I'm wondering whether it's better to buy them in Singapore from a qualified audiologist/hospital. I read the other AN forum on hearing aid issues and noted one member said he was thinking of getting them in Singapore for the same reason (more choice and maybe better professional afterservice care).

I realize in Thailand there is Eartone and one other recommended shop at Chatuchak.

I would only consider Phonak, Starkey and Widex brands (so far). I see Phonak mentioned at Eartone. Not sure about Thailand availability of the others.

Would Singapore be better? Of course it means making a few additional trips there for adjustments etc.

Any experience?

friend,flew,to Vietnam, bgt there. Now Thai service centre says will not help = "you not buy in Thailand, so go back to VN"

Hearing aids have changed dramatically in the last few years. I've been wearing them for 30+ years, and follow the technology closely. These days, hearing aids are a direct link to your computer, your phone, and any other device to which you have been plugging in wires and headphones. No more wires! All the benefits of AirPods, plus all the benefits of hearing aids!

When my phone rings, I hear and speak through my HAs. I can answer, speak, and hang up with the phone still in my pocket. When I use my computer, the sound is streamed directly to my HAs. No more headset. When I go outdoors, my HAs automatically switch to an 'Outdoor' setting with more wind noise protection. In a restaurant, they automatically switch to a program that blocks noise from the sides so I can more clearly hear the person across from me. All these 'programs' are user-defined and can be set up by the Audiologist in the office... OR AT HOME these days. It's called 'Remote Fitting.' This is now available from several manufacturers. Personally, I wear ReSound hearing aids, level 9. (Hearing aids usually come in three levels: One, Five, and Nine, each having more adjustability, available programs, and sound quality. Prices reflect the level.) Get the highest level you can afford from whichever manufacturer for the best performance. The manufacturers that you mention are all equally good, but each has its own strengths and weaknesses. It's a good idea to figure out what YOUR needs are before choosing a brand to purchase. There are several very good Hearing Aid support groups on Facebook, with a LOT of great information and helpful people.

Remote Fitting is simple. You call the Audiologist and set up something similar to a Zoom Meeting. He can access all your HA's controls from his office via WiFi or Bluetooth (I'm a bit fuzzy on which), and with the hearing aids IN YOUR EARS so you can hear the actual changes as they happen, can make whatever adjustments and settings you need, just as if you were sitting in his office. The only thing that can't be done that way is 'Real Ear Measurement,' but personally, I haven't been able to find an Audiology center anywhere in S.E. Asia that even performs that test! Singapore does appear to have better options than Thailand or Malaysia. KL has a lot of Audiology Centers, but S'pore seems to have more modern options. None follow "Best Practices" (the standard of Care in many US centers, and none perform the 'Real Ear Measurement' test.) Beware of Thai centers that push their own brands. They 'appear' to be very upmarket, but fail in use. Also, Thailand seems to limit warranty (and what is actually covered), to just one year. Buying online got me a 4-year warranty that I just used on my 3yr-old HAs. Sent them in for repair. They sent back a brand new pair. No questions asked.

Again, personally, I buy my hearing aids online. I've been doing that for the past 15 years (after a fiasco with a Thai Audiology center... never again!), half the price that way. With Remote Fitting, there is no need for me to go into an office. I go to a local hospital and get my ears checked, inside and out, have an Audiogram done, and send that to my hearing aid center. They program the aids based on the audiogram and send them to me. Then we have a remote fitting session to dial in the rough edges, really tuning it for our personal hearing needs. Easy as pie, half the price, and none of the hassle trying to find a local Aud. (Here in Chiang Mai there are 3-4, but only one I'd walk into...)

If you do go to S'pore, I'd love to hear about your experience there.

If any of you have questions about this, don't hesitate to ask. Hearing Aids are NOT like glasses. They don't 'fix' your hearing. They help clarify your hearing. For many, it takes several weeks of wearing them to become comfortable with the sounds you are hearing, wearing a few hours longer each day to 'learn to interpret' the new sounds you are hearing. For others (the lucky ones), they pop the HAs in their ears and never give them a second thought. Good luck to ya!

36 minutes ago, paddypower said:

friend,flew,to Vietnam, bgt there. Now Thai service centre says will not help = "you not buy in Thailand, so go back to VN"

Tell your friend that there are online Hearing Aid repair companies that will accept any brand or model, any issues. Usually, a flat rate for repair, averaging $200-$300 USD. Often, these companies will simply replace the electronics inside, so basically getting a new device!

4 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

(Hearing aids usually come in three levels: One, Five, and Nine, each having more adjustability, available programs, and sound quality. Prices reflect the level.) Get the highest level you can afford from whichever manufacturer for the best performance.

