Hearing aid selection.

[Redneck in training]

I got a viral ear infection about three months ago. I was completely deaf on right ear for about two months. My hearing recovered to large degree in both ears but it is not the same as before. I hear people talking but I don't understand everything I hear. My wife is type A with patience about 1 msec. It frustrates her immensely when she say something and I ask What did you say. I found the hearing aid selection overwhelming. So my question is what is your experience and/or what would you recommend. Money is no object.

 

[RNeumann]

Our family has had great luck with Costco. The last one was similar in that he could get about anything. His ENTH MD suggested Costco as well.

 

[Oldtink]

I feel for ya Redneck. I went through the same thing with the wife.
I think the biggest challenge is finding a professional audiologist, or group, that can work with you. Hearing aids have become so advanced in the last 10 years with features like noise canceling and speech recognition that they deserve professional attention. IMO.
I personally bought Hearing Aids for Hearing Loss - Starkey Hearing Aids and I love them but it took my audiologist and myself about a month to get them tweaked to my liking.

 

[1965]

I think you have the same as noise induced hearing loss which is what I have from working in a noisy factory. I can not hear high range sounds which is where most women speak. I can here men's voices ok. I had it for about 11 years before I got the Starky's mentioned by Oldtink. I was afraid hearing aids were going to sound like a tin can or old walky talky, I was amazed at what I could hear again, birds, frogs water trickling. You likely need the behind the ear style as I have. I agree with the visit to an audiologist to get what is right for you.

 

[RalphVa]

I went upstairs and checked my hearing aid box. It's Resound. Seems wrong. I had an in-the-ear type first that was different from the looped, behind the ear ones I have now. The first one (in-the-ear) was not good. Had back feeding when you covered your ear (and this was the only way you could tell it was working); so, couldn't use with a telephone.

These I have now are mid price models, about $2300 each, in both ears. The audiologist had done a couple different programs. One kinda kicks up the volume about 3 dB and cuts out some background noise. I use it in crowds and meetings. Another program just cuts out background noise. Works in the bowling alley. She also checked my tinnitus by matching level and frequency. It's 85 dB. These also play a tune when you push the battery compartment back in with a new battery or from having laid them aside for a while. That's important. There are 2 or 3 ways they can not work other than a dead battery. Oh, they sing out "battery" two times before the batteries go dead. A good audiologist will do all this for you. After the first year, she brought me in to check them. Sent one at a time back for a rebuild. Don't know whether she'll be doing this for the 2nd year.

Even with all this, I don't hear like my wife. Need good eyes to read the captions on TV. Got my eyes back after a YAG on my 2nd eye to get a secondary cataract. **** doctor misdiagnosed the 2nd eye to get this with wrinkled cornea, and I struggled with my quirky left eye for 3 or 4 months before a cornea specialist said, "I don't see a wrinkle. I think you have a secondary cataract." He shot a hole through it. Can read ALL the fine print on the TV at 15-20 feet now, even pesky score sheet on ESPN.

Ralph

 

[RalphVa]

Got my magnifying glass out to read the fine print on my hearing aid. They're Starkey. With my fixed right eye now, I can see distance like an eagle and can read up close like a professor with a monocle.

Someone mentioned Bluetooth. The Starkeys have this ability. Think you can also get a phone to work with them, e.g. transmit right to them. Same for TV, car radio, etc.

I have a friend who got free hearing aids. He's a retired marine. I'm also a veteran but didn't even check with the VA. I'd rather not deal with them as I can afford my own.

For the behind the ear ones like I have: always put the in-the-ear piece in first and push it like its pointing to the top of your ear canal. This will keep you from getting wax into the tiny inlet in the middle of the cushion. Wax will completely or partially plug the orifice. If you get one of those cushions left stuck in your ear, DO NOT try to remove it with your fingers. Have your wife get some tweezers to get it out. Otherwise, it's a trip to the ear doctor to get it removed because your fingers will push it further in. My doc said he had a patient who had two of them in his ear.

NEVER wear them when in the woods or working on your tractor. You'll most likely be wearing muffs to keep noise out on the tractor. You don't need aids. In the woods, there'll be lots of branches to hang on that loop behind your ear and yank that $2,000 piece out of your ear.

About every 6 months, you'll have to replace the filters downstream of the ear cushions. Those buggers simply will not come out with the little plastic tool they give you. You have to use a pin.

