Audicus Hearing Aid Review 2023

Hearing Test

Audicus offers a smartphone app hearing test as well as being able to accept a scan of a traditional test. I found the app-based test to be quick and, based on their results, acceptably accurate. Their inside folks indicated that they use standard fitting algorithms (NAL-NL1 and NAL-NL2). These formulae were explicitly designed to balance the optimal audibility of important speech sounds with listening comfort.

Their online process also includes a questionnaire about age, activity, and hearing aid use history. Your answers help Audicus optimize the initial fitting. This process mirrors what I do in the clinic quite well.

Website Navigation

The Audicus website is well designed, but I found drilling down a bit challenging. Like any online source, Audicus wants my contact information, but their form was a bit aggressive for my taste. That said, I was able to get detailed spec sheets on the three products and the TV connector, and it’s easy to contact Audicus by phone and email. They have been very responsive, and the automatic emails generated by my initial time on the site are not annoyingly frequent.

Their current lineup covers mild to severe hearing loss in six levels of technology. Current models include slim tube behind-the-ear (BTE), receiver-in-the-canal (RIC), and completely-in-canal (CIC) styles. My initial eyeballing of them on the website suggested they are made by Unitron, a partner of Big 6 manufacturer Phonak under the Sonova umbrella.1 A few emails with their inside folks confirmed this. Much like private label agreements with big box stores, this relationship provides Audicus customers the research and development muscle of an international company at a much lower cost and is beneficial for users. The downside of this setup is that even though the technology is Unitron, these devices can be adjusted only by Audicus. That may not be a big deal, but something to consider if you already have a relationship with a local dispenser.

Before diving into the details of Audicus’ three models (which all offer a 45-day money-back guarantee), let me show you the demo units I was sent.

As I stated in the intro, these are well-built and very close to Unitron models I have fitted for years, and I expect them to last and receive good consumer reviews for fit and wear and tear.

Models

Audicus Models
Audicus Dia II	Dia II The Dia II is the “entry level” product currently priced at $499 per ear for one-time purchase or $39 per month per ear with financing. It is listed for mild to moderate hearing loss. It’s a “slim tube” BTE, which means that the small tube connecting the body of the hearing aid to the ear tip (dome) will need regular cleaning and occasional replacement. It has all the features anyone would need, including several adjustment channels, directional microphones, and an automatic “scene analyzer,” which attempts to extract speech from noise. The Dia II operates on a 312 zinc-air battery, is compatible with the Classic Remote, and has a telecoil. More on that in a bit.
Audicus Clara Audicus Clara 312	Clara In the middle of the Audicus lineup is the Clara at $699 each or $49 per ear per month. Also a RIC style, this model offers a wider range, up to severe loss, and the option of rechargeable batteries. It has two microphones, which provide directionality and some degree of background noise abatement. The device is set for automatic processing, but additional manual programs are available and accessible via the Classic or Bluetooth Remote. This is important, especially if you need to hear well in noisy settings or want to use the telecoil. Both of these situations will require a special program that you’ll want to activate manually. Like the Dia, the Clara can use the Classic Remote and Bluetooth Remote and Dock. Clara is available with either a 312 zinc-air battery or a sealed lithium-ion rechargeable battery. All 312 versions have a telecoil.
Audicus Wave Audicus Wave 312	Wave The top tier product from Audicus currently is the Wave at $849 per ear or $69 per month per ear. This is a great example of the power of being part of the Sonova family. A few years ago, Phonak developed a way to directly stream to both iOS and Android devices. Based on what I’m seeing here, this tech has been made available in the Wave. This RIC covers mild to severe losses and is compatible with the TV Connector rather than the Bluetooth Dock. The Wave can be powered by a 312 zinc-air battery or a sealed lithium-ion rechargeable battery. The rechargeable Wave has a telecoil.

Accessories

Audicus has two families of accessories: Near-field (Dia II and Clara) and 2.4 GHz “AirStream” (Wave). They also offer a standalone remote control, which is handy if you have dexterity issues or want additional programs. They also offer two TV streamers and a Bluetooth rebroadcaster. These devices are made by Sonova and function identically to their Phonak and Unitron counterparts. As such, I’m very comfortable recommending them based on over a decade of success with their “cousins.”

Audicus Accessories
Audicus Remote	The Classic Remote allows for volume and program adjustment for the Dia II and Clara devices. It communicates to the hearing aids using near-field wireless communication and can be helpful for those with dexterity issues, those needing to access manual programs like telecoil, or those in assisted living who may need help controlling their hearing aids. It’s fairly inexpensive at $199 and is available online from Audicus.
Audicus Bluetooth and Dock	The Bluetooth Remote and Dock, priced at $349, provides Bluetooth rebroadcasting, which allows you to pair the remote to your smartphone, tablet, or PC, then stream audio to your Clara hearing aid. The Bluetooth Dock connects to audio sources like your TV via analog or digital connections, then streams to the remote, which then talks to the hearing aids via near-field wireless communication. The Dock has a range of about 30 feet. In addition, the remote provides access to volume and program adjustments. Additional Bluetooth Docks are available at $149 each.
Audicus TV Connector	The TV Connector, priced at $199, streams audio signals to the Wave hearing aids without the need for a rebroadcaster. This uses the same 2.4 GHz AirStream technology that allows the Wave to stream directly to your smartphone or tablet. It accepts both analog and digital inputs and has a range of about 50 feet.

Wrapup

Having access to well-made hearing aids and accessories via the mail is a great perk. A hearing aid lineup that covers the vast majority of folks at prices well below the going rate is even better. Audicus’ flexible payment options, ongoing upgrades via their memberships, and extensive online supplies store allow older adults to customize a pair of hearing aids to their needs and budget.

Having interacted with the company quite a bit while researching this piece, and being very familiar with the technology under the hood, I’m quite comfortable recommending Audicus as an option for folks with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Even though the specs indicate that the Clara and Wave can produce output at levels sufficient for a severe loss on the audiogram, I’d need to see how they function in the real world for folks with more severe background noise and reverberation issues to recommend them for that population. The exception to that caveat depends on the flexibility and response of their telecoil. If the telecoil can be set to meet the ANSI specification for hearing loops,2 patients with severe loss could use it in looped environments or with a personal ALD and neck loop with good results.

All in all, Audicus should be on your “check it out” list for hearing aids. I hope that companies like Audicus that challenge the traditional models will make hearing aids more convenient and accessible and that they will continue to lower the barriers to entry for hearing help.