The more advanced hearing aids have more programs, are more intelligent, can to a greater extent adapt to more complicated sound situations and can offer diverse zoom and filtering programs. The most advanced devices are generally also those which can be easily integrated with other electronic products such as TVs, smart phones and computers.

Hearing aid users prefer two hearing aids over a single device, according to studies. Two hearing aids make them better able to keep up with conversations than people wearing only one hearing aid. Having tried both for limited time periods, 93 percent preferred using two hearing aids rather than one, according to a Dutch study. The study found that two hearing aids were superior in terms of speech recognition and sound discrimination.