Audiology Awareness Month Sale: Enter your contact information in the Audicus pop-up notification to get your $400 coupon.
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June 13, 2023
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Audiology Awareness Month Sale: Enter your contact information in the Audicus pop-up notification to get your $400 coupon.
As a professional caregiver, I have seen how hearing loss can prevent older adults from living their lives fully. When hearing doesn’t come easily, people tend to avoid conversations altogether, becoming isolated. This, in turn, causes feelings of loneliness and frustration. Additionally, hearing loss can be quite dangerous for those who live on their own, preventing them from hearing alerts to danger, such as the fire or burglar alarm.
To combat these issues, I’d recommend looking into purchasing a hearing aid. And when it comes to hearing aids, Audicus is likely to provide one of the best values on the market today. Their hearing devices are perfect for older adults who wish to continue living independently, hearing intact. Audicus hearing aids will not only allow you to hear conversations comfortably, but they can even be used to stream from your TV and smartphone. Let’s dive in.
Quick Tip: Enter your email address when you receive an Audicus pop-up notification to receive a coupon for hearing aids.
Founded in 2012, Audicus is a privately-held hearing health company that focuses heavily on affordability and customer experience. It sells FDA-registered hearing aids and seeks to make hearing more accessible to older adults in America. Statistics show that hearing aids can greatly improve the quality of life among older adults, but only one in four individuals who would likely benefit from hearing aids has reported using them.
To make hearing aids more accessible, this brand partners directly with leading manufacturers to save on costs related to mediators, office overheads, and markup cuts. This is how it maintains prices well below competing products from brands such as Widex, Signia, and Phonak.
Did You Know: Did you know that Audicus has in-person hearing clinics in Denver, Chicago, and New York through a partnership with Albertsons?
It turns out that just 16 percent of adults who need hearing aids have worn them. This statistic, while unfortunate, is likely driven by the fact that hearing aids are so expensive. Typically, the average costs of hearing aids hover around $2,000 to $2,500 per unit. Double this cost if you want it for both ears. That brings us to the biggest advantage of Audicus hearing aids—their affordability and varied selection of rechargeable and battery-operated options. Currently, select models offer receiver-in-canal, completely-in-canal, and behind-the-ear styles depending on your unique hearing needs.
Ranging from $499 to $1,399, the brand offers some of the most affordable hearing aids in the country. And the best part is if you are not satisfied with the new device, you may return it within 45 days for a full refund. Since the brain takes some time to adjust to hearing aids, you have a bit more than a month to decide if an Audicus device is right for you.
To make it even more affordable, Audicus even has a membership plan that lets you rent the hearing aids at a fraction of the cost (starting at $39 per month, and per ear). It also has a very responsive customer care team that will guide you at every step on your hearing improvement journey.
Note: Audicus membership can be canceled anytime. All users need to do is return the devices.
On the flip side, this complicated piece of machinery isn't waterproof. Accidentally wearing them in the shower can permanently destroy them. Also, Audicus charges some hefty fees for devices with rechargeable batteries. With that said, to save you the cost and bother of dealing with battery replacements and other maintenance activities, Audicus offers Care and Protect subscriptions that cost an additional $12 per month.
With the Care plan, you’ll get all the supplies, tools, batteries, and services you need to care for your hearing aids. And with the Protect plan, you’ll get comprehensive insurance that will protect your hearing aids in the event they get lost or damaged.
These plans ensure that replacement batteries, domes, tubes, and cleaning wires are delivered to your doorstep for optimum performance from your hearing aids.
If you call Audicus’s customer care team or visit their store, you will be asked to take a free 15-minute hearing test. If you already have an audiogram from a third party, you may even send or upload your results to the Audicus website. From there, an Audicus audiologist will review the test results and recommend the device that will best fit your hearing needs.
Next, you can buy customized hearing aids or pre-programmed to your hearing test results. Instead of purchasing the device, you could also rent it out by signing up for an all-inclusive Audicus membership. With this membership, apart from the hearing aid, you’ll receive loss and damage protection, a free device trade-in every 18 months, accessories, and access to Audicus’s 5-star support team.
Note: You will be charged a one-time setup fee of $100 followed by monthly payments when signing up for an Audicus membership.
Audicus is one of the best discreet hearing aids in the market today. If you are considering purchasing from the brand, here is a low-down on the five major devices that they offer.
