Oticon vs. Beltone
Oticon and Beltone both offer technologically advanced prescription hearing aids for all levels of hearing loss.
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With so many brands and models out there, it can be a challenge to pick a hearing aid best suited for you. Oticon and Beltone are both well established manufacturers of prescription hearing aids that provide solutions for all levels of hearing loss, including one-sided deafness. Both companies also offer tinnitus tools which can help reduce the impact of “ringing in the ears,” a common complaint that many seniors with hearing loss have.
Oticon and Beltone are only available through a hearing care professional, such as an audiologist or ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) physician. Not all professionals carry both brands, either. For those reasons, it’s crucial to do your homework: determine what it is you need from a hearing aid, then research what different brands offer. As you do this, you may quickly realize that the functions and features of hearing aids vary from one company to another.
Our tech experts spent more than 50 hours comparing and evaluating Oticon and Beltone hearing aids. We also spoke with audiologist Dr. Ruth Reisman, our resident audiologist, about her experiences with each brand.
Comparison Table
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|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth Capability | Yes | Yes |
| Tinnitus Support Help | Yes | Yes |
| Customer Service | Online support, phone | Videos, phone, FAQ, online contact form |
| Accompanying App | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | Yes, 2 years, with the option to extend at an additional fee | Yes, 12-month standard warranty from the date of purchase |
| Free Trial | Yes, fill out online form to begin risk-free trial | Yes, 30-day free trial |
| Website |
See Pricing
Links to Zip Hearing
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See Pricing
Links to Beltone
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Oticon vs. Beltone: What’s the Difference?
Oticon and Beltone both carry top-notch hearing aids that have been trusted for decades. Each of their models boast distinctive features and technological advancements. Similarly, each company offers a variety of apps and accessories designed to make the use of hearing aids easier.
Oticon, a Danish company, was founded in 1904. They’re best known for manufacturing highly discreet in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids, as well as a full line of hearing aid styles that utilize BrainHearing™ technology, a highly innovative process that enhances the brain’s ability to receive and interpret sound.
Testing out Oticon hearing aids
Beltone was founded in Chicago in 1940. It is currently owned and operated by the GN Hearing Care Corporation, which also owns other hearing aid brands, including ReSound and Jabra Enhance. Beltone is known for its ongoing commitment to technology advancement, and is a frequent CES Innovation Award recipient. They manufacture a full range of hearing aid styles, including behind-the-ear (BTE), receiver-in-canal (RIC), completely-in-canal (CIC), and custom rechargeables for all hearing loss levels.
Beltone Achieve
Did You Know? Hearing loss can be caused by underlying conditions as well as some medications. Seeing an audiologist or other type of hearing care professional can help you uncover the root cause of your hearing loss, and may also provide solutions other than hearing aids.
Equipment
Both Oticon and Beltone manufacture extensive hearing aid solutions that include “something for everyone.”
Oticon
Oticon’s wide range of hearing aid products include solutions for adults and children with mild to profound hearing loss and single-sided deafness. Their hearing aid lines include:
- Oticon Zircon: Rechargeable and nonrechargeable hearing aids that use OpenSound Navigator technology to eliminate extraneous noise within a 360-degree sound environment
- Oticon Own: Highly discreet in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids that produce natural sound
- Oticon Real: Technologically advanced hearing aids in miniRITE and miniBTE styles
- Oticon XCeed: Powerful BTE hearing aids that correct for severe to profound hearing loss without whistling
All of Oticon’s hearing aids rely upon BrainHearing technology, which enables your brain to hear the full sound spectrum in a natural way. Bluetooth streaming, rechargeable and chargeable solutions, discreet clip-on accessories, and Tinnitus SoundSupport are all available as well.
In addition to hearing aids that include BrainHearing technologies, promote 360-degree soundscape, and connectivity options, Oticon also provides additional features available in select hearing aids. With the Open Sound Navigator users can identify the difference between sounds coming from in front of them and from behind them and even filter out background noise between words in conversation. Binaural Processing is useful for getting an improved sense of spatial awareness.
Fast-Facts:If you have hearing loss, you’re in good company. Around one third of older adults have been diagnosed with presbycusis (age-related hearing loss).
Beltone
Beltone’s large hearing aids lineup includes options that improve hearing for people with mild to profound hearing loss. Hearing aids are available in different forms including invisible-in-canal, completely-in-canal, receiver-in-ear, and behind-the-ear. The most discreet one is the invisible-in-canal hearing aid. It is about the size of a raspberry.
Beltone’s history of innovation began with the first manufactured ITE hearing aid, the first custom ITC hearing aid, and the first virtually invisible hearing aid. It continues to this day with a wide range of innovations across its many lines of hearing aids, which include:
- Beltone Envision: microRIE hearing aids that utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to recognize and suppress noise
- Beltone Commence: Rechargeable waterproof hearing aids that connect you to the world through Auracast™ broadcast audio assistive listening technology
- Beltone Serene: Rechargeable and nonrechargeable hearing aids across the full style spectrum that connect seamlessly to accessories like TV-Streamer+ and Multi-Mic+
- Beltone Boost Ultra: Powerful BTE hearing aids that provide deep speech understanding in noisy environments
Oticon vs. Beltone Pricing
If you are interested in finding out the cost of a specific hearing aid model from either Oticon or Beltone, you should get in touch with a local hearing aid professional. Neither brand advertises its prices online. In addition to discussing costs, a hearing aid professional may be able to help you determine which hearing aid is right for you.
Our Methodology
To contrast Beltone versus Oticon, we did a deep dive into each brand. We spoke to audiologists who routinely recommend one or both brands to their patients. We also reviewed each company’s website, and read reviews from users of both brands on consumer sites like the Better Business Bureau and TrustPilot.
We considered these and other attributes:
- Availability: Beltone has over 1,500 sales sites nationwide. Oticon is also available in all states, including select VA clinics.
- Cost: Like all prescription hearing aids, Both Oticon and Beltone are relatively expensive, and may be challenging for some budgets. However, the quality, hands-on service, and technological advancements both brands offer make this investment in health well worth it, if you can afford it.
- Customer service: Users of both brands report positive experiences with customer service accessibility and warranties.
- Quality: Each brand provides high-quality, sturdy, technologically advanced products that include hearing aids and accessories.
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What We Think
Both brands offer stellar hearing aids to suit the needs of a wide array of consumers. Oticon utilizes advanced technology to provide its users with the most immaculate hearing experiences possible. The company's multiple hearing aid models and accessories enable customers to customize their hearing aids to their needs. Oticon's customer service department can be reached online or via phone, giving people two different options to get assistance when needed. Learn more about Oticon here.
Beltone carries an abundance of hearing aid models in different sizes and styles, with various features to improve hearing. Additionally, Beltone users can take advantage of the many apps to support a variety of hearing aid needs. This company offers multiple avenues of online support, so that users can get help easily from the comfort of their homes. Learn more about Beltone’s hearing aid products in our full review.
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