Hearing Aids?

[oldnslo]

In my previous post I stated the incorrect information on a possibly company that works with some insurance companies. Tru hearing is the correct name. Sorry for the senior moment. I would recommend using your own gut instincts on how well an audiologist listens to your concerns and then presents options with explanations of benefits of each option. Agree on lots of cash to lay on the counter so do your very best on making an informed choice on what is the best fit for your lifestyle needs and budget.

I.e.: Bluetooth for connect to phone, different volume settings options, directional focus, noise dampening, etc.
For me like a lot of others talking on the phone was next to impossible and it is a large part of job.
Noise dampening and directional focus in crowds helps some to perform the noise discrimination another poster talked about.


BIGGEST deciding factor for me was having 30 - 60 day trial period. If the aides do not work take them back and get them adjusted or try different style. Took three sets before I bought my first pair. First two sets just didn't work in the areas I needed them the most. Even the sets I have purchased required a trip or two back to the audiologist to fine the programming for certain conditions.

Sig,
wishing you the very best on a tough decision that can really help improve your interaction with people.

TruHearing: Get affordable hearing aids

TruHearing works with health plans to offer low out of pocket costs on hearing aids. Ask a Hearing Consultant if your insurance qualifies: 844-319-3988

www.truhearing.com

 

[newbury]

Not to get into politics BUT
Biden's been pushing for cheaper solutions for hearing aids. Mainly by not requiring consumers to get them from a doctor or a specialist.
If this shakes out it may quickly turn to like glasses. Often cheap drugstore readers will work fine, versus the 200 prescription glasses.
/edit - link Biden pushes for cheaper over-the-counter hearing aids in sweeping executive order

 

[ruffdog]

The MIL had $3k hearing aids from the doctor and all the visits (every 6 months) were covered at no cost. They would clean them and adjust them.

 

[Sigarms]

Mainly by not requiring consumers to get them from a doctor or a specialist.
If this shakes out it may quickly turn to like glasses.

I'm confused. A long time ago you could buy hearing aids off a TV ad.

Online now just as well...

Shop Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids, with telehealth included.

Our Lively Bundle offers everything you need for better hearing — all for half the average price.

www.listenlively.com

I don't consider Costco a a doctor or even a specialist per hearing aids, and yet they sell them, and own one of the largest markets in selling hearing aids.

 

[Sigarms]

The MIL had $3k hearing aids from the doctor and all the visits (every 6 months) were covered at no cost. They would clean them and adjust them.

From the Ear Nose Throat specialist I visited (in a medical building, part of a local hospital health care) when I needed to have wax removed from my one ear, they even offer a 3k set and offer unlimited (as long as you own them) cleaning and adjustments.

Thing is, Costco will do the same thing for you.

At the end of the day, I'd like to trust a medical specialist in a field of study that is going over my medical issues over a hourly employee at Costco. BUT, you still have the huge price difference.

I started off leaning towards costco, but the more and more I think about it, may prefer just to go with the 12 month same as cash option knowing I may of gotten bent over for what I paid for LOL

From the 80's

Got to admit, they got better now LOL...

After talking with my wife this morning on our walk, at the medical office when they got my mother in laws her hearing aids, she (MIL) brought her sister in so they could fine tune the devices (SIL talks "soft" believe me). Sometimes you do pay for service and not the product, hard part is differentiating between the two (this is VERY true when it comes to HVAC work which I'm somewhat familiar with).

 

[PILOON]

Keep in mind, with both doctors office and Costco where I checked, the hearing aids have a bumper to bumper warranty for 3 years with nothing out of pocket. Then you also have various "accidental deaths" (I call em) where if lost or destroyed, minimum out of pocket expence.

It's after 5 years of ownership (it seems) that you could be SOL depending on the technology and what the manufacturer is doing per it's product line.

Yes Cosco does have advantages.
Like when my grinder blew a disk and engraved my glasses
Cosco replaced them with a new pair free under a warrantee plan of some sort.
Not once but also 8 years ago when a stone bounced and knocked my new specs off of a branch that I had hung them on in order to protect them from just those rocks.
OK, not cheap but many side benefits.

 

[goeduck]

If you have specific, unique or considerable hearing impairment, I agree, I would be seeing a top rated doctor.

For many of us it would seem there would be a sound proof booth in a drug store or senior center with hearing muffs where you follow the prompts as to what you hear that would do the job. Maybe it can dispense your hearing aides as well.... okay maybe not that.

