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Hearing aids: How to choose the right one for you
Investing in a hearing aid is no small thing. People with some degree of hearing loss can benefit greatly from a quality pair of hearing aids, but of course there’s no one-size-fits all solution to mild, moderate, or severe hearing loss.
Instead, there are a variety of these tiny sound amplification devices to choose from. You’ll find a wide range of prices and technology features across different brands, styles and hearing-aid models, so you may be looking for some help in making this important decision for your health and wellbeing.
Whether you’re on the lookout for your first pair of hearing aids, or you know it’s time to switch hearing aids and upgrade to something newer, we’re here with all the info on how hearing aids work, what your options are, and which hearing aid may be the perfect fit for you.
What is the best hearing aid in 2024?
Learn all about how hearing aids work — and which types and brands you should look out for — when picking out a hearing aid for you.
How do hearing aids work?
All hearing aids, regardless of brand or style, counter hearing loss. These tiny sound-amplification devices sit on or within the ear to capture, boost and transfer sound. This is all thanks to tech like microphones and speakers that relay important sounds to the wearer.
There are a few ways to get your hands on a good hearing aid. The first is through your doctor. Simply schedule a checkup to learn more about the cause and severity of your hearing loss, then get a referral for a trusted audiologist for a more thorough hearing exam. This can set you up with a quality pair of prescription hearing aids.
But it’s worth noting that these tend to be more expensive than your alternative option — over-the-counter hearing aids. Prescription devices can cost upwards of $1,500, while some OTC hearing aids, like the popular Jabra Enhance Plus hearing aids (starting at $799 a pair), can be much less expensive.
What are the different types of hearing aids?
Choosing the right fit can be an important, if easily overlooked, part of hearing-aid shopping. Do you go with a smaller device that discreetly fits in the ear canal? Or would you prefer something a bit bulkier that sits securely and comfortably behind and around the ear?
These are the most common styles of hearing aids you’re likely to come across:
- Behind-the-ear (BTE): BTE hearing aids loop over the top of the ear, with most of the electronics in a plastic case behind it. With the largest design, these provide optimal sound amplification over other models.
- Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC): RIC hearing aids (as well as the smaller receiver-in-the-ear, or RITE, devices) are similar to a BTE in design, but with a connecting wire in place of the BTE’s earmold. This gives the ear canal more room and results in a more comfortable fit.
- In-the-ear (ITE): ITE hearing aids are made to sit entirely in the outer ear. These devices have a longer battery life and usually come with more features, such as volume control, than smaller models.
- Completely-in-the-canal (CIC): CIC hearing aids have the smallest design, with a custom-built shell that fits in the ear canal. These are the least noticeable, but don’t offer many features or the most powerful sound amplification.
- Open fit: A variation of a BTE, an open-fit hearing aid has an over-the-ear design with an open dome in the canal instead of a tube or mold. This keeps the ear canal open for natural sound to enter the ear as well -– ideal for mild to moderate hearing loss.
Should you get a prescription hearing aid or OTC hearing aid?
In October 2022, the FDA approved the use and sale of over-the-counter, or OTC, hearing aids. OTC hearing aids don’t require a hearing evaluation or prescription, but you must be 18 or older to make a purchase.
OTC hearing aids are ideal for mild to moderate hearing loss and can already be found from brands such as Eargo, Lively, and Audicious. If you suffer from severe or profound hearing loss, however, you should talk with your doctor or audiologist about prescription hearing amplifiers. While more expensive, they are regulated by the FDA for optimal amplification and typically come with services like ongoing maintenance and professional fitting by a specialist.
Tips for picking the best hearing aid for you
Shopping for OTC hearing aids online can be confusing. It can help to know which brands offer quality hearing aids.
Costco stands out as a wholesale retailer, with the Costco Hearing Aid Center offering hearing aids from trusted brands like Philips and Jabra. You can also schedule a hearing test with an audiologist at your local Costco Hearing Aid Center and get some guidance on finding the right sound amplification device for your needs.
One thing that can make shopping for hearing aids easier is to know which features matter most to you. Consider this list of additional features that come with some hearing aids and see what jumps out at you:
- Noise reduction: All hearing aids offer some level of noise reduction, but quality may vary between brands and models.
- Rechargeable batteries: Easily rechargeable hearing aids are growing more common. It can be a big convenience to invest in a rechargeable hearing aid over one that requires you to swap out batteries every so often. Most OTC hearing aids last around 10 hours on a single charge, but for the absolute best battery life we recommend the Sony CRE-E10 hearing aid, which can last more than 25 hours on a single charge according to Sony.
- Directional microphones: All hearing aids include an omnidirectional microphone for picking up and isolating certain sounds, but some also include microphones that can focus on a single direction. Forward-facing directional microphones could be useful for things like one-on-one conversations.
- Bluetooth / wireless connectivity: In this digital age, it’s hard to imagine any sound amplification device that does not include some kind of wireless connectivity. Bluetooth compatibility is an increasingly common feature in newer hearing aids. Look out for this feature if the idea of effortlessly connecting your hearing aid to your phone, computer, or TV is appealing to you.
- Preprogrammed settings: Some hearing aids can store more than one setting at once, usually configured by your audiologist, to meet different listening needs or sound environments. This can be helpful for people with the inner ear disorder Ménière disease who might need to make multiple hearing-aid adjustments daily.
Some residents east of Atlanta were evacuated while others were told to shelter in place to avoid contact with a chemical plume after a fire at a chemical plant.
Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel told reporters that a sprinkler head malfunctioned around 5 a.m. Sunday at the BioLab plant in Conyers. That caused water to mix with a water-reactive chemical, which produced a plume of chemicals. The chief said she wasn’t sure what chemicals were included.
A small roof fire was initially contained, but reignited Sunday afternoon, Sheriff Eric Levett said in a video posted on Facebook as gray smoke billowed into the sky behind him. He said authorities were trying to get the fire under control and urged people to stay away from the area.
People in the northern part of Rockdale County were ordered to evacuate and others were told to shelter in place with windows and doors closed. Sheriff’s office spokesperson Christine Nesbitt did not know the number of people evacuated.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division were both on site, county Emergency Management Director Sharon Webb said. The agencies are monitoring the air “to give us more of an idea of what the plume consists of.”
McDaniel said crews were working on removing the chemical from the building, away from the water source. Once the product is contained, the situation will be assessed and officials will let residents know whether it is safe to return to their homes, she said.
An evacuation center was opened at Wolverine Gym in Covington.
Washington — Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will face off on Tuesday in the first and only vice presidential debate of the cycle, as the two candidates look to prop up the Republican and Democratic tickets with fewer than 40 days until Election Day.
The debate, hosted by CBS News at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City, will be moderated by “CBS Evening News” anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell and “Face the Nation” moderator and CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan.
Here’s what to know about how the candidates are preparing for the debate:
How JD Vance is preparing for the VP debate
The Ohio Republican has been preparing for the debate for more than a month, a source directly involved told CBS News, including with “murder board” sessions with a small team that includes Vance’s wife and his advisers, along with senior Trump adviser Jason Miller.
Among Vance’s main focuses during the preparation has been studying Walz’ debate style and policy record, the source said, noting that Vance will attempt to highlight what he sees as the Minnesota governor’s left-wing views during the debate.
Vance told reporters last week that his plan is to break down what the Trump-Vance administration would do to make “life better” and connect that to policy.
“So, we’re studying up as much as we can on the issues that matter to the American people, and I’m looking forward to it,” Vance said.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, a Minnesota Republican, is standing in for Walz during Vance’s debate prep, four sources familiar with the preparations told CBS News. Emmer and Walz have deep roots in Minnesota and are close in age.
Emmer told ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday that he’s known Walz for decades and has spent the last month working to “get his phrases down, his mannerisms.”
“My job was to be able to play Tim Walz so JD Vance knows what he’s going to see,” Emmer said.
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How Tim Walz is preparing for the VP debate
Walz has been preparing for the debate with a close team of advisers, a source familiar with the preparations told CBS News. Some of the people involved also helped Vice President Kamala Harris take on former President Donald Trump, among others, like a long-time aid to Walz who worked with him during his bids for governor.
For Walz, whose name recognition was until recently limited outside of Minnesota, the focus is on continuing to introduce himself to the American people, according to the source. He’ll also work to highlight Harris’ vision for the nation’s path forward.
“You’ll hear me talk like I have about things that impact Americans, making sure they have the opportunity to thrive, making sure that we’re being factual in how we talk about that,” Walz told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow of the debate earlier this month. “And so I’m looking forward to it. I’ll work hard, that’s what I do.”
During debate prep, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is standing in for Vance, a campaign official familiar with the preparation told CBS News. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, also assisted Harris during her debate prep in 2020, and is close in age to Vance.
When and how to watch the presidential debate
Debate coverage on CBS News 24/7 begins at 4 p.m. ET, with the debate getting underway at 9 p.m. ET on Oct. 1.
The 90-minute debate will be streamed on CBS News 24/7 and Paramount+ across all available platforms and CBSNews.com. The debate will also be simulcast across other broadcast and cable networks.
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Actor John Ashton, best known for his role as the by-the-book detective in the “Beverly Hills Cop” franchise, has died, his publicist Alan Somers confirmed to CBS News on Sunday. He was 79.
Ashton died Thursday in Ft. Collins, Colorado, after a battle with cancer.
“John was a loving husband, brother, father, and grandfather who will be deeply missed by all who knew him,” a statement said.
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Ashton was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on Feb. 22, 1948, and raised in Enfield, Connecticut. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern California.
Throughout his 50-year career in show business, Ashton appeared in nearly 100 movies after making his debut in 1973’s “The Psychopath.”
He was probably best known for his role as Det. Sgt. John Taggart in the first two installments of the “Beverly Hills Cop” series alongside Eddie Murphy and Judge Reinhold. He reprised his role in 2024’s “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.”
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Other film credits include “Some Kind of Wonderful,” “She’s Having a Baby,” “Midnight Run,” “Little Big League” and “Gone Baby Gone.”
On television, he played Willie Joe Garr on several episodes of “Dallas” and made an appearance on such shows like “Columbo,” “Police Squad!” “Hardball” and others.
“John devoted his career to honing his craft and bringing characters to life on the screen. His presence will be greatly missed,” Somers said.
Ashton is survived by his wife Robin Hoye, three children, three step-children and a grandson. He also leaves behind two sisters and a brother.
“John leaves behind a legacy of love, dedication, and service. His memory will forever be treasured by his wife, children, grandchildren, as well as his brother, sisters, his extended family and all who loved him,” Somers said. “John’s impact on the world will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.”
The family requests any donations in Ashton’s memory be made to Pathways Hospice Care
Residents in Georgia ordered to evacuate or shelter in place after fire at chemical plant
Israeli airstrikes kill dozens across Lebanon as Hezbollah confirms a 7th top commander was killed
Residents told to evacuate or take shelter after Georgia chemical plant fire