The first step to choosing hearing aids
It can take, on average, seven years from first noticing a hearing problem to actually getting help! And this is an average, with some people waiting much longer. The reasons people wait so long are varied but mainly stem from the psychological aspects of accepting that hearing is not as good as it used to be.
As an audiologist with over 30 years of experience, I have seen the rapid technological advances in hearing aids and know firsthand the benefits many of my clients experience with their hearing devices. That said, I still see people who are not happy with their hearing aids, often bought from the larger high-street chains.
By Paul Shaw, MSc, Clinical Scientist and Registered Hearing Aid Dispenser
April 2026 | 5 min read
Key takeaways:
1. You should think carefully about your choice of audiologist before considering hearing aids
2. An independent audiologist should work with you and allow your to make informed decisions
3. Hearing aids can be life-changing when set up correctly
What factors are important in hearing aid choice?
Most people aren’t experts in hearing aids, and like many products, there are numerous brands and different specifications to choose from. You might be surprised to learn that the specific brand and type of device you choose isn’t the most important factor in getting the most benefit from hearing technology.
The ‘secret sauce’ or ‘ingredient’ is how well your hearing aids are programmed, fine-tuned, adjusted and supported. Even the most expensive premium devices can sound poor, perform poorly, and ultimately provide little benefit if not carefully programmed and adjusted to your individual hearing loss and ear anatomy.
What questions to ask at your hearing aid assessment?
It can be difficult to know what to ask if you have never used hearing devices before. And if you are seeing an audiologist at one of the bigger chains, they are often pushing hearing devices with the biggest profit margin for the business.
If possible, I would always recommend visiting an independent audiology provider. In most cases, they will have a wide range of brands and products to choose from and won’t be tied to brands which they make the most profit from.
Asking the right questions before you begin your hearing aid journey is crucial to your success. As a guide, below are some great questions to ask of your audiology provider before you decide who to work with
1. Do they provide a full hearing assessment?
Many of the bigger high-street providers offer ‘free’ hearing tests. These are often quite rushed and typically test only hearing levels.
Independent audiology providers usually allow around 90 minutes for a thorough hearing evaluation.
A thorough assessment gives your audiologist the information needed to determine your hearing needs and to carry out detailed hearing tests, including assessments of how well you hear speech in noisy settings. With this information, they can suggest which hearing technology is most likely to benefit you and identify any medical concerns that may require onward referral to either your GP or ear, nose and throat specialists.
What does a comprehensive hearing evaluation consist of?
Medical history – to include any relevant medical history
Hearing impact on life assessments – to find out how your hearing loss is impacting your life.
Otoscopy or microscopy – to visually inspect your ears, ear canals and eardrums
Pure‑tone audiometry (air and bone conduction) – to determine the quietest sounds you can hear
Tympanometry – to assess the mechanical aspects of your hearing system
Speech audiometry – to assess how difficult you are finding it to hear speech when other sounds are present
Time is required to obtain all this information, along with professional expertise, to make sense of the findings. If you are deciding which audiologist to work with, make sure they are willing to spend enough time with you.
2. Which hearing aid brands do they offer?
Several of the big high-street providers are tied in with specific brands. This means they buy in bulk, receive big discounts and generally add significant mark-ups to ensure maximum profit.
Independent providers, in theory, should have access to a wide range of hearing aid brands. This wide range allows the audiologist to carefully select which product or products are suitable for you, often allowing trials before you make a decision.
Ideally, your audiology clinic should offer devices from leading brands such as:
- Phonak
- Widex
- Oticon
- Starkey
- ReSound
Many brands have ‘sister’ brands. For example, Phonak has Unitron, Oticon has Bernafon, and Widex has Signia. These secondary brands offer distinct product portfolios but ultimately share similarities with their sibling brands.
At The Hearing Space, we offer all five premium brands above and rarely need to explore other brands.
3. Do they offer a wide style of hearing devices?
All hearing aid brands offer a variety of styles. By this, we mean how the devices look, how they connect to the ears, and how they function. For example, some devices sit behind the ear and have a very thin wire which connects to a small tip placed in the ear. Others are entirely fitted in the ear canal, with nothing showing behind the ear.