 

[Sigarms]

Yes Cosco does have advantages.
Like when my grinder blew a disk and engraved my glasses
Cosco replaced them with a new pair free under a warrantee plan of some sort.
Not once but also 8 years ago when a stone bounced and knocked my new specs off of a branch that I had hung them on in order to protect them from just those rocks.
OK, not cheap but many side benefits.

If the product is under warranty, as long as you know what is covered per the written warranty, it should be covered.

From what I've seen between comparing Costco vs the hearing aids from the medical office, the warranty per replacement and work is pretty much the same. The only advantage costco has from what I can see vs the medical office is they (costco) gives you at least 3 months to return to product at no charge, where as the medical office is 60 days, but after they program the hearing aids after the first day, it's a $300 restocking fee.

I can only assume when you bought your glasses from Costco and when the issue with your glasses occured 8 years ago, the glasses were still under the time frame of the written warranty?

 

[Gator6x4]

The key in my opinion of buying hearing aids or being checked for hearing loss is to make sure you are being tested by a Certified Audiologist.

I don't think I would purchase a set of hearing aids from a TV Commercial.

What is an audiologist?

Audiologists are experts in hearing care and hearing loss. They work in a wide variety of settings, from clinics to hospitals to private hearing aid practices.

www.healthyhearing.com

 

[PILOON]

If the product is under warranty, as long as you know what is covered per the written warranty, it should be covered.

From what I've seen between comparing Costco vs the hearing aids from the medical office, the warranty per replacement and work is pretty much the same. The only advantage costco has from what I can see vs the medical office is they (costco) gives you at least 3 months to return to product at no charge, where as the medical office is 60 days, but after they program the hearing aids after the first day, it's a $300 restocking fee.

I can only assume when you bought your glasses from Costco and when the issue with your glasses occured 8 years ago, the glasses were still under the time frame of the written warranty?

In both cases my glasses were very recent purchases at their respective time frames
Actually the 8 yr event occurred within the first week of purchase ant that's why I had removed them as I was very sweaty.
A s to written warranty, I never saw one and had simply asked them to order (by phone) me a new frame but when came time to pay the said 'no charge' they are under warranty!
I remembered that when my later pair suffered that shattered grinder disk damage and was pleased to get a whole new pair of specs.
As luck had it my still usable older ones were in my car so I left the damaged pair and blindly made it back to the car and drove away. Within a week they called and I had my new pair to wear.
LOL, I still have that old pair and I now use them when grinding or welding, 'just in case'.

 

[EarPlug]

Keep in mind, with both doctors office and Costco where I checked, the hearing aids have a bumper to bumper warranty for 3 years with nothing out of pocket. Then you also have various "accidental deaths" (I call em) where if lost or destroyed, minimum out of pocket expence.

It's after 5 years of ownership (it seems) that you could be SOL depending on the technology and what the manufacturer is doing per it's product line.

Be aware that most all hearing aid manufacturers will have somewhere a 3-5 year "obsolescence" policy. If they break down it means a new set.

 

[bmaverick]

Those with tinnitus and/or Meniere's wouldn't see much benefit with hearing aids. In most cases, it will make the problem worse.

The inner ear is damaged or the hair-like strands have broken free floating around in the inner ear. When those break, a person can no longer hear that audio frequency. Thus, a hearing aid would be useless.

Now, with all that said, there are smart hearing aids that would take sounds and drop them into a range of hear that the person can distinctively hear. BUT, the other ear if good would hear the sounds in a different pitch. So, both ears need to be fitted.

Meniere's is caused by at least 5 known events. 2 some say are related to an infection in the inner ear. I went to an old school ENT doctor who once did house calls. He told me to get off of grains in my diet, especially those with gluten. In a few years time, the hearing will recover. Indeed it has. A gluten free diet is easier to follow vs. a Keto diet that is stricter. Gluten is the biggest cause of IBS in the gut and smooth gut syndrome. The same effects happen in the inner ear due to those gluten proteins.

 

[Sigarms]

Well, have had my hearing aids for 2 days now.

Ended up going to the doctors office where they had to clean my ears out and really had high expectations due to what they cost.

All I can say is for the short time I've had them, they have surpassed my expectations in every way.

I had procrastinated with this issue for way to long and the only regret I have is I didn't correct it sooner.

Funny, when the audiologist was programming the hearing aids "setting them up" for me, I kept hearing this odd noise and asked her a couple of time what that noise was. She had no clue. Finally saw what was happening when I heard the noise, she was clicking the mouse for her computer.

