer at least one model with a built-in telecoil. This feature allows hearing aids to connect to loop systems, commonly found in public spaces like theaters, churches, and airports, providing clearer audio directly to the hearing aid.

However, some manufacturers require users to sacrifice rechargeability to access telecoil functionality, meaning you may need to choose between convenience and connectivity depending on your priorities.

A notable outlier is the Widex RIC 10, which doesn’t include Bluetooth or a telecoil. While this might be a drawback for some, it’s worth considering whether you personally need these features before making a decision.

When it comes to connectivity, there are plenty of options available, and it’s often one of those technologies that you don’t realise you need until you try it. Many of my patients have found telecoil and Bluetooth streaming to be game-changers in their everyday listening experiences.

Lastly, your smartphone choice can impact the features available on your hearing aids. iPhones tend to offer the most compatibility across manufacturers. If you’re considering a hearing aid purchase, I’d strongly recommend checking the compatibility lists on each manufacturer’s website or speaking with your audiologist to confirm which features you’ll be able to use with your phone.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is playing a significant role in modern hearing aids, with Phonak, Oticon, Starkey, and ReSound integrating offline AI to automatically adjust settings based on your environment. These hearing aids have been trained on millions of real-world sound environments—Oticon claims 12 million, ReSound 13 million, and Phonak boasts 22 million—allowing them to recognise and adapt to different listening situations with incredible precision. In fact, some models claim to make up to 80 million adjustments per hour, ensuring that speech clarity and background noise reduction are optimised in real time.

This AI-driven approach is designed to prioritise speech from the person in front of you, while simultaneously filtering out unwanted background noise, making conversations in challenging environments significantly easier. However, rather than relying solely on manufacturer claims, I always recommend looking at independent hearing aid tests, such as those conducted by HearAdvisor, to evaluate how well these AI-powered systems truly perform.

That said, Widex and Signia also utilise AI, but in a different way. Their hearing aids allow you to make manual adjustments through an app, which are then compared to thousands of other users’ settings in similar environments. The hearing aid can then fine-tune itself based on collective user data, optimising for your specific needs. The only downside to this approach is that it requires user input, whereas most people prefer their hearing aids to function as automatically as possible without needing manual tweaks.

Ultimately, AI is changing the game for hearing aid technology, but the effectiveness of these systems will vary based on individual needs and preferences. If you struggle to hear in background noise, it’s worth paying close attention to how different AI-powered models perform in real-world conditions before making a decision.

Motion Sensors

Building on artificial intelligence, hearing aids from Oticon, Phonak, Starkey, and Signia now incorporate accelerometers or motion sensors. This isn’t a brand-new feature, but it has evolved significantly. Signia introduced motion sensors back in 2019, followed by Phonak in 2020, Starkey in 2023, and Oticon in 2024.

So, why would hearing aids need motion sensors? Essentially, these sensors help hearing aids anticipate the specific needs of your listening situation based on your movement. For example, when you’re seated at a restaurant, you typically want to focus on the person in front of you, with maybe a little attention to someone sitting beside you. However, when you stand up and start walking, the hearing aid adjusts to let you hear more clearly from the side, as you’re unlikely to have someone walking directly in front of you.

This adjustment process is made possible by the motion sensors, which give the hearing aid real-time data about your movements, helping it to adapt its settings for maximum clarity. Interestingly, this feature is generally available only in rechargeable models from these manufacturers, making it a point worth considering when choosing between disposable and rechargeable hearing aids.

One thing to note, though, is that ReSound does use motion sensors too, but in a different way—mainly for tap controls, such as answering or hanging up calls, rather than enhancing hearing performance in dynamic situations.

Choosing the right hearing aid for you

The world of hearing aids is a difficult one to navigate, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Everyone has different hearing needs and challenges, so it’s important that your audiologist chooses the right technology for you and adjusts it accordingly.

If you’re looking for personalised advice on your perfect hearing technology, contact Harley Street Hearing. Our team of highly skilled clinical audiologists can recommend the most suitable device for your needs.

The best hearing aids for 2025

Matthew Allsop is a Partner at Harley Street Hearing, and a content creator for Hearing Tracker, where he shares his honest opinion on all new hearing aid technology. Hearing Tracker is the world’s first truly independent resource for hearing aid customers. You can view his video where he shares his opinions on the latest hearing aids for 2025 below.

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One of the latest innovations in hearing technology is Xander glasses, revolutionary smart glasses designed to support individuals with severe to profound hearing loss. And, they even have live captions.

In this exclusive CES 2025 interview, Matthew Allsop uncovered everything we need to know about this ground-breaking technology.

What are Xander smart glasses?

Xander smart glasses are designed to help specifically with hearing loss. So what we say is, if I can’t hear what you’re saying, our glasses can help you see what I’m saying. They project real-time captions of conversations right in your field of view.

It’s an emerging category, there are a lot of captioning glasses that are coming out. What makes this a little different is we are using all of this speech-to-text technology built into the glasses and we believe that helps a lot of our customers.

How Xander’s speech-to-text technology works

Being able to use it by just pushing a button, the captions come on, they just work. Because the speech-to-text is built in, you don’t need wifi, you don’t need cloud services, and you don’t need a phone.

It’s pretty accurate, how have you got to the point where it doesn’t pick up everything that’s going on around you and it just focuses on the person in front?

It really is about using the right technology in the right way. What’s nice is that, as there’s the Lombard effect as we are in an environment with noise, we just talk louder. And so we are relying on that effect a lot for people. but there are people who come by and they talk really quietly and then the glasses won’t pick up every word.

Just like you have to speak loud and clear for someone with hearing aids, you also have to do that for any pair of captioning glasses that are out there.

The glasses transcribe the wearer’s text in a bright neon colour which really stands out, and everything the other person in the conversation says appears right in front of you.

Who are Xander glasses designed for?

They are really designed for people that have more advanced stages of hearing loss – severe to profound hearing loss. If you’ve got mild to moderate hearing loss, hearing aids are amazing.

As your hearing loss progresses to severe or profound, you’re looking at more high-powered hearing aids. They can help, but they don’t always help because some people can hear sounds, but speech intelligibility is still a problem. That’s the market that Xander is ideal for.

When we have people try them on, they say, “Well, that word is wrong and that word is wrong.” And we say, “Well, congratulations, you don’t need our glasses. Your hearing is so good you don’t need them.” And we’re happy for that.

We’re really focused on people who need it the most.

Where are they available?

Xander smart glasses are currently available in the USA directly through Xander.

For all of the latest hearing technology available in the UK, get in touch with Harley Street Hearing.

Live Captions in Smart Glasses! Xander Glasses for Severe Hearing Loss | CES 2025 Video

Matthew Allsop is a Partner at Harley Street Hearing, and a content creator for Hearing Tracker, where he shares his honest opinion on all new hearing aid technology. Hearing Tracker is the world’s first truly independent resource for hearing aid customers. You can view his exclusive CES 2025 interview on Xander Glasses below.

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