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Beltone is an international company selling a range of hearing aids in different styles. The brand also offers hearing-related services.

This article explores Beltone hearing aids, the brand’s reputation, alternative hearing aid retailers, and how hearing aids can improve hearing health.

The Beltone brand began in the 1930s when co-founder Sam Posen wanted to help a friend with hearing issues.

In the 1940s, Beltone opened its first location in Chicago, Illinois, and announced the Beltone Model H, the company’s first hearing aid.

During the 1950s, Beltone created The Minuet, its first behind-the-ear hearing aid. Today, the company produces wireless hearing aids allowing high-speed streaming to mobile devices.

Brand reputation

In 2018, Consumer Reports conducted a poll involving more than 17,000 customer opinions on 16 hearing aid brands. Beltone scored 67 points out of 100 for overall satisfaction, putting it at the bottom of the rankings with NuEar.

Additionally, the survey found that the battery life of Beltone devices reportedly did not rank as high compared to those of other hearing aid companies. Beltone’s device ratings were also poor for use in noisy environments during conversations between two people. However, the brand’s devices did score similarly to others for communicating in small groups.

Beltone’s listing with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) mentions that the company has an A+ rating, despite the brand having no accreditation with the BBB. However, from customer reviews, Beltone has an overall rating of 1 out of 5 stars.

In the last 3 years, the company closed 13 complaints on the BBB website. The most common issues were advertising practices or problems with the company’s devices or services.

Beltone has 1,500 locations nationwide, and customers can receive a free assessment from a hearing care professional.

Each hearing aid purchase comes with BelCare Lifetime Care, which guarantees free customer support, hearing evaluations, cleaning, and other hearing care services. The company also offers an app for selected models, allowing for remote adjustments.

Beltone offers five product ranges of hearing aids with additional variants. Below is a summary of the features and the products available.

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.

Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.

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Beltone Rely

  • Price: no information available
  • Style of hearing aid: Behind-the-ear (BTE), receiver-in-ear (RIE), custom
  • Hearing loss: suitable for all levels
  • Pro: offers up to 30 hours of battery life
  • Con: offers the least amount of speech clarity in noise

Beltone states that this hearing aid offers clearer sound for a more affordable price. This device is available in five colors and comes in BTE, RIE, and custom styles.

The company states that one charge offers up to 30 hours of battery life or 25 hours if a person streams.

This hearing aid is weather- and sweat-proof, has Bluetooth connectivity, and offers speech clarity in noise technology. However, the company states that speech clarity in noise technology is more advanced in other models.

Beltone Imagine

  • Price: no information available
  • Style of hearing aid: BTE, RIE, completely-in-canal (CIC), custom
  • Hearing loss: suitable for all levels
  • Pro: Bluetooth connectivity can stream audio and calls
  • Con: does not offer surround sound technology

Beltone states that this hearing aid is suitable for most people. This device is available in eight colors and several hearing aid styles.

This hearing aid offers the same features as the Beltone Rely. Additional features include streaming calls over Bluetooth and better speech clarity in noise technology.

This device is compatible with the Beltone HearMax app.

Beltone Achieve

  • Price: no information available
  • Style of hearing aid: RIE
  • Hearing loss: suitable for mild to severe hearing loss
  • Pro: offers surround sound technology
  • Con: not suitable for profound hearing loss

Beltone states that this device offers the clearest and most natural sound. These hearing aids are available in eight colors.

This hearing aid offers the same features as the Beltone Imagine. In addition, it also offers surround sound, and the company claims it provides the highest quality sound over Bluetooth.

Beltone also states that Achieve offers the best speech clarity in noise technology.

Beltone Achieve is compatible with the Beltone HearMax app.

Beltone Ultra Boost

  • Price: no information available
  • Style of hearing aid: BTE
  • Hearing loss: suitable for severe-to-profound hearing loss
  • Pro: reportedly offers the best connectivity to iOS and Android devices
  • Con: only available in one hearing aid style

The company states that the Beltone Ultra Boost offers the fullest and richest sound quality of all its products. People can make their custom profiles with the Beltone HearMax app.