Blue tooth working with my phone for work is a joy and my wife already loves it because she can't hear whose talking to me, and I'm not talking loud.

 

[MossRoad]

That's great! Especially the mouse clicking and phone work.

 

[ruffdog]

A tractor salesman here has a cochlear implant and it is working for him. What is cool is it will plug directly into his phone. Nothing works like the natural ear that is in good working order though.

 

[locknut]

Well, have had my hearing aids for 2 days now.

Ended up going to the doctors office where they had to clean my ears out and really had high expectations due to what they cost.

All I can say is for the short time I've had them, they have surpassed my expectations in every way.

I had procrastinated with this issue for way to long and the only regret I have is I didn't correct it sooner.

Funny, when the audiologist was programming the hearing aids "setting them up" for me, I kept hearing this odd noise and asked her a couple of time what that noise was. She had no clue. Finally saw what was happening when I heard the noise, she was clicking the mouse for her computer.

Blue tooth working with my phone for work is a joy and my wife already loves it because she can't hear whose talking to me, and I'm not talking loud.

Sig, what brand,type and model did you get?

 

[Sigarms]

Sig, what brand,type and model did you get?

These are the exact model

https://discountdailyhearing.com/collections/phonak/products/phonak-audeo-paradise-p90-hearing-aids-new?gclid=CjwKCAjw2P-KBhByEiwADBYWCtmNfUPV41Q8L3OGoGhwzuHjihHBDqRUd0EhYFZacO6QLrIltqBODxoC6mMQAvD_BwE

As mentioned, the biggest question to ask yourself is what route you're going to go when getting a pair if you think you need them.

1 - Online (probably the cheapest route)
2 - Hearing aid "store" or box store like Costco (middle road price?)
3 - Ear, Nose and Throat doctor's office (most expensive route IMO).

A couple of years ago, I went into a "hearing aid store". They gave me a hearing test, showed me the wax buildup in my left ear (looked pretty bad IMO), told me they would call me back with a recommendation. They called me once, left a message, I called back, got a answering machine, left a message, and I never heard back from them. I wasn't motivated to follow up with them.

Earlier this year went into Costco. Before they even gave me a hearing test, they showed me the same build up in my left ear, told me I'd have to go to a doctors office and have them clean that left ear out. Called doctors office, they sold hearing aids, and said screw it, I'll do everything in one shot.

My local costco also did not have an "audiologist" on hand (I have no clue how one receives a "audiologist title").

Costco sells the same brand listed but under their Kirkland brand name (I could never pin point the exact differences between the costco brand and the brand given).

The price from costco was around $1,700 per unit.

The price from the doctors office was $3,250 per unit.

There is a part of me kicking myself for going the doctors route per price, but at this point, having 4 visits and my left ear cleaned out (no charge LOL) I can say I'm glad I went that route. My audiologist has a masters and PHD in audiology from the University of North Carolina and really seems to know her crap inside and out (she didn't tell me about her degree, but did notice it in her office).

After my first visit to the doctors office, found out about "care credit", made a 3 minute phone call and qualified for 0% interest for 12 months, which made the more expensive purchase more palatable to swallow.

The only downside to the hearing aids is that after being married going on 18 years now, my wife has finally determined that at times I just tune her out when she's talking to me as I can't blame anything on my hearing now

 

[Frankenkubota]

These are the exact model

https://discountdailyhearing.com/collections/phonak/products/phonak-audeo-paradise-p90-hearing-aids-new?gclid=CjwKCAjw2P-KBhByEiwADBYWCtmNfUPV41Q8L3OGoGhwzuHjihHBDqRUd0EhYFZacO6QLrIltqBODxoC6mMQAvD_BwE

As mentioned, the biggest question to ask yourself is what route you're going to go when getting a pair if you think you need them.

1 - Online (probably the cheapest route)
2 - Hearing aid "store" or box store like Costco (middle road price?)
3 - Ear, Nose and Throat doctor's office (most expensive route IMO).

A couple of years ago, I went into a "hearing aid store". They gave me a hearing test, showed me the wax buildup in my left ear (looked pretty bad IMO), told me they would call me back with a recommendation. They called me once, left a message, I called back, got a answering machine, left a message, and I never heard back from them. I wasn't motivated to follow up with them.

Earlier this year went into Costco. Before they even gave me a hearing test, they showed me the same build up in my left ear, told me I'd have to go to a doctors office and have them clean that left ear out. Called doctors office, they sold hearing aids, and said screw it, I'll do everything in one shot.

