An audiologist tested the 5 best-selling hearing aids in Ireland — Price vs Performance: the truth revealed
After 30 years as a clinical audiologist — the HSE, Specsavers and private clinics — I had fitted thousands of hearing aids.
But what made me dig deeper were the invoices: hearing aids sold for €2,800 cost around €260 to manufacture.
So I contacted 50 former patients and tested every available option for six months. But first, I need to clear up a misunderstanding that damages thousands of Irish families.
It's not that your father "isn't listening"
We assume that someone who loses their hearing simply can't hear sounds. Most of the time that's not it: he hears that you're speaking — but he can no longer make out the words.
That's why he turns the telly up. That's why he goes quiet at the dinner table. That's why he sometimes answers off the mark, or seems "away with it." He isn't ignoring you: his brain can no longer separate your voice from the background noise.
And the longer you wait, the worse it gets. On average, people live with this for 5–10 years before doing anything — not out of stubbornness, but out of embarrassment, and because every option seemed too dear or too much hassle.
The €2,800 question: where does your money actually go?
When you buy hearing aids from the usual retailers, you're not paying for the technology. You're paying for the system around it:
Only 11% of what you pay is the device that actually goes in your ear. The rest is the system: the fancy shop, the salesperson's commission, the brand.
I tested every option with 50 former patients
Once I understood these markups, I contacted 50 former patients who had walked away without treatment because they couldn't afford it, or couldn't face the wait. Together we tested every available option for six months.
Here's what we found, ranked worst to best:
These aren't hearing aids — they're amplifiers that can damage your hearing:
- No frequency-specific amplification
- They amplify ALL sounds, including harmful ones
- No professional tuning
- 78% reported painful whistling
"Complete waste. Made everything louder but not clearer. Painful whistling." — Séamus, 73
Verdict: Dangerous and ineffective. Audiologists advise against these.
The HSE offers working but dated technology — and you first need a GP referral to audiology:
- Waiting time: 12–24 months (some areas longer)
- Technology: 4 to 8 years behind current models
- 2 in 5 recipients don't wear them — poor fit or looks
"Waited 16 months. The aid looks like something from the '90s. It's in a drawer." — Pádraig, 71
Verdict: Free but frustrating — dated technology after an endless wait.
- Aggressive sales tactics reported by hundreds of customers
- Proprietary models that tie you to their service for years
- Pressure tactics — "They rang me three times a day until I bought"
- Heavy markups despite internal parts similar to cheaper options
"Good technology, but I was treated like a customer to be squeezed. Felt pressured from the first minute." — Brigid, 68
Verdict: Mid-range price, questionable sales methods.
This is where it can stop. See the option that fixes all of this without the 1,000% markup →
The most advanced technology — but with a markup over 1,000%:
- Excellent 20-channel processing
- Full Bluetooth connectivity
- Advanced noise management
- Lifetime aftercare (though patients report cancelled appointments)
"Fantastic technology. But €2,800? My car cost less." — Declan, 69
Verdict: Excellent aids, but the 1,000%+ markup is hard to justify.
This direct-to-consumer model surprised me. The specs:
- The same 16-channel digital processing as Phonak/Oticon
- Adaptive noise reduction — separates the voice from background noise, the real problem for those who hear but can't understand
- Rechargeable (30+ hours on a 2-hour charge)
- Delivered to your door — no clinic visit, no referral, no waiting list
- Customer support included, no appointment needed
I want to be honest with you, because it's exactly what this industry lacks: no hearing aid will give you the hearing you had at 20 — be wary of anyone who promises it. But this does the thing that truly matters: it gets you back to understanding conversations. On the phone. At the dinner table. With the grandchildren.
Here's the key point on price: they sell direct. No shops. No commission. No corporate overhead.
You might wonder: if the device costs so little, where's the catch? That €260 isn't HeliosHear's cost. It's what the big brands spend per unit, with brand royalties and global marketing baked in. HeliosHear manufactures direct, without that brand tax. And €199 is the National Hearing Awareness Week price — the normal price is €400. They're not selling below cost; they're giving up part of their margin to get known.
Same technology. Different business model.
"I can't tell them apart from my friend's €2,500 Phonaks. If anything, mine might be better." — Fergal, 70
Verdict: Professional technology at a fair price. This is what hearing care should cost.
€400 €199 · 45-day home trial · 1-year warranty
My conclusion after 30 years in the industry
The premium brands offer brilliant technology at €2,800+. The HSE means months of waiting for aids that will likely end up in a drawer. The Amazon products are downright dangerous.
HeliosHear™ solved what matters most — giving people quality hearing aids they'll actually wear, at a price they can afford, without waiting a year.
If you're reading this for a parent: the greatest gift isn't the device. It's getting them back into the conversations at the table. And at €199, with a 45-day home trial, you risk nothing.
⚡ Update since the article was published:
HeliosHear™ has received huge attention and is offering, for a limited time, 50% off during National Hearing Awareness Week.
Every order includes: a 45-day risk-free home trial, a 1-year warranty and free insured delivery. If you don't experience clearer hearing within 45 days, you return them at no cost.
Take advantage of this limited offer and try HeliosHear™ at 50% off — a 45-day home trial, a 1-year warranty and free insured delivery.
Check availability45-day risk-free trial · 1-year warranty · Free delivery
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT A NEWS ARTICLE, BLOG OR CONSUMER PROTECTION UPDATE. THE SITE OWNER RECEIVES COMPENSATION FOR HEARING AID SALES.
2 weeks with HeliosHear — unbelievable value! I returned my €2,200 Specsavers aids and got a full refund. These work just as well!! Already told 3 of the lads. Dr. Ellis is spot on about the markups. Should have found these sooner!
My son sent me this article yesterday after I missed another important phone call. Just ordered HeliosHear™ with the discount. I'm a pensioner so the €199 price really helps. Fingers crossed! Will report back in a few weeks.
Finally able to hear the telly without subtitles! The wife doesn't have to repeat herself anymore. Should have done this years ago instead of waiting on the HSE. Worth every cent! 👍