Hearing Aid advice

[Bird]

I certainly agree that they're far too expensive, but it used to be that they came with a one year warranty, then a two year warranty became common, and now a 4 year is the norm. But in addition to the warranty, Beltone (and I assume others) dealers will re-check your hearing aids for life, re-program them, if necessary (or requested), or as my paperwork says "Worldwide lifetime care". But yep, still too expensive.

 

[hawkeye08]

On the typical Costco (current version) aids, how long do the batteries last and how costly are they? I am expecting to have to get my hearing tested one of these days and I don't want sticker shock on batteries. I already have sticker shock on the hearing aids..

 

[Bird]

On the typical Costco (current version) aids, how long do the batteries last and how costly are they? I am expecting to have to get my hearing tested one of these days and I don't want sticker shock on batteries. I already have sticker shock on the hearing aids..

I don't think prices will vary a great deal no matter what brand of hearing aids you get. Every drugstore, Walmart, etc. has hearing aid batteries and depending on where you buy and how many at a time you buy, prices can go a little over $1 each or under. I've been buying a box of 40 at a time from my Beltone dealer for $35 a box. Mine last 8 or 9 days and of course I change both at the same time (some change just the one that indicates it needs changing, but I've found if I do that, the other one will also need changing within 24 hours). So it boils down to less than $6 a month for me for batteries

 

[jlgurr]

On the typical Costco (current version) aids, how long do the batteries last and how costly are they? I am expecting to have to get my hearing tested one of these days and I don't want sticker shock on batteries. I already have sticker shock on the hearing aids..

My Trax 42's use a battery every 7 days. Bought my batteries on Amazon. Power One brand, size 312. 60 batteries for only $15.99 + tax. Once was out of town with no spare batteries. Had to buy some at Walmart. Will NEVER do that again. It was more than $1 each when I had some in my dresser drawer at home that cost only $0.30 each.

 

[hawkeye08]

My Trax 42's use a battery every 7 days. Bought my batteries on Amazon. Power One brand, size 312. 60 batteries for only $15.99 + tax. Once was out of town with no spare batteries. Had to buy some at Walmart. Will NEVER do that again. It was more than $1 each when I had some in my dresser drawer at home that cost only $0.30 each.

Good to know, thanks

 

[txdon]

Batteries last 7 days for me also. I pick up several packs from Costco every 6 mo. And right now I cannot remember what they cost, I'll check next week.

The dr visit and follow ups and warranty are included in the costco price.

 

[KubotainNH]

My wife's batteries last 2 weeks or so. We buy a big pack of the PowerOne batteries from Amazon and she has them for months. We sometimes buy them at CVS when they have a big pack on sale. Pays to watch the deals. The CVS zinc air are actually quite good.

 

[txdon]

Costco hearing aid batteries - Hearing Aid Batteries
Zinc air batteries,
17.7 cents per battery,
My battery cost per year is $18.41.

 

[Jim Shooz]

I don't think you guys can complain yet about being ripped off. The batteries I use/need, PR312 are $9.99 for a card of 6 at the local Supermarket. They last about 8 to 10 days. The hearing aids I've been using for the last 6 years (ReSound-X-plore) set me back over $6k. and that's after a $1125.0 Govt subsidy. The replacements with speaker-in-ear look like $4.5k, again after a subsidy. There are only two hearing aid suppliers around here and they have got us by the short and curlys.

 

[jcummins]

I do not recall the cost, but I've only used Costco batteries. I use size 13. But it's not expensive.

They last 10 days...and when one goes, I change both of them.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Son uses the costco batteries. For his last set he used power ones from amazon. His new aids use different battery, power ones didn't last as long as kirkland ones.

 

[milkman]

Got my Kirkland Signature 6.0s fitted yesterday and trying to describe the difference is like trying to describe the taste of AOC evoo in another thread. The thing I notice most with the new aids is, they do amplify the sound to the correct level, but they also clarify sounds. Everything is more clear, it's like I even have ears in the back of my head, I don't have to be facing the sound to understand it. These aids use the same battery as my old ones and I have a few left from ordering on Ebay, I also picked up a card of Kirkland batteries and they are cheaper than the others I've seen. This has been my first experience with Costco and I was impressed with the hearing aid department will visit them more than the other place that starts with S. Absolutely worth joining if just for the hearing aids.

 

[jlgurr]

This has been my first experience with Costco and I was impressed with the hearing aid department will visit them more than the other place that starts with S. Absolutely worth joining if just for the hearing aids.

^^^^^ +1

 

[txdon]

I joined with the Executive membership because it gives 2% back to you, so with my hearing aids and a few other purchases that year membership fee was reimbursed.
I also utilized their travel and went on a cruise. I got the lowest cruise price and a $50 on board spending coupon was on the ship when we arrived.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

After 3 years of use I had to send my Phonak Bolero Q90 - M13 set back for repairs and I got them back last week. It is awesome to have them back because they are game changers. They are the Behind The Ear style with ear molds and really worked out well over the years.

