How A $99 Hearing Aid Saved My Dad From Depression And Possibly Dementia
Rachel Banton | 7/13/2025
My Dad was dying and I didn’t even realize it.
Not until this past Thanksgiving.
I hadn’t seen him in a few months… and when he came to Thanksgiving, he was just… different.
Quieter. Not really joining in with the conversation and the family banter.
I first noticed when my son showed him a new Transformer toy. Dad just kind of nodded and looked away. I could tell he wasn’t paying attention.
That wasn’t the dad I remember. He loved the kids… I used to think he loved the grandkids more than he loved me and my sister!
After noticing the Transformer thing, I watched him more closely.
Thanksgiving dinner was weird. He’d kind of smile and nod… but he wasn’t really there. And he stared into the distance a lot, as if he was daydreaming.
I noticed he never really started a conversation…
… and he was constantly “out of the loop” or trying to catch up.
And that got me thinking.
I realized Dad had been kind of “fading away” a little bit over the past year or so.
I hadn’t noticed before, but he’d never call me, it would always be me calling him…
… and the phone calls were always tough, like he was in a hurry to get off the phone… or just not interested in what I had to say.
We’d lost my Mom a couple of years before, and I’d started to see him less and less.
I just figured he preferred to be on his own, wanted his freedom, things like that.
But Thanksgiving showed me he really wasn’t my old Dad any more.
I tried to talk to him about it after the holiday break… but he’s one of those older guys who doesn’t like to share his feelings.
So I Kidnapped Him
I made out like I needed his help with an errand… but I actually drove him to see a medical specialist so they could check him out.
He was angry, but I’m glad I did it.
Because what I learned just floored me.
And it’ll probably frighten you quite a bit if you have an older relative.
The root cause of what was happening was my Dad’s ears.
He was losing his hearing.
Which doesn’t sound like such a big deal… everybody loses some hearing as they get older, right?
What most people don’t realize is that hearing loss in older people makes them a major target for depression, and other serious issues.
In fact…
… The Specialist Told Me Dad Was Experiencing Depression-Related “Cognitive Decline” And He Was At Severe Risk From Dementia And “Early Death”
… Because Of His Hearing!!
After a bunch of tests they found Dad’s hearing was fading very quickly… and this was “removing” him from his life, day by day.
When the specialist told me this, I just broke down and cried.
Mom and Dad had been those older people that always communicated in loud voices and constantly repeat themselves…
… and without my mom, it was just hard for him to hear anything. Hard for him to participate in life.
He’d been fading into the background since she passed… more and more isolated… but nobody had noticed.
So those moments where he’d been super quiet at dinner…
… he just couldn’t hear the conversation or understand what was happening.
And he was too proud and set in his ways to tell people he was struggling.
All those phone calls where he was short with me or didn’t say much… it was the same thing, he couldn’t hear me very well and was afraid to say so, so he would cut it short.
Isn’t that heartbreaking? I still tear up when I think about it.
And That’s Why Seniors Losing Their Hearing Are At Risk
The doctor told me something EVERYBODY should know about their older parents.
When a senior loses their hearing, it’s like fast forwarding their aging.
In scientific studies, they’ve found that once hearing drops past a certain level, the brain ages 30-40% faster.
For older people this means they’re going to decline VERY quickly.
Even worse, they’re also 24% more likely to quickly develop dementia and Alzheimer's and things like that.
And worse still… they are much much MUCH more likely to suffer from depression and “loss of life quality”...
… and that means they’re not going to live as long.
Why Does Risk Of Alzheimers & Dementia Increase As Hearing Fades?
There are two main reasons…
… and they’re closely tied together.
The first one is that us humans are very social creatures.
We live together and marry for life and stay close with our families for a reason. It’s literally necessary for our mental health and well-being… for our survival in fact.
The second reason is that losing your hearing suddenly creates a huge wall that blocks you from everybody else in your life. It leads to immediate loneliness and isolation.
Like my dad, sitting there at the dining table. Technically, he’s there with us…
… but he can’t hear a word of the conversation. He can’t really speak to us because he can’t hear what we say back to him. It’s like he’s not actually a part of the family at all. Like he’s watching us all on TV.
When your relatives lose their hearing it’s like they’re living life behind glass… like an animal in a zoo, and they can’t talk to the people they love any more.
Bottom Line: Once Hearing Fades, The Clock Is Ticking On Dementia, Depression, And Much Worse
So I asked the doctor what we could do.
How could we keep my dad in the loop and make sure he knew he was still a part of our family and he was still loved and important to us? How could we stop him sliding into dementia and depression?
The answer was two simple words: Hearing Aids.
I’d always thought that hearing aids were an old fashioned invention that barely worked.
