I have been wearing two hearing aids since my early 30's due to noise induced hearing loss. For many years I had the "Behind the Ear" (BTE) models such as this but eventually went to the "completely in canal" (CIC) aids. So, I have decades of experience with both types. Periodically, I need to send one of the CIC aids to the shop for routine service. As I donated my older BTE aids years ago, I did not have a backup aid to use while the CIC was in the shop (I know, a dumb move not to have kept one of the original BTE's). Of course, buying an aid just as a backup is kind of a luxury given the cost of most aids.
I searched for several years for a backup and finally discovered the Acoustitone PRO. It has a large number of positive reviews. The price is right. It also was not "too cheap" to indicate to me that it was junk. I tried one of the $29 units and got just what I expected - nothing but noise. I ordered this new aid and, as usual, Amazon had it in my mailbox in short order.
Here is what I think of it:
For first time users: Like all hearing aids, and just like eyeglasses, it is going to take some time to become accustomed to the new sounds you hear. I equate it to listening to the world through an AM radio. You hear dishes clanking and silverware bouncing around and just loads more sound that you have not heard in years. It will take your brain a couple of weeks to filter-out and disregard these sounds just as it would for anyone going into a noisy environment. Give it time. I suggest to people to wear the aid during the day with some breaks now and then but also to go home, turn off the TV, read a book and just relax in the quiet with the aid on. Give it two-weeks at least. Of course, I recommend people going to a doctor first for an exam and eventually to a trained audiologist for a real hearing test in a special hearing testing room. I would avoid those mall shops whose goal is to sell you a multi-thousand dollar aid that often ends up in the dresser-drawer. But, if you want to try this, I don't see much harm in it. Keep the volume as low as possible but still able to hear (no blasting) and give it a couple of weeks. This should give you a good idea of how you will do with it. Being able to hear with clarity allows you to be a part of the crowd and a part of family activities. It is worth the effort on your part to do this for your family and friends. Truly, you do not know what you are missing. Hearing your grandchild squeal with laughter is worth a bit of effort on your part. Trust me, I get it. I never could get my grandfather to wear his hearing aids and he missed out on many events.
For the experienced user: The tone quality is very good and the acid test is to sit in a quiet room and listen. You will hear no noise, hiss, static. I will give the designers credit for keeping the signal very clean. I agree with another reviewer that the sound is a bit digital sounding but I don't know if the aid actually is digital or analog. Like anything, it takes a bit to become accustomed to the tone quality. Within a day or so, I had gotten past that and am very comfortable with the aid. The provided ear mold is just "okay" and certainly universal. It does not have a vent which I prefer. Vents not only allow a bit of "breathing" of air in and out of your ear, but they allow a mixing of the ambient sound with the amplified sound which, to me, gives me a better sound quality. People with profound hearing loss probably won't be able to use a vented ear mold due to feedback. It would not matter in this case as I would say this aid is for mild to medium loss. It is not a super powerhouse aid. If you need that, you really should be seeking the help of an audiologist and medical professional. I was fortunate to still have kept my original ear molds from my BTE aids. These fit fine on this new aid and I use those instead of the universal-fit ear mold. Much better performance, comfort, and sound quality. I do not know if there are kits for ear molds but I am sure an audiologist would create one for you for a small fee. Overall, I would give this aid strong marks for the experienced hearing aid user. The switch is a bit odd. Most aids use the battery in/out method for turning it on/off and the switch is for the phone-coil/microphone pickup. With this aid, the 3 position switch is OFF - HIGH FILTER - NORMAL-ON. Supposedly, the high-filter will filter out low frequencies which can be annoying. I prefer the normal-on for the warmer sound quality across the frequency range, but that's a personal choice. Other than the switch, the unit functions identically to any high-end BTE unit. The size is quite compact, light-weight, and inconspicuous. I wore it all week and no one noticed it at the office (and, knowing my office, they would have mentioned it!).
Truly, for the price, it's a great deal. I could see this being used not only as a backup aid but as a daily wear aid. The ultimate goal is to be able to hear with clarity, low/no noise, and comfortably. The Acoustitone PRO achieves it all very admirably.