Are you as confused as I am about listening devices? There are plenty of products on the market and the price of these varies enormously. I have not found answers to the following questions.
Is it worth paying more money?
What are the individual strengths and weaknesses of each product?
Does the product offer good value for money?

There is no doubt that good hearing improves the quality of ones life. Equally one might say that in being deaf one is excluded from many social situations.
1) Going out and meeting friends - social events of all types inevitably mean background noise is present and therefore hearing is difficult
2) Some people speak quietly and others mumble and have indistict voices making them hard to hear.
3) Even in one's own home certain rooms can present a problem for those of us who have difficulty hearing. A high ceiling, a lack of furnishings, a hard floor, a large room all go to make the sound more difficult. It is not volume - it is clarity that is reduced.
4) Hearing in the car. This is especially important during long journeys
5) Watching television. Some programmes are difficult - again background noise makes for problems. A single person speaking as the news channel is easier.

In the past months I have been trying out different listeners in an attempt to answer the questions raised above. In the past I have wasted money on hearing devices simply because I was not able to give them a proper try before I made the purchase. I wanted to avoid this in future.
I have tried 6 different listening devices and have made a single purchase, but as none of them are perfect I am still keeping an open mind and watching for developments.

Devices I have tried are the following
Conversor
CM 1
Contego
Phonak zoom link
Sennheiser headphones
Comfort Audio

If anyone is interested in hearing my comments please get in touch