About Lucid Hearing®

1. Who is Lucid Hearing?

Lucid Hearing is passionately focused on our goal of helping more people hear better at all ages and stages. We have a combined foundation of over 40 years of acoustic research and development, cutting-edge hearing device development, and music innovations, engineered in the USA by our team of experts. We manufacture products across five areas of hearing health: enhancement (hearing aids), enjoyment, protection, wellness, and detection under the Lucid Hearing, Westone Audio, Etymotic, HearGear, HearMuffs, and Saf-T-Ear brands . We are committed to helping people hear better and providing a quality product at an affordable price.

2. Where are Lucid Hearing centers?

We have 500+ hearing aid centers nationwide located mainly in Sam’s Clubs, and 50+ located internationally. Go to lucidhearing.com to find a center nearest to you and schedule a free comprehensive hearing test with one of our licensed professionals. You can also call (800) 785-6052 to make an appointment or take our free online hearing assessment at lucidhearing.com.

3. What makes Lucid Hearing different than other hearing aid companies?

Our primary focus is delivering the best hearing experience possible to our customers. We make it easy to purchase hearing aids, with our free testing, straightforward pricing, and free lifetime adjustments and support. While there are other hearing aid manufacturers out there, Lucid Hearing is a hearing health company. Our product portfolio covers a wide range of hearing health needs. And our state-licensed specialists are trained and certified. Our products are developed with a comprehensive approach using audiogram data, comprehensive research and the latest technologies.

4. How does Lucid Hearing customize my prescription hearing aids to suit me?

After completing your in-clinic hearing test, we use the results from your audiogram to program your hearing aids. With our Lucid software, we adjust frequencies and volume to make sure they work to solve your specific hearing loss and needs. Comfort and clarity are our priorities when programming your prescription solution.

5. How are Lucid Hearing aids different from other technology?

Powered by Lucid® technology, used by our fio and Engage products, uses adaptive dynamic range optimization. Other companies use wide dynamic range compression. Our technology produces sound that is natural and precise. Rather than distorting sound, it effectively optimizes for speech clarity. Using unique algorithms and up to 128 channels (most companies use far fewer channels) allows our hearing aids to easily adapt to your environment to give you the best hearing experience possible.

Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids (OTC)

1. What are OTC hearing aids?

Over-the-counter or “OTC” hearing aids are a new category of hearing aids approved for sale by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to consumers ages 18+. Consumers can purchase OTC hearing aids without an exam by an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist/dispenser, and without a prescription.

2. What’s the difference between an OTC and a prescription hearing aid?

OTC hearing aids are designed to help people with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. Depending on which OTC device you purchase, you can use app-controlled adjustable audio on your smart phone to customize your hearing experience. Prescription hearing aids are suitable for anyone with perceived mild, moderate, severe or profound hearing loss. They do require a hearing test and prescription provided by a licensed audiologist. The best way to determine which type of hearing aid is right for you is to have a hearing test to accurately determine your level of hearing impairment. Lucid Hearing provides free hearing tests through its 500+ hearing centers nationwide.

3. Who can wear an OTC hearing aid?

OTC hearing aids are recommended only for individuals 18 years or older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. There are currently 38 million Americans who fall into this category. OTC hearing aids are intended to make hearing healthcare more accessible and more affordable.

While OTC hearing aids do not require a medical examination for purchase, if you are experiencing any of the following: sudden hearing loss, ear pain or discomfort, any drainage from the ear, it is our recommendation that you check with your physician or see an audiologist or licensed hearing instrument specialist for an evaluation to determine if an OTC product is right for you.

