What Hearing Planet Was

Hearing Planet was founded in 1999 in Brentwood, Tennessee by Doug Hudson. The business model was unusual for its era: an online referral and lead-generation platform that connected consumers searching for hearing aids to a network of approximately 1,600 "Endorsed Local Clinics" nationwide.

The model worked as follows:

1. Consumer searches online for hearing aids and lands on hearingplanet.com
2. Hearing Planet collects consumer information (audiogram if available, contact info, location)
3. Consumer is referred to a participating Endorsed Local Clinic in their area
4. The clinic provides the actual hearing aid fitting
5. Hearing Planet receives referral fees from the clinic

This was distinct from being a clinic chain - Hearing Planet did not directly own or operate clinics. The business was lead generation, not retail dispensing.

The Sonova Acquisition

Sonova acquired Hearing Planet around 2010 (per Tracxn) or 2006 (per PitchBook database). The acquisition gave Sonova a digital lead-generation channel feeding into its broader US retail strategy. Over time, Sonova consolidated its US retail under Connect Hearing (later Connect Hearing / AudioNova), and Hearing Planet's standalone identity diminished.

Current Functional Status

By 2025-2026, Hearing Planet is functionally dormant:

• The hearingplanet.com domain redirects to AudioNova Shop (shop.audionova.com)
• AudioNova Shop is an e-commerce skin selling Phonak Roger remote microphones, hearing aid batteries, wax guards, and some OTC devices
• The full-service referral business connecting consumers to Endorsed Local Clinics is no longer operational
• LeadIQ refers to the entity as "Connect Hearing Networks | HearingPlanet" with $1.8M revenue and approximately 19 employees as of May 2025 - suggesting a residual lead-gen subsidiary inside Connect Hearing rather than a standalone operating business

For consumers searching "Hearing Planet" today, the practical implication: the brand you may remember from the 2000s-2010s does not exist as a functional service in 2026. You will not get a referral to a local clinic. You will land on an accessories e-commerce site.

Historical Reputation Issues

During Hearing Planet's active years, several reputation issues were documented:

The Sales-vs-Advice Confusion

The most common complaint was that Hearing Planet's "Personal Hearing Consultants" at the Brentwood, TN call center misrepresented themselves as neutral advisors when they were in fact salespeople incentivized to push consumers into the Endorsed Local Clinic network. Consumers expecting independent hearing aid guidance encountered sales pitches.

Pricing

Per Century Hearing Aids critique, Hearing Planet pricing was typically at or near full MSRP - without the discounts that motivated channels like Costco or modern OTC offer. The lead-generation model required margin to support referral fees, leaving consumers paying premium pricing through the network.

Mandatory Follow-Up

The historical Hearing Planet model included a 45-day trial with mandatory 1-year follow-up at the Endorsed Local Clinic. This locked consumers into an ongoing relationship with a clinic they often had not chosen independently.

For Existing Hearing Planet Customers

If you previously purchased hearing aids through a Hearing Planet referral and need ongoing service:

• Contact your original local audiologist directly - the Endorsed Local Clinic network has been wound down
• If your original clinic has closed, the audiologist may have moved to a different practice in your area
• For Sonova-manufactured devices (Phonak, Unitron), Connect Hearing / AudioNova locations may be able to provide service
• Independent audiology clinics can typically reprogram and service most hearing aids regardless of original purchase channel

What to Do Today Instead

If you came to this page looking for hearing aid recommendations and the original Hearing Planet referral service does not exist, your current options for prescription hearing aids include:

• Costco Hearing Aid Centers - Consumer Reports #2 ranked, $1,499-$1,699 per pair for prescription
• Audibel - Consumer Reports #3 ranked, Starkey technology
• Connect Hearing / AudioNova - Sonova-owned (same parent that absorbed Hearing Planet), Phonak technology
• Independent audiology clinics - multi-brand, audiologist-led care

For OTC alternatives appropriate for mild-to-moderate hearing loss, see our buyer's guide hub covering 40+ OTC and prescription options.

Considering OTC As An Alternative?

If your hearing loss is mild-to-moderate (which describes roughly 70% of adult-onset hearing loss), the FDA OTC framework created in October 2022 means you have legitimate options below the prescription clinic price tier. OTC hearing aids range from approximately $200 to $2,950 per pair, with FDA regulation enforcing safety standards on output, labeling, and product claims. The clinical difference between quality OTC and prescription hearing aids for mild-to-moderate loss is often smaller than the price difference suggests.

For severe-to-profound hearing loss, OTC is not appropriate and prescription is genuinely necessary. The right path depends on your audiogram, not on any one chain's marketing.

Read more: OTC vs Prescription Hearing Aids - Honest Comparison · How Much Do Hearing Aids Cost in 2026?