This article lists what Soundhearng.org believe to be the best RIC (Receiver in the Canal) hearing aids available in 2023.
When choosing what is the best hearing aid, Sound Hearing considered the following factors:
- Technology
- Customer feedback
- Reliability
- Manufactures’ customer services
Receiver in the Canal Hearing Aids
Receiver in the Canal (RIC) hearing aids are the most popular stye of hearing aids accounting for around 80% of sales in the private sector. RIC hearing aids are discreet, robust and powerful. Compared to many custom in the ear hearing aids, they contain more technology such as bluetooth and multiple microphones that can communicate with each other.
Number 1 – Oticon Real – RIC
The Oticon Real range of hearing aids are our number one choice. Oticon’s BrainHearing™ technology processes the full sound-scene ensuring the brain receives all the data it needs to work optimally.
To deliver the full sound scene Oticon recorded sounds from real life and used the data (12 million real-life sound scenes) to train a highly Deep Neural Network (DNN).
Customer feedback has been positive with customers finding that the Oticon More hearing aids improve speech understanding in noisy situations. They have also said they are easy to use with their phones and very reliable.
Customers particularly like the stable charger and the ease with which the hearing aids can be inserted and removed from it. This is an important consideration if your eyesight and/or dexterity is impaired.
Oticon Real Hearing Aids are reliable and come with a 5 year manufacturer warranty (UK only); Oticon customer services are easily contactable and deliver quickly and Oticon have a world wide presence.
Oticon Real is available in 3 technology levels; 3, 2 and the top of the range, 1. All of the range is Bluetooth compatible and will connect to Apple (iOS) and many Android phones. The Oticon ON app allows for programme and volume changes and includes the useful find my hearing aids option.
Oticon More is available in a rechargeable version and a Zinc-Air 312 battery version. It is suitable for mild to severe hearing losses.
Oticon Real MiniRite Rechargeable is available with the standard desktop charger or the new Oticon SmartCharger with a built in power bank which offers more flexibility:
• Recharges hearing aids without access to main power —minimum of three full charges
• Fully charges hearing aids in three hours.
• 30-minute quick charge provides an additional six hours of power
• Designed for travel with a protective lid
• Drying function automatically removes moisture from the hearing aids.
soundhearing.org has Oticon More available from £1000.75. Please click here full the full price list and additional product information.
Oticon Real official page can be found here
Additional information about brain hearing can be found here
Number 2 – Phonak Audéo Lumity – RIC
Phonak released the Audéo Lumity in the second half of 2022. Lumity supersedes Phonak Audéo Paradise range of hearing aids.
Headlines
- Improved speech understanding in noisy environments – SmartSpeech Technology
- AutoSense OS™ 5.0
- Universal connectivity to iOS®, Android™ and other Bluetooth® enabled devices
- Waterproof* (Audéo Life Lumity)
- Health data tracking
- Personalized noise cancelling
- Rechargeable only
Audeo Lumity uses the new AutoSense 5.0 software. AutoSense constantly scans the listening environment and fine tunes the audio with up to 200 adjustments for an optimised listening experience.
Audeo Lumity contains motion sensors which detect when the user is stationary or in motion and then automatically adjusts the microphones and the dynamic noise reduction system to maximise speech intelligibility. The motion sensor compatible hearing aids also contain double tap – answer a phone call by tapping the hearing aid.
The Phonak Charger Case is a compact charger with magnets in the charging slots that make it easy to
insert and remove Audéo L-R and RT. It uses a standard USB-C charging port that lights up when power is applied. The charging case will fully charge the hearing aid in about 3 hours. When the hearing aid is fully charged, it can be used for up to 24 hours before needing to be recharged.
Customers have found that the sound quality and hearing in noise is excellent with Phonak. However, those with dexterity issues have found it hard to remove and insert the hearing aids into the charger.
The myPhonak App is allows users to adjust the volume, change the volume and fine tune their own hearing aids.
Audeo Lumity is available in 4 technology levels: L30, L50, L70 and the top of the range L90. Three Models of Audéo Lumity have been released: Audéo L-R, Audéo L-RT and Audéo Life Lumity.
Sound Hearing have Audéo Lumity available from £1058.25 Please click here for all Phonak Audeo Lumity pricing and extra product information.
Phonak’s own product page for Audeo Lumity can be found here.
Number 3 – Starkey Evolv – RIC
Starkey a US company founded in 1967. In the UK they have a manufacturing facility in Stockport.
Evolv-AI is the successor to the popular Starkey Livio and Livio AI hearing aids.
Starkey have included Edge mode in the top three technology levels of Evolv AI. Edge mode uses artificial intelligence to scan the listening environment and make real-time adjustments to maximise speech understanding.
Hearing Reality Pro analyses and understands the listening environment and then uses binaural signal processing and adaptive microphone directionality to adjust the hearing aids. This gives the best possible hearing in any listening environment.
Evolv AI allow for 2-way audio from iOS devices. Answer your phone by pressing a button on the hearing aid.
The Thrive phone App has a number of new features which allow you to adjust and fine tune your hearing aids. It also has fall alert, brain and body tracking (counts your steps).
Starkey are renowned in the industry for their excellent customer service.
The Evolv AI charger is easy to use and contains a battery for charging on the go. It is slightly bulky to fit in a small bag though a smaller Turbo charger is available which reduces size and charging time.