Some devices are specifically designed to treat single-sided hearing loss or asymmetrical hearing loss.
An experienced audiologist should explain clearly:
The advantages of the different styles of hearing aids
The best options for you based on your hearing loss, your lifestyle, and your ability to handle small devices
Ultimately, the more options available, the better your chances of finding the most suitable and life-changing hearing device for you.
4. Do they offer custom eartips?
Many hearing devices use off-the-shelf eartips, which serve two functions. Firstly, they secure the hearing aid in the ear, and secondly, they provide the final acoustic link before the sound from the hearing device reaches your eardrums.
For many people, these standard tips work well, but if you have an unusual ear shape or comfort issues, you may need a custom tip. This is a straightforward process, but it requires time, and many providers would prefer not to spend it, even if it leads to better outcomes.
If your audiologist is genuinely focused on your best outcomes, they should be offering custom eartips as and when required
5. Are you able to trial hearing devices before purchase?
At our audiology practice, we offer both listening trials during hearing evaluation sessions and week-long hearing aid trials to allow people to try the technology at home and at work. For some clients, the ability to try different options before choosing their devices builds confidence in their decision-making process.
Even after 30 years of working with clients, I am often surprised by how clients notice differences in hearing aids from different brands. I am always learning from clients and am deeply curious about how hearing technology impacts clients.
Ideally, at a minimum, a good audiology provider should:
Offer hearing aid trials for long enough to test in a variety of environments
Allow clients to trial different brands if needed
Once purchased, allow for returns or exchanges within a reasonable time period
6. Do they use verification techniques to ensure accurate programming of hearing devices?
Hearing aid fitting can look easy. Perform a hearing test. Choose some hearing aids. Program them to the test results. Fit them to a client, and away they go.
In reality, we know that hearing aid fitting is more of a process than a one-off event.
To make sure that hearing aids are set up for your individual hearing loss, ear anatomy and ear canal acoustics, real‑ear measurements should be carried out.
Quite simply, real-ear measurements involve using a small microphone (connected to a thin rubber tube) to measure the sound delivered to your ear canal once the hearing aids are in place. These measurements ensure that your hearing aids deliver the exact amplification your hearing loss requires.
If an audiologist doesn’t offer these measurements, best to find someone who does.
7. What does the aftercare look like?
As we mentioned previously, hearing care is a process, not an event, and many clients who use hearing devices need regular, sometimes urgent, aftercare. Hearing can change, ears can become blocked with wax, and hearing devices can fail. Speedy access to your personal audiologist is crucial to your success with hearing technology.
I have talked in other posts about some of the audiology care provided in opticians, where the audiologist visits either once a week or once a fortnight. This level of care simply doesn’t work. Ask your audiologist how often they are physically in their practice. If it isn’t several times a week, look elsewhere.
If they are in often, ask how long the typical wait is and whether you will see the same person. Continuity of care is really important in hearing care. Relationships allow the audiologist and client to work more effectively together, ultimately resulting in better outcomes.
At The Hearing Space, we offer:
Up to 5 appointments in the first 12 months of hearing aid fitting
Yearly hearing tests
Re-programming of hearing devices if your hearing changes or if you need adjustments
Accessible repair and troubleshooting appointments
A Simple Rule for Choosing the Right Audiologist
8. What is their level of training and expertise?
Providers of hearing care can come from different training routes. Some undergo a two-year training program specifically designed to dispense hearing aids. Others have completed a 3-year audiology degree. Some are qualified at MSc level and have worked extensively in the NHS before moving into the private sector.
My personal background is explained in more detail elsewhere; however, I am both a registered Clinical Scientist (requiring an MSc in Audiology) and a Registered Hearing Aid Dispenser. My career has involved working at local and national levels to provide audiology services, educate and train audiologists and carry out research.
In summary, choosing hearing aids is just one component of successful hearing aid fittings. Who you choose to work with and support you is just as important as the technology you decide to choose.
You should have high expectations of your audiologist, and they should have high expectations for your hearing aid success!
Written by Paul Shaw, MSc, Clinical Scientist and Registered Hearing Aid Dispenser.
If you would like to speak to Paul about anything hearing-related, please contact him, and he will be happy to help
0113 8730444