Hearing Aid advice

[Bird]

What is the $ range of repair usually for your hearing aids? How log do you intend to keep them before you update?

My old memory failed me above. I know that many years ago, it cost me $100 every time one was sent in for repair. But I find in my old records that it cost $150 in '97. I've forgotten the name of the dealer in Waco, so I don't remember when it was costing $200 each time, but in 2010 it cost $259 for one and in 2011 it was also $259 to repair the other one. On August 30, 2012, I got my current ones new for $4,000 ($2,000 each). They supposedly came with a one year warranty while the old ones had a 2 year warranty, so I told my dealer that she'd have to include the 2 year warranty at that price, and she did. So these are almost 3 years old and have never been repaired. However, on December 15, 2014, my Beltone dealer did a new hearing test and some re-programming at no cost.

I don't know whether it's all Beltone dealers or not, but any maintenance done there in the office is supposed to be no cost for the lifetime of the hearing aids. But if one is sent in to the factory, it's one cost no matter what it takes to fix it. So I don't know whether they've gone up from the $259, but I'd suspect it's about $300 now.

 

[pacerron]

My old memory failed me above. I know that many years ago, it cost me $100 every time one was sent in for repair. But I find in my old records that it cost $150 in '97. I've forgotten the name of the dealer in Waco, so I don't remember when it was costing $200 each time, but in 2010 it cost $259 for one and in 2011 it was also $259 to repair the other one. On August 30, 2012, I got my current ones new for $4,000 ($2,000 each). They supposedly came with a one year warranty while the old ones had a 2 year warranty, so I told my dealer that she'd have to include the 2 year warranty at that price, and she did. So these are almost 3 years old and have never been repaired. However, on December 15, 2014, my Beltone dealer did a new hearing test and some re-programming at no cost.

I don't know whether it's all Beltone dealers or not, but any maintenance done there in the office is supposed to be no cost for the lifetime of the hearing aids. But if one is sent in to the factory, it's one cost no matter what it takes to fix it. So I don't know whether they've gone up from the $259, but I'd suspect it's about $300 now.

My Miracle Ears have free in office maintenance, cleaning, and repair for as long as I keep them. They are BTE with the vinyl tubes. I go in every 3 months and have the tubes replaced at no charge, since they become stiff in that time period from sweat and wax. He vacuums, cleans and checks them as well.
Hearing test once a year or more often as needed. The parts and repair warranty included with the original price was for 3 years.

I don't buy the extended warranty. Hearing, ear mold fit, and technology changes over time so I don't see paying for insurance on old technology.
My present pair are 4 years old and so far no problems requiring a send in.
Buying or not buying insurance on anything has to be a personal decision based on the possible risks you are willing to absorb.
Ron

 

[CurlyDave]

...Buying or not buying insurance on anything has to be a personal decision based on the possible risks you are willing to absorb.
Ron

In general, the companies selling the extended warranties (which aren't really insurance) make money. In fact they are very profitable items.

I do what is called "self-insuring" on these things. I nearly always decline the extended warranty and just accept that I am going to have to pay to replace a few items that don't last as long as I think they should. This usually works out pretty well.

The only exceptions are new technology and cars. The new tech example I can think of is that when Maytag first came out with front-loading washers, I got one, and bought an extended warranty, just because they were new. Well, they replaced the Maytag unit twice under the warranty, and when it failed again, they gave us a different brand, which lasted a lot better.

 

[PILOON]

I have followed closely this discussion as I was 'getting there.'

Our Canadian system required a referral from the GP to see the specialist.(2 month wait)
The specialist basically referred me to an audio technician(another 2 month wait) or for a $100. fee next week.
I opted to wait out the government tech.

The tech informed me that I had serious losses at all the higher ranges with right being the worst and that unfortunately not much could be done.
She was very honest IMHO to advise me not to invest in aids as she claimed they would simply drive me nuts as they amplify EVERYTHING and would be a waste of $$'s.
She gave me lots of advise including the use of wireless headphones for watching TV
She suggested Sennheiser brand which I did purchase. WOW, TV is now beyond lip reading and guessing.
Now that I know my left is better I position myself to take advantage of that fact. I helps.

Being government system she was not selling anything and did agree that had I gone for the $100. referred clinic they would have done the utmost to fit me with aids that I'd never have used.
She did agree that chain saws, outboard motors and snowmobiles plus all my aviation background was the probable cause of my hearing losses.
Little did we know back then.

OK, in Canada we have medicare system and yes I had a 5 month or so wait period but our system does work and I'm none the worst for waiting.
When I did need immediate care a couple of years back they sent the ambulance mid afternoon and I was operated on next day at 6 AM.

In both events my total costs were parking fees. Our Canadian medicare does work.

 

[txdon]

Do you have to be 65 to be on Canadian medicare? If so what would be the cost for a person less than the minimum age?

