HearingAssist Control Hero
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HearingAssist Control Expert Review

Mid-Priced OTCReleased 2022

Our independent lab evaluation of the HearingAssist Control measures speech clarity, feedback stability, and amplification accuracy using standardized acoustic testing. Below you will find performance scores, listening comparisons, and detailed measurements from our behind-the-ear OTC assessment.

Dr. Steve TaddeiDr. Steve Taddei, Au.D. — Lab Director & Reviewer
Dr. Abram BaileyDr. Abram Bailey, Au.D. — Fact Checker / Editor
How We Test
HearingAssist Control Hero
HearAdvisor
HearingAssist Control
3.3HearAdvisor SoundScoreGrade B
As it sounds out of the box
Bottom Line

The HearingAssist Control delivers excellent feedback handling and solid speech clarity, best for budget-conscious users prioritizing conversation over music.

Top 77% of OTC Hearing Aid
Strengths
  • Excellent feedback handling
  • Speech in quiet above average+0.59 vs category
  • Speech in noise above average+0.56 vs category
Drawbacks
  • No music streaming capability
  • Own voice quality below category average
  • Speech in noise mixed in absolute terms
Measured Metrics

SoundScore: 5 Acoustic Dimensions

We evaluated speech in quiet, speech in noise, own-voice comfort, feedback management, and streaming quality using controlled acoustic procedures. The purple SoundScore graph is the overall result, and the five graphs after it break it into individual measurements for the selected fit. Each curve shows how scores are spread across all tested hearing aids, and the dot and number mark the score for HearingAssist Control.

SoundScore
0
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  • 7 products scored from 2.50 to 2.75
  • 5 products scored from 2.75 to 3.00
  • 8 products scored from 3.00 to 3.25
  • 18 products scored from 3.25 to 3.50
  • 13 products scored from 3.50 to 3.75
  • 13 products scored from 3.75 to 4.00
  • 16 products scored from 4.00 to 4.25
  • 14 products scored from 4.25 to 4.50
  • 14 products scored from 4.50 to 4.75
  • 3 products scored from 4.75 to 5.00
  • 2 products scored from 5.00 to 5.25
  • 0 products scored from 5.25 to 5.50
  • 0 products scored from 5.50 to 5.75
  • 0 products scored from 5.75 to 6.00
  • 1 product scored from 6.00 to 6.05
6.0
Choose your fit

Every hearing aid is lab-tested in two states — as it sounds out of the box, and after professional tuning. Switch fits to update the five metric graphs below.

As it sounds out of the box
Speech in quiet
New
0
  • 0 products scored from 0.00 to 0.25
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  • 6 products scored from 2.00 to 2.25
  • 9 products scored from 2.25 to 2.50
  • 11 products scored from 2.50 to 2.75
  • 5 products scored from 2.75 to 3.00
  • 5 products scored from 3.00 to 3.25
  • 9 products scored from 3.25 to 3.50
  • 14 products scored from 3.50 to 3.75
  • 12 products scored from 3.75 to 4.00
  • 10 products scored from 4.00 to 4.25
  • 4 products scored from 4.25 to 4.50
  • 5 products scored from 4.50 to 4.75
  • 1 product scored from 4.75 to 5.00
  • 0 products scored from 5.00 to 5.25
  • 1 product scored from 5.25 to 5.40
5.4

How clearly speech comes through in calm, one-on-one surroundings.

Speech in noise
New
0
  • 0 products scored from 0.00 to 0.25
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  • 0 products scored from 0.50 to 0.75
  • 0 products scored from 0.75 to 1.00
  • 43 products scored from 1.00 to 1.25
  • 17 products scored from 1.25 to 1.50
  • 11 products scored from 1.50 to 1.75
  • 10 products scored from 1.75 to 2.00
  • 6 products scored from 2.00 to 2.25
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  • 7 products scored from 2.50 to 2.75
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  • 0 products scored from 6.00 to 6.25
  • 1 product scored from 6.25 to 6.40
6.4

Speech understanding against loud background noise — the toughest everyday test.

Own voice
0
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  • 1 product scored from 0.25 to 0.50
  • 4 products scored from 0.50 to 0.75
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  • 3 products scored from 1.00 to 1.25
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  • 10 products scored from 1.50 to 1.75
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  • 13 products scored from 2.00 to 2.25
  • 7 products scored from 2.25 to 2.50
  • 12 products scored from 2.50 to 2.75
  • 12 products scored from 2.75 to 3.00
  • 11 products scored from 3.00 to 3.25
  • 4 products scored from 3.25 to 3.50
  • 8 products scored from 3.50 to 3.75
  • 1 product scored from 3.75 to 4.00
  • 3 products scored from 4.00 to 4.25
  • 2 products scored from 4.25 to 4.50
  • 7 products scored from 4.50 to 4.75
  • 1 product scored from 4.75 to 4.80
4.8

How natural your own voice sounds while wearing the aids, without a boomy, plugged-up quality.

Music streaming
0
  • 0 products scored from 0.00 to 0.25
  • 0 products scored from 0.25 to 0.50
  • 0 products scored from 0.50 to 0.75
  • 0 products scored from 0.75 to 1.00
  • 0 products scored from 1.00 to 1.25
  • 0 products scored from 1.25 to 1.50
  • 1 product scored from 1.50 to 1.75
  • 2 products scored from 1.75 to 2.00
  • 4 products scored from 2.00 to 2.25
  • 5 products scored from 2.25 to 2.50
  • 6 products scored from 2.50 to 2.75
  • 2 products scored from 2.75 to 3.00
  • 6 products scored from 3.00 to 3.25
  • 7 products scored from 3.25 to 3.50
  • 6 products scored from 3.50 to 3.75
  • 6 products scored from 3.75 to 4.00
  • 16 products scored from 4.00 to 4.25
  • 7 products scored from 4.25 to 4.50
  • 3 products scored from 4.50 to 4.75
  • 1 product scored from 4.75 to 5.00
5.0

Sound quality of music streamed to the hearing aids over Bluetooth.

