Choosing a hearing aid for an older adult
The right hearing aid is the one your relative will actually wear every day: loud and clear enough, comfortable, and easy to recharge or change batteries with slower hands. Before buying, take them for a hearing test at an ear, nose and throat clinic to learn how much hearing has been lost. The tool below narrows down the options in thirty seconds.
What do you need?
Which style does the wearer prefer?
Does your relative also need help getting around?
Hearing test first, hearing aid second
Hearing loss has many causes. Sometimes it is just earwax; sometimes it needs medical treatment. A hearing test shows which ear is affected and by how much, so you can choose an aid with enough power. A hearing aid does not cure hearing loss; it helps you hear better while you wear it.
Behind the ear or a mini in-ear aid?
Behind-the-ear models are bigger, with easier controls and larger, longer-lasting batteries, which suits older hands and eyes. Mini in-ear models are more discreet, but their buttons are tiny and their small batteries need changing more often. See hearing aids for seniors and mini hearing aids.
Button-cell or rechargeable?
Rechargeable aids just go into a charging case each night, which helps anyone who struggles with tiny batteries. Button-cell aids need the right size (10, 13, 312 or 675) and a spare supply. Details in our hearing aid battery guide.
Accessories worth buying with it
- Ear tips in several sizes to fit the ear canal.
- A drying box or desiccant so the aid dries overnight.
- A clip or lanyard so it does not get lost.
- Cleaning tools: a small brush and wax pick. See hearing aid batteries and accessories.