You want "in-the-ear" ("ITE") hearing aids with the following features:

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input compression	Recommended for most hearing losses. Allows for some degree of automatic regulation of the hearing aid circuit, requiring you to adjust the volume less often, and protects you from loud sounds being too loud while simultaneously letting you hear as much soft sound as possible.
TILL Response	The "treble increase at low levels" will give extra boost to soft, high-frequency sounds. For this reason, you will pick up more consonant information, giving you better understanding than you would get with a standard circuit.
variable time release compression	This type of circuit changes its behavior depending upon the timing and type of sound coming in. Shown to give you better understanding under more circumstances than standard compression.
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 AGC kneepoint	Helps your audiologist fine-tune your hearing aids to your hearing loss.

Hearing aids with all or most of these features typically cost from $750 to $950 each. Insider's Report: How To Buy Hearing Aids defines in detail the terms used on this page. It also recommends some good hearing aid makes and models that meet the criteria listed above.

Note for hearing professional:

The bearer of this page has indicated having a moderate hearing loss and reasonably good speech discrimination. Concerns are getting the most hearing help bang for the buck. This page came from the following Internet site: www.earinfo.com. You are invited to list your office at this site. Phone (619) 263-0609. Copyright 1996 by Robert Olsson (rjolsson@earinfo.com).