Edit this line to read 'in three quality levels: Five, Seven, and Nine.' I was still waking up when I made the first post.

16 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

I'm wondering whether it's better to buy them in Singapore from a qualified audiologist/hospital. I read the other AN forum on hearing aid issues and noted one member said he was thinking of getting them in Singapore for the same reason (more choice and maybe better professional afterservice care).

I realize in Thailand there is Eartone and one other recommended shop at Chatuchak.

I would only consider Phonak, Starkey and Widex brands (so far). I see Phonak mentioned at Eartone. Not sure about Thailand availability of the others.

Would Singapore be better? Of course it means making a few additional trips there for adjustments etc.

Any experience?

I've given up on hearing aids......I just my AirPods....cheaper, more convenient and easier to use.

I looked into Singapore (Singapore General Hospital - one of the world's top 10 hospitals). I would need to return 3-4 times over 2 months and more if there was a problem. So that is a disinsentive.

How trust worthy is Eartone in after service care? And do they carry Phonak Wisex etc., and other international bands (not knockoffs and not local brands)?

4 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

I looked into Singapore (Singapore General Hospital - one of the world's top 10 hospitals). I would need to return 3-4 times over 2 months and more if there was a problem. So that is a disinsentive.

How trustworthy is Eartone in after service care? And do they carry Phonak Wisex etc., and other international bands (not knockoffs and not local brands)?

What was the hospital reasoning for you having to return so many times? These days, with so many major brands offering Remote Fitting, you might need to show up only once, at the most, twice, unless there is a physical fitting issue, e.g., the length of the ear wire or tube, or making a custom earmold. My last two pairs of name-brand hearing aids... we did everything online or over the phone. No visits at all. That's part of the magic of the new hearing aids!

Eartone in Thailand? Before committing, ask them directly:

• “How many free adjustments are included?”

• “What happens if the sound isn’t right after 1–2 months?”

• “Do you support my exact brand long-term (parts + repair)?”

• “Turnaround time for repairs?”

  Personally, I'd stick with a major international brand such as ReSound (I've been wearing ReSound HAs for the past three years and find the sound quality, signal-to-noise ratio, and support excellent), Phonak, Starkey, Oticon, or Widex.
  I've been screwed over twice buying local brands in Thailand. Never again! ( The 2-year Warranty magically turned into a 1-year warranty after they broke the second time.)

Big thanks to @FolkGuitar for his in depth and very informative initial and follow-up posts. I learned more from those posts than I have learned from any number of fragmented internet searches I have done previously regarding hearing devises. Most important, it provided some clear starting points and companies both to look for and look-out for.

At 82 I find myself avoiding social situations and conversations simply because I know I am missing half of what is being said and I hate being that guy saying "WHAT???" 20 times. I had approached audiologists and "Hearing Centers" in the past but the litany of testing suggested and the hard sell for premium devices costing as much as my car sent me away. The recent opening of the US market to OTC devices seems to have spurred development of many new options not requiring middle-men or clinical visits.

I had been tempted to try some of the many inexpensive offerings pushed on social media and sold on such sites as Lazada but the almost total lack of genuine user experiences gave me pause.

Encouraged by this post, I will embark on more exploration of local options. Some of the app controlled/Ear-bud offerings like the Lexie H1 look worth trying, especially as my budget is limited. Al least now I am moving ahead so thanks again.

Latest aids have AI so they say

19 minutes ago, 3NUMBAS said:

Latest aids have AI so they say

Yes, they do. But right now, the reviews are mixed.

6 hours ago, dddave said:

Big thanks to @FolkGuitar for his in depth and very informative initial and follow-up posts. I learned more from those posts than I have learned from any number of fragmented internet searches I have done previously regarding hearing devises. Most important, it provided some clear starting points and companies both to look for and look-out for.

At 82 I find myself avoiding social situations and conversations simply because I know I am missing half of what is being said and I hate being that guy saying "WHAT???" 20 times. I had approached audiologists and "Hearing Centers" in the past but the litany of testing suggested and the hard sell for premium devices costing as much as my car sent me away. The recent opening of the US market to OTC devices seems to have spurred development of many new options not requiring middle-men or clinical visits.

I had been tempted to try some of the many inexpensive offerings pushed on social media and sold on such sites as Lazada but the almost total lack of genuine user experiences gave me pause.

Encouraged by this post, I will embark on more exploration of local options. Some of the app controlled/Ear-bud offerings like the Lexie H1 look worth trying, especially as my budget is limited. Al least now I am moving ahead so thanks again.

