2022 Update: We wanted to let our customers know that this report is the latest one for hearing aids that Which has released and reflects their own website. If Which Report Best Hearing Aid Providers 2022 is released, we will update this article accordingly.
Choosing the right hearing aids is a complex process with so many factors to consider. Should you buy your hearing aids privately or go through the NHS service? How much should you be paying for them and what providers have the best service? What better way to find out than through the Which? report's 2021 statistics?
To obtain these results Which surveyed over 1,572 of their customers to give consumers a better idea of the best hearing aid providers out there. Digital hearing aid users were asked about their experiences with different retailers with questions about which outlets offer the best hearing tests, the greatest choice of product, and who offers the best value for money.
As with the last three Which Report publications before this one, local independent audiologists come top. The 2021 survey shows that independent retailers like us are rated the highest by hearing aid consumers - coming in at 86%.
Because we are the largest network of such independent audiologists, Which? have given us permission to write this article about their report and they classify us as such independents. However, it should be noted that other independent audiologists who are not part of our network are also considered equally highly.
Our network consists of over 200 independent audiologists. We have over 200 clinic locations as well as offering a full home visit service.
Hearing Aid UK supplies hearing aids from every single one of the manufacturers, without bias. We have no ties to any brands. Value for money is more than just getting a bargain, it's all about the whole package and aftercare you receive that brings value to the client.
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Amplifon is an Italian company with a large UK presence – more than 200 centres in the UK and some home visit coverage.
On the whole, Amplifon seems to have improved since the last Which Report, as consumers consider them to:
Amplifon has always had a strong business relationship with GN Resound and most of the aids sold by them are from this manufacturer. They also sell Phonak and Widex hearing aids.
It should be noted that since the Which Report came out, Amplifon has moved to selling their "Amplifon own brand" of hearing aids which Amplifon General Manager, Paula Cave tells us are based on the same technology as the current model branded aids from the main manufacturers they use but rebranded as Amplifon.
We asked Paula to confirm whether their aids have the same full range of technologies in them or whether they are a cut down or "de-featured" version, but she declined to comment.
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Boots are one of the largest of the national retailers with 430 stores and after local independents, were the highest-rated High street presence.
Overall customers think that Boots Hearing Care are good in most areas of their hearing healthcare services. Including:
Boots Hearingcare are part-owned by the same company that makes Phonak aids and the vast majority of their customers bought Phonak hearing aids, they also dispensed a small percentage of Widex and also aids from their lower priced "essentials" range. Many of their customers reported pressure to buy the Boots preferred brand.
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Hidden Hearing is a large UK company with 80 centres and a full home visit service.
Whilst customers think that Hidden Hearing could still improve their pricing and their price transparency online, they also thought:
Hidden Hearing is owned by a larger company William Demant. William Demant also owns the hearing aids manufacturers Oticon and Bernafon and these are the two brands that Hidden Hearing supply. Chances are you'll probably be offered a hearing aid from these two brands, as most of their customers are reported buying Oticon hearing aids.
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Specsavers have hearing centres in many of their optics locations and have over 600 locations overall making them the largest UK branch based retailer.
The overall customer perspective of Specsavers has changed slightly from the last Which Report, with some services not being considered as good. Here is a summary of the customers recent feedback:
Specsavers like to dispense their own brand range, the “Advance” but also do Phonak and Signia aids. However, the majority of customers are recorded purchasing Signia hearing aids.
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Scrivens is one of the larger national chains with over 300 outlets, though many of these are manned only once or twice a month.
The poor level of consumer satisfaction achieved by this company has stayed quite consistent with all of the Which Reports from previous years. Here is a summary of the customers feedback:
Scrivens mainly dispense Bernafon and Starkey hearing aids.
Finding the right hearing aid provider is one of the most important parts of the hearing aid process. There are a handful of really good manufacturers in the industry so the difference between a good and bad hearing aid is usually down to the service, fit and aftercare from your audiologist than the device itself.
Discovering an audiologist you can trust will ultimately result in the right hearing aid for you, your lifestyle and your hearing loss. Without the right professional hearing aid provider offering optimum aftercare – you could possibly end up with the wrong device that you won’t wear.
Hearing aid retailers and providers differ in their service and aftercare - with independents coming out top. At Hearing Aid UK, we know how important aftercare is and recognise that it plays an integral role in hearing healthcare. Because of this, we always build a strong and trusting relationship with our patients. We also know that treating all hearing loss the same will not work.
To discover more about us, watch the video about what we offer to our customers, our hearing aid prices and more below.
If you would like any more information about the above article, highstreet retailers or the difference between them and the service we provide - call us free for an informal chat on 0800 567 7621
Alternatively, you can watch our short video about what makes us so unique when compared to our competitors below.
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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.