Independent hearing aid specialists in Gateshead & Newcastle
We're fully independent — we supply and fit hearing aids from every major manufacturer, finding the right aid for your hearing, lifestyle and budget. From £700 per aid.
All manufacturers. Honest advice.
Unlike chains tied to a single brand, we are completely independent. We supply and fit hearing aids from all leading manufacturers — including Starkey, Phonak, Oticon, Signia, Widex and ReSound — so our only loyalty is to your hearing.
Find your style
From completely invisible to powerful behind-the-ear — RIC is today's most popular choice.
Invisible (IIC)
The smallest custom aid, sitting deep in the canal near the second bend — virtually invisible.
Best for: mild to moderate loss.
PROS
- Invisible when worn
- Natural sound using your ear's own shape
- Nothing sits behind the ear
CONS
- Very small to handle and clean
- Shorter battery life
- Limited Bluetooth and features; not for severe loss
Completely-In-Canal (CIC)
Sits right inside the canal — only a tiny removal cord shows.
Best for: mild to moderate loss.
PROS
- Very discreet
- Comfortable, natural sound
- Custom-made to your ear
CONS
- Small batteries, few manual controls
- Fiddly if dexterity is limited
- Few wireless features
In-The-Canal (ITC)
Custom-made to fill part of the canal and outer ear — a little larger than CIC.
Best for: mild to moderate loss.
PROS
- Discreet but easier to handle than CIC
- Room for directional mics and volume control
- Longer battery life than CIC
CONS
- Slightly more visible
- Still small for very limited dexterity
- Not ideal for severe loss
In-The-Ear (ITE)
A custom shell that fills the outer ear — larger, so easier to use.
Best for: mild to severe loss.
PROS
- Easy to insert and handle
- Longer battery life
- Room for Bluetooth and bigger controls
CONS
- More visible
- Can pick up wind noise
- May feel 'plugged' for some
Receiver-In-Canal (RIC)
A tiny unit behind the ear with a near-invisible wire to a receiver in the canal — today's most popular style.
Best for: nearly all losses, mild to severe. Great for first-time wearers.
PROS
- Discreet and lightweight
- Excellent, natural sound
- Rechargeable and Bluetooth options
CONS
- Receiver/wire may need occasional replacing
- Small parts to handle
Behind-The-Ear (BTE)
All the electronics sit behind the ear, with a tube to an earpiece — the most robust style.
Best for: all losses, including severe to profound.
PROS
- Most powerful
- Durable and easy to handle
- Long battery life — good for limited dexterity
CONS
- The most visible style
- Can catch wind noise
- Earpiece may feel occluding
The brands we fit
Starkey is our main brand — but as an independent clinic we fit other leading makers too, so your choice is based on your hearing, not a sales target.
Starkey Omega AI
Starkey's flagship — the latest AI sound processing, health features and connectivity, in a discreet, comfortable design.
- ✔ DNN 360 AI for clearer speech in background noise
- ✔ Up to 51 hours per charge (RIC) with fast StarLink charging
- ✔ Bluetooth LE Audio & Auracast — stream calls, music & TV
- ✔ Hands-free calls on iPhone and select Android phones
- ✔ Activity tracking, fall alerts & health monitoring
- ✔ Pro 10 HydroShield — IP68 water- and dust-resistant
Flagship vs previous generation
| Omega AI current flagship | Edge AI previous generation | |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | DNN 360 — around 19.6% clearer speech vs Edge AI | G2 Neuro Processor (deep neural network) |
| Speech in noise | Best in complex, multi-talker environments | Excellent — ideal for quieter settings |
| Durability | Pro 10 HydroShield — up to 10× longer real-world life | Pro 8 coating |
| Battery | Up to 51 hours | Up to 51 hours |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth LE Audio & Auracast-ready | Bluetooth LE Audio & Auracast-ready |
| Best for | The toughest noise & fullest health tracking | Excellent everyday value |
Phonak Audéo Infinio
Renowned for connectivity and understanding speech in noise. We also fit Phonak's latest Audéo Infinio range.
- ✔ AutoSense OS 7.0 — adjusts automatically to your surroundings
- ✔ Universal Bluetooth to virtually any phone, TV & device
- ✔ Up to 56 hours per charge; 15-minute quick top-up
- ✔ AI-driven speech separation in noise (Sphere model)
- ✔ Hands-free calls and Tap control for Siri/Google
- ✔ Roger compatibility for the most difficult listening situations
Flagship vs previous generation
| Audéo Infinio current flagship | Audéo Lumity previous generation | |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Dual-chip with dedicated DEEPSONIC AI (trained on 22M sounds) | Single ERA chip |
| Speech in noise | AI speech separation — up to around 10 dB clearer | AutoSense OS 5.0 (no dedicated AI chip) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 — longer, more stable range | Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Best for | The toughest, noisiest situations | Great everyday hearing at a lower price |
Oticon Intent
Known for a natural, brain-friendly sound. We also fit Oticon's latest Intent range.
- ✔ Deep Neural Network (DNN 2.0) trained on millions of real sounds
- ✔ 4D sensor technology — adapts to your movement & environment
- ✔ BrainHearing approach for a full, natural sound scene
- ✔ Bluetooth LE Audio streaming (iPhone & Android 14+)
- ✔ Rechargeable — up to around 20 hours; 30-min charge ≈ 8 hours
- ✔ Oticon's smallest receiver-in-canal design to date
Flagship vs previous generation
| Intent current flagship | Real previous generation | |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Sirius chip, DNN 2.0 & MoreSound Intelligence 3.0 | DNN with MoreSound Intelligence 2.0 |
| 4D sensors | Yes — adapts to your movement & surroundings | No |
| Speech in noise | About 1–5 dB clearer; up to 12 dB noise suppression | Strong, but without 4D adaptation |
| Battery | Rechargeable | Rechargeable or disposable battery options |
| Best for | Newest tech & active lifestyles | Excellent performance at a lower price |
Features and availability vary by model and may change — we'll talk you through the best option for your hearing and budget at your appointment.
Hearing aid pricing
Transparent pricing, honest advice — never a pushy sale.
| Range | From (per aid) | Warranty & service |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | £700 | 2-year warranty |
| Silver | £1,300 | 5-year warranty + complimentary service plan |
| Gold | £1,800 | 5-year warranty + complimentary service plan |
| Platinum | £2,000+ | 5-year warranty + complimentary service plan |
Silver, Gold and Platinum include a 5-year warranty and a complimentary service plan; Bronze includes a 2-year warranty. Every fitting includes a full hearing assessment and aftercare. Servicing is free for aids fitted by us; repairs from £200 for most makes and models, parts permitting (excludes NHS aids).
Unsure about your hearing? Find out in 4 minutes.
Try our free online hearing check from home — or call us to book a full assessment at our Team Valley clinic.