Here's something else to consider... batteries or rechargeable?
For the average expat in Thailand, replaceable batteries are preferable.

Replaceable:

Works anywhere — no electricity needed
Ideal for rural areas, travel, or power outages. You can just carry spares. Zinc-air batteries last between 6-14 days, depending on streaming. Rechargeables last between 15 and 30 hours, depending on streaming from phone, computer, or other Bluetooth sources. You can carry another week's worth on your key chain and be back up and running in 3 minutes, or carry a charger and cables... and wait.
Murphy's Law says that hearing aid batteries will go dead at the least opportune time. Unless you have a charger with you, you're deaf again.

More resilient to charging logistics
No need to worry about voltage differences, plug types, or charging gear when traveling across Thailand or SE Asia. We expats tend to travel more than most.

Often better for very small hearing aids
Many ultra-small models still rely on disposable batteries.

Widely available in Thailand
Sold in pharmacies, hearing clinics, and online (Lazada/Shopee), usually easy to find.)

Hearing aids need to be kept in 'dry boxes' when not in use. This is EXTREMELY important here in Thailand's humid climate. Regular Rechargeable cases don't have dry-box capability. You have to buy the deluxe model!
Another consideration about Rechargeables is that they, too, eventualy stop taking a charge and need to be replaced. Fairly expensive, and the devices usually (except for one manufacturer) have to be sent back to the factory so you are without them for several weeks.

"Here's something else to consider... batteries or rechargeable?"

Thank You.

I'm familiar with this question. I was an avid photographer during my early years in SEA and the advantage of cameras powered by easy to buy batteries quickly became evident.

There is no place so remote in Thailand that one can not purchase AA/AAA batteries and bottled water, be it a misty mountain top in Nan or an island only slightly larger than a rock. Even CR-2s would often hang next to squid chips and noodles in the remotest Isan moo-bans. Not so for live power outlets.

I realize most hearing devices won't be packing triple-As but a surprisingly varied array of button batteries usually hang somewhere in most 7-11s.

Humidity is a problem, especially if, like me, you sweat like a pig. It's <deleted> after a few weeks of continuous use, so I tend to use my hearing aid only in aircon environments. Admittedly, I'm using a lower range version; maybe, the higher range versions cope better. For some reason earpods work just fine.

1 hour ago, nausea said:

Humidity is a problem, especially if, like me, you sweat like a pig. It's <deleted> after a few weeks of continuous use, so I tend to use my hearing aid only in aircon environments. Admittedly, I'm using a lower range version; maybe, the higher range versions cope better. For some reason earpods work just fine.

Have you been drying them each night after wearing? The single most common cause of hearing aid failure is moisture inside. Even with today's devices being IP68-rated (submersion at one meter of water for 30 minutes), moisture still accumulates inside and slowly but surely degrades the electronics. Please make sure hearing aids are dried every night to keep them working.
I just ordered a new electric dry box from Amazon. The one I've been using for the past 5 years is just warm air moving for 6 hours. The new one will have an 8-hour drying time, a one minute UV time for sterilization, and a molecular‑sieve desiccant block (several times more absorption than silica gel beads), to absorb the damp air produced.
I want my hearing aids to last a long time. They are too expensive to keep replacing in Thailand's humid climate!

21 minutes ago, FolkGuitar said:

Have you been drying them each night after wearing? The single most common cause of hearing aid failure is moisture inside. Even with today's devices being IP68-rated (submersion at one meter of water for 30 minutes), moisture still accumulates inside and slowly but surely degrades the electronics. Please make sure hearing aids are dried every night to keep them working.
I just ordered a new electric dry box from Amazon. The one I've been using for the past 5 years is just warm air moving for 6 hours. The new one will have an 8-hour drying time, a one minute UV time for sterilization, and a molecular‑sieve desiccant block (several times more absorption than silica gel beads), to absorb the damp air produced.
I want my hearing aids to last a long time. They are too expensive to keep replacing in Thailand's humid climate!

I use a similar storage box for my camera gear. It has kept mold and mildew at bay for 15 years.

2 hours ago, dddave said:

I use a similar storage box for my camera gear. It has kept mold and mildew at bay for 15 years.

Have you been using your camera dry box for your hearing aids?

As far as I can tell so far, there are only a couple of internationally recognized brands sold in Thailand. Phonak and Beltone at Eartone, Signia (formerly Seimens) at another place. As far as I can tell, Audimed no longer advertizes Starkey on their Website.

On 4/22/2026 at 2:17 PM, FolkGuitar said:

Have you been using your camera dry box for your hearing aids?

