A hearing specialist reveals: the '£80 chip' that can help you hear clearly again – but high street clinics charge £3,000+ for it

Published by Emma Whitfield | Hearing & Wellness

Last update: Feb 8 | 184,256 views | 4 min read

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Our readers have been flooding us with messages about their hearing.

Missing conversations with family.

TV on full volume.

Quoted £3,000+ at high street clinics.

Waiting over a year for the NHS.

So we asked Dr. Joanne Prescott, with 26 years fitting hearing aids on the NHS and private clinics, to look into what's really going on.

Her answer was blunt:

"The parts inside a £3,995 hearing aid – the chip, the speaker, the microphone – cost around £80 to £100 in total. That's not a guess. I've been taking them apart up for 26 years."

That's a markup of nearly 5,000%.

I asked her where the rest of the money goes.

Her answer will make you think twice before walking into a high street clinic.

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The one part that actually matters

"There's really only one part that matters: the chip," Dr. Prescott says.

"It takes all the sound coming into your ear — voices, traffic, television, the fridge — and sorts it out.

Makes voices louder and clearer. Pushes background noise down.

Without a chip, you're just making everything louder. With a chip, you can follow a conversation again."

Most hearing aids use chips made by ON Semiconductor. One of the largest chip makers in the world. 17 years in the hearing industry.

They don't make hearing aids. They make the chip that goes inside them.

And they sell to everyone.

Big brands, small brands. Same chip. Same factory.

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Where your money actually goes when you pay £3,995

"You're not paying for a better chip," Dr. Prescott says.

"Here's where your £3,995 actually goes:

- Chip and parts: £80-100 (2%)
- Sales commissions: £1,000 (25%)
- Clinic rent, staff & overhead: £1,200 (30%)
- Marketing: £400 (10%)
- Corporate profit: £1,300 (33%)

2% on the thing that helps you hear. 98% on everyone else.

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What about the cheap ones sold online?

"Simple rule," she says. "The parts alone cost £80 to £100.

If someone's selling a whole hearing aid for £30 or £50, it can't have those parts inside. The numbers don't work.

What you're getting is an amplifier. Makes everything louder — the TV, the fridge, your own breathing.

But voices? Still muffled. No chip doing the work."

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So what changed? Why can you now get a real hearing aid for a fraction of the price?

"Five years ago you had two choices," says Dr. Prescott. "Wait for the NHS or pay thousands. That was it.

But in 2025, the UK government approved the sale of hearing aids directly to consumers. No prescription needed.

Companies can now sell directly to you. No shop. No salesperson. No middleman."

"One brand stood out. Started by a former colleague of mine, David Taylor.

He got tired of watching people pay thousands for £80 worth of parts.

Took the same ON Semiconductor chip, put it in a proper hearing aid, sold it direct. No shop. No salesperson. No markup. Called it Smart Hearing.

UKCA-certified. Same chip as the expensive brands. £300 normally — currently half price at £149 I believe.

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I tested it myself

"I ordered a pair for my father-in-law. He's 74. Retired electrician.

Refused to wear his NHS ones — 'they make me look like I'm a hundred.'

First thing he noticed — you can barely see it. Sits inside the ear. Wore it a full week before his wife realised.

Second — two minutes to set up. Out of the box, pick your tip size, charge, put it in.

Third — Sunday lunch. Eight people talking over each other. Television on in the background. He followed every conversation. The TV faded. Voices stayed clear.

His wife rang me that evening. Said: 'He heard me the first time today. That hasn't happened in three years.'"

45 days to send it back for a refund if it doesn't work. Plus a one-year warranty.

"I've fitted hearing aids costing forty times this price that didn't work any better in a real conversation. My name's on this."

My bottom line

After 26 years fitting hearing aids, here's what I tell everyone:

If you have severe hearing loss, see an audiologist. Custom-fitted hearing aids are expensive, but the extra service and calibration is worth it for complex cases.

But if you have mild to moderate hearing loss — and that's 80 to 90% of people with hearing difficulties — you don't need a £3,500 device with custom fitting. You need the same chip, without the markup.

That's Smart Hearing. £149. Same ON Semiconductor chip. 45-day trial at home. You risk nothing.

The technology is proven. The price is honest. The results speak for themselves.

If you've been putting off getting help, this is your solution.

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IMPORTANT UPDATE

Since this article was published, Smart Hearing has gained tremendous attention and interest.

The company has reached out to our editorial team to inform us that, for a limited time, they are offering our readers an exclusive 50% discount on Smart Hearing during national hearing week.

Plus, every order comes with a 45-day risk free trial at home, 1 year warranty and free insured shipping.

If you don't experience clearer hearing within 45 days, you can just return it.

Take advantage of this limited-time offer and try Smart Hearing with 50% discount, 45-day risk-free trial at home, 1 year warranty and free insured shipping!

Check availability

Comments (3)

JanR58

21 Feb, 2026 at 1:16 pm

Was sceptical about buying hearing aids online but my daughter talked me into it. been wearing these smart hearing things 2 weeks now. Went to the pub quiz last Thursday and heard every question for the first time in years. My mate paid £2,400 at Specsavers for his. says mine sound just as good. he's fuming.

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Margaret_S

13 Feb, 2026 at 9:16 am

My son sent me this article yesterday after I missed another important phone call. Just ordered smart hearing with the discount. On pension so the £149 price really helps. fingers crossed! Will update in a few weeks

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RobertJames

2 Feb, 2026 at 10:22 am

nearly didn't bother..Had it in my basket for about a week. keptt thinking there's no way these work for 149 quid. The wife said just order the bloody things, they give you 45 days to send them back if they're rubbish. so I ordered them. wore them to the football on Saturday. Could actually hear the lads in the stand for the first time in years. Won't be sending them back. Don't be a stubborn idiot like me. wish I'd done it a year ago.

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A hearing specialist reveals: the '£80 chip' that can help you hear clearly again – but high street clinics charge £3,000+ for it

IMPORTANT UPDATE

Comments (3)

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