Starkey Evolv AI is available in 4 technology levels: 1200, 1600, 2000 and the top of the range 2400.
The RIC version is available in rechargeable and 312 Zinc-Air micro RIC and a standard 312 RIC .
Starkey have also released the Evolv AI in all hearing aid styles – IIC, CIC, ITC, ITE and BTE.
Sound Hearing has Evolv AI available from £803.25.
Please click here for all Starkey Evolv AI pricing and extra product information.
Or visit Starkey’s own product page for Evolv AI.
Number 4 – Resound OMNIA – RIC
ReSound are part of the GN Group and were established in 1943
Launched in October 2022, Resound OMNIA is GN Resound‚ latest product. Resound OMNIA supersedes Resound ONE and ReSound Quattro.
Headlines:
- 360 Degree Sound Mapping – Binaural Directionality II
- Hands Free Calling with iOS
- New Range of hearing aid chargers
- Front Focus
ReSound OMNIA is available in 3 technology levels, 5, 7 and the top of the range 9. OMNIA has been released in 3 models:
ReSound OMNIA RIE Rechargeable – Using a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Has a multi-function push button.
ReSound OMNIA RIE 61 – Using a 312 disposable battery. Has a multi-function push button.
ReSound OMNIA RIE 62 – Using a 13 disposable battery. Has a multi-function push button.
360 All-Around – All Access Binaural Directionality II automatically adjusts directional microphone patterns to allow the users to hear what’s important and still monitor the sounds around them.
Front Focus – Front Focus uses a powerful combined directional pattern from both hearing aids to focus on the person in front of the user. When you need extra help in very noisy environments Front Focus provides an improvement in speech undressing.
ReSound OMNIA RIE Rechargeable has a choice of 3 chargers. Each order has the standard charger included. The premium charger which has a built in battery for charging on the go and the desktop charger without a lid incur an extra cost.
A full charge takes around 6 hours and will give 30 hours of constant use.
Our customers rehabilitate to the ‘Resound Sound’ very easily and they also find the Resound One Smart 3D App very easy to use.
Sound Hearing has Resound OMNIA available from £1100.75. Please click here for all Resound OMNIA pricing extra product information.
GN Resound, ONE product page can be found here
Number 5 -Signia Pure Charge&Go AX – RIC
Headlines
-
- Released 2021
- 5 technology levels available
- Direct streaming for iOS and Android
- Augmented Xperience (AX) using two dedicated processors
- e2e wireless 4.0
- Own Voice Processing (OVP)
- Rechargeable and 312 battery version
Signia AX uses new Augmented Focus™ technology to offer Signia’s best speech clarity in background noise. Augmented Focus™ technology uses two dedicated processors working in parallel. One processes the Focus speech sounds Sounds with emphasis on clarity. The other processor contains all sounds outside speech. These surrounding sounds are processed so they are audible while not interfering with the clarity of the focus speech sound.
e2e Wireless 4.0 – improved communication and data transfer between the hearing aids.
Own Voice Processing (OVP) – OVP processes the wearer’s own voice independently from all other sounds. OVP helps the users own voice not sounding too loud.
Smartphone app: Signia AX Charge & Go hearing aids come with a smartphone app that allows you to control and customize your hearing aid settings.
Signia Pure Charge&Go comes with the desktop charger shown on the left. The hearing aids should last a good 24 hours once fully charged including 5 hours of streaming. For an extra £100 you can purchase the portable charger (in the middle) which has a built in battery. The Pure Dry&Clean Charger (£200) on the right offer UVC cleaning and drying to keep the devices in peak condition.
Signia hearing aids are popular in the UK since they are prescribed at Specsavers. However Specsavers rebrand the hearing aids – Specsavers Advanced Range. The Advance Range can only be adjusted by Specsavers and therefore if possible Sound Hearing advises you always ask for Signia branded product which enables all audiologists with Signia software to adjust the devices.
Signia have invested in improving their customers service support in the last 2 years.
Please click here for more information and pricing of the Signia Pure AX Charge&Go
For Signia’s own product page please click here
Age Related Hearing Loss
In the UK, around 12 million people (approx. 18% of the population) suffer from hearing loss. The cause of most hearing loss is longevity.
As we age, we lose our ability to hear soft sounds, especially in the high frequencies (treble range). The result is that you may feel people are mumbling. You may also find yourself regularly adjusting the TV volume and you may be unsure whether the volume is too loud and bothersome to neighbours. In noisy environments, you may feel yourself straining to follow a conversation. Often, people report that in a restaurant or café environment, the effort they put into listening is tiring; they then find themselves disengaging.
Our brains process our hearing, and as our hearing deteriorates, not enough sound data reaches the brain to make sense of the incoming speech. The brain will try and fill in the gap; however, this takes a lot of effort and explains why you may find what should be a pleasurable meeting, tiring.
By treating age-related hearing loss with hearing aids, you allow the right amount of sound to reach the brain. As a result, understanding speech becomes easier and social environments become less frustrating (or tiring) and pleasurable again.
Hearing Tests
To arrange a full diagnostic hearing test or find out more about the latest hearing aids, email: info@soundhearing.org
Not sure if you have a hearing loss? Try our free online hearing test, as a starting point. Click here