Disclaimer

Not medical advice. Not a hearing test. Not a diagnosis.

HearingGearGuide publishes general information about hearing devices and about the numbers used to describe hearing. It is researched from published standards, regulatory classifications, manufacturer specifications and the consensus of verified owner reviews. It is not professional advice and it is not a substitute for care from a licensed audiologist, hearing aid dispenser or physician.

Nothing here can measure your hearing

A hearing threshold is produced by an audiometric test using calibrated equipment in a controlled acoustic environment, administered by a licensed professional. No web page, video or phone application performs a diagnostic hearing test. Where a tool on this site asks for a threshold in decibels hearing level, that is a figure you copy from an audiogram you already have.

The charts on this site explain what an audiogram shows. They describe what a range of numbers is called under published classifications. They do not, and cannot, tell you what your hearing is.

No claims about outcomes

We make no claim about how much any device will improve anyone's hearing. That is an outcome about a person rather than a property of a product, and it depends on an individual hearing pattern, on the physical fit in a particular ear, and on the situations the device is used in. We report manufacturer published specifications, the FDA device classification a product is sold under, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. Nothing more.

We do not test hearing devices in person and we never claim to.

Over the counter is a regulatory category, not a recommendation

FDA regulated over the counter hearing aids are intended for adults 18 and over with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. That labelling describes an intended user; it is not a diagnosis, and buying a device is not an evaluation. Over the counter devices are never appropriate for anyone under 18, who needs prescription devices fitted by a paediatric audiologist, and they are not a substitute for a professional evaluation for anybody.

A personal sound amplification product is not a hearing aid. It is consumer electronics rather than a medical device, and the FDA states that it is not intended to compensate for impaired hearing. This site labels every product with its regulatory class for that reason.

Contact a clinician rather than buying a device if any of these apply

• Hearing loss that came on suddenly. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is treated as urgent, and the window in which treatment is usually attempted is measured in days.
• Loss in one ear, or a marked difference between the ears. Asymmetry is investigated rather than amplified, and over the counter devices are not intended for it.
• Ear pain or discomfort. Pain points to something happening in the ear itself, which is a medical question rather than an amplification one.
• Fluid or drainage from the ear. Drainage needs to be examined, and putting a device into a draining ear is not appropriate.
• Dizziness or vertigo. The balance and hearing systems share the inner ear, and dizziness alongside hearing change is investigated together.
• Ringing with weakness, numbness or facial changes. Tinnitus accompanied by neurological signs is evaluated promptly rather than managed at home.
• A visible or suspected earwax blockage. Wax is removed before hearing is assessed, because a blockage alone can account for the change.
• The person is under 18. Over the counter hearing aids are for adults only. Hearing devices for children are prescription and are fitted by a paediatric audiologist.

This list is not exhaustive, and it is not a screening tool. If something about your hearing worries you, that is reason enough to have it looked at.

Figures, prices and availability

Every figure on this site is labelled with its basis: a published standard, a trade convention, or a manufacturer's own statement. Where a published figure does not exist we say so rather than printing an estimate. Prices and availability change constantly and are shown as a guide only; the figure on a retailer's page at the moment you order is the one that applies. Specifications are as published by the manufacturer, and the labelling on the device you actually receive is what governs.

Errors are possible. If you find one, please tell us and we will correct it.

Noise exposure

The exposure limits quoted on this site are published figures from NIOSH and OSHA. They are time weighted averages across a working day rather than limits on a single moment, they differ from each other substantially, and they are not a guarantee of safety for any individual. Hearing protection ratings are laboratory figures and real world reduction is reliably lower. For workplace noise assessment, consult a qualified occupational health professional.

By using this site you accept that any decision you make on the basis of it is your own. See also our affiliate disclosure, terms of service and privacy policy.