4. How do I know if an OTC hearing aid will work for me, or whether I should get a prescriptive hearing aid?

This answer depends on your level of hearing loss. To get an accurate understanding of your hearing loss, it’s best to see a professional and get a hearing test done (an audiogram). Here’s a breakdown of the degrees of hearing loss as defined by the American Speech-language Hearing Association to help you understand OTC versus prescription hearing aid performance:

• Mild hearing loss: If one-on-one conversations are fine, but you’re having difficulty understanding some words when there’s a lot of background noise, you may have mild hearing loss. Technically speaking, it’s defined as having hearing loss between 26 – 40 decibels.
• Moderate hearing loss: At this level, you’re asking people to repeat themselves a lot during conversations – in person and on the telephone. People with this degree of hearing loss cannot hear sounds lower than 41 – 55 decibels.

Prescription hearing aids are your best solution if you have severe or profound hearing loss:

• Severe hearing loss: If you can’t hear people speaking without the use of a hearing aid or other amplification, or you tend to rely on social cues to understand the conversation, you likely have severe hearing loss. People with this degree of hearing loss cannot hear sound lower than 71 – 90 decibels.
• Profound hearing loss: If you have profound hearing loss, you can only hear extremely loud conversation or sound – and even then, it’s difficult to understand without a hearing aid or cochlear implant. People with this degree of hearing loss cannot hear sound lower than 91 decibels.
• Prescription hearing aids are also a custom solution for those with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.

5. Where can I go to get a free hearing exam?

Go to one of Lucid Hearing’s hearing centers to get a free hearing test. Lucid Hearing has 500+ hearing centers nationwide, located mainly in Sam’s Club locations. Schedule a test by going to lucidhearing.com to find a location near you or call (800) 785-6052. You can also do a clinically validated hearing assessment on lucidhearing.com to get you started. Just click on “Check Hearing” in the upper right corner of the website.

6. Does Lucid Hearing offer both OTC and prescription hearing aids?

Yes. Here’s an overview:

Lucid Hearing’s prescription hearing aids are customized to treat your hearing loss with Powered by Lucid® Technology based on the results of your audiogram. A licensed specialist will make audio adjustments to help ensure a positive hearing experience. Lucid also supports customers with free lifetime adjustments. Using the LucidShape^® feature on the Lucid Hearing app, you can refine your listening experience whenever you wish.

The technology behind many of Lucid Hearing’s OTC hearing aids is based on nearly 90,000 audiograms collected in our 500+ hearing aid center locations. Through research and clinical validation with the University of Texas at Dallas, four proprietary programs were created that support the majority of those with perceived mild to moderate loss. While your hearing aids are preprogrammed, you will be able to make some personalized refinements to sound frequencies using the LucidShape^® feature on the Lucid Hearing app.

Deciding which hearing aid is right for you is best determined with a hearing test.

7. What if I buy OTC hearing aids, and it turns out they don’t work for me?

Lucid Hearing will offer tele-specialist support (800.785.6052) to help customers with any issues they may encounter with their OTC hearing aids. However, if you purchase OTC or prescription hearing aids through any of our hearing centers in Sam’s Club or on our website, and need to make a return, you can do so within 60 days and receive a refund. Or you can upgrade to a prescription pair of customized hearing aids. If purchased through other retailers, Lucid Hearing Aids are risk free with a 1-year warranty and a 60-day manufacturer return period. Individual retailer return periods may vary.

8. Interested in becoming a licensed distributor of Lucid Hearing OTC Hearing Aids?

For more information and distributor pricing on our OTC Hearing Aids, please contact us at customerservice@lucidhearing.com or give us a call at (800) 785-6052.

Hearing Exam

1. How often should I get my hearing tested?

We recommend everyone 19 years and older have their hearing tested annually. This helps establish a baseline of your hearing health, so you know over time if and how it’s changed. Anyone with hearing loss and hearing aids should also get an annual hearing exam (audiogram) to make any necessary device adjustments for the best hearing experience year after year.

2. What happens during my free hearing test?

Our specialists will test air conduction, bone conduction and speech testing. Air conduction identifies the quietest sound you can hear at different frequencies through the outer and middle ear. Bone conduction identifies the health of the inner ear.