The Dia II is Audicus’s most basic and affordable hearing aid, a behind-the-ear device that retails for $499 per unit (rented at $39 per ear, per month). It has a microphone that picks up sounds and a speaker that amplifies them. Its processor filters out ambient noise (ex: passing cars or distant conversations) while picking up the speech happening closest to you.
It also has a button that lets you increase or decrease the volume. The Dia II comes with eight programmable channels and 140 hours of battery life. It is also available in color options such as beige, grey, and silver so that the device can discreetly blend into your hair or ear areas. Additionally, The Dia II comes as a battery-powered hearing aid. If you’re looking into a rechargeable device I’d recommend looking at other Audicus models or alternatively, other brands like Jabra Enhance hearing aids or Eargo hearing aids.
This compact “receiver in canal” style hearing aid has the speaker built into an insertable ear dome and two directional microphones. This significantly improves the sound quality offered by The Clara over that of The Dia II. If you choose to add-on a classic remote control ($199), you can adjust the volume and switch between The Clara’s four default programs suited to different situations: Auto-adapt, Conversation in Noise, Auditorium, and Telephone.
You can either opt for a one-time payment of $699 per ear or $49 per month with The Clara membership. With the membership, you’ll receive many perks such as a free-trade in for a new device every 18 months as well as all the accessories that you need for your hearing aids.
FYI: If you choose the $49 per month membership for The Clara, there is a $100 one-time setup fee due during payment.
The Wave has built-in Bluetooth capabilities that let you directly connect your hearing aid to other devices (TV’s, smartphones, smart cars, etc.) to make calls, watch shows, and listen to music. Featuring two directional microphones, an eight-day rechargeable battery, and ten different volume settings, the Wave can be purchased for $899 per ear (or $59 per ear per month).
The Wave is also one of the first devices to have both Bluetooth compatibility and a rechargeable battery, the latter of which can be upgraded to for $300. You may further control and customize your hearing experience with Audicus’s mobile app that acts as a remote control to your hearing aid. You may toggle the volume and choose programs such as ‘Conversation in Noise’ and ‘TV/Music.’ Here, too, an Audicus membership gets you the enhanced clarity upgrade by boosting the count of channels to 12.
If you’re looking for a comfortable and discreet hearing aid, you might benefit from The Aura. This hearing aid device starts at $699 per ear with a micro and ergonomic design that you can wear every day without realizing you’re wearing a hearing aid. With great sound quality, The Aura focuses on speech and reduces background noise. Additionally, it has compact batteries that last up to a week along with wax guards to protect your hearing aids.
With The Spirit hearing aid, you can get quality remote adjustments for your hearing along with Bluetooth and rechargeability features. Starting at $1,399 per ear, The Spirit is the most expensive model of the five Audicus hearing aids. However, this model provides a comprehensive, customized sound experience. You can stream TV and calls directly from your smartphone and get hearing care from an audiologist. If you have mild to severe hearing loss, I’d recommend looking into The Spirit hearing aid which has tailored sound that doesn’t have feedback squealing.
| The Dia II | The Aura | The Clara | The Wave | The Spirit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Color Options | Beige, gray and silver | Red, blue, beige | Beige, black, grey and silver | Beige, black, grey and silver | Beige, black, grey, and silver |
| Cost Per Ear (Starts At) | $499 | $699 | $699 | $899 | $1,399 |
| Membership Cost Per Ear Per Month | $39 | $49 | $49 | $59 | $89 |
| Remote Control | Optional | No | Optional | No | Available |
| Key Features | Affordable hearing aid |
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Premium and customizable hearing aid | Direct Bluetooth streaming |
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| Fit Type | Behind-the-Ear | Pre-fit medium size dome | Receiver-in-Canal | Receiver-in-Canal | Receiver-in-Canal |
| Best Suited For | Those with mild to moderate hearing loss. | Individuals with mild to moderately severe hearing loss | Those with mild to severe hearing loss | The tech-savvy with mild to severe hearing loss | For individuals with mild to severe hearing loss |
| Maximum Decibels | 56 dB | 107dB | 47dB to 57dB | 111 dB | 111 dB |
| Built-in Bluetooth Compatibility | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Rechargeable Option | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TV Connector Option | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
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If you ignore your hearing loss, even at the early stage, you might begin to forget about those sounds altogether. It's likely that you won't ever hear them again. So, even if you have been diagnosed with a mild case of hearing loss, be sure to get yourself a medical-grade hearing aid in order to preserve your overall hearing.
