The old saying of, "Only an Audiologist can determine the best hearing aid for you", is actually a load of horse-hockey.
Hearing aids are not prescription medication that can kill you if you take the wrong one. My coworker knew nothing about hearing aids, when he needed one a few years ago. So, he went to an Audi, and the Audi was staunch in recommending a certain brand. He wanted a second opinion, so he went to another Audi, and he then recommended a different brand and model. Each one gave him a couple different ones to try, but he was never satisfied. He felt like he was being boxed in by each Audi he went to. Like a car salesman trying to push the certain models they sell.
Eventually, he tried Costco, and the Audi there did not get paid on commission. She let him literally try 4 different HA's they carried for his level of hearing loss, and finally found the one he wanted, which I think was a Rexton. He bought his from there because his insurance did not cover a HA, and so he saved a little money as well.
He told me about Costco after I ran into a problem with my daughters Audi, because even though my daughters Audi let her try a couple different kinds, he didn't want her going to Costco because he told her the HA's had less features. This I am not really buying into, but the ones labelled "Kirkland" do have a few different features than the comparable models, but they still have identical sound quality. Well, after trying out a few kinds, my daughter got the Kirkland HA they carry for half the price of a comparable HA, which is actually made by Resound. It also works with the wireless accessories for cochlear implants, because she now has a CI in her other ear. The sound quality also meets her personal preference. The price for us was not the biggest factor, because our insurance does cover HA's. But still, it was half the price compared to a private Audiologist.
I am not going to say "Don't go to a private Audiologist", because not everyone has a Costco, or other options available. Like anyone, Audiologists have a business to run as well. They work and earn their paycheck just like the rest of us. If you have a personal Audi nearby, and the convenience is your preference, then by all means go to them for your needs. The Audi my daughter has for her cochlear implant, is a fine Audiologist, he just didn't have the HA I wanted my daughter to try.
In the end it is your decision. Every HA brand out there makes a top end model that will have many different features. It is up to you to try out several, and find the one you like best for your personal needs, and in my friends case, not the model that maximizes the Audiologists paycheck.
In our case, my daughter and I found the HA she liked the most as well, not her Audi.