 

[PILOON]

Do you have to be 65 to be on Canadian medicare? If so what would be the cost for a person less than the minimum age?

No, all Canadians have medical coverage as part of our system.
Really good and efficient but frequently misunderstood.
Many get upset that they are not at front of the line while not everything is an 'emergency'.
Then there are those that constantly abuse the system taking precious time at ER's when they should be in bed with an aspirin. Anxious parents with a child that has a cold get all worried and demand immediate attention as after all it might just be pneumonia.
For that kind of reason (and others) ER are constantly overworked and that creates a bad reputation for our system.

Then there is the absolute abuse whereby sick foreigners enter Canada often illegally just for our medicare claiming 'refugee status'.
I also know of Americans with dual passports that come for childbirths or other medical procedures.
Guess nothing is perfect.

 

[txdon]

Piloon, I'm curious, which Seenheiser hearing aid did you have to wait 5 months for?

 

[jcummins]

Subscribing to this thread.

Some 25 years ago I was drugged to a hearing specialist by my family to get a hearing test. End results I was told I needed $4000 worth of hearing aids, I walked out of there and said .....NO way.

Now, at age 72, I'm having trouble carrying on conversations, and even I have come to the realization that I need to do something. We had some family over on the 4th, about 10 people...and I felt 'out of it' since I couldn't follow ANY conservation. My hearing, along with some others there with hearing problems, became the topic of discussions, since the WHAT YOU SAYS was flying fast and furious.

So following this with interest.

 

[Bird]

Now, at age 72, I'm having trouble carrying on conversations

Now I'm 75 but I've been wearing two hearing aids since 1992. And even with these 3 program, $4000, hearing aids, there are two situations in which I have a really hard time hearing and understanding. One is small children, even up to their teens, and the other is when 2 or more people are talking at the same time, I probably won't understand what either of them are saying.

 

[jcummins]

Now I'm 75 but I've been wearing two hearing aids since 1992. And even with these 3 program, $4000, hearing aids, there are two situations in which I have a really hard time hearing and understanding. One is small children, even up to their teens, and the other is when 2 or more people are talking at the same time, I probably won't understand what either of them are saying.

Arrrgggg. I'm doomed.

 

[BKBrown]

It's my wife that has the hearing loss and we found that the right Audiologist who understands the hearing tests and how to program the aids made all the difference. Robin now has an aid that moves some frequencies she has trouble with into a range she can hear. Sounds are different for her, but she adjusts and learns what she is hearing. Most children have higher pitch (higher frequency) voice range and talk faster. Those high frequencies can be moved to the lower ranges and it will help with understanding.

 

[pacerron]

Subscribing to this thread.

Some 25 years ago I was drugged to a hearing specialist by my family to get a hearing test. End results I was told I needed $4000 worth of hearing aids, I walked out of there and said .....NO way.

Now, at age 72, I'm having trouble carrying on conversations, and even I have come to the realization that I need to do something. We had some family over on the 4th, about 10 people...and I felt 'out of it' since I couldn't follow ANY conservation. My hearing, along with some others there with hearing problems, became the topic of discussions, since the WHAT YOU SAYS was flying fast and furious.

So following this with interest.

You may find that after 25 years of hearing loss, even with the best technology available today, that your brain will have problems, at first, processing sounds and words that have been lost from your memory. There are many functions of our body that are thought to be influenced
negatively from loss of hearing, in addition to social communications.
Starkey Research Series: How Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids Affect Brent Edwards Hearing & Hearing Loss Hearing Aids - Adults Miscellaneous VA Selections 12832

 

[oldpilgrim]

there are 3 main aspects to hearing,

1. volume
2. frequency
3. understanding

1. many people think hard of hearing means that it's not loud enough.....sometimes that's true. That's pretty simple to solve..make the sounds louder.

2. many people can't hear certain frequencies, but may/may not have a volume issue. That's where the higher and higher tones in the 'whistle' test in your test headphones come in.

3. many people may or may not have the above issues but may not have the vibrations in their ears hit their brain in the same manner as they hit the ears. That's why a good audiologist will give you a 'comprehension' test and ask you to repeat a series of words that are fed thru your test headphones.

My Dad was in WWII in France and got badly blown up. He's 90 now and has all of the above conditions. In one ear the comprehension rate is one in 10 words. The other is 40 percent comprehension. His volume issue requires the strongest aids that he can get. Without them he's effectively deaf. He has extreme difficulty in hearing women's' voices and some men's due to the frequencies. The fancy aids help with that a little somehow.

Fortunately he doesn't have tinnitus, for some strange reason. You'd think he would with the action he saw from DDay onward.

i have extreme tinnitus and moderate hearing loss from my time in the Army. My aids help a lot with the volume and moderately with the ringing. They make the ringing tolerable.

You youngsters, take care of your ears. You don't know what you've got until they're gone.