I remembered my grandma having them when I was a kid. They didn’t seem to be helpful at all.
In fact she’d often complain about feedback and unexpected sounds…
… and I even remember her having to take them off to hear me better!
The specialist we spoke to assured me they’d come a long way over the years.
Unfortunately, I quickly found that hearing aids are VERY expensive.
In fact I was blown away by the price.
It’s pretty common to pay $3000-$5000, even from discount stores like Costco and Sam’s Club.
My dad didn't have great insurance, so we’d have to pay out of pocket.
And honestly we didn’t have a spare 3 thousand dollars plus just sitting around. We have 3 kids and we’re basically living paycheck to paycheck like everybody else!
Thankfully, when I did a deeper dive into the research, I found that one of the best hearing aids out there is currently available for less than a hundred bucks!
Seriously - $99 For The Kind Of Hearing Aid That Usually Costs $3,000+!!!
These are not those big beige monstrosities that go behind your ears. Technology has changed.
In fact, some of the modern ones can fit right inside your ear so people don’t even know you’re wearing them.
And even better, they have a sound quality and battery life that’s far superior to that old technology.
After extensive research, the best brand I found is named Oricle.
I first found them in an online ad…
… and what really caught my attention was what their customers said in the reviews.
People were saying things like this:
Absolutely love them ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I purchased a pair of Oricle Hearing aid 2.0 and love them. I had purchased a pair of Starkey hearing aids which I had paid $3,800.00 for and the hearing on the Oricle 2.0 is 5 times better and I only have it set on half power. Absolutely love them.” - Ron K. ✅ Verified Customer
5 Times Better Than A $3,800 Hearing Aid… For Less Than $100?!?!?!
A life-changer for my hearing! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I didn’t realize how much I was missing until I started using the Oricle Hearing Aid. It’s clear, comfortable, and has made conversations and everyday sounds so much more enjoyable.” - Adam H. ✅ Verified Customer
Oricle Has Over 10,000 Happy Customers… And Most People Still Don’t Even Realize How Much Better They Are Than The Old-Fashioned, More Expensive Solutions
Here’s Why People Love Them So Much:
- Great sound quality - clear understanding in conversations in pretty much any situation.
- No whistling or feedback - no need to worry about random sounds or whistles or the dreaded feedback. Traditional hearing aids are unusable in certain situations… but not Oricle.
- No hearing test necessary - no need to involve doctors or medical specialists. You’re ready to go the moment you take them out of the box for the first time.
- Fits in your ear discreetly - they’re so small they’re barely noticeable and you don’t need to worry about that giant ugly box stuck behind your ear
- Complete control of volume and feedback - you have instantaneous control of volume so you can eliminate feedback and other unpleasant sounds immediately.
- All day battery life - a single charge will last 18-20 hours, so you never need to worry about it dropping out at the wrong time.
How Modern Technology Allows Oricle Hearing Aids To Outperform The $5,000 Versions From Sam’s Club or Costco
Believe it or not, hearing aids have been around since 1890 or so!
The crazy thing is that until recently, the technology didn’t change very much.
The early ones were basically the microphone and speaker from a landline telephone, but attached to your ear.
When the transistor radio was invented in the 40s and 50s, hearing aids changed again.
That’s what led to the bulky beige designs you remember.
The ugly part behind your ear is basically a housing for the transistor part.
The technology didn’t change much after that - people are paying $2,000 for hearing aids that are basically the same as your great grandparents may have used in the 50s!
Oricle is completely different to that.
They used modern, digital technology and production techniques to invent much smaller hearing aids with far better sound quality.
These hearing aids have more in common with your smart phone and your expensive ear buds than they do with hearing aids from the past.
The Crazy Part Is That It Costs Less To Manufacture This New Technology… So You’re Getting Higher Quality For Far Less Money
This new technology means that Oricle Hearing Aids outperform most others and don’t have any of the drawbacks you may be expecting:
- Crystal clear sound - no more whistling or sudden feedback and YOU control the volume.
- No interference - great sound quality means you’ll understand conversations even in noisy places and public areas.
- Spacial Sound technology means you can still be fully aware of surroundings and hear directional sounds.
- Active noise-cancellation technology removes background sounds to make conversation easier and let you focus on what’s important.
No Hearing Test Necessary - Just Plug In & Get Crystal Clear Audio Immediately
The Oricle Hearing Aids made an enormous difference to my dad’s life from day one.
First of all, there’s no hearing test necessary.
You can just take them out of the box and use them right away.
Dad told me he felt like he was a part of the living world again!
He also said it felt AMAZING to not have to keep saying “huh?” or ask people to repeat themselves.
I could see huge differences in him too.
