Hearing Aid advice

txdon · Jul 9, 2015

Piloon not to knock your free medical system but the statement: "she claimed they would simply drive me nuts as they amplify EVERYTHING and would be a waste of $$'s." is not true. My hearing aids filter out unwanted noise and allow me to understand words. In the car I can switch to "car mode" and all the road and wind noise is filter out and I can hear my wife talking without saying "what" 10 times. In a crowd all background noise is also filtered out and the person talking to you is understood. The whole positive hearing experience with my aids has been the ability of the hearing aids to filter out the other noises. This was not so when I had my first hearing aids many many years ago. I would not recommend any hearing aids that did not filter out the noise.

In the retail business like Costco they guarantee that you will like them or you get back 100% of your money back. Is not this an incentive for quality?
What does your government do for quality incentives?

jix · Jul 9, 2015

Hello JC cummins...I empathize with your situation. I was in it myself a few years ago. Please let me try to reassure you...NO! you are not doomed. Hearing aides are.. hands down.. one of the best investments you will ever make. They make a big difference in ways that you probably will not believe until you wear them for awhile, they enable happiness among your family--and for yourself. They re-awaken your joy in living, and in appreciating your friends.
The most important part of owning hearing aides is a very good, well experience audiologist. There are lots of things the audiologist will do for you.. at no cost. Getting you the best hearing aides is a tricky form of art. Getting them programmed according to your hearing needs is another...they are adjustable to suit your sensory requirements in your living environment...that is perhaps the most important thing they do routinely. Helping you to acclimate to them is another. An experienced, licensed audiologist is essential, like rain on a garden and weeding the rows is essential. Good hearing extends a life span..and happiness in it..plus it is necessary for your safety and considerate to loved ones.

If I had Bill Gates money, I would buy hearing aides for all those who are missing out on so much..in their hearing, in their relationships, in in their everyday appreciatgion of being alive, aware, and tuned in.

Best of all...Somebody talks and you do not want to listen...They Turn Off!....But shhhh! I did not say that.

Good luck my TBN friend,

Jix

cdaigle430 · Jul 9, 2015

I am almost 50 and I have worn hearing aids since I was 32, I have severe tinnitus and profound hearing loss-one ear useless and the other just about useless. I progressively lost hearing evry year up until 4 years ago. Hearing aids are a benefit not only in quality of life but in mental capacity. Hearing aids also will take some time to get used to and can be uncomfortably loud or just uncomfortable to wear at first.
The key thing to remember is get a good audioligist and know that you may have to go back several times to get them adjust right.
Also know that you need to protect them and maintain them for long lasting life, keep them clean and let them dry out every night.
Dont worry about how you look with them or how you think people will see you. I learned a lesson, though in the ear aids were better and more descrete than behind the ears-thats not true. I have BTE aids no and have had no ear aches since the ITE ones I had-most cant tell I wear them now.

cdaigle430 · Jul 9, 2015

Also-remember dont go crazy with buying expensive hearing aids because it is recommended you replace them every 4-6 years anyway. Why-hearing loss adjustment and devices usually start to fail after several years anyway.

jcummins · Jul 9, 2015

cdaigle430 said:
Also-remember dont go crazy with buying expensive hearing aids because it is recommended you replace them every 4-6 years anyway. Why-hearing loss adjustment and devices usually start to fail after several years anyway.

Fear not....expensive....is part of the reasons I've not gotten any. $$$$$ just go so far, but 'something' for sure is in my future.

truckdiagnostics · Jul 9, 2015

jix said:
Hello JC cummins...I empathize with your situation. I was in it myself a few years ago. Please let me try to reassure you...NO! you are not doomed. Hearing aides are.. hands down.. one of the best investments you will ever make. They make a big difference in ways that you probably will not believe until you wear them for awhile, they enable happiness among your family--and for yourself. They re-awaken your joy in living, and in appreciating your friends.
The most important part of owning hearing aides is a very good, well experience audiologist. There are lots of things the audiologist will do for you.. at no cost. Getting you the best hearing aides is a tricky form of art. Getting them programmed according to your hearing needs is another...they are adjustable to suit your sensory requirements in your living environment...that is perhaps the most important thing they do routinely. Helping you to acclimate to them is another. An experienced, licensed audiologist is essential, like rain on a garden and weeding the rows is essential. Good hearing extends a life span..and happiness in it..plus it is necessary for your safety and considerate to loved ones.

If I had Bill Gates money, I would buy hearing aides for all those who are missing out on so much..in their hearing, in their relationships, in in their everyday appreciatgion of being alive, aware, and tuned in.