3. How long does a hearing exam take and how quickly do I get my results?

While hearing test time can vary, we recommend you allow an hour for the full test and plenty of time to discuss your results. Our hearing specialist will provide a thorough explanation of your results and can offer you a hearing aid solution you can take home immediately.

4. Are there any hidden costs associated with the hearing test?

No, and this sets Lucid Hearing apart from others! You’ll never be charged testing fees, consultation fees, or fitting fees. Plus, you can stop by any of our hearing aid center locations at any time to get cleanings for free. While there is no charge for the test, if you elect to purchase a hearing solution at a Sam’s Club, a membership is required.

5. Aren’t hearing aids expensive, and am I obligated to buy if I get the free test?

You’re never obligated to make a purchase. And the OTC hearing aid category is making hearing aids much more affordable for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. Lucid’s OTC hearing aids start at $199.99. Depending on the number of channels and customization, Lucid’s prescription hearing aids start at $1,299.98. Monthly payment plans and special financing options are available and select hearing aids are FSA/HSA eligible.

6. Is the hearing exam painful in any way?

There is no pain associated with a hearing test. If you are experiencing pain in your ears, we recommend you see your doctor.

7. Where can I get my hearing tested?

Lucid Hearing is proud to offer free hearing tests for people age 19+. We have over 500 hearing aid centers nationwide, mainly in Sam’s Clubs. Go to lucidhearing.com to find a center nearest you. You can also call (800) 785-6052 to schedule a hearing test.

8. Who is conducting the hearing test, and what are their qualifications?

Your hearing test will be conducted by either a licensed hearing aid specialist or an audiologist. All specialists and audiologists are certified by Lucid Hearing. Each state has their own list of requirements and qualifications to become a licensed specialist.

Hearing Loss

1. What are early signs of hearing loss?

Early signs of hearing loss can include missing higher pitched speech sounds (consonants), trouble understanding speech when background noise is present, turning TV or radio volume up higher than normal, and speech or noises around you seem muffled.

2. How do I know if I have hearing loss?

Although there are many telltale signs of hearing loss, the only way to determine a true loss of hearing is through a hearing evaluation conducted by a hearing health professional.

3. What causes hearing loss?

There are several factors that may contribute to hearing loss. Some of these include genetics, noise exposure, head trauma, viral infection or disease, ototoxic drug exposure, and aging.

4. What treats hearing loss?

There is only one way to treat hearing loss, and that is with amplification through hearing aids. Hearing aids amplify sounds to a level that is both audible and comfortable to the wearer.

5. What if I find out I have hearing loss?

If you have hearing loss, we recommend that you get hearing aids as soon as possible. The longer you wait to treat hearing loss, the poorer your success with hearing aids and adapting will be. You’re also at risk for losing cognitive function if you go too long without treating hearing loss.

6. Will hearing aids make my hearing worse?

When fit properly, hearing aids will not make your hearing worse. Hearing aids help to provide the auditory stimulation your brain may have been missing in the frequencies you are struggling to hear.

7. How do I talk to a loved one about hearing loss?

Be sensitive and broach the topic at a time and place that is conducive to having a calm and comprehensive conversation. There’s plenty of research to support the importance of staying engaged with loved ones by treating hearing loss. Individuals who go too long without getting help for their hearing loss risk losing cognitive and speech skills. A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis published by The Journal of the American Medical Association found significant links between age-related hearing loss and cognitive decline, cognitive impairment, and the development of dementia. And importantly, you may want to stress to your loved one that it’s important to treat hearing loss so they don’t miss out on the sounds.

8. What to expect from hearing aids?

Wearing hearing aids can take some time to get used to - that's normal. Over time you may have grown accustom to not hearing all the sounds you should, the great news is now you can! It can feel stimulating, but allow patience for this new improvement in your life. Read more about this on our Post Purchase Care page linked in our footer.