I agree selecting a hearing aid(s) can be confusing. Sometimes I get the impression that your local audiologist recommends whatever is the “flavor of the month” i.e. whatever ever company is promoting the heaviest and making it the most worthwhile for them ($$). Maybe that is cynical but I have noted (after using aids for the past 7 years) that the recommendation they give - and I am talking more than one retailer- varies over time. I have had phonak, starkey, widex. Now I am being told that oticon is the hottest thing because it has some new revolutionary chip that filters out all background noise and amplifies only voices. Who knows? The only way to find out is to try a pair for a few weeks and find which works best for you. Most states mandate a statutory period you can try with a guaranteed refund policy. I know in Florida it is 30 days. Check your state. Like all tech gadgets there are constant changes and improvements. I have also been told by audiologists when I ask the price and mention to them that I am considering going to Costco ( good aids for<$2000) that the reason they are so much less expensive is that the chips in them do not have all the advanced features of the name brands and the chips are not as good. Who knows??