Best Hearing Aids for Severe Hearing Loss, Researched and Tested by Audiologists

Style: BTE

Battery type: Rechargeable or disposable battery

Feature highlights:

• High water and dust resistance
• Adaptive speech recognition
• Bluetooth connectivity

Phonak has spent over 70 years researching, developing, and distributing cutting-edge hearing aids. The Phonak Naída Link Marvel caters to seniors with severe to profound hearing loss. Not only does it provide ample power, but it’s reliable and effective, too. In testing, this device reduced listening effort by 24 percent and improved memory recall by 10 percent.2 Additionally, it features an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. If you spend a lot of time by the water, that added level of protection is invaluable. However, all of these benefits come at a cost, and while prices can vary by provider, Phonak Naída hearing aids tend to be more expensive than similar behind-the-ear (BTE) models from providers like Widex.

» Our Pricing Guide: Phonak hearing aids cost and pricing

We love the Phonak Naída’s Bluetooth connectivity and the Roger microphone. You can effortlessly connect your hearing aids to iOS, Android, or other Bluetooth-enabled devices to enjoy hands-free calling and audio streaming. Some of Phonak’s power hearing aids (including the Link Marvel) can also pair with hearing implants. The Roger microphone accessory streams directly to your hearing aids, too. It can help you understand speech better in noisy environments.

» Our Full Review: Phonak Hearing Aid Review

Our Experience With Phonak Naída

The Phonak Naída product line offers powerful hearing aids with top-level technology and features. Since severe hearing loss can make it difficult to distinguish speech in noisy environments, we like that the Phonak Naída Link Marvel — as well as the Naída L-SP, L-PR, and L-UP — feature directional microphones that can separate speech from background noise. Phonak’s Binaural Voicestream Technology also allows each hearing aid to exchange information for better volume synchronization and more accurate settings adjustments.

Expert Insights

From Audiologist Dr. Ruth Reisman,

The Phonak Naída is the primary choice for most patients due to its updated technology and long history of serving as a highly reliable device for this population. Phonak hearing aids include Bluetooth, hands-free calls, and Roger compatibility for supporting seamless communication in all environments. Those features can significantly improve the quality of life for individuals with severe hearing loss.

Similar to the Starkey Livio AI, Phonak Naída hearing aids let you control settings right from your smartphone via the myPhonak app. When combined with advanced speech recognition, these features make Phonak Naída some of the most reliable hearing aids for clear, consistent sound quality. Just remember that Phonak doesn’t advertise pricing online, so you’ll need to visit a provider and find out if Phonak Naída hearing aids fall within your budget. While buying Phonak hearing aids may not be as convenient as OTC hearing aids online, visiting a hearing care professional is a best practice for managing severe hearing loss.

Dr. Reisman uses Verifit equipment to test Phonak hearing aids and ensure the best experience for her patients.

Style: BTE

Battery type: Disposable

Feature highlights:

• Minimizes whistling and feedback
• OpenSound, 360-degree speech recognition
• Bluetooth connectivity

Oticon claims they created the world’s most powerful hearing aid. The Oticon Xceed supports those with severe to profound hearing loss who want to follow conversations, enjoy media, and remain aware of their surroundings. Instead of focusing on the noises directly before you, Xceed provides an OpenSound experience with whistling prevention. It means no more unwanted feedback. You can hear people talking from all directions, and the hearing aids differentiate speech from noise. Dr. Reisman recommends Oticon’s power hearing aids for the “benefit of supporting brain hearing and signal processing with artificial intelligence.”

The Oticon Xceed is also a Made for iPhone hearing aid. You can stream music, TV shows, audiobooks, and other media from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your hearing aids. You can easily switch between the Apple devices your hearing aids connect with. Made-for-iPhone (MFi) aids also work with Apple Hearing Controls. You can adjust the hearing aid volume and change settings from your lock screen. That’s a huge plus if you’re already familiar with the sound controls on an iPhone or similar Apple devices. The only downside is that, like Phonak Naída, Oticon Xceed hearing aids can be pretty expensive.

Our Experience With Oticon Xceed

The Oticon Xceed SP and UP models feature BrainHearing technology, an OpenSound experience, and whistle and static prevention to deliver better hearing in any environment. These features put it right up with the Phonak Naída Link Marvel for enhanced sound quality while providing high-level signal processing so that your brain doesn’t need to work as hard to interpret sounds coming through your hearing aids. Their MFi capabilities allow you to connect your hearing aids to any Apple device and have an easier time hearing — not just conversations but music, movies, and more. Despite being a BTE hearing aid, the Oticon Xceed is pretty discreet, though not quite as discreet as the ReSound ENZO Q.

