Save $400 on FDA-Cleared OTC Hearing Aids That Made a Man Hear Crickets for the First Time in Years

ARTICLE – Hearing loss creeps in slowly. You ask people to repeat themselves more often, then start turning the TV up a few notches higher than anyone else needs it. At some point, restaurants stop being worth the effort because background noise drowns out conversation. Nearly 30 million American adults live with some degree of hearing loss, yet only about 20% of those who could benefit from hearing aids actually use them. The barriers are predictable: prescription requirements, audiology appointments stretching across weeks, and price tags exceeding $4,000. Ceretone’s Core One Pro OTC Hearing Aids address all three obstacles. Ceretone’s holiday promotion drops the price to $299 at checkout (already on sale for $389.99), and throws in 9 extra pairs of ear tips plus a 6-month extended warranty. The deal ends January 3, 2026, just over two weeks from now.

⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Regular Price: $389.99
Deal Price: $299
Where to buy: Ceretone
Bonus: 9 extra ear tip pairs + 6-month extended warranty
Ends: January 3, 2026
Read our full review

Why Traditional Hearing Aids Fail Most People

The statistics around untreated hearing loss tell a story that extends far beyond missing a few words in conversation. Adults with mild hearing loss are twice as likely to develop dementia compared to those with normal hearing, according to Johns Hopkins research. Social isolation, depression, and cognitive decline all correlate with the gradual withdrawal that often accompanies difficulty hearing. Over time, the problem feeds itself. Someone who struggles to hear at family dinners starts finding excuses to skip them. Phone calls get shorter, then stop altogether. Bit by bit, the world gets smaller.

Traditional hearing aids address the problem, but the process of obtaining them creates its own barriers. An initial audiologist consultation runs $200 to $400 in most markets, just to confirm what you already suspect. The fitting process stretches across multiple appointments. Insurance coverage remains spotty at best. By the time you factor in the devices themselves, often $2,000 to $6,000 per pair, the total investment places professional hearing assistance out of reach for many families.

The FDA’s 2022 ruling on over-the-counter hearing aids changed this landscape. Devices like the Core One Pro can now reach consumers directly, without the gatekeeping that kept prices artificially high for decades. The Core One Pro costs $299, which is less than a single audiology consultation in many markets. That $90 discount stacks on top of the existing sale price, which already undercuts traditional hearing aids by thousands.

The value becomes clearer when you compare the Core One Pro against premium OTC alternatives. The Eargo 7, one of the most marketed hearing aids in the category, sells for $2,399. That is eight times the price of the Core One Pro with the holiday coupon applied. Performance does not scale with price: the Core One Pro scores 75% on the Speech Intelligibility Index compared to Eargo 7’s 67%. The Core One Pro also includes features the Eargo lacks entirely, including wind noise reduction, tinnitus masking, a display screen on the charging case, and physical control buttons. Paying more does not guarantee better hearing.

How the Core One Pro Solves Daily Hearing Challenges

Dave Moore reviewed the Core One for The Gadgeteer earlier this year, and his brother-in-law Mark’s experience illustrates what these devices mean in practice. Mark had been compensating for gradual hearing loss in ways that had become second nature. Television volume sat between 55 and 60. Conversations across a picnic area went completely unheard.

Immediately after inserting the hearing aids, Mark reported he could hear normal-volume conversations that would have previously been inaudible. Within a week, he texted Dave that he heard crickets outside for the first time in years. That single detail captures something important: hearing loss erases the ambient sounds that connect you to your environment, and the Core One Pro brought them back.

The technology inside explains why. Ceretone uses the Intricon A16 chipset, built by a US company with over 40 years in micromedical technology. This is the same caliber of chip found in prescription-grade devices, delivering less than 1% total harmonic distortion for cleaner, more natural sound reproduction. The Core One Pro compensates for hearing loss up to 70 dBHL, covering mild through moderately severe cases rather than just mild-to-moderate.

Four listening modes, accessible via buttons on the charging case, let users adapt to different environments. Standard covers everyday situations. Restaurant mode kicks in aggressive noise filtering for crowded spaces where conversation matters. Mark found this particularly useful at a crowded Texas Roadhouse, where he could suddenly hear servers approaching and background music playing. Outdoor mode cuts wind interference that would otherwise overwhelm the microphones. For users dealing with persistent ringing alongside their hearing loss, Tinnitus Masking generates low-level background sound for relief.

With the adaptive filtering doing its job, Mark no longer had to strain to follow conversation. His television volume dropped from the 55-60 range to a reasonable 20. Loud sounds occasionally startled him during the first few days because his brain needed time to readjust to frequencies it had been missing for years. That passed.

