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A question we are often asked by people who are looking to purchase hearing aids is, ‘What is the difference between a manufacturer and a retailer?’ A common misconception is that they are one and the same but this is not the case.
A hearing aid manufacturer is a company that actually makes the instruments. They are also responsible for the design, new developments and will hold the license for their products. The retailer is the company or person that then sells the hearing aids.
When it comes to manufacturers, it is important that you know who you are dealing with as technology levels and the quality of the products can vary greatly. There are many small manufacturers who produce what seem to be lower-cost hearing aids, but the reason the products are cheaper is that the technology is far below the level you would receive from the larger manufacturers.
This is often because research and development are costly and the smaller companies simply don’t have the resources to keep up with their larger competitors. Having said that, some smaller companies do produce high-quality specialist equipment that may not be available elsewhere.
At Hearing Aid UK, we recommend hearing aids from all the world’s hearing aids leading manufacturers. Much of the manufacturing of hearing aids these days is done overseas but each of the manufacturers also has a base in the UK.
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There are quite a few in the audiology industry, however, below are the main hearing aid manufacturers as a reference.
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Company name:Â William Demant Holding
Overseas base:Â Denmark
UK base:Â Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
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Company name:Â William Demant Holding
Overseas base:Â Denmark
UK base:Â Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
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Company name:Â Sonova Holding
Overseas base:Â Switzerland
UK base:Â Warrington, Cheshire
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Company name:Â GNReSound
Overseas base:Â Denmark
UK base:Â Oxford, Oxfordshire
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Company name:Â Siemens
Overseas base:Â Germany
UK base:Â Crawley, West Sussex
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Company name:Â Starkey
Overseas base:Â USA
UK base:Â Stockport, Greater Manchester
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Company name:Â Sonova Holding
Overseas base:Â Switzerland
UK base:Â Warrington, Cheshire
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Company name:Â Widex
Overseas base:Â Denmark
UK base:Â Chester, Cheshire
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Over the years, many retailers have built affiliations with certain manufacturers and in some cases are partially owned by them. This is a selection of retailers that have ties to manufacturers:
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Boots Hearing Care: (David Ormerod Hearing Centres) – Majority owned by Sonova Holding (Phonak, Unitron).
Hidden Hearing:Â Owned by William Demant Holding (Bernafon, Oticon).
Bloom Hearing and Regional Hearing Services: Â Owned by Widex.
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While this does not mean that you would necessarily receive substandard technology from these retailers, it does mean that you are likely to be offered a limited choice. As they are affiliated with certain manufacturers, there is a good chance that they will recommend that the company’s products first. (If you went to buy a car at a Mercedes dealership they wouldn’t offer you a Ford!)
Another thing to watch for in these cases is that manufacturers will often use these retailers to clear their stocks of older technology by offering things like 2 for 1 deal. While this looks like a fantastic offer on the surface, you may not be getting the best technology available for what you are paying.
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At Hearing Aid UK we work with professional, independent audiologists from all over the UK. Because they are independent, you can be sure that the advice you receive and the products they recommend are the right solution for you based on your hearing needs.
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Our audiologists are happy to help and support you with any questions you may have about hearing aid manufacturers or any other areas of hearing healthcare free on 0800 567 7621
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Read Next:Â What should I be paying?
When we refer to a product as 'New', we mean that the product is new to the market.
When we refer to a product as 'Superseded', we mean that there is a newer range available which replaces and improves on this product.
When we refer to a product as an 'Older Model', we mean that it is has been superseded by at least two more recent hearing aid ranges.