 

[jcummins]

You may find that after 25 years of hearing loss, even with the best technology available today, that your brain will have problems, at first, processing sounds and words that have been lost from your memory. There are many functions of our body that are thought to be influenced
negatively from loss of hearing, in addition to social communications.
Starkey Research Series: How Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids Affect Brent Edwards Hearing & Hearing Loss Hearing Aids - Adults Miscellaneous VA Selections 12832

Speed read that article, I'll go back and read in detail. But I recognize what's in there. Lot of meat to that article.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

It's my wife that has the hearing loss and we found that the right Audiologist who understands the hearing tests and how to program the aids made all the difference. Robin now has an aid that moves some frequencies she has trouble with into a range she can hear. Sounds are different for her, but she adjusts and learns what she is hearing. Most children have higher pitch (higher frequency) voice range and talk faster. Those high frequencies can be moved to the lower ranges and it will help with understanding.

Agree, took my audiologist couple of different programs and ear inserts to get it where it made enough of a difference to make wearing them worth while. Took 6 months to get it right. The whole deal was not cheap. Insurance didn't pick up much either.

 

[txdon]

Arrrgggg. I'm doomed.

Costco lets you try theirs for a month and the exam is free. You will be surprised how better you hear and so will your family. The only time I hear better without my aids is if there is a hard wind blowing around my head the the wind noises drown out everything else. Also check with your insurance - you may have partial coverage. Just the cost of getting old.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Now I'm 75 but I've been wearing two hearing aids since 1992. And even with these 3 program, $4000, hearing aids, there are two situations in which I have a really hard time hearing and understanding. One is small children, even up to their teens, and the other is when 2 or more people are talking at the same time, I probably won't understand what either of them are saying.

I "hear" you Bird. I mentioned this before but will repeat for other, a program we have here in KY called Vocational Rehab paid for mine because I was could not hear the kids on my school bus I drive. Oh', I can hear them alright, I usually turn mine down, lol! I live in a poor area with alot of families moving when they cannot pay the rent. There are always new kids or misplaced kids that are nervous or scared so they speak even less louder than normal. I can crank up the volume as needed but the background noise is rough.

Same in a crowd. I have resigned myself to accepting that there are some situations where I just won't be able to participate.

I have one of those bluetooth devices for my cell phone. It works great at my desk when I need to make calls but not so much in the car. I just get overloaded on background noise.

Thanks to those who responded to my question about insurance. I think I will put my faith in the maker for now since the policy offerred to me does not cover "accidental damage". I have gotten pretty dedicated about removing them to run power tools, mow lawn, work in my dusty barn, work on the vehicles, etc.

While I am at it, who else uses the peroxide cleaner and saline spray to remove or breakdown earwax? I try to do that weekly.

 

[QRTRHRS]

You may find that after 25 years of hearing loss, even with the best technology available today, that your brain will have problems, at first, processing sounds and words that have been lost from your memory. There are many functions of our body that are thought to be influenced
negatively from loss of hearing, in addition to social communications.
Starkey Research Series: How Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids Affect Brent Edwards Hearing & Hearing Loss Hearing Aids - Adults Miscellaneous VA Selections 12832

My wife was born deaf in one ear and severely limited in the other. Her mother tought her to read lips and with an aid (which gave her the ability to hear in terms of vowels but not complete words servered her somewhat for many years. In 2009 at the age of 62 I think it was, she had a coclear implant. After two years of horrible tennitus she was able to learn to process the words which she had never actually ever heard. It has taken some time, it has not been easy for her but she has no regrets.

I offer this story to encourage those who do not think aids will be worth it or are frustrated with the initial results. A good audiologist willl work with you. It took some time to loose your hearing, it will take some time to get at least some of it back.

 

[PILOON]

Piloon, I'm curious, which Seenheiser hearing aid did you have to wait 5 months for?

The 5 month 'wait' was for our free medicare system to test my hearing which IMHO is acceptable for a non urgent non life threatening situation. Part of the delay is that a referral from the GP is required to see a EENT specialist that then refers you to the audio clinic.

The audio clinic technician discouraged me from even considering any brand of hearing aid which I thought was extremely honest of her.
My losses are mainly in the upper ranges and more so at low volume.
The wireless headset (earphones), Sennheiser brand, are very hi-fidelity, comfortable and greatly enhance TV for me as the sound is where I need it without any local interruption.
LOL, an added feature is that I follow TV when I need to use the 'rest room' and not have to wait for a commercial to do so.

I will repeat, she was very professional in that she discouraged me from wasting $$$ on aids and instead suggested other means of improving my situation. That because she was a government paid technician and not a retail business.

Now because of the lab testing I better understand the what and how to better cope with my hearing deficiency.

Sure, all the 'clinics' in shopping malls and medical complexes perform the same tests but they are a business and profit oriented. They have to sell!
Our gov't 'medicare' clinic is not profit oriented.
OK, so I waited a bit, but diminished hearing is not life threatening merely inconvenient.