This device features an in-built tinnitus breaker, speech-in-noise recognition, spatial directionality, wind and background noise cancellation, and gradually adapts to sound. In addition, it has automatic volume control, feedback cancellation, and ear-to-ear synchronization.

This device is available in a BTE style, and people can choose between five different skin and hair tones for a more discreet look.

Jabra Enhance Plus

  • Price: $799
  • Style of hearing aid: earbud style
  • Hearing loss: suitable for mild to moderate hearing loss
  • Pros: connects easily to Apple devices
  • Cons: only offers 10 hours of continuous use before requiring recharging

The Jabra Enhance Plus hearing aids are the only devices Beltone offers online for purchase.

These devices are earbud-style hearing aids that may be suitable for amplifying sounds while dampening background noise.

This device is available in two colors and offers a warp compressor, digital noise reduction, digital feedback suppression, and binaural beamformers.

People will need to visit a store for a hearing exam and fitting after purchasing these hearing aids.

People can buy Beltone hearing aids directly from the company. To help decrease costs, the brand offers a buy-back program, where customers can trade in old hearing aids to lower the price of a new set.

A leasing program is also available, which allows people to test hearing aids for a certain amount of time before deciding to return or purchase the devices.

All Beltone hearing aids include a 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty. Customers can also buy additional coverage that protects against lost, stolen, or damaged hearing aids for up to 1 year.

Additionally, hearing aids are refundable up to 30 days after purchase depending on their condition.

People can buy hearing aids from several manufacturers. Some brands similar to Beltone include:

The following table compares Beltone with the above brands.

Hearing aid stylesRechargeable devicesBBB gradeBBB customer rating
Beltone• BTE
• RIE
• CIC
• custom
availableA+1 out of 5 stars
Eargonear-invisibleavailableA-3.57 out of 5 stars
MDHearingAidBTEavailableB4.21 out of 5 stars
Hearing Assist• BTE
• CIC
• RIC
availableA+1.5 out of 5 stars
Hearing Life• BTE
• CIC
• IIC
• ITC
• miniBTE
• miniRITE
• half and full shell
availableA+1.26 out of 5 stars

An audiologist can advise on whether someone needs hearing aids and what suitable models are available.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 430 million people worldwide require some kind of treatment for disabling hearing loss, which experts define as a loss of greater than 35 decibels in a person’s better-hearing ear. By 2050, the number affected will almost double and continue to impact people living in lower income countries.

There are many causes of hearing loss and deafness that can impact a person’s quality of life. A 2017 study found that people with mild to moderate hearing loss had improved quality of life using hearing aids, which allowed individuals to be more active in their everyday lives.

Although many causes of hearing loss are unavoidable due to genetic or age factors, prevention is important. Due to damage from listening to loud sounds or music, over 1 billion young adults could develop irreversible hearing loss. Some ways to prevent this from occurring include:

  • staying up to date with immunizations according to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • maintaining proper ear care
  • avoiding the use of medications that lead to hearing loss where possible
  • avoiding exposure to loud noises and sound
  • quality prenatal care
  • timely diagnosis and treatment of common ear infections

Consult with a doctor about any noticeable problems with hearing, such as sudden changes in hearing, ear drainage, or vertigo. A healthcare professional can refer a person to an audiologist to help minimize the risk of hearing loss.

Here we answer some common questions about this brand.

How much do Beltone hearing aids cost?

Beltone does not state the prices of its hearing aids on its website. People must visit a hearing specialist to find out how much these devices cost.

How long does a Beltone hearing aid last?

Beltone states that hearing aids have a lifespan of 3–7 years.

The company recommends storing and maintaining the devices correctly to increase their lifespan.

How do I adjust the volume on my Beltone hearing aid?

People can download the Beltone HearMax app on the App Store and Google Play to adjust the volume on their devices.

Beltone sells different styles and models of hearing aids for people with mild to severe hearing loss. Additionally, across the operating lifespan of these devices, the company offers hearing care services at their physical stores and via online consultations.

The first step to ordering Beltone hearing aids would be to request a free hearing evaluation.

Other brands are available, and a hearing healthcare specialist can offer guidance and recommendations when choosing a hearing aid.