Are These Affordable Direct-to-Consumer Hearing Aids Worth the Investment?
Hearing loss can be an extremely isolating, life-altering condition. Although some experiencing auditory deterioration might not like to think of it as a disability, it can make certain aspects of day-to-today life incredibly difficult.
Hearing aids can help a great deal, amplifying sound enough that we can continue to communicate with one another verbally and stay aware of our surroundings, but they’re not cheap.
In light of this, many hard-of-hearing people are forced to use headphones with integrated microphones in place of medical-grade hearing aids, but ListenClear hopes to change all that.
ListenClear — The Lowdown
Headquartered in Savannah, Georgia, ListenClear is a hearing aid company built around not just a customer-kind ethos, but a people-kind ethos.
By employing a direct-to-consumer sales model, ListenClear cuts out the money-sucking middlemen in this area of the medical industry, allowing them to set their prices 50–70% lower than companies who distribute through doctors’ offices.
ListenClear also offers payment plans and discount credit card payment options, ensuring as many people as possible have access to the help they need to improve their standard of living.
It’s a noble cause, but as consumers, we should never withdraw our sense of suspicion when something seems too good to be true. Are the folks over at ListenClear cutting costs somewhere, or are they as wholesome as their stated objectives make them out to be? Let’s find out!
ListenClear — Pros and Cons
I understand that you might not have time to take in this full review, which is why I took it upon myself to condense my ListenClear findings into this digestible Pros and Cons section.
Pros
- They offer both over-the-ear and in-the-ear hearing aids.
- You can check out any ListenClear product before you buy, using their 30-day free trial.
- Provide ListenClear with an audiogram, and they can fine-tune a hearing aid(s) to your needs.
- ListenClear hearing aids are much cheaper than many alternatives.
Cons
- ListenClear hearing aids are not water-resistant.
- Some customers felt pressured to make the purchase after their free trial had elapsed.
- According to many customers, LIstenClear products are no substitute for hearing aids bought through a doctor’s office.
ListenClear Hearing Aids — What Are Your Options?
There are currently four models of hearing aid in ListenClear’s catalog: the Pro, Shadow, Premier 50, and Premier 70. You can purchase any of the models individually or as a pair.
The “Premier” models offer wireless control of volume and feedback via an app on your phone or iPad, so you don’t have to fiddle with the devices themselves to find the sweet spot.
All four ListenClear models are in-the-canal (ITC) designs, meaning the receiver sits in the ear canal itself rather than behind the ear, but that’s not to say there isn’t plenty of variety from model to model. Each ListenClear Hearing aid is unique in its performance, features, and size.
The benefits of ITC hearing aids are that the receiver lies closer to the eardrum, significantly enhancing audio clarity, but there’s a catch. Our ear canals are full of wax and moisture, two things that don’t play nice with the delicate mechanisms within a hearing aid. After a while, exposure to the gunk in our ears can damage the aid, leaving us to foot a pricey cleaning and repair bill.
That’s the basics covered, now let’s take a closer look at each model individually…
The Pro
Despite its rather expensive-sounding name, the Pro is ListenClear’s entry-level offering and the most affordable of the four.
It comes loaded with a size 8 easy-click tip, but ListenClear understands that everybody has a different ear structure, so they also provide 7 extra tips, ensuring you’ll find one that feels just right for you. It’s also insanely light, so you can wear it for long periods without feeling too much discomfort.
The Pro is a single microphone, single program device, so it’s not all that deep in terms of functionality, but considering the price tag, that’s to be expected.
Volume is changed via the on-unit button, giving you access to 5 presets suitable for those with mild to medium hearing loss, and it arrives with a quick-start guide, a user manual, and a 2-month supply of spare batteries.
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Least expensive model
- Extra tips
Cons
- Only 1 program
- Limited volume adjustment
The Shadow
The Shadow is the smallest of the four models, so if you’re looking for something discrete, it’s your best option. It arrives with 6 tips for a comfortable fit, eight spare batteries, a user manual, a quick start guide, and a carry case.
