After waiting almost two decades to get my first pair of hearing aids, I finally decided to take the plunge in 2020. With my first child on the way, and everyone around me wearing masks making it more difficult to read lips, I felt it was the right time to take my hearing seriously.
Over the last several months, I’ve tried a wide range of hearing aids from online brands to Costco’s in-house Kirkland brand.
For this review, I met with an audiologist and tried the ReSound ONE hearing aids. The ReSound ONE is the latest top-end hearing aid from ReSound and replaces the previously very popular ReSound LiNX Quattro.
So What’s In The ReSound ONE?
Think of the ReSound ONE as the Lexus of hearing aids. It comes from one of the biggest and most trusted manufacturers in the business, and it’s not cheap. Prices often include the audiologist’s professional services and can vary somewhat, but you can expect to pay $5,000-$7,500 for a pair (note that you can get ReSound ONE hearing aids at a discount if you work with a discount provider like Zip Hearing.
Sound quality
The first and most crucial part of any hearing aid is the ability to hear people in your life. After a month of wearing these hearing aids, I’ve found that they do an excellent job of sorting the sounds in my environment and bringing me clear speech from my family, neighbors, and also my TV.
There are a few key technologies that allow this to happen:
The first is called the M&RIE Receiver. M&RIE stands for “Microphone and Receiver in the Ear. M&RIE is a 3rd microphone on the part of the hearing aid that goes into the ear canal. Nearly all behind-the-ear hearing aids have mics on the device's body only, which sits behind your ear. This is where the ReSound ONE is special, it has an extra microphone sitting inside your ear. This gives you an organic quality and helps decipher important sounds.
The Resound One also has an industry-leading algorithm for cutting out wind noise and feedback. I've trialed several hearing aids that have been easily prone to squealing when my hand or phone gets too close to my ear. I have yet to hear a single squeal from my ReSound ONE pair.
Another impressive feature is the ultra-focused setting, which cuts out all the noise except for sounds directly in front of you. This setting is useful in restaurants or other noisy environments where you focus on just one or a couple of people.
Special Features
The ReSound ONE comes with a rechargeable and traditional battery option. I chose the rechargeable model. The battery model is a bit more affordable and uses a standard 312 battery for those that are more comfortable with that technology.
ReSound ONE allows Bluetooth connection for both iPhone and Android devices. The music streaming quality isn't cinematic, but it is straightforward and easy to use. I’ve listened to several podcasts through my hearing aids and regularly take calls through the devices during the workday. Note that you’ll need to keep your phone with you since the hearing aid doesn’t act as a microphone for your voice.
The other feature I love is that the ReSound app allows you to find your hearing aids on a map. If you leave them at a friend's house or at a public place, you will know where to call.
ReSound ONE Design
The ReSound ONE is lightweight and comes in a range of modern finishes. The new design is smaller than the ReSound LiNX Quattro, and I find the overall aesthetic to be more like a tech product than a medical device.
Each hearing aid has a single button on the back that controls volume and mode. When you tap the button on the right side, the volume increases, and when you tap the button on the left side, the volume decreases. It's a simple design that works and makes the hearing aid look even more streamlined.
My Fitting Experience
The only way to get a ReSound ONE hearing aid is through a licensed audiologist. You can find a provider here or work with a network like Zip Hearing to get lower prices. Here's a rundown of the audiology process for anyone who is considering a first-time visit:
- I searched online to find a local audiologists here in Los Angeles and ultimately chose Towers Audiology. I called the office and made an appointment. The team at Towers is lovely!
- When I arrived, the audiologist started with a handful of questions about my hearing health and family history. She then examined my ears to ensure that my ears weren’t blocked.
- The audiologist then had me sit in a sound booth where she put earbuds in my ears and asked me to indicate whether I could hear beeping sounds at varying volumes and frequencies.
- When I completed the test, she shared my audiogram, which was nearly identical to the online hearing test results I've gotten in the past.
- At this point in a typical visit, the audiologist would share a range of hearing models that could match your hearing loss. In my case, I knew I wanted to try the ReSound ONE, so we skipped that step.
- The audiologist then used a ReSound computer program to change the sound settings on my new hearing aids to match my hearing loss. She turned down the high frequencies, which I can hear well, and turned up the middle frequencies.
- Finally, the audiologist walked me through connecting the hearing aids to my phone and found an over-ear wire that was the right length for my ear.
My Takeaways After 30 Days
I've now been wearing my ReSound ONE hearing aids for a month. These are a few of my experiences and tips so far:
Don't be afraid to turn your hearing aids down. I realized early on that I was consistently keeping my volume 1-2 settings too high. I typically put on my hearing aids when I am in a quiet place like my bedroom and then forget to turn them down when I'm with people.
When in doubt, keep settings simple. You can try several settings throughout the day, but ultimately I found that keeping the hearing aids in the automatic default setting served me best.
It's ok to take your hearing aids in and out. Many sources will tell you that you should wear your hearing aids 8-10 hours a day to train your brain. There is some validity to this approach, but I've found that I'm much happier putting my hearing aids in when I need them and letting them charge when I don't.
Get ready to hear! I have been thrilled with the ReSound ONE results and would recommend these hearing aids to anyone who can make the investment.
Last week I joined my wife at the hospital for a checkup on our soon to arrive baby girl. As the nurses checked us in, asked questions, and made small talk I was able to hear every word despite their masks. This experience was remarkable for me because without hearing aids I would have had to ask my wife to recap the conversation The confidence I felt during this recent appointment is something I hope the ReSound ONE can give to more people in the year ahead.
Note that if you are looking for lower-priced options, you can check out my guide to affordable hearing aids.
I hope you’ve found this information helpful as you look for the right pair of hearing aids for you. If you have any thoughts or questions drop me an email at [email protected]. I hope to hear from you soon.
