Oticon Hearing Aids Review
Updated for December, 2021
Key Takeaways
- As one of the top hearing aid providers in the world, Oticon offers products that cover all levels of hearing loss and come in multiple styles to fit wearers’ needs.
- Oticon differentiates itself with its deep neural network platform for advanced sound processing, called BrainHearing.
- Oticon offers rechargeable styles and Bluetooth connectivity for streaming.
- A key drawback is pricing: Oticon doesn’t share its pricing details publicly, but judging by information compiled by other websites, its products are much more expensive than other brands on the market.
Why You Can Trust Our Expert Review
Each product we review and recommend has been thoroughly researched. Our review team has interviewed experts in the field, including audiologists and geriatric care professionals. We mystery shop brands and evaluate verified customer reviews from reputable third parties, including Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot.
Why Oticon Is One of Our Top Picks
We decided Oticon hearing aids were worth an in-depth review because of the variety of styles you can purchase for mild, moderate, severe, and profound hearing loss. Depending on your hearing needs and preferences, Oticon could be the hearing device for you, especially if rechargeable batteries and high tech features are on your priority list, including Bluetooth and wireless connectivity.
Pros and Cons of Oticon Hearing Aids
Pros
- Wide range of hearing aid styles for mild, moderate, severe, and profound hearing loss, as well as one-sided deafness
- Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids with wireless connectivity
- Rechargeable battery styles available
- Deep neural network technology for advanced sound processing
Cons
- Little pricing transparency, with no pricing information posted online
- No option to order online
- More expensive than competitors
Compare Oticon Hearing Aids at a Glance
| Oticon More | Oticon Opn S | Oticon CROS | Oticon Ruby | Oticon Siya | Oticon Xceed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost* | $1,599–$3,750 | $1,599–$3,567 | Around $1,000 | $1,702–$2,061 | $2,365–$1,808 | $1,449–$3,529 |
| Type of Hearing Aid | Receiver-in-the-ear | Receiver-in-the-ear (BTE style available) | Receiver-in-the-ear (BTE style available) | Receiver-in-the-ear (BTE style available) | In-the-ear (BTE style available) | Behind-the-ear |
| Type of Hearing Loss | Mild to severe | Mild to severe | Single-sided deafness | Mild to severe | Mild to severe | Severe to profound |
| Rechargeable battery | Yes, with miniRITE R style | Yes, with miniRITE R style | Yes, with Oticon CROS PX style | Yes, with miniRITE R style | Yes, with miniRITE R style | |
| Bluetooth streaming | ||||||
| Customization | ||||||
| Water resistant | ||||||
| Telecoil | ||||||
| Directional microphone | ||||||
| Noise reduction | ||||||
| Processing channels | 48 and 64, depending on the model (1,2, or 3) | 48 and 64, depending on the model (1,2, or 3) | 48 | 48 | 48 |
* For More, Opn S, and Xceed models, these ranges were sourced from information published by ZipHearing and HearingTracker. Prices for Ruby and Siya were gathered from HearingTracker. Oticon CROS generally costs about $1,000, according to multiple website
Oticon Models Offered
Oticon’s models serve people with all types of hearing loss (mild, moderate, severe, and profound). Here’s an overview of the top models available.
Oticon More
- Cost: $2,712 to $3,750, according to HearingTracker and $1,599 to $2,399, according to ZipHearing
- Type of Hearing Aid: Receiver-in-the-ear
- Type of Hearing Loss: Mild to severe
- Rechargeable Battery: Yes, with miniRITE R style
- Bluetooth Streaming: Yes
Oticon More is the company’s newest hearing aid model. It’s the first of its kind equipped with Oticon’s BrainHearing technology, an on-board deep neural network offering superior sound processing for people with mild to severe hearing loss. The Oticon More was released in 2021 and has already won several industry awards for its artificial intelligence capabilities and design.
According to Oticon, the neural network in Oticon More was trained with 12 million real-life sounds, delivering 30 percent more information to the brain than its Opn S model while improving speech understanding by 15 percent. Its new Polaris chipset provides an eightfold increase in memory and double the processing power of its predecessor, the Velox S.
This model comes in three options: More 1, More 2, and More 3, each offering different configurations, processing channels, and fitting bands. Also, there are two styles in multiple colors: The miniRITE R, a lithium-ion battery-powered rechargeable style, and the miniRITE T, which sits behind the ear. The miniRITE R provides a full day of battery life after a three-hour charge. (The style is available for Oticon More, Ruby, Opn S, and Opn Play.)