The size of the Shadow is both its biggest strength and biggest weakness. Despite costing more than the Pro, the Shadow only features 1 program and 4 volume presets navigable via the on-ear button. What’s more, the small, size 10 batteries run out of juice quite quickly.
Pros
- Discrete
- Extra tips
- Lightweight and comfortable
Cons
- Basic functionality
- Batteries don’t last very long
The Premier 50
With 13 volume presets and 4 programs, the Premier 50 is a much more fleshed-out unit. The customizable parameters can be accessed via an app or the remote control included with purchase.
It’s a lightweight design, which is a godsend for those that have to wear their aids for a full working day, and the choice of three speaker wire lengths and eight tips really boosts the comfort factor.
They’re compatible with the ListenCear TV Streamer that pipes audio from the TV directly into your hearing aid, but unfortunately, the streamer has to be purchased separately.
Pros
- Controlled via app or remote
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Choice of speaker wire length
- Compatible with ListenClear Streamer
- 4 programs and 13 volume presets
Cons
- No on-ear controls.
- Pricey
- Android users can’t access app
The Premier 70
The Premier 70 is simply a more advanced (and more expensive) version of the Premier 50. It features the same app-based volume and program controls, as well as the 13 volume presets, but this time around you get 6 environment programs and advanced feedback/noise reduction.
Pros
- Better noise/feedback elimination
- 6 programs and 13 volume settings
- Controlled via app or remote.
- Compatible with ListenClear Streamer
Cons
- Pricey
- No on-ear controls
- Android users can’t access the app
ListenClear Technology — Is It up to Scratch?
ListenClear’s “Premier” hearing aids utilize 111 high definition audio channels, capable of auto-tuning themselves to your environment, eliminating the need for manual fiddling — nice! Studies have shown that as little as 8 channels can improve audibility, so ListenClear has gone above and beyond on this front.
ListenClear Trial Periods — What Do They Entail?
The 30-day free trial is one of the most enticing aspects of ListenClear’s sales model. You do have to hand over your payment information in order to start the trial, but there’s no funny business involved. Unless you lose them, break them, or decide you want to keep them, you won’t have to pay a dime. ListenClear even pays the postage fee!
ListenClear Warranty — What Are Your Options
All ListenClear hearing aids arrive with a one-year warranty, but it only covers defects in materials and workmanship. Water and physical damage is not covered.
ListenClear also offers a paid-for “Universal” warranty that covers any form of loss or damage, but it can be pricey over time.
ListenClear Customer Support — Are They Listening?
Reports on ListenClear’s customer service are a mixed bag. Some claim that they’re incredibly inflexible and hard to get hold of, while others recount very pleasant and helpful interactions.
One thing I was a little disappointed by was the operating hours of their phone helpline — 9 am to 7 pm, Monday to Friday.
Granted, it’s more than office hours, but what if someone needs help with their hearing aid on an evening or weekend? Hopefully, in the future, ListenClear will adopt some form of 24/7 support system.
You can also contact a customer rep via their website, but response times can vary.
Will Medicare Cover ListenClear Hearing Aids?
Certain Medicare supplement insurance plans may indeed cover the cost of LIstenClear hearing aids, but unfortunately, standard Medicare does not.
ListenClear — What Do Customers Have to Say?
The customer response to ListenClear products has been fairly positive, but there are many users who claim that they’re simply amplifiers rather than medical-grade hearing aids. Others mentioned that sales reps were overly forceful when the 30-day trial came to an end.
ListenClear Review — The Final Verdict
I’m a little hesitant to recommend ListenClear to you here today, as the negative customer feedback I encountered during my research is quite worrying. That said, I can’t see anything wrong with taking advantage of their 30-day free trial and testing their products out for yourself.
Personally, I’d avoid the two cheaper options (Pro and Shadow), as with only 1 program a piece, there’s a limit to their efficacy in different environments. A quality pair of PSAP headphones will do more or less the same job, and you can pick them up for a fraction of the cost of ListenClear’s entry-level options.