Feedback handling
0
  • 0 products scored from 0.00 to 0.25
  • 0 products scored from 0.25 to 0.50
  • 0 products scored from 0.50 to 0.75
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  • 1 product scored from 1.75 to 2.00
  • 1 product scored from 2.00 to 2.25
  • 0 products scored from 2.25 to 2.50
  • 3 products scored from 2.50 to 2.75
  • 0 products scored from 2.75 to 3.00
  • 0 products scored from 3.00 to 3.25
  • 2 products scored from 3.25 to 3.50
  • 1 product scored from 3.50 to 3.75
  • 6 products scored from 3.75 to 4.00
  • 13 products scored from 4.00 to 4.25
  • 6 products scored from 4.25 to 4.50
  • 17 products scored from 4.50 to 4.75
  • 64 products scored from 4.75 to 5.00
5.0

Resistance to the whistling and squealing caused by acoustic feedback.

Lab Assessment

Where the HearingAssist Control Stands in Independent Testing

The HearingAssist Control is a mid-priced OTC behind-the-ear hearing aid available at $549. In our lab testing, it earned a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.3/5, placing it in the top 77% of OTC hearing aids tested.

This device demonstrates solid speech performance, scoring above the category average in both quiet and noisy environments. Speech in quiet earned a solid 3.4/5, while speech in noise scored 2.0/5—above average for the category but only mixed in absolute terms. Feedback handling is excellent at 5.0/5, meaning wearers should experience minimal whistling during normal use.

The HearingAssist Control has notable limitations. Music streaming scored 0.0/5, indicating this device does not support audio streaming functionality—a significant gap compared to many competitors in this price range. Own-voice comfort scored 2.1/5, which is below the category average and may result in a hollow or boomy perception of your own voice.

For shoppers considering this price tier, alternatives like the Yeasound RIC800 (4.73/5) and Sony CRE-E10 (4.66/5) offer substantially higher overall sound performance. The HearingAssist Control may suit buyers prioritizing speech clarity and feedback stability who don't need streaming capabilities, but most users would benefit from exploring higher-scoring options at similar price points.

HearingAssist Control Hero
HearingAssist Control
VerdictListening TestGraphAudioLab NotesSpecsMore
Reliable & Repeatable Lab Results

Quality data starts with quality recordings. HearAdvisor worked with GRAS to build a no-compromise front end so every test is repeatable and reliable.

Learn more
Steve in HearAdvisor Lab

Blind Comparison

Hear the HearingAssist Control Against Other Tested Devices

Our listening challenge presents processed audio samples captured under identical lab conditions without revealing which device produced each clip. Complete the comparison to see how the Control sounds relative to alternatives, with your anonymized responses contributing to ongoing research.

Loading listening test...

Amplification Analysis

HearingAssist Control Insertion Gain and Target Matching

The graph below displays measured insertion gain across frequencies compared to prescriptive targets for a standardized hearing profile. This visualization reveals how closely the device matches the amplification characteristics intended for effective speech audibility.

Graph

Manikin Captures

Audio Samples Recorded Through the HearingAssist Control

These recordings capture sound processed by the device on our acoustic test manikin under controlled conditions. Compare them to the unaided reference to hear how the Control modifies incoming audio across different listening scenarios.

HearingAssist Control Audio Samples

How this hearing aid sounds in our lab scenes. Compare it out of the box and after professional tuning.

Before you listen

  1. Use good-quality headphones.
  2. Take out your hearing aids while you compare.
  3. Play the to set a comfortable level, then leave it.
  4. Switch recordings while it plays. You won't lose your place.
Scene type

Scene type: Conversation

Scene: Cafe 1

As tested out of the box
0:00
–:––

154 lab recordings of this product. They demonstrate relative processing in our lab and cannot predict an individual fitting outcome.

Test Documentation

Fit Observations and Configuration Details for the HearingAssist Control

Our technicians documented observations from both Initial and Tuned fit conditions during testing. Below you will find notes on physical fit, app-based adjustments, and the specific test configuration used in our evaluation.

Lab Notes

Initial fit observations

In its initial fit configuration using a power dome with slits, the HearingAssist Control achieved a normalized Initial Score of 3.2/5. Speech performance at this stage was modest, with speech in quiet at 1.9/5 and speech in noise at 1.4/5. Feedback handling was excellent at 5.0/5, providing stable performance without whistling. Own-voice comfort measured 2.1/5, below the category average. Music streaming is not supported (0.0/5). The initial fit provides basic functionality but leaves considerable room for improvement through adjustment.

Tuned fit observations

After tuning—still using the same power dome with slits coupling—the normalized Tuned Score improved by 0.7 points to 3.8/5. Speech in quiet rose substantially to 3.4/5, and speech in noise improved to 2.0/5. Feedback handling remained excellent at 5.0/5. Own-voice comfort stayed at 2.1/5, and music streaming remains unsupported at 0.0/5. The tuning process yielded meaningful gains in speech clarity, demonstrating that taking time to adjust this device can noticeably improve the listening experience.

Test configuration

Initial Fitting
Tuned Fitting
Ear Coupling
Power Dome with Slits
Power Dome with Slits
Specs
Behind Ear
Behind Ear
Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable Batteries

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