My local costco also did not have an "audiologist" on hand (I have no clue how one receives a "audiologist title").

Costco sells the same brand listed but under their Kirkland brand name (I could never pin point the exact differences between the costco brand and the brand given).

The price from costco was around $1,700 per unit.

The price from the doctors office was $3,250 per unit.

There is a part of me kicking myself for going the doctors route per price, but at this point, having 4 visits and my left ear cleaned out (no charge LOL) I can say I'm glad I went that route. My audiologist has a masters and PHD in audiology from the University of North Carolina and really seems to know her crap inside and out (she didn't tell me about her degree, but did notice it in her office).

After my first visit to the doctors office, found out about "care credit", made a 3 minute phone call and qualified for 0% interest for 12 months, which made the more expensive purchase more palatable to swallow.

The only downside to the hearing aids is that after being married going on 18 years now, my wife has finally determined that at times I just tune her out when she's talking to me as I can't blame anything on my hearing now

you doc got her phd from carolina? i guess she spent most of her time in the study hall with the basketball players!

 

[Sigarms]

you doc got her phd from carolina? i guess she spent most of her time in the study hall with the basketball players!

I honestly did not know you could get a PHD in audiology, but I guess you can get one in anything LOL

Point being, not certain of state requirements to call yourself an audiologist.

Perhaps my justification for spending the extra money going the doctors office route LOL

 

[locknut]

These are the exact model

https://discountdailyhearing.com/collections/phonak/products/phonak-audeo-paradise-p90-hearing-aids-new?gclid=CjwKCAjw2P-KBhByEiwADBYWCtmNfUPV41Q8L3OGoGhwzuHjihHBDqRUd0EhYFZacO6QLrIltqBODxoC6mMQAvD_BwE

As mentioned, the biggest question to ask yourself is what route you're going to go when getting a pair if you think you need them.

1 - Online (probably the cheapest route)
2 - Hearing aid "store" or box store like Costco (middle road price?)
3 - Ear, Nose and Throat doctor's office (most expensive route IMO).

A couple of years ago, I went into a "hearing aid store". They gave me a hearing test, showed me the wax buildup in my left ear (looked pretty bad IMO), told me they would call me back with a recommendation. They called me once, left a message, I called back, got a answering machine, left a message, and I never heard back from them. I wasn't motivated to follow up with them.

Earlier this year went into Costco. Before they even gave me a hearing test, they showed me the same build up in my left ear, told me I'd have to go to a doctors office and have them clean that left ear out. Called doctors office, they sold hearing aids, and said screw it, I'll do everything in one shot.

My local costco also did not have an "audiologist" on hand (I have no clue how one receives a "audiologist title").

Costco sells the same brand listed but under their Kirkland brand name (I could never pin point the exact differences between the costco brand and the brand given).

The price from costco was around $1,700 per unit.

The price from the doctors office was $3,250 per unit.

There is a part of me kicking myself for going the doctors route per price, but at this point, having 4 visits and my left ear cleaned out (no charge LOL) I can say I'm glad I went that route. My audiologist has a masters and PHD in audiology from the University of North Carolina and really seems to know her crap inside and out (she didn't tell me about her degree, but did notice it in her office).

After my first visit to the doctors office, found out about "care credit", made a 3 minute phone call and qualified for 0% interest for 12 months, which made the more expensive purchase more palatable to swallow.

The only downside to the hearing aids is that after being married going on 18 years now, my wife has finally determined that at times I just tune her out when she's talking to me as I can't blame anything on my hearing now

Sig, thanks for the reply. The first pair I bought was the ones they advertised heavily on TV a couple years ago. $499 a pair so I looked on ebay and found a pair of those for $250. Rechargeable-nice. Tried em out and seemed to work well watching Tv. And then the furnace kicked on on the far side of the room and sounded like a freight train. So much for cheap.

Not having the dough to buy the aids like you bought I looked again on ebay for some HQ used aids. Found a pair of Phonaks that were barely used and had a remote control which was perfect as I use a flip phone.3K new, $500 so I got those and they were wonderful. The freight train was blocked out too. Wore them for about an hour and parked them only using for occasions like family gatherings or eating out. Then covid dragged out and they sat for 8mo. Tried them out a few days ago and neither one will turn on despite showing a full charge.So much for lithium ion tech. Took them to two local aid stores and both said they could send them in for $500 and a 6mo warranty if they could be "woke up". Im tempted.