Of course, all of this great tech doesn’t come cheap. Like Phonak, Oticon doesn’t publish pricing information online, so you must visit a hearing care provider for more information. However, audiologist Dr. Brad Ingrao, one of our resident audiologists, notes that two of Oticon’s proprietary features — BrainHearing and OpenSound — are perfect for those who want to expend less energy trying to listen and experience a full range of sounds in busy environments. It’s important to note that the Xceed uses disposable batteries, meaning you won’t have the convenience of recharging your hearing aids like you can with ReSound ENZO Q or Signia Motion Charge&Go X.

» Our Full Review: Oticon Hearing Aid Review

Style: BTE

Battery type: Rechargeable

Feature highlights:

• User-friendly mobile app for remote adjustments
• Compatible with cochlear implants
• Bluetooth connectivity

ReSound Enzo Q

The ENZO Q line is ReSound’s innovative hearing solution for older adults with severe to profound hearing loss. Much like the Starkey Genesis, this powerful BTE hearing aid delivers high-quality sound, comfort, and direct streaming.

» Related Reading: Best Bluetooth Hearing Aids of 2025

Wearers can connect the device to their phone for Bluetooth streaming and even connect to certain hearing implants. Dr. Reisman praises ReSound for offering some of the most expansive connectivity options of any prescription hearing aid provider. It is ideal for older adults who want to connect their hearing devices directly to TVs, smartphones, tablets, or other hearing amplifiers for even better sound quality.

» Our Full Review: ReSound hearing aid reviews from an audiologist

Our Experience With ReSound ENZO Q

ReSound offers the technology and remote care that older adults with severe hearing loss need. It includes a range of add-on hearing aid accessories that help you hear conversation partners, phone calls, and your television more clearly, including the Micro Mic and Multi Mic. These make it even easier to have sounds transmitted directly to your ReSound ENZO Q hearing aids. Like Phonak or Oticon, you’ll need to visit a hearing care specialist to learn about ReSound accessories and hearing aid pricing. It’s also important to note that the ReSound ENZO Q doesn’t have the best rechargeable battery on this list. One charge will last for up to 30 hours (as long as you’re not streaming), which is about half as long as the battery life of the Signia Motion Charge&Go X.

» Compare Providers: ReSound vs. Oticon

Your ReSound hearing aid purchase includes access to ReSound’s third-generation telehealth platform, which offers remote care. That’s one of the largest advantages of choosing Resound ENZO Q. There is no need to venture outside your home for assistance. Instead, you can use the Resound Assist feature to talk directly to your hearing care professional. Then, you can download any adjustments directly to your hearing aid using wireless technology.

Dr. Reisman can make adjustments to ReSound hearing aids to best suit her patient's needs

Style: BTE and ITE (in-the-ear)

Battery type: Rechargeable

Feature highlights:

• Fall detection and activity monitoring
• Voice-to-text transcription
• Bluetooth connectivity

Testing out Starkey Genesis hearing aids

In 2018, Starkey invented the world’s first Healthable hearing aid. Today, the Starkey Edge AI and Genesis hearing aids provide older adults, even those with severe hearing loss, with a combination of hearing aids, physical wellness, and medical alert features. The hearing aids work with a smartphone app and can even detect falls. Plus, they can send an alert message to your selected contacts. Hearing and balance are closely related, so this feature is invaluable, especially since seniors already face an increased fall risk.

» You Might Like: Best Medical Alert Systems With Fall Detection for Seniors

Other apps and hearing aid features include heart rate measurement, mask mode, activity tracking, hearing aid usage tracking, medication and task reminders, conversation transcription, and TeleHear. With TeleHear, you can request remote adjustments to your hearing aids using the video chat function in the Starkey app. It’s a fantastic solution for older adults with difficulty leaving the house.

Our Experience With Starkey Genesis

The Starkey Edge AI and Genesis models help monitor physical well-being, detect falls, and complete helpful tasks like transcribing conversations. Even if things like step tracking aren’t that important to you, Starkey Edge AI can measure active listening and social engagement. With these tools, you and your audiologist can develop a treatment plan that could improve your listening skills and potentially reduce cognitive decline.3

» Provider Overview: Starkey Hearing Aids

Your Starkey hearing professional can recommend which style suits your needs best and share Starkey pricing information. Like Signia and ReSound, Starkey won’t give you any prices upfront, so you’ll need to speak with an audiologist to learn more. However, Starkey is one of the most expensive brands on the market.