Best of all...Somebody talks and you do not want to listen...They Turn Off!....But shhhh! I did not say that.

Good luck my TBN friend,

Jix

Often wondered why there is not a hearing aid rebuild program, they have them for cell phones. Not trying to be morbid here, but the family just spent $5,000 on hearing aids for my mother. SHE IS 83 If she makes it to 85 we will all be happy. We just wanted her to be able to hear in her last days. There is two slightly used hearing aids top of the line dad wanted the best! So, where do all these hearing aids end up? When she passes I would have no issue with giving them to say JC Cummins.

txdon · Jul 9, 2015

truckdiagnostics said:
Often wondered why there is not a hearing aid rebuild program, they have them for cell phones. Not trying to be morbid here, but the family just spent $5,000 on hearing aids for my mother. SHE IS 83 If she makes it to 85 we will all be happy. We just wanted her to be able to hear in her last days. There is two slightly used hearing aids top of the line dad wanted the best! So, where do all these hearing aids end up? When she passes I would have no issue with giving them to say JC Cummins.

Now That is an excellent idea! Not only death but there are lots of people who want to trade up every few years (like phones) to get the latest technology.
Are second hand hearing aids or trade-ups even offered?

truckdiagnostics · Jul 9, 2015

If they can do it for a cell phone, why not hearing heads. Any how, small sampling that I did, spoke to my audiolgist, trying to donate my mother inlaws. As tackfully as she could, "medicare and medicade picks up large portion there is just not a market for them. We'll tell that to JC Cummins! Not a market for a $5,000 set of two year old hearing aids. But there must not be. Now you going to love what she said next. They do however send them too third world countries! Where doctors with out boards will work with them. How is them apples?

jcummins · Jul 9, 2015

truckdiagnostics said:
Often wondered why there is not a hearing aid rebuild program, they have them for cell phones. Not trying to be morbid here, but the family just spent $5,000 on hearing aids for my mother. SHE IS 83 If she makes it to 85 we will all be happy. We just wanted her to be able to hear in her last days. There is two slightly used hearing aids top of the line dad wanted the best! So, where do all these hearing aids end up? When she passes I would have no issue with giving them to say JC Cummins.

THAT is a very thoughtful gesture. I really appreciate the thought.

I'm not in dire financial means, but it seems so many 'unplanned' expenditures come up in retirement that just keep you from putting the 2 to 6 grand back for things like this. Air conditioner going out...a close relative with financial issues to the tune of $4000....seems every year they are always there. I fear in another 5 years...this house will need a roof. Not to mention the I wants, and I wants a few things, besides the needs of a hearing aid.

I'm going to go at this slow so I can bone up on this technology. The more I read it seems the less I know about these things. From my reading, AFTER the purchase this requires a lot of tinkering, and trips to the audiologist. That part I'll have trouble with it....know it going into this. I'll probably go Costco due to cost, and it will be pretty much a day shot on each visit, since none real close. But also...I don't like cheap stuff that just doesn't quite cut it. I'll avoid purchases until I can get the right thing....I like quality. The features in these hearing aids surprise me, and also makes them desirable on my part. 10 years back...I could have REALLY used in particular the cell phone features. I took a lot of calls, and I struggled with hearing. Now...the TV is probably more important. BUT ALSO....things like sitting on my back porch and my wife talking of how noisy the hummingbirds are.....and I'm not hearing one thing. Got me to thinking about the various sounds of nature, and what I may or may not be missing. Know I was missing the hummers.

truckdiagnostics · Jul 9, 2015

Folks don't get me wrong reason I know about the used hearing aids issue is I had serious heart burn when I first got the pricing. And basically it was hey, what about my dead mother in law's hearing aids. Also, as cheap as i am $5,000 is half a car. And as in the hearing aids for my mother in law, taking something that was 3 years ago was worth $5,000 and throwing it in the trash I have a hard time with that. I waited two years after knowing i needed them and finally my family said, no new ZTR mower for you. Go get hearing aids. So, now I sit on a big box store mower that beats the heck out of my already bad back. Our business is crashing and burning because of the difference in the dollar to say every other currency in the world. Then have some one say well we don't do anything here with them because medicare and Medicaid usually picks up it up so there is no market for it. Oh, but we send them to third world countries! Give me a break! Everybody here in the US is happy because most of our economy is based on consumer spending, so nobody really notices. Right now if you are in any kind of business that has to export anything your toast! Now if your a big company, just buy one of those third world foreign companies, have them make your design. And have one of your workers is wearing my mother in law's hearing aids. I'm 53 and I don't know about the rest of you but... I have no choice but to invest in the stock market or i will never have enough money to retire and watching the stock market go up and down, I try not to let it bother me. I apologize I am on a rant And we ain't poor either I just can't stand pissing away money, mine or anybody else, the majority of us have worked to hard. Yes, we are still in a majority for now, today, this hour this second. Steve

ullinghair:

