Hearing Aid advice

[QRTRHRS]

Does anyone know if Blue Cross pays for hearing aids. I dread trying to find out on the phone with them.

I don't think so. I got mine via Vocational Rehab here in KY. They provide assistance mainly for people who needs certain aids in order to perruse work mainly. I drive a school bus and was having trouble hearing kids mainly when they got put on my bus by mistake and being scared would barely speak up. Perhaps you have a similar offering?

The clinic was conveniently located next to the rehab office so I chose them rather than one closer. My results were so so until the clinic sold. The new audiologist had this setup where she put special mics in my ears and mapped my hearing to my test results. She programmed my aids so they were amplifiing more and would continue to slowly increase over a time.

It was like the first time I put them in. There are still those who speak so softly that I struggle to understand them but life is much much better overall.

MY UV dryer states that it does not hurt the batteries to put them in so I too just crack the door to disconnect the batteries.

 

[QRTRHRS]

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.

Mine are Oticons and I use my bluetooth daily. I wear pocket tee's so I can tuck the bluetooth in rather than to let it swing. No problem after about a year and a half. I love it for phone use.

 

[jlgurr]

My long awaited and much anticipated appointment at Costco is Tomorrow. I'm excited and worried at the same time. Thank you all for the comments and advice that got me this far. Praying for some relief to come my way.

Jeff

Sent from my iPhone 2.0 using TractorByNet

 

[txdon]

You will be relieved when you realize that it is actually a struggle to hear and now that struggle is about to end. Make sure you get the remote or copilot for whichever model you get and that you can control the channels and volume without having to touch little tiny buttons on the hearing aid. Remember you are amplifying the sound a bit but more importantly you are filtering out the other sounds that muddle voice sounds.

Good luck and let us know the results!

 

[jlgurr]

Bought some hearing aids today. WOW! Unbelievable how much hearing I get back with them on. Used only demo model but mine will be here Friday afternoon. Tried to rent the demo for the week but she only laughed. After wearing them 45 minutes it sounded like I put IN ear plugs when they were taken off. Can't wait till Friday!

 

[buckeyefarmer]

My son likes his costco pair. Unfortunately i found out after the fact my insurance wouldn't cover them, out of network.

 

[jlgurr]

Ouch! My health insurance doesn't have the benefit and it (the loss) was not work related so it was 100% out of my wallet. I'm blessed that my hearing loss could be masked with an aid!

Sent from my iPhone 2.0 using TractorByNet

 

[Bird]

I got new Beltones recently (in the last month or so). I first tried the behind the ear (BTE) models that are so popular, but just didn't work well for me. So we went to the bigger style, in the ear (ITE) that I'm accustomed to. But these new ones are much more powerful, and have 4 programs. They are also wireless and I got the remote control to go with them. And yesterday I got Beltone's "My Pal" portable microphone and used it for the first time this morning. I have not watched TV that wasn't closed caption in years, but I think I can with this My Pal which transmits the sound directly to the hearing aids. Lots of weird features, and cost me $5,000 total with a 4 year warranty.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Glad you found new hearing aids that work well for you. The wireless and My Pal features sound interesting.

 

[milkman]

Went to the hearing aid specialist today and tried a new set of Widex that look like the BTE but with the electronics on the tube in the ear. He programmed a demo set and let me try them, lot better than my old ones. He's programming a set for me to try for 2 weeks, but the price is $5400 for the pair.
I need to go to town tomorrow so I'm stopping by Costco and check out their Kirkland made by Resound that has all the features that the Widex has, at $1799 for the pair. I really need a new set of aids, but hate spending over 5K.

 

[jcummins]

Went to the hearing aid specialist today and tried a new set of Widex that look like the BTE but with the electronics on the tube in the ear. He programmed a demo set and let me try them, lot better than my old ones. He's programming a set for me to try for 2 weeks, but the price is $5400 for the pair.
I need to go to town tomorrow so I'm stopping by Costco and check out their Kirkland made by Resound that has all the features that the Widex has, at $1799 for the pair. I really need a new set of aids, but hate spending over 5K.

Trial the Kirkland, then trial the Trax 42. They are a little more but for me.... Worth it.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

My son has the kirkland resound ones, loves them.

 

[txdon]

When I was shopping for hearing aids I did not realize how much I would use the remote to switch to different programs. I have the remote that hangs around the neck under the shirt. When driving I can easily switch to filter out the driving noise so I can hear voice and also answer my phone which is pair to the hearing aids.

Whatever hearing aid you get, make sure it has a good easy remote device to switch programs and volume. I would hate to fumble with the little buttons on the hearing aids.

 

[Bird]

When I was shopping for hearing aids I did not realize how much I would use the remote to switch to different programs. I have the remote that hangs around the neck under the shirt. When driving I can easily switch to filter out the driving noise so I can hear voice and also answer my phone which is pair to the hearing aids.

Whatever hearing aid you get, make sure it has a good easy remote device to switch programs and volume. I would hate to fumble with the little buttons on the hearing aids.

Sounds like the same remote that I have, although I still just carry it in a pocket instead of around my neck. And I agree that it's indispensable.

 

[milkman]

I had heard that Costco's aids were made by Phonak, but Phonak lost a bunch of dealers because they were cheaper at Costco so now they're by Resound. I definitely want the phone connection and the remote sounds useful too, hope it doesn't add too many $$$$s to the deal.

 

[KubotainNH]

We got my mom hearing aids last week, finally. Her remote added $250 to the bill. Not cheap but should help tons when it comes to ease of controlling the aids.

 

[txdon]

We got my mom hearing aids last week, finally. Her remote added $250 to the bill. Not cheap but should help tons when it comes to ease of controlling the aids.

Looking at my remote on Amazon that's about right.
Amazon.com: ComPilot II for Phonak Venture series Hearing Aids: Health & Personal Care

My Dad does not have a remote for his and he is constantly asking to repeat so he can hear. His hearing aids are almost worthless.

 

[joefromga]

So you're telling me there are hearing aids with Bluetooth that allow you to talk hands free on a call? Can you still hear outside noises while in a call?

I have to tell my dad about this.

 

[milkman]

Called Costco today and got an appointment for next Wednesday. I would have wasted a trip if I'd went there without calling. I'm really anxious to see the difference the new technology makes, especially at church. If the bluetooth phone connection works well, that will be nice too, now if I want to use my bluetooth, I have to remove one of my aids. It's about 75 miles to the nearest store, but a new one is opening this Saturday, about 60 miles from home, but don't know if they will have the hearing aid department up and running as soon as it opens.

 

[QRTRHRS]

So you're telling me there are hearing aids with Bluetooth that allow you to talk hands free on a call? Can you still hear outside noises while in a call?

I have to tell my dad about this.

My Oticon brand aids work extremely well with my smartphone, not at all with my landline but I think you can get adaptors to do that, same for the TV. Overall, without the aids and bluetooth, I can barely use a landline. Sometimes when I call a number and get a message, it only comes through on one side rather than "stereo". Have to ask my provider about that. Canned music while on hold is an issue. Always to loud.

You can also get a little microphone that you would ask a speaker at a function to wear that connects to your aids. I had one but lost it, whoops!.

While on the phone, I find that outside noises can interfere such as the background noise in a car. Worse is when my wife wants to ask who I am talking to or asking about the conversation.