I will add here that there is often one, kind of similar, but different place to go.
After getting crap hearing out of expensive aids from local stores, audi office tied in sellers, etc I went searching for an alternative.
To my benefit(?) I knew I was probably due for at least one Cochlear implant.
I managed to get accepted to the ENT clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN, which is the flagship place for Mayo. Long wait and a million hoops to go through, but worth all it 10X over.
I got a 4 hour comprehensive hearing evaluation from an Audi that does almost only those testings and was extremely good at it and thorough. Results were one ear just qualified for Cochlear and one almost did. For a final test she programmed per her data a pair of mid grade OTE aids with just foam earpiece fits. Then I was tested or word recognition and did noticeably better. She said I MAY want to consider trying some good hearing aids on a trial period to see if they would be worth buying. I next went to the ENT the same day and he agreed with the Audi about one Cochlear and said he was fine with hearing aid trial as it might be enough to buy time until both ears could go Cochlear and could get the hearing therapy at the same time, a big benefit.
Mayo does have an audiology clinic that fits hearing aids, and will do any brand and model you want. Full retail like any audi would charge, 3 year warranty, free parts like domes or wax gaurds, free followup visits, so a much better setup than I had ever run across.
Fitting Audi was a PHD in Audiology and very experienced in fitting. Did all the right fitting things like real ear readings and such. I wound up with Resound Nexia 9 size 13 battery aids with earmolds as they would also work with Cochlear if I only got on Cochlear. The results were hugely different and far better than anything I had gotten anywhere else. Since it was an all day drive for appointments for me, and I had over 15 years of self programming on other aids, I asked if she was OK with me tweaking so I could do real time testing at home at at the noisy places I often go to and she thought that was fine. I keep her informed what I am doing and the changes made and she learns along with me what works the best for me. I have done around 50 different combinations of features and programs and tested them. What I have found does best is not what either of us thought would be best, but now I hear very well compared to even the original fitting, don’t use the mini mic at all anymore in our noisy RV or noisy places, and only the TV gives me some difficulty now sometimes. I hope to get several years of good use before it is time for Cochlear on both sides.
Bottom line is if you can find a major research hospital/clinic you are likely to have access to the best of the best Audis and ENTs. At Mayo, they all have lots of research papers published and continuously are doing cutting edge research. Almost feel like I won the lottery sometimes.