The Hearing Guide Review Team: Who we are and what we do

1. Hearing Guide: The review team behind the scenes

We are a team of hearing care professionals based in southern Germany. For over 25 years, we’ve been helping people in our region hear better through our local hearing aid practice. Over time, many of our clients shared a common frustration: it was nearly impossible to find independent, trustworthy information about hearing aids online. We understood exactly what they meant – we’d run into the same problem ourselves. So we decided to do something about it.

In 2020, we launched our own review team. Our mission: to create a rating system that is transparent, unbiased, and grounded in real-world experience. By 2021, our first hearing aid reviews went live.

1.1 Andrea Fox & Cornelia Rill

Andrea Fox and Cornelia Rill, both certified master hearing specialists, are the minds behind our product reviews. Andrea specializes in fitting premium hearing aids at our local practice and writes reviews and blog articles for the Hearing Guide platform. Conni manages the practice and is responsible for the strategic direction of the Hearing Guide. With around 20 years of hands-on experience each, both bring deep industry expertise to every review they write.

Of course, they are supported by the entire team at HörStudio Tiesing. The Hearing Guide is a collaborative project, built on the expertise and passion of every member of our practice.

2. How we test hearing aids

Thanks to our work at our hearing care practice, we have direct access to nearly all hearing aids currently available on the market. If a model isn’t in stock, we order it for trial testing. Our three-part testing process always follows the same structured format:

2.1 Specs and features

We begin by analyzing the technical specifications: form factors, adaptive features, performance data, and key functions such as noise management, directional microphones, battery life, or tinnitus programs. Using a detailed evaluation protocol, we compare each device objectively based on the latest technological standards.

This thorough analysis allows us to assign individual scores for each criterion and calculate an overall rating. That way, you can clearly see where each hearing aid excels – and where it falls short.

2.2 Real-world testing

Next comes the hands-on phase. We program the devices with our own hearing profiles and test them in everyday situations. We pay close attention to handling, app usability, and accessory functionality. Even though sound quality is subjective, we check whether the technology performs as advertised.

Since many models within a product family differ only slightly, we often test specific variants and draw conclusions about the broader lineup.

2.3 Feedback from our clients

An essential part of our reviews is feedback from real users. Because we fit most hearing aids in our day-to-day practice, we receive valuable insights from people who actually wear these devices in the real world. These impressions are integrated into our reviews and provide practical context beyond the specs.

Our review info boxes highlight this real-world feedback, offering down-to-earth insights into how the devices perform in everyday life.

3. Our rating system

Our reviews are built on a clear scoring framework. Each feature – like background noise suppression – is carefully assessed. Some devices offer only basic versions of a feature, while others allow for fine-tuned control. We reflect these differences with scaled scoring.

At the end of each review, we calculate an overall score based on sub-scores for comfort, technology, and usability. Especially advanced – or outdated – technology is factored in with a percentage-based bonus or deduction.

4. Independance and challenges

“Are you paid by hearing aid manufacturers?”
“Do you only review the products you sell?”
“Do you actually test every hearing aid?”

We hear these questions a lot – and we take them seriously. Our answer: hearing aid manufacturers have no influence on our reviews. Our mission is to independently test every brand and offer honest, unbiased evaluations. We have to focus on hearing aids that are available in Germany because we live and work here. But since almost all major brands operate internationally, our tests should be useful for most people around the world.

Of course, we all have personal preferences. But our structured rating system helps us stay objective. It ensures that all hearing aids are evaluated fairly and according to consistent criteria.

Sometimes it takes a while for a review to go live, simply because we are busy fitting hearing aids at HörStudio Tiesing every day. Still, we are committed to testing all relevant products – even if it takes a bit longer to publish the results.

5. Your advantage: Benefit from our expertise!

Our work as a review team has given us deep knowledge of today’s hearing aid technology – and our clients at our practice benefit directly from that expertise. We know exactly which device fits which needs, and how to get the most out of every hearing aid.