» Our Full Review: Starkey Hearing Aids: Reviewed and Tested by an Audiologist 

Dr. Reisman is a fan of Starkey’s Genesis model for severe hearing loss, which she calls “the Rolls-Royce of hearing aids.” She says, “In addition to superior sound quality, the health features on the device are not available in any other hearing device. The future of Starkey’s fall prevention feature will assist in balance rehabilitation for individuals with peripheral vestibular disorders… Patients notice an immediate improvement in sound quality when trying these devices, including patients wearing devices from other manufacturers.”

Dr. Ruth Reisman wearing Starkey Genesis hearing aids

Style: BTE

Battery type: Rechargeable

Feature highlights:

• AI personal assistant
• Up to 61 hours on a single charge
• Bluetooth connectivity

Signia’s Motion Charge&Go X BTE hearing aid line includes three options for severe hearing loss: the Motion Charge&Go X, Motion Charge&Go P X, and Motion Charge&Go SP X. Both models include an AI personal assistant and easy, on-the-go charging.

Signia’s power and super-power hearing aids are rechargeable, lasting up to 61 hours on a single charge. That’s great news if you forget to charge your devices every night. That also makes the Signia Motion X models the best on our list for battery life, far outpacing Widex Moment and Starkey Edge AI. The Motion X line also includes acoustic motion sensors, so the devices constantly adapt as you move (and others move), ensuring you don’t miss a sound.

» You Might Like: Best Hearing Aids for Alzheimer’s Patients

Our Experience With Signia Motion Charge&Go X

The Signia Motion Charge&GO X, P X, and SP X devices are solid choices if you require a hearing solution for severe to profound hearing loss. Wearers enjoy enhanced speech understanding, telecoil functionality, and Bluetooth streaming for a better listening experience no matter what you’re doing. Unfortunately, like every other provider on this list, Signia’s pricing isn’t available online. Instead, you’ll need to visit an audiologist or hearing center to inquire about pricing or the right model for your level of hearing loss.

Expert Insights

From Audiologist Dr. Ruth Reisman,

If you're looking for a power hearing aid with the longest-lasting rechargeable battery, look no further than the Signia Motion.

Like the Widex Moment, the Signia Motion X power and super-power models are great options for seniors with tinnitus. According to Dr. Reisman, Signia hearing aids include a variety of tinnitus therapies, including static noise and ocean wave signals. The provider’s signature Notch Therapy is designed to make tinnitus symptoms less noticeable in quiet environments. Despite all these features, the Widex Moment still offers more tinnitus support thanks to the Widex Zen app.

» Our Full Review: Signia Hearing Aid Reviews

Style: BTE

Battery type: Rechargeable

Feature highlights:

• Zen app for tinnitus management and remote adjustments
• ZeroDelay technology prioritizes speech and music
• Bluetooth connectivity

Testing out Widex Moment hearing aids

The Widex Moment BTE line, when paired with the Widex Zen app, can help older adults manage severe hearing loss and tinnitus. Widex Zen uses comforting sounds and music to relax you and prevent tinnitus flare-ups.

» Compare Providers: Widex vs. Starkey

Within the Zen app, you can set up a timer for the tinnitus masker and adjust your hearing aids individually, which is also a great feature for those with one-sided hearing loss. The Widex Zen app works with all Widex hearing aid models.

» Also Check Out: Best Hearing Aids for Single-Sided Hearing Loss

Our Experience With Widex Moment

Widex’s advanced hearing aids with PureSound and ZeroDelay enable seniors with severe hearing loss to hear naturally. Through the Widex Zen app and other Widex apps, wearers can manage tinnitus, stream phone audio, and adjust volume and pitch. Widex Moment hearing aids can also last for up to 37 hours on a single charge. While this isn’t nearly as long as the Signia Moment Charge&Go X, it’s longer than ReSound ENZO Q.

» Also Check Out: Best Hearing Aids for Active Lifestyles

Dr. Reisman notes that the Widex Moment Sheer, besides offering enhanced tinnitus relief, is a solid option for musicians due to the “wide frequency response range” and “ZeroDelay technology [that] allows music and speech to be prioritized.” If Widex Moment sounds appealing, visit your audiologist or a hearing specialist. They can walk you through the different styles and review pricing information, which isn’t available online.

» Our Full Review: Widex Hearing Aid Reviews