In most cases, you get what you pay for. My first hearing aids (on a trial basis, fortunately) were from Costco. Their technicians were not highly trained at all and the Phillips brand they recommended just did not work for me. I have to have aids that are compatible with my Apple phone AND they must be app friendly. These were not and they messed up my phone all of the time. They were also very annoying when in the car listening to music because they picked up the a/c instead and I got so sick and tired of hearing static, despite all of the adjustments Costco made. I went to an audiologist recommended to me by my ENT doctor and while the price tag was hefty ($4,000.00), they came with a three month trial and I am almost at the end of the trial and I will keep them. HUGE improvement. Today, you can barely see the wire in your ear and the microphone is way down in the ear, so if you are worried about people seeing them, they cannot. I was shocked when I learned that. I remember my grandfather's and they were so noticeable. I detest wearing them with a mask but hopefully the pandemic will end soon. I tell myself that I am wearing them for others. My poor husband got so tired of having to repeat to me. That must be so annoying. I am extremely grateful that I can afford them and try to wear them everyday.

I am only 65 and never attended loud concerts or worked around loud noises. I do have a peripheral neuropathy (CMT2U) and that could be the cause of my rather sudden hearing loss. Who knows!

A few things here: REM stands for 'real ear measurement'. This is a very important procedure for fitting hearing aids. Some providers do not have the equipment to perform this test. You should ask whomever you go to for hearing aids to do REM. If they say they can't, you may want to go elsewhere.

From years of experience with my own hearing loss and that of many I've met through my involvement in The Hearing Loss Assn. of America, I've learned that the skill of the person fitting hearing aids is paramount. There are many providers who do not have education in the field of audiology. However, they may have had very good training from a corporation that includes hearing aids in their sales. Some of them become very good at fitting hearing aids properly. Some do not. That is evident from reading people's experiences posted here.

The new Over the Counter (OTC) standards and legislation is coming, but it is not her yet. Still, there are a lot of fly by night companies out there that are advertising hearing aids that do everything a hard of hearing person wants it to do. This is really false advertising, which seems to be OK in today's world, sadly. This kind of advertising has been going on every since hearing aids came on the market way back in the 1920s. Some of the advertisements are hysterical. Look for some on bing.com

Education is valuable. Hearing aid providers who are true audiologists have the letters AuD behind their name. That is a doctorate degree in the field of audiology. Prior to doctorate mandate by audiologist's professional organizations a few decades ago, a master's degree was standard. Some who are in practice as 'audiologists' still have MS or MA behind their name as they were grandfathered in when the professional standards changed.

Yes, you can get a good hearing aid that is well fit from the big box stores that are selling them. They train their fitters well in most cases, and they are called 'hearing instrument specialists', often referred to as HIS when compared to AuD or MS. The difference is education.

It is important for everyone who loses hearing in adulthood to understand that this loss can be caused by medical issues that can be treated in some instances. Diagnosing those types of causes is not going to happen with someone who is basically trained to fit a hearing aid. My recommendation is to be sure you have an exam by an Ear Nose Throat MD (ENT) and/or Audiologist (AuD) before pursuing the purchase of a hearing aid. Get the medical issues ruled out. This is especially true with sudden onset hearing loss. Reality: Most HL is caused over time by noise exposure or genetic predisposition. It cannot be 'cured' medically. It can be helped with technology...which is where the hearing aids come in.

I would ask anyone who is pursuing getting a hearing aid: Have you had a medical evaluation from a qualified professional so you know your loss is typical and not caused by a medical condition?