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What Hearing Aid is Best For Me?

First, read the article on Types of Hearing aids.

Let's talk Hearing Aid Molds.  

Hearing aids can also be divided into those that require a mold of the ear canal, and those that don't. An ear mold must be created by a licensed audiologist or dispenser, then the hearing aid is integrated into it.  Hearing aids that don't require a mold are In the Canal hearing aids that use variable sized soft tips (example) instead of a mold; Behind the Ear (BTE) hearing aids (example) and "Over The Ear " "Open-fit" hearing aids (example).

Let's talk price.

If you buy from an audiologist, you will pay top price for a digital hearing aid ($1,500 - $3,000). If you purchase brand name hearing aids on the Internet or through mail order, you may get a 20% discount. Then again, there are excellent hearing aids made by less well-known brands of manufacturers that you can purchase in the $300 to $800 range which offer the same quality, features and functions of the major manufacturers (example).  It depends on how much handholding and face-to-face time you want. If you want someone to talk to and have the personal touch, then purchase from an audiologist. Just expect to pay top dollar. If you don't need the personal touch, and feel comfortable ordering over the Internet or from a mail order house, then save yourself some money.

Let's Talk Legal.

Do you need a doctor's prescription to purchase a hearing aid? NO.
Do you need to see an audiologist to purchase a hearing aid? NO.***
Note: Some States require someone who wants a hearing aid, to purchase it from a licensed audiologist or dispenser in that State. The Internet has made these laws unenforceable as many citizens of those States, order quite happily online from other States.

***Whether you purchase from an audiologist or go online to order, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does require that if you choose not to see a doctor before you purchase a hearing aid, you must sign what is called a Waiver, whereby you state you do not want to see a doctor and you want to purchase the hearing aid anyway. If you go to an audiologist, you will be asked to sign one, and if you go to a reputable website, you will be asked to "click" on the waiver page before you can purchase.

Let's talk Vanity.

If you are very vain and don't want anyone to know you are hard of hearing, then the smaller the hearing aid, the better. But be forewarned, the Completely In The Canal (CIC) hearing aids' size make it extremely difficult to adjust the volume, and some have no volume control whatsoever. Also if you discharge any amount of ear wax, the smaller CIC hearing aids will get clogged faster. If the wax gets too far into the CIC type of hearing aid electronics, it will be useless and you will have to throw it away. Better to get a little larger hearing aid (In The Canal perhaps) where a small piece of the hearing aid can be seen on the outside and has the volume control you can get at and is relatively easy to clean.

There are newer Over The Ear (OTE) models that look similar to the old clunky Behind The Ear (BTE) models, but they are all-digital, in a smaller case, and do not occlude the ear (Plug it up).

With this information, you should be able to make informed decisions on how to alleviate your hearing loss. Good Luck.