Does it seem that your hearing isn't what it used to be? If so, you're not alone. Hearing loss is a common problem. We outline the fundamentals of hearing loss, explain how hearing aids may help, and give you ratings of 37 local dispensers so you can find advice you can trust.

Read our article and findings (available exclusively to CHECKBOOK subscribers)

Back to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK Table of Contents.

Sample Subscriber Comments/Reviews About Hearing Aid Dispensers

CHECKBOOK provides subscriber comments on their experiences with the firms they use. Please remember that individual subscriber comments are informal. Subscriber comments may give you insight into the types of features and problems that exist in a service field, but are not the best basis for selecting or rejecting a specific firm. To assess the quality of a firm's performance, we recommend that you give more weight to the percentages of favorable ratings. Those percentages are generally based on much larger numbers of consumers' ratings (the number of consumer ratings is noted above).

As You Can See Below, Some Hearing Aid Dispensers Get High Praise from Their Customers. Some Others Don't. So Choose Carefully.
Here Are a Few Samples of the Thousands of Comments CHECKBOOK Has Collected on Hundreds of Different Hearing Aid Dispensers.

• Subscriber from LOS ALTOS, CA wrote Another Store: I have been extremely satisfied with the advice and help pertaining to my hearing aids...........
• Subscriber from SARATOGA, CA wrote Another Store: George Christos has supplied hearing aids for myself and for my husband & we've both..........
• Subscriber from LIVERMORE, CA wrote Another Store: I've visited the Livermore office except 1 time several years ago, so comments apply to..........
• Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote Another Store: Aids promised in a week have taken several months to come. Otherwise this is a..........
• Subscriber from CONCORD, CA wrote Another Store: Conscientious and knowledgable audiologist........
• Subscriber from WALNUT CREEK, CA wrote Another Store: This is a follow-up to a rating I gave about a year ago. The audiologist..........
• Subscriber from MILLBRAE, CA wrote Another Store: Superb professionals with superior skills and a delightful attitude.......
• Subscriber from CUPERTINO, CA wrote Another Store: new owners as of 7/1/08.......
• Subscriber from NAPA, CA wrote Another Store: Routine service, disinterested attitudes........
• Subscriber from MORAGA, CA wrote Another Store: I have a great deal of confidence in the audiologist/dispenser. He is normally very available..........
• Subscriber from PALO ALTO, CA wrote Another Store: I like everything about this place. The staff, the caring, patient provider, who will bend..........
• Subscriber from MENLO PARK, CA wrote Another Store: Outstanding staff--all with advanced audiology degrees. Up to date on latest technology. Great after market..........
• Subscriber from SANTA CRUZ, CA wrote Another Store: Professional and very accommodating.......
• Subscriber from CUPERTINO, CA wrote Another Store: A prompt, competent hearing aid business with straight-forward information and various no-cost minor services........
• Subscriber from KENSINGTON, CA wrote Another Store: In case the aid needs service - always available - "Come on in" - also..........
• Subscriber from LOS GATOS, CA wrote Another Store: They are expensive but if you take into account that they provide free bateries, transmitters,..........
• Subscriber from PLEASANT HILL, CA wrote Another Store: When the technicians are not so wrapped up in their personal problems, they actually provide..........
• Subscriber from MENLO PARK, CA wrote Another Store: Personnel turnover has resulted in some loss of expertise........
• Subscriber from SUNNYVALE, CA wrote Another Store: I am deeply impressed with Costco and Robert Morrison, MS, their Audiologist. They were far..........
• Subscriber from OAKLAND, CA wrote Another Store: EXCELLENT IN EVERY WAY.......
• Subscriber from LAFAYETTE, CA wrote Another Store: Sell Lyric Hearing Aids. Hard to find and superior in performance, when working........
• Subscriber from GREENBRAE, CA wrote Another Store: I have used this firm for hearing aid repairs, and have always been impressed by..........
• Subscriber from LOS ALTOS, CA wrote Another Store: Generally high quality service........
• Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote Another Store: Pleasure to do business with.......
• Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote Another Store: Great Prices.......
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Store: I would highly recommend Dr. Hicks. Very personable and efficient........
• Subscriber from EL CERRITO, CA wrote Another Store: I thought I just rated this firm but it popped up again. I highly recommend..........
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Store: Audiologist didn't adjust hearing aids properly.......
• Subscriber from CUPERTINO, CA wrote Another Store: Very experienced, professional service. Takes time to explain options very well........
• Subscriber from PALO ALTO, CA wrote Another Store: Very professional audiologists. Best that I found in the area........
• Subscriber from ORINDA, CA wrote Another Store: Has taken me 9 months to fit my hearing aids, and still not real happy........
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Store: Took me outside to a noise street and talked to me with and without the..........
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Store: We've been longtime customers & are very satisfied (even though hearing aid prices are ridiculously..........
• Subscriber from WALNUT CREEK, CA wrote Another Store: One person operation. Excellent service and pricing. One negative - he does not do hearing..........
• Subscriber from NAPA, CA wrote Another Store: I could not have been more pleased with my experience with Geoffrey D. Calkins, the..........
• Subscriber from PLEASANT HILL, CA wrote Another Store: really first-class operation, I've been with them for six years.......
• Subscriber from OAKLAND, CA wrote Another Store: Very professional, very caring and very thorough........
• Subscriber from ORINDA, CA wrote Another Store: These are very pleasant people to work with........
• Subscriber from CAMPBELL, CA wrote Another Store: SUPERIOR.......
• Subscriber from OAKLAND, CA wrote Another Store: I only left Dzvid when Kaiser opend their 'Webster St. facility. Otherwise I wouuld still..........
• Subscriber from CUPERTINO, CA wrote Another Store: I listed the Sunnyvale CA Costco however I went to Costco 1000 N. Rengstorff Ave...........
• Subscriber from SAUSALITO, CA wrote Another Store: Very patient and professional service. They work hard to satisfy the customer, and if they..........
• Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote Another Store: audioligist new service.......