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 27 local dispensers so you can find advice you can trust.

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

Back to Washington 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 BURKE, VA wrote Another Store: She's GREAT!.......
• Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Store: Truly superior........
• Subscriber from GAITHERSBURG, MD wrote Another Store: has a better warranty than others, and no sales pressure........
• Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Store: These people are pleasant and accomdating to personal problems, as well as technically superior.......
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: Only center this year. Very unhappy with Arlington Hearing Center several years ago........
• Subscriber from POTOMAC, MD wrote Another Store: Widex hearing aids were recommended. One fell apart (shell opened) two months after it had..........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: He told me I had a brain tumor, an outrageously wrong diagnosis that was a..........
• Subscriber from MC LEAN, VA wrote Another Store: The staff I encountered was superb in his professional knowledge and service; my objection to..........
• Subscriber from OAKTON, VA wrote Another Store: I have significant hearing loss and other places had told me they could not help...........
• Subscriber from FAIRFAX, VA wrote Another Store: While most of the staff is very nice and helpful, one of the receptionists has..........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: Dr. Israel is excellent.......
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: I visited this firm to get another opinion on HAs and, while I was wearing..........
• Subscriber from BETHESDA, MD wrote Another Store: Tried hard but couldn't get a useful aid to me. Made three attempts--had a trial..........
• Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Store: their hearing aids do not work.......
• Subscriber from ANNANDALE, VA wrote Another Store: I appreciate the extra effort taken by Auditory Services to ensure that I received the..........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: Outstanding service and quality. I needed hearing aids and went to several vendors. I was..........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: Their terms of purchase are unbeatable........
• Subscriber from FAIRFAX, VA wrote Another Store: Very pushy people. I was not impressed with the quality of the products. Hearing test..........
• Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Store: Use Checkbook rating previously. Very pleaseed with hearing aids for my daughter, and had good..........
• Subscriber from ROCKVILLE, MD wrote Another Store: After visiting Beltone, Iwas happy with their products and service, but unhappy with their prices..........
• Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Store: Mr. Park is very helpful, I have been going their for years and have recommended..........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: I went to Carolyn Wyatt Audiology based on her Consumers' Checkbook recommendation, and I'm happy..........
• Subscriber from FALLS CHURCH, VA wrote Another Store: Cordial, professional,reliable.......
• Subscriber from HERNDON, VA wrote Another Store: They have certain brands they like better than other, but will work with you on..........
• Subscriber from CHEVY CHASE, MD wrote Another Store: Professional, friendly and very willing to accomodate........
• Subscriber from WHEATON, MD wrote Another Store: I have used their other location in Wheaton since 1998. I havebeen pleased with their..........
• Subscriber from OLNEY, MD wrote Another Store: Cheryl Krissoff is the best one.......
• Subscriber from MC LEAN, VA wrote Another Store: Jeff Zolt was very patient with my 86 year old mother. He gave her a..........
• Subscriber from FALLS CHURCH, VA wrote Another Store: No experience in last year. Change from them because I felt service was not informational..........
• Subscriber from CHEVY CHASE, MD wrote Another Store: The name is descriptive: the firm provides service. It is NOT to be confused with..........
• Subscriber from FAIRFAX, VA wrote Another Store: Recommended by my HMO and I have a very good experiences with them........
• Subscriber from ROCKVILLE, MD wrote Another Store: My experience was only for a hearing test and hearing aid repair. The repair was..........
• Subscriber from FAIRFAX, VA wrote Another Store: Very happy with my experience. Friendly, prompt, and reliable. I am impressed with the overall..........
• Subscriber from BETHESDA, MD wrote Another Store: Superior service. Prices lower than other places checked. In all respects, prcatically perfect........
• Subscriber from MERRIFIELD, VA wrote Another Store: Goes the extra mile!!.......
• Subscriber from HERNDON, VA wrote Another Store: When a ad a problem with a hearing aid they were not interested in trying..........
• Subscriber from LEESBURG, VA wrote Another Store: After four extra visits to adjust my hearing aid, the technician begrudingly admitted it had..........
• Subscriber from OAKTON, VA wrote Another Store: This firm sells good products. I bought the Diva Senso hearing device and have been..........
• Subscriber from FAIRFAX, VA wrote Another Store: The staff is really competent and professional and very kind. They are the best!.......
• Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Store: Drake is good at programming the aids properly and is diligent at gtting it right...........
• Subscriber from FALLS CHURCH, VA wrote Another Store: Have been a client for several years. My husband recently became a client as well...........
• Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Store: Very professional audiologists with detailed knowledge of available hearing insrtuments and ancilliary equipments........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: This place is now called SONUS and all the staff has changed. The "audiologist" didn't..........
• Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Store: Superb quality of care and products........
• Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Store: The audioligist also wears hearing aids and tries each new product that hits the market...........
• Subscriber from RESTON, VA wrote Another Store: Mr. Donohue, the long-time proprietor, has expended an unusual amount of time and ingenuity in..........
• Subscriber from OLNEY, MD wrote Another Store: Very friendly, helpful, thorough and did a good job.......
• Subscriber from BETHESDA, MD wrote Another Store: Honest, open, forthright. Went at length to advise me that if I went to the..........
• Subscriber from MC LEAN, VA wrote Another Store: Had a very good person who, sad to say, left the practice. Remaining staff may..........
• Subscriber from RESTON, VA wrote Another Store: Wouldn't tradse anywhere else. Honest, down-to-earth, thoughtful care by fine people. I NEVER feel like..........