KubotainNH · Jul 9, 2015

Many good points here and I'll put my 2 cents in. My wife has had hearing aids for 30 years. Last year we finally upgraded her old ones. The old ones had been rebuild many times and were 25+ year old tech. Point is she had them rebuilt including new ear molds for about $150, sometimes the unit got all new guts but still the cost was the same and it came with a warranty. Hopefully the new ones will be re-buildable too. The main reason we got new aids is because my insurance covered them after my high deductible but the best part is my particular insurance company negotiates prices so they ended up being a third of the normal price.

In reality, to her the new hearing aids with 25 year newer digital tech are not as great an improvement as one would think. It may depend on hearing loss but she was happy with the old ones and they burned through batteries less quickly. It does have some nice features like the audiologist can program a few setting like a crowd setting compared to one on one conversation. She rarely uses the extra settings. One thing I've been grappling with for my 83 year old mom that has bad hearing is if she will be able to run it if we get her aids. The buttons are so tiny I think she would give up on them. She's pretty much given up on the cheapo one I bought off Amazon as a trial thing and it has bigger buttons.

For the person who mentioned itchy ears, they have drops for that to make less itching. Talk to your audiologist.

Here's some hearing aid info.
Health Insurance Coverage for Hearing Aids
Hearing Aids and the Affordable Care Act | Hearing Loss Association of America
https://www.hihealthinnovations.com/page/faqpurchaseandplan

PILOON · Jul 9, 2015

txdon said:
Piloon not to knock your free medical system but the statement: "she claimed they would simply drive me nuts as they amplify EVERYTHING and would be a waste of $$'s.

Hearing aids are FREE to us under our medicare BUT at a % of hearing loss which is about 35% loss.
My hearing is OK at lower ranges but drops rapidly at higher ranges.
Noisy aircraft, turbines, chainsaws, snomobiles and outboard motors in my early years.
Most voice ranges are OK for me, but the rest, forget it.
Background noise makes conversation difficult but one on one is no problem.
Like forget noisy bars. LOL. But I am beyond that stage of life anyway.

The gov't provides free aids but naturally not the top of the line versions that are programmable for every condition.
My mom had the top o line and even they drove her nuts and always seemed to squeal.

My goal was to avail myself of the free aids but I in fact do not qualify as I am not 'deaf' by their definition but partially impaired.

txdon · Jul 9, 2015

KubotainNH said:
. . . She rarely uses the extra settings. One thing I've been grappling with for my 83 year old mom that has bad hearing is if she will be able to run it if we get her aids. The buttons are so tiny I think she would give up on them. She's pretty much given up on the cheapo one I bought off Amazon as a trial thing and it has bigger buttons.

I do not mess with the tiny buttons I have a com-pilot Phonak ComPilot - Hearing Aid Accessory | Phonak - life is on that is worn around the neck, usually under my shirt. It has three easily accessible buttons (can press through fabric) that control the volume, switching between the three programs, and is also a bluetooth connecting device from TV or cell phone or remote mike to hearing aids.

Example - your cell phone will ring in your hearing aids, the number calling is spoken to you, push the big button to answer and then push again to hang up. With TV push the big button and you are connected through your hearing aid push again during commercials you do not want to hear. The TV set can be muted or not when you use it.

Without the com-pilot the hearing aid experience would not be enjoyable for me - way too limited. The remote mike (wife-mike) can also be turned on and off by pushing the big button.

The two smaller 3/4" buttons on the bottom control volume.

