If you have decided it is time to do something about your hearing, the next question is usually the hardest: which hearing aid? There are dozens of models on the Australian market, the price range is wide, and every brochure promises the same thing — clearer speech in noise.
The good news is that choosing well is less about picking the “best” device and more about getting the right match for your ears, your lifestyle and your budget. This guide walks through how that decision is actually made in a clinic, so you can walk in informed rather than be sold to.
Start With a Hearing Test, Not a Product
No two hearing losses are the same. Two people can have the same “mild” result on paper and need completely different devices, because the shape of the loss across pitches, the clarity of their speech understanding and their daily listening demands are different.
That is why a proper assessment always comes first. At New Sound Hearing we run a full diagnostic appointment before any device is discussed.
What a Full Assessment Covers
- A case history — your symptoms, health, medications, noise exposure and the situations you struggle in.
- An ear canal and eardrum check with an otoscope, to rule out wax or middle ear problems.
- Pure tone audiometry — the beeps, mapping the softest sound you can hear at each pitch.
- Speech audiometry — how clearly you understand words, which matters more than volume alone.
- Tympanometry — how well the eardrum and middle ear are moving.
- A plain-English explanation of your audiogram and what your options actually are.
If a clinic quotes you a hearing aid before doing this, that is a reason to pause. You can read more about our hearing services or book a hearing test in Parramatta.
The Main Hearing Aid Styles, and Who Each One Suits
Style is the first fork in the road. It decides how the device looks, how much power it can deliver, how easy it is to handle, and whether rechargeable batteries are an option.
Style |
Where It Sits |
Suits |
Worth Knowing |
Receiver-in-canal (RIC) |
Small body behind the ear, thin wire into the canal |
Most mild to severe losses — the most commonly fitted style in Australia |
Discreet, rechargeable options, easy to service and re-tune as hearing changes |
Behind-the-ear (BTE) |
Behind the ear with a tube or custom earmould |
Severe to profound loss, or anyone who wants a larger device to handle |
Most powerful and most robust; larger batteries mean longer run time |
In-the-ear (ITE) |
Custom-made shell filling the outer ear |
People who find behind-the-ear devices fiddly, or who wear glasses and masks |
Nothing behind the ear; a little more visible than in-canal styles |
In-the-canal (ITC / CIC) |
Custom-made, sitting inside the canal |
Mild to moderate loss where discretion matters |
Smaller controls; canal shape and wax levels decide whether it is suitable |
Invisible-in-canal (IIC) |
Deep in the canal, essentially out of sight |
Mild to moderate loss, in canals large enough to take one |
The most discreet option — see our guide to invisible hearing aids |
As an independent clinic we fit a full range from ReSound, Oticon, Phonak, Bernafon and Signia (formerly Siemens), so the recommendation is based on your audiogram rather than on one manufacturer’s catalogue.
Features That Genuinely Change Your Day
Feature lists are long and the marketing language is similar across brands. In practice, only a handful of features change how well you hear in the situations that frustrate you.
Usually Worth Paying For
- Directional microphones and noise management — the single biggest factor in cafes, clubs and family dinners.
- Rechargeability — no tiny batteries to change, which matters a great deal if your fingers or eyesight are not what they were.
- Bluetooth streaming — phone calls, the TV and podcasts delivered straight into both ears.
- An app — discreet volume and program changes without touching the device.
- Telecoil — still useful in many Australian theatres, churches, halls and taxis with hearing loops.
Nice to Have, Rather Than Essential
- Motion and activity tracking.
- Voice assistants and translation features.
- Multiple manual programs, if the automatic settings already work well for you.
A mid-range device fitted and verified properly will almost always outperform a premium device fitted poorly. The fitting matters more than the price tag.
What Hearing Aids Cost in Australia — and What Help Is Available
Prices in Australia vary widely by technology level and by clinic, and they usually bundle the device with fitting, verification and follow-up care. Rather than quote a figure that may not apply to you, ask any clinic for a written quote that states exactly what is included and for how long.
Funding and Support Worth Checking
- Australian Government Hearing Services Program — eligible pensioner concession card holders and DVA card holders can access fully subsidised devices and ongoing maintenance. New Sound Hearing is an accredited provider and can check your eligibility.
- DVA — veterans with an eligible card are generally covered for assessment, devices and maintenance.
- icare and NSW workers insurance — if your hearing loss is work-related, industrial deafness claims may cover devices. We are a registered provider.
- Private health extras — many funds pay a benefit towards hearing aids, often with a waiting period and a benefit limit across two or three years.
- NDIS — available to eligible participants where hearing supports are in the plan.
- Interest-free payment plans — we offer these so the cost can be spread out.
We also offer a 30-day trial on the hearing aid of your choice. Trialling devices in your own kitchen, workplace and shopping centre tells you far more than a demonstration in a quiet consulting room.
Ten Questions to Ask Before You Buy
- What does my audiogram actually show, in plain language?
- Why this style and this technology level for me specifically?
- Do you verify the fitting against my prescription with real-ear measurement?
- What is included in the price — how many follow-up appointments, and for how long?
- What is the trial period, and what happens if I return the devices?
- What is the warranty, and what does a repair cost after it expires?
- Am I eligible for the Hearing Services Program, DVA or an icare claim?
- Can I claim through my private health fund, and how much?
- What happens as my hearing changes — can these be re-tuned?
- Who will I see at follow-up appointments?
Warning Signs to Watch For
- A price quoted before a full hearing assessment has been done.
- Pressure to decide today, or a discount that disappears if you leave to think about it.
- One brand pushed for every patient regardless of their hearing loss.
- No real-ear verification offered.
- Follow-up appointments charged separately without that being explained upfront.
- Online-only devices with no local clinic to adjust or repair them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need one hearing aid or two?
If both ears have a hearing loss, two devices are usually recommended. Your brain uses the difference between the ears to work out where sound is coming from and to separate speech from background noise, and that only works when both ears are receiving sound.
How long do hearing aids last?
Most people get around five to seven years from a set, depending on wear, wax, moisture and how the technology ages. Regular cleaning and servicing makes a real difference.
Are over-the-counter or online hearing aids worth it?
They can suit some people with a mild loss, but they are not programmed to your audiogram and there is no one locally to verify, adjust or repair them. If you go that route, still have a proper hearing test first so you know what you are treating.
How long does it take to get used to hearing aids?
Expect a few weeks. Everyday sounds you had stopped noticing — the kettle, your own footsteps, paper rustling — come back first and can feel loud. Wearing them consistently and coming to your follow-up appointments is what settles it.
Should I choose rechargeable or disposable batteries?
For most people rechargeable is now the easier choice, but there are genuine reasons to stay with disposable batteries. We compare both in our guide to rechargeable versus battery hearing aids.
The Bottom Line
The best hearing aid is not the newest or the dearest one — it is the one matched to your audiogram, fitted and verified properly, and backed by a clinic that will keep adjusting it as your hearing changes.
New Sound Hearing is an independent audiology clinic at Pemulwuy, serving Parramatta, Merrylands, Greystanes, Wentworthville and Toongabbie. Our principal audiologist Leena Kothari has more than 20 years of clinical experience in Australia and is accredited with Audiology Australia and registered with the Hearing Services Program.
Not sure whether it is time yet? Read the signs you need a hearing test, or book an appointment and let us take a look. Call 0452 303 344 or get in touch.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for individual clinical advice. Outcomes vary from person to person.