Ralph

 

[cdaigle430]

I got a viral ear infection about three months ago. I was completely deaf on right ear for about two months. My hearing recovered to large degree in both ears but it is not the same as before. I hear people talking but I don't understand everything I hear. My wife is type A with patience about 1 msec. It frustrates her immensely when she say something and I ask What did you say. I found the hearing aid selection overwhelming. So my question is what is your experience and/or what would you recommend. Money is no object.

Phonaks are very reliable, been using them since 33 (I am 50 now). Started out with Miracle ear which turned out to be its a miracle they worked. I have 7% of my hearing left in both ears.
Some things I learned the hard way-
1) Go behind the ear-will save you lots of ear aches
2) Get a dehydrater
3) Dont leave them within reach of cats-they like to play with them
4) Dont leave them within reach of dogs-they like to eat them (had to go through dog poo to recover one of mine once).
5) Dont wear them while mowing or wearing hearing protection-when you take them off they sometimes come off too.
6) Get used to subtitles while watching TV

 

[Bird]

Been wearing hearing aids since 1992. I tried the behind the ear models once for a week or so; definitely not for me, too easy to lose one. Never had a dehydrater; I wipe them with a facial tissue when I take them out at bedtime, leave the battery compartment open overnight, run the little plastic "wire?" through the vents, and brush them with a child's toothbrush in the morning before putting them in. Never had a cat and never left them down where the dog could get to them. I've always left them in when mowing, and the only time I wore heaing protection is when shooting and I left the hearing aids in then, also. And I don't watch TV that isn't closed captioned.:laughing:

The VA provided Phonak hearing aids for my brothers. I started with Beltone, used Starkey's once but they were provided by a crooked doctor and audiologist who said they were programmable when they were not, and went back to Beltone.

 

[747driver]

Are you a military veteran ? If so you might be able to get them free. I was in the Air Force 71/75. I have been to the VA to have my hearing checked. Yes I have a hearing loss by not enough to get a disability award....they rated me at 0%. With this rating the VA is going to supply me with lifetime hearing aids free. I go in a couple weeks to get them fitted. Just wanted to let you know options. Hope everything goes ok for you !

 

[RSKY]

Go to a several different places and have your hearing checked. My hearing is also bad in that I have a hard time understanding what is being said if there is any background noise. This is because of a surgery I had over 25 years ago due to Minere's Disease when a shunt was placed in my right inner ear. That is a story in itself but that is not what we are talking about. Basically a tone that sounds at a certain level in one ear, say a C note, sounds different in the other ear, maybe an E note. Makes for a hard time understanding even when you hear the voice.

The first place I went to had a 'trainee' audiologist who administered the test with the 'boss' watching over her shoulder. My results showed I needed a pair of $6,000 hearing aids. I was actually considering them when a friend at church told me to call a lady at another place and set up a test with her.

Best advice I've ever been given. Saved me $12,000!

This lady wears hearing aids. She understood the problem I was having. So she administered the same tests the first place had. After it was over she told me she would sell me hearing aids if I wanted them but they would NOT help me the least bit. I had severe hearing lost but only in the upper ranges. My hearing in the vocal ranges was well within limits. She asked where I had the first test administered and if they had a '19-year old trainee' administering the test. I told her yes and she said that having a trainee do the test somewhat insulated the company from legal threats. If pressed they could say the trainee screwed up the tests. So, at her urging I set up another appointment with her six months later. At that appointment I had the same results. Hearing aids would not help me.

The hearing aid business helps many people but it is still a racket. Beware who does your tests, beware of the large businesses who depend on volume for their income. The lady who refused to sell me unneeded hearing aids works out of a small office with herself and one receptionist. She says she does very well because her reputation for honesty and not pushing people to buy what they don't need has spread and she has people coming from neighboring states for tests.

One other thing she told me. She said that if I ever get up in the morning and have sudden hearing loss in an ear to immediately go to the nearest ear, nose, throat doctor and walk in the office and tell them what has happened. She said to overact and be hysterical if needed but to get back to the doctor. Said it was an easily reversible condition but if left untreated for a day or so it would be permanent. If you call and try to get an appointment it might take a month to get in. This happened to my sister and she did get an appointment three weeks after the sudden loss and by the time she saw the doctor it was not reversible.

By no means am I an expert on this. Just passing on my experience and information I was given by somebody I trust.