Using Oticon’s separate ConnectClip device, users can stream sound wirelessly from any Bluetooth-connected device to their Oticon More device, with directional microphones and two-way audio streaming capabilities.
Oticon Opn S
- Cost: $2,415 to $3,567, according to HearingTracker and $1,599 to $2,299, according to ZipHearing
- Type of Hearing Aid: Receiver-in-the-ear
- Type of Hearing Loss: Mild to severe
- Rechargeable Battery: Yes, with miniRITE R style
- Bluetooth Streaming: Yes
Like More, the Opn S model uses Oticon’s BrainHearing technology to deliver speech understanding in noisy environments. A key difference is that Opn S is built on the Velox S platform, an open sound system that provides feedback management, increased memory, and sensitive detectors to monitor acoustic changes.
A rechargeable battery is available with this model if customers choose the miniRITE R style. The telecoil option comes in the form of the miniRITE T, and a more powerful BTE PP (behind-the-ear plus power) serves people with severe to profound hearing loss.
Opn also offers custom styles, including invisible-in-the-canal (IIC), completely-in-the-canal (CIC), in-the-canal (ITC), and in-the-ear (half shell).
Oticon CROS
- Cost: Around $1,000
- Type of Hearing Aid: Receiver-in-the-ear
- Type of Hearing Loss: Single-sided deafness
- Rechargeable Battery: Yes, with CROS PX mode
- Bluetooth Streaming: Yes
Built for adults and children with single-sided deafness, the Oticon CROS family is great for people who need a fully immersive sound experience. Built on the Velox S platform to enable transmission from one ear to another, the two-part device features a transmitter in one ear with a microphone that picks up sound, which is then carried to the hearing aid in the user’s unaffected ear. The device also includes a TwinLink system to connect external audio streams.
Oticon claims CROS provides 50 percent improvement in speech awareness when streaming from an external source and transmitting sound from the affected ear to the unaffected ear.
The Oticon CROS PX style offers a rechargeable option. The CROS family is available in seven colors and is compatible with miniRITE, miniRITE T, miniRITE R, BTE and BTE PP, SP, and UP styles.
Oticon Ruby
- Cost: $2,061 for Ruby 1 and $1,702 for Ruby 2, according to HearingTracker
- Type of Hearing Aid: Behind-the-ear
- Type of Hearing Loss: Mild to severe
- Rechargeable Battery: Yes, with miniRITE R style
- Bluetooth Streaming: Yes
Designed for adults with mild to severe hearing loss, the Ruby is a behind-the-ear hearing aid offering high sound quality, wireless connectivity via Bluetooth low-energy technology, and a lithium-ion rechargeable option that provides a full day’s charge in three hours. The company boasts that Ruby has the best Oticon sound quality ever offered in its essential category. The rechargeable miniRITE R style is available for Ruby models, as is the telecoil option (miniRITE T) and BTE and BTE PP options.
Oticon Siya
- Cost: $2,365 for Siya 1 or $1,808 for Siya 2, according to HearingTracker
- Type of Hearing Aid: In-the-ear
- Type of Hearing Loss: Mild to severe
- Rechargeable Battery: Yes, with miniRITE R style
- Bluetooth Streaming: Yes
Similar to Ruby, Siya also serves adults with mild to severe hearing loss and offers miniRITE R, miniRITE T, BTE, and BTE PP styles, along with CIC, ITC, ITE HS, and ITE FS options. The Siya ITE hearing aids are essentially the in-the-ear version of Ruby.
According to Oticon, the Siya chip processes sound 50 times faster than previous generations. The Velox-based model processes sounds across 48 channels in high resolutions and provides a noise management system, wireless connectivity, a rechargeable battery option, tinnitus relief sounds, and more options.
Oticon Xceed
- Cost: Per HearingTracker, prices are $2,547 for Xceed 3, $2,913 for Xceed 2, and $3,529 for Xceed 1. However, according to ZipHearing, prices range from $1,449 for Xceed 3, $1,699 for Xceed 2, and $2,299 for Xceed 1
- Type of Hearing Aid: Behind-the-ear
- Type of Hearing Loss: Severe to profound
- Rechargeable Battery: N/A
- Bluetooth Streaming: Yes
The Xceed model, the Oticon hearing aid for people with severe to profound hearing loss, is great for people who require additional power in their hearing solutions. The Xceed BTE UP (behind-the-ear ultra power) has a 675 battery, separate push buttons to manage programs and volume, a telecoil, FM support, and LED indicators. On the other hand, the BTE SP (behind-the-ear super power) version has a 13-size battery but shares similar specifications with the UP version.