Design, Battery, and Practical Considerations

The Core One Pro fits almost entirely inside the ear canal, measuring just 17.2 x 7.1 x 7.9mm and weighing 1.0 gram (lighter than a paperclip). A small extraction wire allows you to remove the device, but the main body disappears from view. The 30-degree angled sound outlet follows your ear canal’s natural curve for a secure, comfortable fit. Medical-grade soft silicone eartips create a gentle seal without pressure points. IP68 water resistance handles sweat during workouts and unexpected rain. The discreet profile means you can wear them at work, at family gatherings, or during video calls without drawing attention.

Battery life runs approximately 20 hours per charge, which covers a full waking day with room to spare. The charging case holds three additional full charges, totaling 80 hours of use before you need an outlet. USB-C charging means you can use the same cable as your phone, no proprietary chargers to lose or replace. The case’s built-in display shows battery level and current listening mode at a glance.

Setup takes under 10 minutes: select an ear tip size from the included options, place the devices in your ears, and adjust volume using buttons on the charging case. There is no app to download, no Bluetooth pairing process, no audiologist appointment to schedule. That simplicity matters when the alternative is a multi-step process that many people abandon before it even begins.

The main limitation involves volume adjustment. You cannot change volume while wearing the devices. Settings adjust through the charging case, which means removing the hearing aids to make changes. Most users adapt quickly once they find their preferred settings, but the initial calibration period requires some patience. The included 9 extra ear tip pairs help with fit optimization, ensuring you can find the right seal for comfort and sound quality.

What Works and What Does Not

PROS:

• FDA-registered OTC device requires no prescription or audiology visits
• Ready to use in under 10 minutes with no app to download
• Small enough to virtually disappear inside the ear canal in White, Beige, or Black
• Intricon A16 chipset delivers prescription-grade sound quality (105dB max output, 20.5dB average gain, less than 1% distortion)
• 20-hour battery life covers a full waking day
• Charging case holds 80 hours total (3 additional full charges) with USB-C
• Four listening modes adapt to different environments: Standard, Restaurant, Outdoor, and Tinnitus Masking
• IP68 water resistance handles sweat and rain
• Advanced noise reduction and feedback cancellation cut the whistling common in cheaper devices
• Holiday bundle includes 9 extra ear tip pairs for long-term use
• 60-day risk-free guarantee lets you return for a full refund if unsatisfied
• 12-month standard warranty plus 6-month holiday extension equals 18 months of coverage
• Lifetime access to hearing specialists included at no extra cost
• At $299, costs less than most audiologist consultations
• Outperforms the $2,399 Eargo 7 on Speech Intelligibility Index (75% vs 67%)

CONS:

• Volume adjustments require removing the devices and using the charging case
• Designed for mild to moderately severe hearing loss (up to 70 dBHL); profound loss requires medical intervention
• Small extraction wires take practice to grasp, especially for users with limited dexterity
• Sudden loud sounds can be startling during the first few days of adjustment
• Acclimation period required as your brain readjusts to ambient sounds

Who Should Buy This (And Who Should Not)

If you have been putting off hearing aids because of cost, complexity, or the daunting medical process, this is the window to act. At $299, the financial barrier essentially disappears. The 60-day risk-free guarantee removes the other barrier: you can try them and return for a full refund if they do not work for you. The holiday bundle (extra ear tips and extended warranty included) makes this particular promotion worth catching before it expires on January 3. For anyone shopping for parents or grandparents who have resisted addressing their hearing loss, this solves the gift problem and the “getting them to actually do something about it” problem in one move.

This is not the right solution for severe hearing loss, which requires medical intervention and custom-fitted devices that account for specific frequency profiles. If you are unsure about the extent of your hearing loss, consult a professional first. But for the millions who know they need help and have simply delayed due to practical obstacles, the Core One Pro offers a genuine path forward without the traditional complexity.

The device also makes sense as a trial before committing to more expensive options. You can test whether amplification helps your specific situation without spending thousands on professional devices. If the Core One Pro improves your daily experience, you know that hearing assistance works for you. If you need more specialized attention, you have lost $300 rather than $4,000.

Regular Price: $389.99
Deal Price: $299
Where to buy: Ceretone
Bonus: 9 extra ear tip pairs + 6-month extended warranty
Ends: January 3, 2026
Read our full review

Bottom Line

Clearer hearing is the kind of gift that keeps delivering long after the wrapping paper is gone. At $299, the Core One Pro removes the excuses that have kept millions from getting help: no prescription, no audiologist appointments, no four-figure price tag. Mark said it best when he texted Dave about hearing those crickets for the first time in years. That moment is worth more than another sweater or gift card.

The promotion ends January 3, 2026. The $90 discount, the extra ear tips, the extended warranty: all of it goes away after that. If you or someone you love has been waiting for the right time, this is it.