Hearing Aid advice

jlgurr · Nov 2, 2015

Has anyone ever used or heard of the Perfect Choice HD Personal Sound Amplifiers? They are $599 per ear but there are only five reviews on their site. Not enough to keep me looking at them without hearing (no pun intended) from others. What is the difference between a hearing aid and an amplifier. To my uneducated mind they seem to be the same???

pacerron · Nov 2, 2015

A sound amplifier is like turning up the volume on your radio, it amplifies all frequencies by an equal amount.

A hearing aid is designed so that various frequency ranges can be amplified while others are not or are subdued according to the hearing test you are given before being fitted.
These can be adjusted later as needed when your hearing changes. Men usually lose more in the higher frequencies, like women's voices.

You used to be able to get little amplifiers for about $20 at radio shak. maybe still can.

jcummins · Nov 2, 2015

jlgurr do yourself a favor and go to Costco.

I am amazed at what I wasn't hearing.

KubotainNH · Nov 2, 2015

You can get an amplifier version from Amazon for 40 bucks. That's the one with decent ratings. When you pay in the thousands you get one customizable and with a proper earmold.

jerrybob · Nov 2, 2015

jcummins said:
jlgurr do yourself a favor and go to Costco.

I am amazed at what I wasn't hearing.

Agree......I got my Costco aids about 8 months ago.....what a difference. Great product. They ain't cheap but worth it. mine were $2500. Same ones at the audio doctor was $6000. Say what?

jlgurr · Nov 3, 2015

pacerron said:
A sound amplifier is like turning up the volume on your radio, it amplifies all frequencies by an equal amount. A hearing aid is designed so that various frequency ranges can be amplified while others are not or are subdued according to the hearing test you are given before being fitted. These can be adjusted later as needed when your hearing changes. Men usually lose more in the higher frequencies, like women's voices. You used to be able to get little amplifiers for about $20 at radio shak. maybe still can.

Wow, great explanation! Thank you. Don't need an amplifier here, some noises are already too loud.

Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNet

txdon · Nov 3, 2015

It is all about the suppression of background noise, but they do also amplify the sounds your ears are missing - mine was high frequency sounds. My custom Costco hearing aids have 3 programs for different environments (car, crowd, reg.) The remote is a must to shift between programs and volume control, for me the little buttons on the hearing aids are too small for my fingers.
It has been a year since I got mine and I noticed that sometime the amplification part would fade. I took them back to Costco and they have a new pair ready for me to pick-up, less than a week - free. Good service. I also noticed the same people are working there in the hearing aid dept. - stability.

Be sure to check with your insurance co. to see what they will pay and if you have to go to their places, and then compare the Costco price.

milkman · Nov 3, 2015

Today I got an appt at the audiologist for Thursday. My aids are seven or eight yrs old so although they've been good, I know they're outdated. My right one quit working about a week ago so I'm afraid I'm looking at buying new. I'm not a member at Costco and there's only one within 75 miles, but from some of the posts here, I will be dropping by there if I need new. I really hate to put out the money now, but I miss too much without them. I've looked at some online for around $700 each, but I think I'd be afraid to go that route especially if they had problems. decisions, decisions.

jcummins · Nov 3, 2015

milkman said:
Today I got an appt at the audiologist for Thursday. My aids are seven or eight yrs old so although they've been good, I know they're outdated. My right one quit working about a week ago so I'm afraid I'm looking at buying new. I'm not a member at Costco and there's only one within 75 miles, but from some of the posts here, I will be dropping by there if I need new. I really hate to put out the money now, but I miss too much without them. I've looked at some online for around $700 each, but I think I'd be afraid to go that route especially if they had problems. decisions, decisions.

I waited, waited, and waited. Cost was just too much. Finally we had some family company...and the discussion the whole week was hearing aids. Seems everyone needed them, with me the worst. Everyone was getting tired of repeating everything for me. Costco for me is 130 miles one way. Kind of makes me sad...and mad....that I took so long to get them. It's worth it.

milkman · Nov 3, 2015

jcummins said:
I waited, waited, and waited. Cost was just too much. Finally we had some family company...and the discussion the whole week was hearing aids. Seems everyone needed them, with me the worst. Everyone was getting tired of repeating everything for me. Costco for me is 130 miles one way. Kind of makes me sad...and mad....that I took so long to get them. It's worth it.

I am convinced that they are worth it, just have to scrape up the money I guess.

jix · Nov 4, 2015

For those who must have hearing aides: Yes they are worth it. I have a device called a CleanDry made by a company called Unitrol. It keeps the aides for much longer. You simply put your aides in it at night with the batteries removed and turn it on. It dries the aides out internally and sterilizes them with UV light. It will double the life of the aides, says my audiologist. Check it out.:cool2:

Jix

txdon · Nov 4, 2015

I also use the UV light system ( Amazon.com: perfectdry lux )but I leave my batteries in. The batteries seem to have the same life span. Is there a reason for taking the batteries out? I bought my UV light cleaner at Costco.

jix · Nov 4, 2015

TX Don... My aides will quickly exhaust their batteries if left turned on when they are close together because they seem to squeal at each other..or so my wife says. I cannot hear them squeal myself and have never taken pains to time the batteries life since I got my light dryer. I only open the battery doors, but I put the batteries right into the dryer with the aids, because I fumble the little buggers when I handle them, drop them into oblivion, or my dog will quickly pounce on them and eat them.