I found the remote to my above hearing aids last night buried at the bottom of my center console in the car and used it at the movies last night. It was awesome because there are times when I miss so much when the speech gets soft or there is a lot of background noise even with the high end Bolero Q90's. I can turn them off and on by hand but not change the preset volume level without the remote. The batteries died for the first time since I got them back from being rebuilt and they both died the same day. Before the right one was dying a couple days before the left because its power is cranked up more.

The AAA's in the remote are 3 years old and still working fine. Battery technology has improved so much over the last 50 years.

As to price I am not sure why hearing aids are so expensive but hopeful R&D are part of the reason.

America Hears - Freedom Hearing Aids

My first set maybe 6-7 years ago were from America Hears because they were low cost AND I could program them myself. I dialed the high frequencies back on my first set because just walking on gravel drove me up the wall and someone wading up paper sent me over the edge because I had never heard those sounds in my life it seems in hindsight.

I do suggest if one is not hearing well that you try and get aided if at all possible. It can be a major adjustment but I missed so much for so long.

Now I have not had mine in today because I have been sleeping, reading or at the computer. I do not wear them when on the tractor, back hoe, etc. Getting ready to go to a high school reunion planning meeting and I will wear them. When interacting with other people they sure help.

 

[EarPlug]

Costco Quietly Launches Latest Kirkland Brand Premium Hearing Aids–at Even Lower Price Point

kirkland signature 7 hearing aids
Costco’s latest Kirkland Signature 7.0 hearing aids, made by Sivantos
ISSAQUAH, WASHINGTON — This past week, Costco quietly rolled out the latest iteration of its “Kirkland Signature” branded hearing aids in stores across the United States. As reported by HHTM in August, to the surprise of many analysts and industry insiders, GN ReSound did not have its contract renewed to become the retail giant’s Kirkland Signature brand supplier–which it had been since 2013. Instead, confirming weeks of speculation, Sivantos (formerly Siemens) is the new Kirkland Signature hearing aid supplier.

Furthermore, Costco has set the price at $1,699/pair, which is $100 less per pair than the previous generation of Kirkland hearing aids and well below the prevailing premium price at Costco for a pair hearing aids.

FULL STORY HERE - Costco Launches New Kirkland Hearing Aids, Made by Sivantos, at Even Lower Price Point | Brian Taylor |hearinghealthmatters.org/hearingnewswatch

 

[jerrybob]

I've used Cosco Phonak hearing aids for about 1 1/2 years now. Love them. Cost $1600. Our TV went from a volume of 38 to 19......my wife now tells me to turn it up. My aids have a very easy to use volume button on them.....I find I need to turn them down in loud restaurants due to background noise. I never realized our dogs barks were so load. Hearing aids really help!!!!

 

[hawkeye08]

Costco Quietly Launches Latest Kirkland Brand Premium Hearing Aids–at Even Lower Price Point

kirkland signature 7 hearing aids
Costco’s latest Kirkland Signature 7.0 hearing aids, made by Sivantos
ISSAQUAH, WASHINGTON — This past week, Costco quietly rolled out the latest iteration of its “Kirkland Signature” branded hearing aids in stores across the United States. As reported by HHTM in August, to the surprise of many analysts and industry insiders, GN ReSound did not have its contract renewed to become the retail giant’s Kirkland Signature brand supplier–which it had been since 2013. Instead, confirming weeks of speculation, Sivantos (formerly Siemens) is the new Kirkland Signature hearing aid supplier.

Furthermore, Costco has set the price at $1,699/pair, which is $100 less per pair than the previous generation of Kirkland hearing aids and well below the prevailing premium price at Costco for a pair hearing aids.

FULL STORY HERE - Costco Launches New Kirkland Hearing Aids, Made by Sivantos, at Even Lower Price Point | Brian Taylor |hearinghealthmatters.org/hearingnewswatch

this is good news, thanks for sharing. I am going to have get some.

 

[MF283]

Approaching 59 years old next month & starting a new job. I've put off this hearing thing to long & have an appointment at Beltone this coming Tuesday morning.
We have Sams Club(member) & Costco here, SAMS Club has a hearing center as well, if my memory serves me correctly, i did not see a single comment on this thread about them, only Costco, wonder if other's have a SC & heard anything about them?
This thread has certainly opened up my mind towards my problem, i'll be paying out of pocket & really anxious to see what i find out next week, i'll post the result's.
Thanks for keeping this thread going.

Ronnie

 

[Bird]

We visit our local Sam's Club frequently and I know they have the hearing aids, but I've had Beltones so long that I really haven't considered Sam's Club, although they are probably cheaper. And we've never become members at Costco.