RSKY

 

[Doofy]

Beware of shysters! Must be one heck of a mark-up on hearing aids, kind of like on mattresses! First audiologist said she needed $4400 worth. Went mail-order for $1200 and are having great results. They even mask the ringing in one ear.

You will definitely want a dessicant to place them in at night to help them dry out and also a hearing aid vacuum to keep them clean. Audiologists want to service them for you, for a fee, of course. We live 125 miles from an Audiologist so prefer to clean our own.

 

[David Wayne]

I have Oticon behind the ear for two years now. I think the key is find a good audiologist and get aids to amplify
the frequency's you have lost. I went ten years or so without hearing birds, couldnt even hear squirrels bark when hunting, hard to understand speech, especially in noisy places. And I highly recommend getting volume control for the times you are in a place like a high school gym during a game.

David

 

[Bird]

Audiologists want to service them for you, for a fee, of course.

Of course, I'm sure I paid a big price for my Beltones, but service is then free for several years and as often as I want.

 

[milkman]

I had my hearing tested and got aids six or seven years ago, got the aids for less than $2000, got retested a little over a year ago by the same audioligist. I was told that I needed new aids, $5400 for the pair. A friend suggested Costco so made an appointment and was given a more thourough test than I got at the audiologist. I got new RIC bluetooth aids made by AN Resound $1799 for the pair. Service and retesting is free, consumables are free and they sell batteries, 48 for $8.49, last me about 6 months. Costco also has the same type aids made by Rexton for $1699 for the pair.

 

[KubotainNH]

My wife has Oticon, she's had hearing aids for 30 years. All have been behind the ear. Her Oticon's are 2 or 3 years old now and already out of date. They were close to state of the art at the time but tech changes so quickly. As mentioned, find a good audiologist to walk you through the best type for you. So many options now too like remote control, bluetooth and multiple settings for different environments.

As for your wife, sadly she will have to get used to it because the hearing aids can only do so much. Other noises interfere and sometimes you will not have them on. Just today my wife said "shh you're too loud" because she had just put the aids on then awhile later in the car she says "what?" with me speaking a similar volume. Gotta have patience.

 

[bunyip]

I have a friend who got free hearing aids. He's a retired marine. I'm also a veteran but didn't even check with the VA. I'd rather not deal with them as I can afford my own.

Ralph

I object to paying taxes to finance people who see welfare as a lifestyle.
I have no objection to paying taxes to finance any vet who was prepared to put their life on the line for their country.
Different Country, same rules.
My Father had top of the line hearing aids, you couldn't even see them, he refused to wear them as he thought people would think they looked silly.
Over $10K well spent

 

[Doofy]

I object to paying taxes to finance people who see welfare as a lifestyle.
I have no objection to paying taxes to finance any vet who was prepared to put their life on the line for their country.
Different Country, same rules.
My Father had top of the line hearing aids, you couldn't even see them, he refused to wear them as he thought people would think they looked silly.
Over $10K well spent

Same here. I was a Marine '72-'76. Didn't see any combat, as Vietnam was winding down soon after enlisting. At the time, I was ready for war. My draft number was 342 and everyone begged me not to go. Since I saw no battle, I have no need for VA care and believe those that came home wounded or damaged in other ways can take my spot at the VA.

 

[hslogger]

I've had three sets of hearing aids. The last two were,are Phonak. Newest set is battery free, and gets recharged each night. I have remote control that looks like a smaller garage door opener. I cannot say enough good things about these hearing aids and the professional audiologists at the VA. The technology has dramatically improved over the years.

My most recent set is rechargeable, has remote, and it behind the ear configuration.Also, the speakers are in the ear canal and not in the aid body assembly.

 

[RalphVa]

The little song that plays when I rack my battery was weak this morning. Replaced the filter (using a pin to get it out), and the song was its usual volume. This is how you tell.

Ralph

 

[jerrybob]

First.......go see a MD specialist to make sure what your problem really is. If it's just hearing loss........like me.......Costco is your best bet. I have Phonax as well. Have used them for several years. Bought at Costco for $1600.......an audiologist wanted $5500 for the same set. Costco has been very good to deal with.......cleaning....replacing cones and wires....etc.....all part of the price for life. When I first got my ears........we turned the TV volume down from 40 to 19......now my wife says.....turn it up a little......I tell her to have her ears checked and laugh. Good luck.