Probably it really doesn't matter, just gets any moisture out of the battery compartment that may have accumulated in muggy weather. Hearing aides are really helpful for me... but they are also a big PIA too, Don. Old age ain't fer sissies.
I am loving my new Kioti CK 2510 and Loader... but KIOTI has a delivery problem with my front mount snowblower. Apparently the blower is actually made by Normand/Pronovost, who is way behind in the manufacture of these incredibly rugged machines.. been waiting for three months now and mine is still not even delivered to Kioti yet.... Hmmm, grrrr. Trouble is, if you want the best, you just gotta suck it up and wait, and wait.
We here in New Brunswick are overdue for snow now. Might hafta use my loader if push comes to shove..no pun intended. I am just running out of what little patience I have, Don.
Not that it matters in Texas, but we canucks have a new Prime Minister, now. His name is Justin Trudeau, he is just a rich kid, But he beat the stuffins out of the former PM.. Harper. That is just great news to me.
Now all we get on the news here is Donald Trump.. jeepers.. I don't know, but isn't he a horses azz?
Be well, Don:drink:
JIX

txdon · Nov 4, 2015

JIX, Ok thanks for clearing that up, I also just open the battery door, which disconnects the battery from the hearing aid but still leaves the battery in the little door. I don't like handling the small battery also. One of my cleaning tools (brush) came with a magnet on the top end which is very helpful in removing and replacing the battery.

I pick up my hearing aids yesterday and my wife could really tell the difference between the hour trip to and hour trip from Costco. She did not have to repeat on the way home.:thumbsup:

KubotainNH · Nov 5, 2015

txdon said:
It is all about the suppression of background noise, but they do also amplify the sounds your ears are missing - mine was high frequency sounds. My custom Costco hearing aids have 3 programs for different environments (car, crowd, reg.) The remote is a must to shift between programs and volume control, for me the little buttons on the hearing aids are too small for my fingers.

Ok, now you're talking. My mom needs hearing aids but I'm concerned about paying 4 digits for something that will frustrate her and not get used. The buttons are so small but a remote control would help. Could you share the brand and model you have? Thanks!

jlgurr · Nov 5, 2015

Here I go again, getting excited there might be some help for me... Then I recall the ENT told me my hearing wasn't "bad enough" to justify hearing aids yet. But I know people around me are getting tired of me seemingly ignoring them or asking them to repeat. Even the misinterpretations that used to be funny are now becoming old and tired. Anyone here have an idea if the audiograms below indicate hearing levels that would justify a hearing aid? I don't know what constitutes "acceptable" hearing loss so comments are welcome. The interesting thing to me is everyone who has tested me has said my left ear is worse but the left ear seems to me to hear better.

Costco is 100+ miles for me but it seems to be getting closer and closer these days... :sigh:

txdon · Nov 5, 2015

KubotainNH said:
Ok, now you're talking. My mom needs hearing aids but I'm concerned about paying 4 digits for something that will frustrate her and not get used. The buttons are so small but a remote control would help. Could you share the brand and model you have? Thanks!

I was frustrated with my first set 15 years ago but with the new technology and the ComPilot - I love them.

Hearing aids:
Phonak Brio Hearing Aid

look at the ComPilot remote control/phone link/tv videos in this link:
Hearing Aid Informational Videos

txdon · Nov 5, 2015

jlgurr said:
Here I go again, getting excited there might be some help for me... Then I recall the ENT told me my hearing wasn't "bad enough" to justify hearing aids yet. But I know people around me are getting tired of me seemingly ignoring them or asking them to repeat. Even the misinterpretations that used to be funny are now becoming old and tired. Anyone here have an idea if the audiograms below indicate hearing levels that would justify a hearing aid? I don't know what constitutes "acceptable" hearing loss so comments are welcome. The interesting thing to me is everyone who has tested me has said my left ear is worse but the left ear seems to me to hear better.

Costco is 100+ miles for me but it seems to be getting closer and closer these days... :sigh:

View attachment 446361

Your hearing test results looks like a ski slope - like mine.

I get tired of STRUGGLING to hear. With the hearing aids it like a burden is lived off of me. Life is too short to be a struggle. GET THEM! I drive 70 miles and it's worth every mile!

buckeyefarmer · Dec 5, 2015

Just got my son a set of the Costco Signature 6.0. He loves them, much better than his older phonak Nadia digital ones. ( He lost one and recently broke the other)

signature 6.0's are made by Resound. They don't use molds like his old ones did, but have a small speaker that sits in the ear, instead of a tube delivering sound to the ear.
We did not get any of the bluetooth attachments yet. He had those with his old Phonak, and his icom bluetooth device quit working in a short period of time.