If you’re looking for a basic and economic hearing aid, then the Dia II is a great option. For greater auditory clarity in a more discreet body, you can go with the Clara. It has rubber domes in different sizes and shapes, helping to seal out any excess sounds. It also has an auto-adapt program that ensures the sound quality is maintained in different environments.
Audicus’s most premium option, the Wave, is for older adults who enjoy using smart devices to stay connected with the outside world. It can easily connect with your TV, laptop, or smartphone to stream content in real-time, and it also can be purchased with rechargeable batteries.
Maintenance Tip: Invest in the maintenance of the Clara and Wave as their in-ear speaker can easily get damaged from moisture and ear-wax accumulation.
Audicus currently partners with Albertsons to offer dozens of hearing clinics located in Denver, Chicago, and New York. All you have to do is book a free in-person appointment to receive audiology services.
Audicus offers a membership program for their all-inclusive hearing aids starting at $39 per month with no commitment. This all-inclusive membership bundle includes your choice of Audicus hearing aids, a brand new pair of hearing aids every 18 months, access to Audicus Care, Audicus Insurance in the event of loss or damaged devices, and unlimited support from Audicus. Additionally, Audicus membership is open to all residents of the u.s., and will include a one-time start-up fee of $100 in addition to monthly payments.
The following membership plans for Audicus hearing aid devices are as follows:
To further improve the quality of the Audicus hearing experience, the brand has a range of useful add-ons that can be purchased through their website. I’ll discuss a few of the accessories below:
The Classic Remote, which you can pair with the Dia II and the Clara, lets you control your hearing aid’s volume and programs. This lightweight device costs $199, easily fits in your pocket, and comes with a belt harness. Price: $199
If you want to sanitize and remove moisture from your battery-powered hearing aids, this UV-powered dry box is the perfect option. Keep in mind that this dry box is only intended for use on your battery-powered hearing aids; not rechargeable. Price: $79
Compatible with the Dia II model from Audicus, these ear tubes range from $9-15. They are intended to be replaced every three months and are discreet and easy to use. You can choose from different ear tube sizes ranging from extra short, short, medium, and long. Price: $9-15
The Spirit Partner mic is compatible and made exclusively for The Spirit hearing aid by Audicus. Priced at $199, this discreet mic provides clear hearing and great sound quality for any conversation. It easily clips to clothing and operates within 80 feet. It’s also conveniently rechargeable. Price: $199
You can easily return all Audicus hearing aids within the 45-day trial period and get a full refund. The device even comes with a 12-month manufacturer’s warranty that covers all manufacturing defects. Lost hearing aids will be replaced by Audicus for a one-time fee of $199 per device. What’s more, you can trade in damaged hearing aids towards a new purchase (worth $300+) and get $50 to $100 per device.
For complete coverage, however, you need to subscribe to Audicus Protect, costing $12 per month, per ear for members or $259 every two years per ear. This covers one-time loss replacement, one-time damage replacement, and unlimited cleaning services.
Typically, medical-grade hearing aids are expensive, and even though hearing is central to the wellbeing of older adults, these devices are seldom covered by health insurance. This is why Audicus’s range of hearing aids, priced under $900 per ear, are ideal for older adults on pension or retirement income. Alternatively, if you would like to try out their hearing aid for a few months, choose the Audicus membership that lets you rent out the device for as low as $39 per month per ear.
To learn more about these hearing aids, check out my full Audicus review. Additionally, be sure to look at my rundown of this year’s best hearing aids.
You may return Audicus hearing aids within 45 days of receiving them and receive a full refund. If you have subscribed to the Audicus membership, then you can cancel and return your device at any time without worry about any hidden charges.
Just like your prescription glasses need to be changed if your eyesight deteriorates, you need to get adjustments made to hearing aids if you experience greater hearing loss over time. Audicus’s warranty covers such reprogramming.
With an Audicus membership, you can rent hearing aids and also receive loss or damage protection, free trade-in every 18 months, and access to Audicus’ 5-star support team.
Once you inform Audicus’s customer care team of the cancellation, just return the device. Since there are no contracts involved in this rental, you won’t be charged any extra fees upon cancellation.
A care pack containing 24 batteries, four domes, four earwax guards, two retention guards, four cleaning wipes, one cleaning brush, and one desiccant pack will be sent every three months to Audicus members as part of their Clean and Care service package.