Lively Hearing Aids Review 2021

Seeking treatment for hearing loss may feel daunting. The National Institutes of Health estimates 28.8 million people in the United States could benefit from hearing aids, yet of those, fewer than one in three who could benefit from hearing aids have used them.

Why do so many who need hearing aids go without? They're expensive and they're not easy to access, according to the American Academy of Audiology.

Direct-to-consumer companies that sell hearing aids online, however, are changing the way we buy these devices, making them cheaper and easier to access. To help you find the best hearing aid for your needs, Health editors researched dozens of brands for sale online, as well as traditional brands sold in hearing centers.

We chose Lively as our top pick for online hearing aids because it offers buyers the best of both worlds: high-quality technology and world-class service. We'll tell you more about what the company offers, the pros and cons of the products and service, and how to determine whether Lively is the right choice to treat your hearing loss.

Pros:

• Lively offers powerful, nearly invisible behind-the-ear hearing aids.
• A pair costs roughly half the price of hearing aids from traditional hearing centers.
• Lively offers a 100-day money-back guarantee.
• Lively offers a free online hearing test.
• Customers get virtual, on-demand hearing care from audiologists for three years.
• Buyers report an excellent customer service experience.
• No in-person consultations are needed.
• Lively hearing aids are ideal for many with mild to moderately severe hearing loss, especially age-related sensorineural hearing loss.
• Lively offers a three-year manufacturer warranty.
• Lively offers a three-year loss and damage protection.

Cons:

• Buying hearing aids online may not be the best option for profound hearing loss.
• Online hearing tests may not offer as much information as an in-person test by an audiologist.
• Buyer’s choices are limited to two models; both are behind-the-ear devices.

Lively incorporates the most important aspects of the hearing aid purchase—quality hearing aids, a focus on customer support, and the commitment to ongoing care from an audiologist—and makes it affordable, accessible, and convenient. With Lively, buyers are getting the best value on the market for a high-tech hearing aid.

Lively's focus is to simplify a confusing buying experience and make it easy for people with hearing loss to get the care they need for less.

While traditional hearing aid retailers require an in-person consultation with an audiologist, Lively conducts appointments virtually. You get the expertise of a qualified hearing professional in the convenience of your own home for less than the cost of an in-person consultation. The company passes these savings on to the buyer, making Lively hearing aids approximately half the price you would pay elsewhere for the same technology.

What sets Lively apart from other online retailers is the quality of device the company offers. The company offers two models—battery-powered and rechargeable—of behind-the-ear hearing aids. The device sits behind your ear, and a tiny wire, which hooks over the top of your ear, has a small receiver on the end that fits easily inside your ear canal.

Lively hearing aids are made by ReSound, one of the "big six" hearing aid manufacturers. These six manufacturers (Phonak, Oticon, Sivantos, Widex, and Starkey are the other five) are well-known, reputable manufacturers that produce nearly all of the prescription-strength hearing aids commercially available. Simply put, Lively uses some of the same devices you would find in an audiologist's office.

Lively hearing aids are FDA approved, not FDA registered like many online hearing aids. While FDA registration is required to sell a medical device in the United States, registration doesn't mean the FDA has determined the device to be safe and effective. However, FDA-approved devices have been deemed safe and effective for consumer use.

A key component making Lively a best choice for hearing aids is the customer support. When making a purchase, you'll have ongoing access to trained customer support professionals seven days a week. You'll also have on-demand access to an audiologist for virtual consultations and adjustments as often as you need it for three years. What's more, Lively has a free app where users have the ability to adjust hearing aid settings at any time.

• Battery-powered or rechargeable models
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Directional microphones
• Hearing aid settings adjustable via free mobile app
• Advanced noise-canceling and feedback reduction technology for clearer sound
• Direct stereo streaming for all Apple devices and select Android devices
• Variety of colors available to match hair color and improve invisibility
• Custom programmable tinnitus therapy sounds

Lively offers two behind-the-ear models to choose from in a variety of colors.

The battery-powered bundle costs $1,850 for the pair.

The rechargeable bundle costs $2,400 for the pair.

Lively offers financing options that allow you to pay as little as $60 per month for the battery-powered version or $78 per month for the rechargeable aids for six to 36 months if you qualify.

Unfortunately, most insurance plans do not cover hearing aids, but some companies will cover a portion of the cost. Check with your plan for details.

While Original Medicare does not provide coverage for hearing aids, some Medicare Advantage plans may offer this benefit.

Lively gives you the option to take a free online hearing test, which you can complete any time at home, or submit a hearing test performed by your doctor.

Lively's online hearing test takes five minutes to complete. After the test, an audiologist will review your results to determine whether you're a good candidate for the service. You also have the opportunity to ask questions or receive further consultation if you desire.

While most audiologists agree that an online hearing test does not offer all of the same information as those conducted in person by an audiologist, Lively audiologists use both the online hearing test and ongoing consultation and adjustments to achieve excellent outcomes.

Keep in mind—buying a hearing aid online isn't right for everyone. Those with severe or profound hearing loss or other medical issues affecting their hearing may be better served by a traditional audiologist consultation.

However, if you're one of the millions of people with mild to moderately severe hearing loss, especially age-related sensorineural hearing loss, you could be successful buying a hearing aid online, and Lively offers the ideal combination of products and service to meet your needs.

Dr. Courtney Schmidt is a clinical consultant pharmacist and geriatric care expert. Since completing her Pharm.D. at the University of Florida., Dr. Schmidt has worked in multiple clinical settings and has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Central Florida.