The company claims its BrainHearing system provides Xceed users with 10 percent improved speech clarity, 10 percent less listening effort, and 15 percent better short-term recall. Like other Oticon models, Xceed connects wirelessly to smartphone devices and accessories, offering direct sound-streaming to both ears. There’s also an Xceed Play version available for kids ages 0 to 18 with any severity of hearing loss.
Oticon Hearing Aids Review: How Much Do Oticon Hearing Aids Cost?
Unfortunately, Oticon doesn’t share its pricing details online, leaving consumers in the dark on how much they can expect to pay. Since Oticon doesn’t sell to consumers directly, prices will vary depending on which hearing specialist you buy from.
That said, HearingTracker has average retail prices submitted by local hearing health care practices. According to the site, the Oticon hearing aids price range is $1,262 to $3,750 per unit, depending on the model.
ZipHearing, which distributes Oticon devices at hearing centers across the United States, has some price ranges available through its chat service. According to ZipHearing, the Oticon More ranges from $1,599 to $2,399 each, or $3,198 to $4,798 for the pair, depending on whether you choose the More 1, 2, or 3. Next, the Opn S 1, 2, and 3 styles range from $1,599 to $2,299 each, or $3,198 to $4,598 for a pair. The Xceed 1, 2, and 3 models range from $1,449 to $2,299 each, or $2,898 to $4,598 for a pair.
Hearing aids usually aren’t covered by insurance, so you will most likely need to pay out of pocket. That said, some hearing specialists offer financing programs with a monthly payment plan, so be sure to ask about that.
Original Medicare (which includes Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B) does not cover hearing aids or fittings, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. However, some Medicare Advantage plans sold by private insurance companies include coverage for hearing services and devices. You also might be able to get reimbursed for hearing aid costs through your flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA).
The Oticon App and Accessories
The Oticon ON mobile application, available for Apple and Android devices, allows users to adjust volume, switch programs, check their battery level, adjust streamed sounds, and view user instructions. It’s worth noting that the Android app has a 3- out of 5-star rating on the Google Play Store, based on more than 4,400 reviews as of mid-November 2021. The iOS app has a 3.5- out of 5-star rating based on 40 reviews on the Apple App Store.
As for accessories, the Oticon ConnectClip accessory allows wearers to make hands-free phone calls from any smartphone, serving as a remote control. Oticon also has a TV adapter with a range of 45 feet so wearers can stream movies and shows from their television.
Oticon Hearing Aid Customization
Oticon offers a range of styles with “invisible” options to keep the hearing aids discreet, including receiver-in-the-ear (RITE), behind-the-ear (BTE), invisible-in-the-canal (IIC), completely-in-the-canal (CIC), and in-the-ear (ITE) styles. Users can also be fitted with custom hearing aids, especially with the Oticon Opn model.
Customer Service and Satisfaction
The Oticon support page is complete with how-to videos, instruction manuals, care guides, and articles. If you need help with something specific, you can email or call the company’s support team directly.
It’s worth noting that Oticon has mixed ratings on third-party review sites:
- Oticon is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau but has an A- rating on the site, with four complaints closed in the last three years.
- On Trustpilot, Oticon has a 2.7- out of 5-star rating based on 30 reviews as of mid-November 2021.
Comparing Oticon to Other Brands
| Cost per Pair | Types of Hearing Aids | Types of Hearing Loss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oticon | Starts at around $1,599 | RITE, IIC, CIC, ITE, BTE | Mild, moderate, severe, profound, single-sided |
| Phonak | Starts at around $2,299 | BTE, RIC, ITE, CIC, IIC | Mild, moderate, severe, profound |
| Lively | Starts at around $1,450 | BTE | Mild to moderately severe |
| MDHearingAid | $499 per ear | BTE | Mild to moderately severe |
What to Consider Before Buying Hearing Aids
Things like budget and style preferences are critical factors for any purchase, but with hearing aids, the buying process also includes a diagnostic element. Bria Collins, AuD, CCC-A, and associate director of audiology professional practices at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, says that when shopping for hearing aids, the first step is to know the degree and type of your hearing loss so you can understand which options would be appropriate for your individual hearing needs.
“The degree of hearing loss refers to how much sound the ears are missing, [which] ranges from mild to profound,” says Collins. “Type of hearing loss refers to where in the ear the sound is being reduced; is it the outer, middle, or inner ear that is blocking sound from reaching the brain?”