When he’s come over for dinner ever since, he’s telling the kids funny stories, he’s giving me a hard time and making wisecracks…
… it was like I finally got my old Dad back!
And most importantly, Oricle allowed me and my Dad to talk about losing my Mom for the first time. And that’s such a huge part of healing… it’s made us both feel so much better.
How Oricle Has Changed My Dad’s Life
I asked my Dad about the biggest differences he’s noticed.
The first thing he said was that he feels confident enough to spend time with his friends again. Not only that but he joins in on the conversations… he told me he’s the life and soul of the party!
He also said it makes him want to spend more time with me and my family, and my sister’s too. This brings us all such joy… we finally feel like a family again.
Oh and the other thing - he can watch TV properly again, and the old movies he loves…
… but he doesn’t have to crank it to maximum volume or use subtitles any more!
I can’t even explain how much I love this new chapter in his life.
It doesn’t seem like he’s looking down a big black tunnel until he finally gives up on life anymore…
… he has his life back, and more importantly, he’s happy.
When I think about what my Dad’s life would have looked like if I hadn’t pushed for him to get help and bought him these hearing aids, it honestly breaks my heart.
I don’t know how long he would have had left.
So What Is The Catch? Why Are These $99 Hearing Aids Getting People Lining Up Around The Block?
Like I mentioned earlier, these Oricle Hearing Aids use very specific digital technology, much like your smart phone or ear buds.
This tech is very complex inside, even though they’re very simple to use.
But this means only a certain number at a time are produced.
Instead of using this as an excuse to jack up the price to compete with the big hearing aid brands, Oricle work to keep the prices as low as possible.
They do this because they know how much improving hearing can improve somebody’s life.
Not only do hearing aids help their brain, they also help preserve family interactions.
The downside of all that though is that there is ENORMOUS demand for this technology.
In fact, it’s not uncommon for shoppers from the big discount brands like Costco and Sam’s Club to be lining up around the block to get their hands on a pair of Oricle Hearing Aids instead!!
This does mean that Oricles are sold out from time to time and people need to join a waitlist.
Plus, There’s An Extra Discount Added Specifically At This Time Of The Year
For this time of year, Oricle have added a very extreme 50% discount to their already very reasonable prices.
This is the time of year when togetherness is the most important thing… so there’s a 50% discount that applies right now for a very limited time.
Click below to see if Oricle is in stock right now, and if the discount still applies.
Apply Discount &
Check Availablity >
Don’t Forget - You’ve Got A 30 Day Guarantee
Oricle understands that it can take a little while for a parent or loved one to get used to life with a hearing aid. And quite frankly, it’s not for everybody.
So they operate with a no questions 30 day guarantee.
If you try out Oricle right now, you’ve got 30 days to see if your Mom or Dad or your grandparents like them and want to use them long term.
If not, or if you’re not happy for any other reason, all you need to do is let Oricle know within 30 days and you’ll get a full refund.
Here is what some of the hundreds of thousands of people say who have used Oricle Hearing Aids, and can now hear again without spending thousands of dollars:
“I’m so grateful! I got tired of hearing loved ones telling me to talk louder, I said that’s it we’re buying these! A miracle I tell you. They are as good as any of her friends $2000+ hearing aids. Now she tells me I talk too loud and says she can hear me just fine. She is happy and I am relieved! Even if you can afford the big priced hearing aids, you have to try these!” – Sarah Smith
This is the best hearing aid for the money. I was skeptical because of the low price. I had misplaced my other set I got from Costco for $2500. So I decided to give these a try in hopes I would find my lost Costco set. After using the Oricle set, they are so much better! Even if I find my Costco set, I’ll never use them again.” – Ryan Miller
“Outstanding hearing aid value (It’s about time!) My wife says these are comparable to her behind- the-ear hearing aids of which she lost 3 sets. Because she wears a hat most of the time as well as glasses, she continually knocks them off so she stopped wearing them because of the hassle and expense of losing them as well as the batteries always having to be replaced.” – Keith Williams
To see if they are still available and in stock, click on the button below.
Apply Discount &Check Availability >
Customer Reviews
I just love these, I can hear crystal clear. My confidence has been restored.
Amanda
These discreet hearing aids are unnoticeable. I can talk with my grandchildren and friends without having to have them talk into my ear.
David
I bought these for my husband, because he was denying his hearing was bad. He has thanked me for getting these for him and he is back to his normal lifestyle.
Rachel
Wow, these work great! I'm so surprised with the crisp sounds I can hear with no ringing or disruptive background noise
Mark
I knew my hearing was getting bad but I'm still young. I was dreading large hearing aids. Thankfully, I found these. They're super tiny yet still poweful. My friends don't even notice when I'm wearing them.