There are plenty of hearing aids to choose from. The harder part is figuring out which one you’ll still be happy wearing a few weeks from now.
Shopping for a hearing aid online can leave you with a lot of questions. Will it be comfortable? Will people notice it? Is it difficult to set up? And, perhaps most importantly, will it actually help in the situations where you notice your hearing the most?
Those questions are more useful than simply comparing one feature list with another.
BlueDeer is an OTC RIC hearing aid for people who want a discreet design, rechargeable power, adjustable sound, and the option to manage their hearing aids at home.
But before you decide, it’s worth looking at what that means in real life.
Start With the Fit
If a hearing aid is uncomfortable, you probably won’t wear it. No amount of technology changes that.
BlueDeer uses a receiver-in-canal, or RIC, design. The main body sits behind the ear, while the smaller receiver sits in the ear. This keeps the part behind your ear relatively subtle and leaves the ear more open than many traditional in-ear designs.
The fit also gives you some flexibility.BlueDeer comes with different ear domes, so you can choose the one that feels best for you rather than trying to make one size work for everyone.
And that’s an important distinction when you’re buying online: don’t judge a hearing aid only by how it feels during the first five minutes. The real test is whether you are comfortable wearing it through a normal day.
Think About Where You Need Help Most
Your hearing doesn’t stay the same from one room to another.
At home, you may be trying to follow the television. At dinner, you may be trying to hear your spouse across the table. When the family comes over, several people may be talking at once.
Those are very different listening situations.
BlueDeer has three listening modes that let you change the way the hearing aids handle sound depending on where you are. You can switch between them from the app rather than having to live with one setting all day.
It won’t turn a noisy restaurant into a quiet room. No hearing aid can honestly promise that. The point is to give you more control when the listening environment changes.
REAL-LIFE TEST
What About a Busy Restaurant?
This is one of the situations where people often notice their hearing difficulties most.
There may be conversations at the next table, dishes being moved around, music in the background, and several people speaking at once. Even with hearing aids, that can be a lot for your ears to sort through.
BlueDeer uses sound processing and feedback control to help manage unwanted sound and make listening more comfortable. You can also change the listening mode when the environment changes.
The important thing is to have realistic expectations. A hearing aid can help with difficult listening situations, but it cannot remove every sound you don’t want to hear.
You Don’t Have to Do Everything From Your Phone
An app can be useful. But sometimes you just want to turn the volume up and get back to the conversation.
That’s whyBlueDeer has both app control and physical buttons.
Use the app when you want to make more detailed adjustments. Use the buttons when you want to make a quick change without reaching for your phone.
It’s a small detail, but it matters after you’ve been wearing the hearing aids for a while. Good controls should make things easier, not give you another device to learn.
Can You Set Them Up Yourself?
That’s one of the biggest advantages of buying an OTC hearing aid.
BlueDeer is made for self-fitting, so you can get started at home instead of arranging an appointment simply to make basic adjustments.
Take your time when you first set them up. Try them in a quiet room, then use them during normal conversations. Your first setting doesn’t have to be your final one.
If the sound feels too strong or too soft at first, make small changes and give yourself some time to adjust. Hearing more sound after a period of hearing loss can feel different at first.
How Much Charging Will You Have to Think About?
Nobody wants another device that needs to be charged every few hours.
BlueDeer provides more than 20 hours of use on a full charge, and the charging case gives you additional power when you’re away from an outlet.
The case charges through USB-C, so you can use the same type of cable that’s already common with many phones and other everyday electronics.
For most people, that’s the part that matters: put the hearing aids away when you’re done wearing them, and let the case take care of the next charge.
And Yes, Bluetooth Can Be Useful
Bluetooth isn’t the reason everyone buys a hearing aid. But once you have it, you may find yourself using it more than you expected.
WithBlueDeer, you can connect to your phone for calls and music. That means you don’t have to switch between your hearing aids and another pair of headphones every time you want to listen to something.
It’s one of those features that makes more sense after you start using it.
Who IsBlueDeer a Good Fit For?
BlueDeer makes the most sense if you’re looking for an OTC hearing aid and want more control over how you use it.
You’d rather have a smaller device behind the ear than a larger, more noticeable hearing aid.
You prefer being able to make changes at home instead of depending on someone else for every adjustment.
The rechargeable design means you can simply place the hearing aids in their case when you’re finished wearing them.
Bluetooth lets you use the hearing aids with compatible phone calls and music.
ONE IMPORTANT THING
When an OTC Hearing Aid May Not Be the Right Choice
OTC hearing aids aren’t right for everyone.
If you have sudden hearing loss, significant pain, drainage from the ear, dizziness, or another medical concern, don’t try to solve the problem by simply ordering a hearing aid online. Talk with a hearing professional first.
The same goes for anyone who has been told they need a more specialized hearing solution. An OTC device is designed for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss, not as a replacement for professional care when medical attention is needed.
Knowing when an OTC hearing aid isn’t appropriate is just as important as knowing when it is.
IsBlueDeer Worth Considering?
If you’re comparing OTC hearing aids, don’t just compare the number of features on the box.
Think about what you’ll actually use.
A discreet RIC fit. Three listening modes. App and button controls. Bluetooth. Rechargeable power. More than 20 hours of use. Those are useful features because they solve everyday problems rather than simply making the specification sheet longer.
And if you’re still unsure, that’s exactly why having time to try a hearing aid matters.
BUY WITH LESS GUESSWORK
Take Your Time With the Decision
You don’t really know whether a hearing aid works for your routine until you wear it as part of your routine.
With BlueDeer’s 30-Day Risk-Free Trial, you have time to tryBlueDeer at home and decide whether it feels right for you.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Best Hearing Aid Is One You’ll Actually Wear.
A hearing aid can have all the right features and still end up in a drawer if it doesn’t feel right, fit well, or make sense to use.
That’s why the decision comes down to more than specifications.
If you want a discreet RIC hearing aid that you can set up at home, adjust yourself, recharge each day, and use with your phone, BlueDeer is worth a closer look.
See BlueDeerTake a closer look at the fit, features, and current offer before you decide.