My first set of hearing aids were Resound. When I lost one, I was told I needed two brand new Resound aids because I wouldn't be able to make the transition to a different manufacturer. Is this true?

For some people it's true. Because different hearing aid manufacturer's use different algorithms, different attack and release times for compression, different noise reduction strategies or frequency lowering, some people do have difficulty transitioning between manufacturers as their brains have adapted to how their old manufacturers process sound. That said it's not impossible and some people do it with no problem. 

Regarding your current situation, depending on the age of the aids, they may no longer be eligible for loss & damage warranty replacement and if they are old enough the provider may no longer be able to obtain an identical model to match with your old one which may lead to the recommendation for a new pair, especially with newer technology, the aids often communicate with each other (and depending on bluetooth capabilities) and it is nice to have a matched set. I'm not 100% certain why you were feeling the need to change manufacturers to replace one aid?

Hope that's helpful.

I don't think that sounds correct. If somebody can adapt from not wearing an aid to wearing one then then adapting from one brand to another should be far easier!

If the hearing aid you still have is not too old the first logical step would be to get an identical replacement.  If that is not available or the hearing aid is several years old then a new pair would be a good solution.  Every manufacturer has their own way of programming hearing aids which does result in minor differences in the way they sound.  Sometimes you may be more comfortable with the brand you are used to.  That being said, the quality of the sound has a lot more to do with who is programming it, not so much what brand it is.  I frequently switch people to different brands for a variety of reasons and in many cases they are happier with the different product.  A good dispenser should be aware of those basic differences between manufacturers and should be able to adjust the programming for a different brand accordingly.  Our company offers a 60 day trade period when we sell new hearing aids.  During the first 60 days after delivery the patient can trade the hearing aids back in for a different brand at the same technology level or move to a higher technology level by paying the difference in cost.  That allows the patient more time to find the hearing aid best suited to them. 

It depends.. If your hearing aids were fairly new, you could replace the lost device with a new one under the warranty. If your hearing aids were already about 5 years old, it may be better to get a new set. Old technology is still available up until a certain point, but people typically do better when the hearing aids are able to talk to each other. It would be best to stick with the same brand if the other one is still working, but if the technology is already dated, it would be better to get a new pair. 

The suggestion was partially true in that you will do best with a new set of 2 hearing aids that will work together and can be programmed together.  Many of the new features we find on current models of hearing aids, such as noise reduction and speech enhancement, Bluetooth connectivity, etc., depend on wireless communication between the two hearing aids.  However, there is no magic formula to determine what manufacturer you choose.  Each manufacturer works within the confines of different theories about what to do with sound.  Some are very aggressive with noise reduction, some think the wearer will do best if they hear more of their environment, some want to hyper-focus on the high pitches where there is typically more hearing loss, etc.  Just because you have worn hearing aids from one manufacturer doesn't mean you have to stick with them.  You may find that you actually like another manufacturer even better!  I suggest you find an audiologist who is willing to let you try some different hearing aids so you can decide for yourself.  The worst thing in the world of hearing aids is to be "told what to do".  No one but you knows what you are hearing and how your brain is using the sound the hearing aids are providing.

It is important to have the same circuit for both sides.  If your old aid cannot be reordered or replaced then you will need two new aids (even if the same manufacturer)  The main reason is that each circuit sounds different, and wireless aids work together but only if they are the same. 

You can transition to any manufacturer you want, every manufacture sounds different and it is a matter of preference.  I both wear hearing aids and dispense them.  I have my personal favorites, but manufacturers come up with new stuff all the time.  I have noticed that the past two years the hearing aid industry has really up'd their game in quality.  

Ask your clinic to borrow a demo set of aids, if you don't like it then try another... that is what I do with my patients who are unsure of what they want.  By giving people options (I carry all major brands) they are more likely to be happy with the hearing aid purchased and even more likely to wear them!  Win/Win!!

Replacing a lost hearing with an identical match is always the best choice.  If the lost instrument is over 5 years old it may be worth considering and discussing new technology in both ears. Changes in hearing level and lifestyle will usually be your best identifyers if new technology is the proper course of action.

New devices, as a pair, work together to give you optimal hearing. However, it is possible  to replace a single device and have mismatched technology.  Yes, some ears prefer the sound of one manufacturer over another.  Your audiologist knows your ears.  On a side note, every practice has products that they prefer and are successful with.  It is my opinion that  if a person is fit properly, the manufacturer in most cases does not matter. 

Not true at all. While some patients prefer to stay with the same manufacturer when purchasing a new set of hearing aids, this can be for a variety of reasons: functionality, similar programming, similar sound-quality or features, etc.. However, there is no evidence to suggest changing to a different manufacturer will result in a bad experience. Furthermore, you should have a minimum of a 30-day trial period with any purchase, so my recommendation is to go ahead with a different manufacturer if you are curious about trying something new, and if you do in deed, have a preference for the Resound products, return the other manufacturer and go with Resound.

This doesn't really make sense at all.  First, there is typically Loss & Damage insurance on most hearing aids for a certain period of time.  Even if this is expired, manufacturers usually have older generation devices to replace the one that is lost.  

While it does make sense to stick with a manufacturer's devices that you are happy with, by no means does this mean that you couldn't transition to another brand.  People do this all the time and some end up liking the different brand better.

The brain is very "plastic" meaning that it will change based on the inputs we provide it.  Even if you didn't like a new brand of hearing aid initially, your brain would change to accept and appreciate the new sound.  

Every manufacturer has their own fitting formulas and ways of analyzing incoming sounds signals. Because you previously wore Resound hearing aids your audiologist probably recommended that you continue using Resound hearing aids since your brain was accustomed to their sound. 

With that said you are not forced to keep using Resound! If another hearing aid manufacturer has features you are more interested in then now is the time to transition over.