Horizon Hearing Aid by Hear.com Review

Background on Hear.com and Horizon 

Hear.com has been making a lot of noise—pun intended—in the hearing health care industry.

With beginnings as Audibene in Germany, the brand has grown considerably since 2012. WS Audiology (one of the 5 largest manufacturers in the industry) owns Hear.com, Audibene and three other major brands: Widex, Signia, and Rexton.

Hear.com serves 11 different countries with a goal of providing the best hearing option based on lifestyle, budget, and location. The flagship product—known as Horizon—is very similar to the sleek Signia Styletto AX and also features a standard RIC, similar to the Charge & Go AX. 

Scroll on to check out the similarities and differences between Signia versus Horizon hearing aids. 

How The Hear.com Process Works

Let’s get into what you can expect from the process with this model of hearing care. 

First, Hear.com uses a questionnaire to assess your communication needs, desired features, and other questions to determine a profile from which they can make recommendations. 

But, there are other factors that Hear.com considers for your unique situation:

• Insurance coverage
• Employment status
• Health benefits
• Credit score

Next, you can speak with a consultant to continue the evaluation or to schedule an appointment after taking the questionnaire. 

FYI: For those who are new to hearing aids, speaking with a consultant can be very useful in sorting out the best path forward. They can also share more information about insurance, payment, and financing options. 

For in person care, you’ll be scheduled with a local provider to fit with the hearing devices you’ve selected. Conveniently, hear.com partners with over 2,000 licensed hearing care professionals and can recommend a local professional in your area. 

When you go in for your visit, your audiologist will do a hearing test to fit and program your devices appropriately. 

Need a telehealth option? Hear.com also provides remote care options. Pro tip: Make sure your internet connection is solid. 

Before your appointment, you’ll receive:

• A tablet
• A video otoscope
• Hearing aids

Additionally, before the appointment a customer support professional will explain the process and answer any questions. Then, you’ll set up your appointment for your remote hearing aid fitting.

Horizon Hearing Aids

While you can choose from various hearing aid brands on their website, the company also offers in-house hearing devices. 

This line of hearing aids is called Horizon, and they are made by WS Audiology and are very similar products to the current Signia hearing aids. 

Since these devices are in-house, pricing is typically better with Horizon hearing aids. Which means these hearing aids can be a good choice for those looking for a budget-friendly option.

How Horizon Compares to Signia

First, let’s focus on what is similar to the current Signia products. 

Visually, these hearing aids look very similar to their Signia counterparts. The slim RIC design of Signia’s Styletto has won awards for its sleek design that patients love. 

And, the devices come in three levels of technology, 3, 5, and 7. Like Signia products, Horizon devices share great rechargeability, smartphone streaming, and strong background noise capability. 

Horizon looks pretty similar to Signia. So, what, if anything, is different about these devices? The difference is on the inside. 

Horizon hearing aids have three unique features: 

• Speech Focus
• Relax Mode 
• Panorama Effect 

Speech Focus is meant for those situations when you need additional speech clarity in the presence of background noise. 

You’ll hear more mid-frequencies to emphasize speech while reducing background noise. 

Are you feeling overwhelmed and need a break? Relax Mode will play relaxing nature sounds like ocean noise to help you relax. 

Finally, the Panorama Effect is just what it sounds like. If you take a panorama photo, you’ll capture your full surroundings. 

Similarly, this feature is for those who want to hear 360 degrees around them. 

Pros

• Flexibility
• Affordability
• Works with your insurance
• 45-day trial period

Some advantages of Hear.com include the flexibility to evaluate various hearing devices and choose between in-person or remote care. 

Typically, there is less variety of hearing aid brands at an in-person clinic. Hear.com does offer more affordable options, such as their in-house Horizon hearing aids. 

If you have a hearing aid insurance benefit, the good news is that the provider can help work with those benefits. For your hearing aid selection, you’ll also have a 45-day trial period to try out your devices and return them if you’re dissatisfied. 

Cons

• Customer service staff are not audiologists
• Price only includes three to five follow-up visits
• Remote areas may not have a local provider for in-person visits and only offer a telehealth option

There are a few other drawbacks to consider. 

For example, during your phone consultation, you’ll speak with a customer service representative rather than an audiologist or hearing care professional. 

While that individual may be trained on hearing devices, they may be unable to answer all your questions or help in complex cases. 

Also included in your device’s price are just three to five follow-up visits. But for those who need more frequent follow-up visits, this is one drawback. 

In that case, you may consider a local clinic with a bundled care model, which includes unlimited visits throughout your hearing aid warranty.