How we rate and review

The Sherpa Score is a published calculation over supplied catalogue fields. Here is what it measures, what those fields cannot prove, and how to tell us when a record is wrong.

Methodology last updated: 2026-08-22

The formula

What the Sherpa Score measures

The Sherpa Score is not a clinical, sound-quality, satisfaction, value or product-suitability rating. HearingSherpa has not tested the devices or validated this formula as a predictor of benefit. It is an arithmetic ordering of the following supplied catalogue fields:

  • Supplied terms fields (45%). The trial-window and manufacturer-warranty values carried in the catalogue record. The formula reaches its cap at 45 days and 3 years; it does not inspect the contract, exclusions or whether a claim will be accepted.
  • Supplied access and feature flags (35%). The remote-support, sales-channel, self-fitting and Bluetooth flags carried in the record. A positive flag does not verify availability, compatibility, support quality or suitability.
  • Record completeness (20%). Whether the catalogue contains a published starting price and how complete and recent the supplied record is. A feed date is not editorial verification, and all live terms need checking with the seller.

Check current seller terms and seek a qualified hearing professional’s advice. The score does not establish clinical quality or suitability.

What we check

Fields read from each catalogue record

  • Channel field (OTC vs prescription). The channel label supplied in the catalogue. For US context, the FDA defines OTC hearing aids for adults 18 and older with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss; a feed label does not verify the exact device or local status.
  • Supplied starting price. The catalogue’s “from” price and currency. Where the record has no published price, we say so rather than invent one. Check the current price and what it includes with the seller.
  • Trial & warranty fields. The return-window days and manufacturer-warranty years supplied in the catalogue. Read the seller’s current conditions and exclusions before buying.
  • Regulatory label. Any regulator or conformity label carried in the catalogue record. It is context, not approval or endorsement; confirm the exact device and seller in the relevant official register.
  • Claim limits. Catalogue fields do not establish clinical benefit, sound quality, fit or a health outcome. Health information is general and does not replace individual care.

Accuracy

Feed dates and editorial verification

Commercial cards are populated from the site's existing offer feed. A card's feed record date is the date stored on that record; it is not a clinical endorsement or a guarantee that a term has not changed since. Check price, return, warranty and eligibility terms with the seller before buying. There is no fixed manual-verification cadence for every commercial record. This editorial review did not change the feed or ranking logic.

For regulatory context we reference the FDA's OTC hearing-aid rules, the UK's MHRA, the EU Medical Device Regulation, Australia's TGA and Health Canada — and our full editorial & health-claims standards.

Reading the catalogue

Check the details

Check current seller terms and seek a qualified hearing professional’s advice. The score does not establish clinical quality or suitability.

Who reviews

The HearingSherpa editorial desk

Guides are published under the HearingSherpa editorial desk. We model it as an honest collective editorial voice rather than a fabricated named “expert.” No audiologist or physician is currently listed in our reviewer registry. Every health guide therefore displays Not clinician-reviewed and no `reviewedBy` structured-data claim is emitted.

AI & human review

How we use AI

AI tools may assist drafting, restructuring and link checking. The retained guide set names the authoritative sources used and the date each source was opened. Publication does not imply clinical review: until a real, named specialist signs off, the page says it is not clinician-reviewed. The offer ranking remains computed by the site's existing formula rather than generated by an article-writing system.

Corrections

Spotted a mistake? Tell us

If a regulator, certification or product detail is out of date or wrong, email [email protected]. We review corrections promptly, fix the page, and bump the update date so the change is visible.