You have indicated that cost is your primary concern.

(Print this page and take it to your audiologist. The "back" button is at the bottom of this page.)

If you have a mild or a moderate hearing loss, consider in-the-ear hearing aids.

If you have a severe or profound hearing loss, you need behind-the-ear hearing aids.

Basic hearing aids should help you carry on a conversation with one person in a quiet place. You should also get some help with radio and TV. You might also get some help in other situations.

Be aware that basic hearing aid circuits tend to distort sound, detracting from understanding. This is especially true when loud sounds come along or when background noise rises above the level of normal conversation. They also tend to either overamplify the vowels or to underamplify the consonants.

Get hearing aids with as many of the following features as you can afford:

Class-D circuit	Produces less distortion and gives better high-frequency emphasis than the more common Class-A circuit.
dispenser-adjustable feedback control	Helps your audiologist regulate the hearing aid so that you get as much hearing as possible without walking around whistling.
dispenser-adjustable tone controls	Helps your audiologist fine-tune your hearing aids to your hearing loss.
dispenser adjustable output limiter	Helps your audiologist keep your hearing aids from being TOO loud.