For a trial period I tried the leading brand's digital CIC hearing aid for my left ear which has moderate hearing loss (I can't hear women's and children's voices very well). The so called "leading brand" only worked well in face to face conversations in a quite setting and it did not provide any way to adjust its one setting. Every week I went in and had an adjustment because I was not happy with the way it performed. After wearing it for 3 weeks it completely stopped working and it had to be sent to the manufacturing plant on the East Coast and it took three weeks for them to fix it and send it back! When I got it back it still only worked well during face to face conversations in a quite (no background noise setting). It was like having a plug in my ear. I could not listen to music, it amplified wind noise when I drove the car, I could not stand wearing it in restaurants or in a noisy area, and at home I still turned the TV up to the point where my spouse and kids asked me to turn the volume down. After trying it for the trial period I returned it and got my most of my money back.

1. I did a web search and found a local Plymouth, Minnesota company called Affinity Hearing. They advertised that they performed state of the art hearing tests and that they made their own hearing aids at their office in Plymouth.
   After explaining all of the problems I had with the so called "leading brand" I had my hearing tested, had a mold of my ear canal taken and the next day I picked up an Affinity digital CIC hearing aid which the audiologist, Steve Chargo, programmed with four (4) different hearing settings. I just tap a small button that is invisible on the outside of the hearing aid to change the settings to one of the following hearing situations:
   When I press the button once I hear one beep it is perfect for every normal conversations and for meetings at work.
2. When I press the button again I hear two beeps and it is perfect for "heads down office work" as it only amplifies people's who are very close to me, but it knocks out distant distracting conversations. I use this setting when I am driving the car too because it knocks out wind noise.
3. When I press the button again I hear three beeps it is the perfect setting for watching TV, listening to music or going to a symphony concert. The spouse and kids don't complain about the TV being to load anymore!
4. When I press the button again I hear four beeps and is perfect for carrying on conversations with one or more people in a noisy restaurant. It does not amplify plates clanging and silverware being cleared from tables.
   I forgot to mention that the CIC is almost impossible for anyone to see because the specialist at Affinity specialist makes the outer part of the hearing aid a shade of color darker than your skin color, so it looks like a shadow, not a hearing aid to someone who looks at your ear from the side. That "leading brand CIC" did not come with that color option and it was more visible. The audiologist also put a larger air vent hole in it so it isn't like having a plug in my ear.

Finally, it cost me $800 less than what I paid for the "leading brand" and it work 10 times better! I highly recommend Affinity hearing aids to anyone who wants a state of the art hearing aid that really works in ALL work and life situations.

Steve F.
Plymouth, Minnesota

"I wanted to send you my personal thanks to you and the wonderful staff at Affinity Hearing. You all have made my 'listening experience' a pleasant one--one that is not stress related! I had given up the concept of actually being able to wear a hearing aid during my water exercise classes, swimming in a pool or chasing waves in the ocean with my grandchildren. Affinity has made this wish come true!
Thanks again for all your patience and help. It certainly was worth traveling out of state to Affinity for the wonderful products and service I received."

Sincerely,
Judy S.
Buffalo Grove, IL