jcummins · Jul 10, 2015

truckdiagnostics said:
Folks don't get me wrong reason I know about the used hearing aids issue is I had serious heart burn when I first got the pricing. And basically it was hey, what about my dead mother in law's hearing aids. Also, as cheap as i am $5,000 is half a car. And as in the hearing aids for my mother in law, taking something that was 3 years ago was worth $5,000 and throwing it in the trash I have a hard time with that. I waited two years after knowing i needed them and finally my family said, no new ZTR mower for you. Go get hearing aids. So, now I sit on a big box store mower that beats the heck out of my already bad back. Our business is crashing and burning because of the difference in the dollar to say every other currency in the world. Then have some one say well we don't do anything here with them because medicare and Medicaid usually picks up it up so there is no market for it. Oh, but we send them to third world countries! Give me a break! Everybody here in the US is happy because most of our economy is based on consumer spending, so nobody really notices. Right now if you are in any kind of business that has to export anything your toast! Now if your a big company, just buy one of those third world foreign companies, have them make your design. And have one of your workers is wearing my mother in law's hearing aids. I'm 53 and I don't know about the rest of you but... I have no choice but to invest in the stock market or i will never have enough money to retire and watching the stock market go up and down, I try not to let it bother me. I apologize I am on a rant And we ain't poor either I just can't stand pissing away money, mine or anybody else, the majority of us have worked to hard. Yes, we are still in a majority for now, today, this hour this second. Steveullinghair:

I hear every word, and millions others. We mostly are ok...but struggle. Today's world.

cdaigle430 · Jul 10, 2015

truckdiagnostics said:
Often wondered why there is not a hearing aid rebuild program, they have them for cell phones. Not trying to be morbid here, but the family just spent $5,000 on hearing aids for my mother. SHE IS 83 If she makes it to 85 we will all be happy. We just wanted her to be able to hear in her last days. There is two slightly used hearing aids top of the line dad wanted the best! So, where do all these hearing aids end up? When she passes I would have no issue with giving them to say JC Cummins.

There are places that can rebuild them. Some of the challenges for recycling them (I think its what you meant?) are different ear molds for ITE aids, different ear canals, programming is propeirtary to the manufacturer. Moisture and humidty are very hard on amplifiers, controllers themselves and finally they are medical devices so clenliness and bacteria can be a pain. I can donate my old hearing aids to my father but usually by the time I am done with them they are obsolete anyway. Just like an IPAD 1st generation-no more operating system upgrades for 2 years now s o you cant run any older apps or new apps because they have been updated to the newer OS.

cdaigle430 · Jul 10, 2015

jcummins said:
Fear not....expensive....is part of the reasons I've not gotten any. $$$$$ just go so far, but 'something' for sure is in my future.

Some pointers here for you

1) If your a veteran even without a service related disability the VA can give you new hearing aids.
2) Check with you local state HR as they often get funds for hearing aids for those who cannot afford them.
3) Check with places like Sams Club who sell and fit hearing aids, price is ok and you can put it on their card at 0% financing-Thats what my dad did).
4) Local churces can also provide help with cost and donated hearing aids.
5) Check out this article from AARP-
Paying for Hearing Aids - Where to Go for Financial Help - AARP

Lots of good resources for those who are on a fixed budget.

cdaigle430 · Jul 10, 2015

Same for me

How do you keep from losing your com pilot? Mine has fallen off the neck loop several times-got lucky.

Bird · Jul 10, 2015

This reminds me of when I got my first ITE hearing aids in 1992. The audiologist was talking about insurance or warranty if one was lost. She said she'd had people claim they had one just fall out of their ear, and she said, "That just doesn't happen!" A few months later, I was lying on my back under our motorhome pulling on a wrench to remove the oil filter, and I had one hearing aid fall out on the ground. Of course I didn't lose or damage it, and that's the ONLY time I've had one fall out, but it CAN happen.

txdon · Jul 10, 2015

cdaigle430 said:
Same for me How do you keep from losing your com pilot? Mine has fallen off the neck loop several times-got lucky.

My com-pilot's neck loop has never disconnected. I aways just slide it over my neck and do not disconnect the ends. I also keep it inside my shirt unless driving so if it would come loose it would go nowhere.

Gale Hawkins · Jul 23, 2015

I am the legal guardian for a 71 year old guy that is deaf without his power aids. After about three years from new we have to send back ever two years on average and that is $300 each so that averages out to about $300 per year in his case.

My are less than two years old are fine so far.

After 6 months after I went off of sugar, grain and most all carbs and replaced them with fats like coconut oil, almonds, bacon, eggs, etc my hearing improved. Maybe some of the 50 pounds I have lost over last two years was from fat filling up my ears.

This spring I was down in the swampy area running the back hoe and heard frogs over the engine noise. About a month ago I was spreading some gravel and when I turned I heard a sound that was new to me. It was the gravel that was crunching that I was hearing unaided. Actually I picked up some ear plugs for the first time to protect my unaided improved hearing. It may have been some heavy metal clearing the body. Why is not important but hearing is not the only improvement from my permanent diet change.

Most of the time I wear them to the movies but before I had to raise the volume 3 clicks on the clicker but now I do not even carry the clicker.