I will when I get my first hearing aid which I hope will be soon. I'm considering having a friend visiting in June bring me a "Lexie H1" Reasonably priced and well reviewed, especially by first timers such as myself. They don't seem to be sold in Thailand.

11 minutes ago, dddave said:

I use a similar storage box for my camera gear. It has kept mold and mildew at bay for 15 years.

Have you been keeping your hearing aids in it each night?

46 minutes ago, dddave said:

I will when I get my first hearing aid which I hope will be soon. I'm considering having a friend visiting in June bring me a "Lexie H1" Reasonably priced and well reviewed, especially by first timers such as myself. They don't seem to be sold in Thailand.

Does your dry-box have forced, warm air circulating? This is what is needed for hearing aids. For Rechargables, the temp should not exceed 34c. For replaceable batteries, the temperature can be at least 10 degrees warmer.

Hearing Aids break down. I was lucky I bought my Starkeys over 3 years ago through a audiometry firm (Amplifon). I did so in Europe. Anyway I had a contract with Amplifon, with a 5-year warranty on the aids proper and a 4-year warranty on the charger. Both my right and left side had to be sent to repair at least once. One of the sides broke down twice, and now one side probably has a problem with its bluetooth antenna, I can no longer stream into it.

Also, buy ones with throw away batteries, instead of with rechargeables. The ones with rechargeables may get rejected by DHL etc. when you need to dispatch them over borders for repair.

6 hours ago, JackGats said:

Hearing Aids break down. I was lucky I bought my Starkeys over 3 years ago through a audiometry firm (Amplifon). I did so in Europe. Anyway I had a contract with Amplifon, with a 5-year warranty on the aids proper and a 4-year warranty on the charger. Both my right and left side had to be sent to repair at least once. One of the sides broke down twice, and now one side probably has a problem with its bluetooth antenna, I can no longer stream into it.

Also, buy ones with throw away batteries, instead of with rechargeables. The ones with rechargeables may get rejected by DHL etc. when you need to dispatch them over borders for repair.

I was emailing with Audimed in Bangkok and they said they have many models of Starkey. Do you have any experience in dealing with Audimed?

9 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

I was emailing with Audimed in Bangkok and they said they have many models of Starkey. Do you have any experience in dealing with Audimed?

If you are in the Bangkok area, you have two good choices; Audimed and Eartone.
If you are in the Chiang Mai area, look to Dear Hearing or Siam Hearing. I've never had any luck walking into Audimed in Chiang Mai except to buy batteries.
Both are franchise-type operations, and I've watched the business owners change on a yearly basis. I don't know how many Audimed shops there are in the Bangkok area, but this may be the case in Bangkok as well, so it's a good idea to also locate the various shops to find the best customer service.
Here's a breakdown between Audimed and Eartone:
Go with Audimed if:

• You’re dealing with severe hearing loss

• Considering cochlear implants

• Already working with a hospital ENT

---

Go with Eartone if:

You want an accurate diagnosis first

You have tinnitus, vertigo, and unclear issues

You prefer doctor-led care

One quick addition...

Beware of any device that calls itself a hearing 'amplifier.' That is NOT a good quality hearing aid. While all hearing aids DO amplify, they do so ONLY with the frequencies you are missing.

When we lose hearing, we lose the ability to hear specific frequencies. Hearing 'aids' pump up the missing frequencies without increasing the ones we can hear. Otherwise, the overall sound would be Overwhelming. All the background noise gets amplified as well as the speech. Those amplifiers work for watching TV in a very quiet room, but that's about all.

On 4/24/2026 at 11:12 PM, ronnie50 said:

I was emailing with Audimed in Bangkok and they said they have many models of Starkey. Do you have any experience in dealing with Audimed?

In fact Amplifon in Europe sold me Starkeys on the grounds if something went wrong in Thailand I could get maintenance in Thailand. However I doubt very much Audimed (or any other firm in Thailand) would be any help with enforcing the Starkey warranty.

I never dealt with any audiology firm in Thailand. I may buy new ones this summer but I'll do so in Europe. I'll go for Phonak as they have good marks for the discrimination of human voice, which is really what I need. I don't need to distincly hear the flushing of a toilet on some upper floor.

14 minutes ago, JackGats said:

I never dealt with any audiology firm in Thailand. I may buy new ones this summer but I'll do so in Europe. I'll go for Phonak as they have good marks for the discrimination of human voice,

Thanks. I guess I'll probably go for Phonak too as they also have good marks for combating tinnitus through amplification (as opposed to just masking it). Does anyone have any experience with Phonak aftersales care with Eartone? You can PM me if you prefer.