Next, Collins says consumers should take lifestyle preferences into account, considering particular sounds or settings where hearing is strained, such as a restaurant or office environment or when talking to children. “The hearing aid style and customization can be personalized to meet each patients’ needs,” adds Collins. “For example, there are now hearing aids that utilize artificial intelligence to help you hear better, and some styles of hearing aids are almost invisible.”
Hearing Evaluations from Audiologists
Collins emphasizes the importance of having a full hearing evaluation and functional needs assessment from a licensed audiologist with either a master’s or doctoral-level degree and thousands of clinical training hours in diagnosing and treating hearing loss.
Rhee Rosenman-Nesson, AuD, CCC-A, and founder of Hearing Doctors of New Jersey, says the first step is a comprehensive hearing evaluation by a doctor of audiology, who can help you determine whether you have an impairment, and to what degree it is.
“During the hearing evaluation, the doctor of audiology will take a thorough case history to understand your medical history and related health conditions and also ask questions to understand what specific situations you are having difficulty hearing in, as well as examine your ears and perform the hearing assessment,” says Rosenman-Nesson. If a hearing aid is needed based on the results, testing in noise should be performed with several different hearing aids to establish which one will help you hear the most clearly.
Rosenman-Nesson adds that patients will need a real ear verification test to fit the hearing aid properly. “A real ear test is the gold standard for fitting hearing aids because it measures the sound pressure level in your ear canal when wearing hearing aids,” says Rosenman-Nesson. “These measurements allow the audiologist to verify that the hearing aids are amplifying sound accurately for your hearing loss to ensure a precise fit of your new hearing aids. Without this test, there is no way to verify that your new hearing aids are delivering the right amount of sound to help you hear and understand speech again.”
How We Reviewed Oticon Hearing Aids
We assessed the value of Oticon hearing aids and whether or not they’re worth purchasing based on a number of factors, including:
- Price
- Audiologist care
- Warranty and adjustments
- Tech features
- Comfort and fit
- Durability
Bottom Line
Though Oticon offers high-quality hearing aids and accessories spanning all levels of hearing loss, its products are far more expensive than other competitors in the space. MDHearingAid, for example, starts at around $499 per ear on average, but the hearing aids aren’t custom fit and don’t cover higher levels of hearing loss beyond mild to moderately severe.
Also, with no option to purchase Oticon hearing aids online, consumers who’d prefer a quick and easy buying experience might want to look into a different brand. You’ll need to physically go to a hearing clinic to get specific pricing based on your fit and to place an order with Oticon.
So, are Oticon hearing aids worth the money? If you have mild to moderate hearing loss, there are plenty of other brands offering similar hearing aids for a better price. However, people with severe to profound hearing loss can benefit from Oticon’s high-power hearing aids and might be willing to pay more for them.
FAQs
Where do Oticon hearing aids rank?
Oticon is considered one of the “big six” hearing aid firms—a collective of manufacturers that dominate the market. Others include Sonova/Phonak, ReSound, Sivantos, Widex, and Starkey. But despite being a top player in the industry, Oticon has drawn quite a bit of negative feedback from customers on third-party sites like Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot.
Are Oticon More hearing aids good?
Oticon More, released in 2021, is one of the top hearing aid models on the market. More stands out from competitors for its unique BrainHearing technology, a deep neural network designed based on the functions of the human brain.
Who makes Oticon hearing aids?
Oticon is part of Demant Group, a Denmark-headquartered healthcare firm specializing in hearing aids, cochlear implants, audiological diagnostics equipment, and audio communication products. The company also owns Philips Hearing Solutions. In 2020, the company’s hearing health care business—which includes Oticon hearing aids—netted 13,163 DKK (or about $2 million USD) in revenue, with its hearing aids accounting for 39 percent of sales.
Is Oticon coming out with a new hearing aid?
Oticon kicked off 2021 by unveiling its More series, with an additional set of styles and features released in August. It’s certainly possible that Oticon has a new release on the horizon, but the company hasn’t made any formal announcements indicating such.
Resources
Overview of all styles and models: https://wdh02.azureedge.net/-/media/oticon-us/main/download-center—myoticon—product-literature/oticon-portfolio/15555-10527—oticon-portfolio-patient-decision-guide—2021.pdf?rev=43B7&la=en
Medicare
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hearing-aids
Reviews
BBB: https://www.bbb.org/us/nj/somerset/profile/hearing-assistive-devices/oticon-inc-0221-1002160
Trustpilot: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/oticon.dk
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