Time for me to get hearing aids

[Ready-4-ER-at-14]

I believe this is the most recent hearing aid thread so added to it.

I read about the Costco savings and was pretty excited about getting some for less than the 5500 the md who gave me the audiogram was quoting. 3k or less sounded grand for something I think I barely need. (others might omit the word barely).

I informed the MD that I had come in to get an ear cleaning so would have to think a bit before buying them for $5500, plus it sounded like I was in a rain barrel echo every time I spoke. I asked if insurance helped any on them. MD replied well aarp might pay like $50 but no one covered them under medicare.

I am using a medicare advantage plan, (sort of like a HMO) with a gatekeeper md who has to refer you to a specialist. Spouse suggested we check our insurance handbook (3/4 of an inch thick). I gave her the lost puppy dog look and possibly whimpered so she looked it up for me. : )

As Gomer Pyle used to say, "Surprise, surprise, surprise!"

If I sent my audio gram in to their company I could get a pair of hearing aids, over the ear or ear canal style for about $660 total my cost. They set them based on audiogram and I can go to one of several places locally for fine tuning/ adjustments. They do not have blue tooth but otherwise seem to have several settings for situations and limit volume on upside. The batteries offered were quite reasonably priced as well.

Moral of the story, even if you think they are not covered, double check the fine print. Should get these in next few days. My insurance provides for up to one pair PER YEAR.

 

[misshathaway]

If I sent my audio gram in to their company I could get a pair of hearing aids, over the ear or ear canal style for about $660 total my cost. They set them based on audiogram and I can go to one of several places locally for fine tuning/ adjustments. They do not have blue tooth but otherwise seem to have several settings for situations and limit volume on upside. The batteries offered were quite reasonably priced as well.

Great score! For comparison sake I just got mine from Costco and they cost $2600. Resound Forte brand. Granted I opted for Bluetooth because the iPhone has some good integration, but even if I got their cheapest model it would have been $1900 or around that.

I researched the online companies that do what you did, which are far less expensive. Decided to go with Costco for convenience in case there were problems.

 

[calmloki]

Got my Resounds from Costco 6/24. They have been ..better.. than nothing. We read numbers to one another and I was mixing Fs and Ss, fives and sixes. Still like closed captions. A week ago I went in to the SoCal Costco and the audiologist put on a set of sport grips, which do seem to keep the units in my ear canals better. She also tweaked the settings and things are much brighter. Not a big fan of the connection with my Iphone - it sounds like the person talking is located right in the middle of my head - not where I want people to be.

Funny story - at Thanksgiving a friend was complaining about barking neighbor dogs. I had had that problem and was helped by a bark stop unit. It interrupts barking with a noise people can't hear. So I took the unit over, put in a new battery, and was instructing in its use.. Turned it on and cranked up the sensitivity and had it sitting on the kitchen counter as we talked. Guess there was a sudden noise and HOLY !@#$!!!! my hearing aids translated a very loud warble into both ears. I jumped back and the gal says it looked like I'd found the hot wire. Whew. Not painful really, but startling and I certainly had no desire to bark any more.

Going back in to have the hearing aids adjusted does seem productive - the brain adjusts to the sounds they make and becomes more able to accept the noise vs the blessed quiet of pre-aid times.

 

[HFWR]

I don’t need hearing aids; I can hear the ringing just fine...

 

[GravitySucks]

I'm waiting for either prices to come down or conversations becoming more interesting.

 

[misshathaway]

Not a big fan of the connection with my Iphone - it sounds like the person talking is located right in the middle of my head - not where I want people to be.

Funny story - at Thanksgiving a friend was complaining about barking neighbor dogs. I had had that problem and was helped by a bark stop unit. It interrupts barking with a noise people can't hear. So I took the unit over, put in a new battery, and was instructing in its use.. Turned it on and cranked up the sensitivity and had it sitting on the kitchen counter as we talked. Guess there was a sudden noise and HOLY !@#$!!!! my hearing aids translated a very loud warble into both ears. I jumped back and the gal says it looked like I'd found the hot wire. Whew. Not painful really, but startling and I certainly had no desire to bark any more.

Laughing so hard.

It's a mixed bag for me. I still find most sound ugly with the hearing aids in - even running water. But today I was getting a dental cleaning and the technician had a mask on and was asking me questions. Before the aids I would have been trying to say "What?" on her every sentence because I couldn't see her mouth. With the aids I heard her perfectly.

My loss is in the speech range too. I think the people around you benefit more from the aids.

 

[misshathaway]

I'm waiting for either prices to come down or conversations becoming more interesting.

I am glad this thread was revived!

 

[irishgal]

Has anyone tried the in canal types like the Lyric Phonac? You can shower, exercise etc., not swim- or surf- but they are not visible and are changed out about every 6 weeks otherwise they stay in. They can be turned off, or turned up three volume settings.

 

[fruitful]

Get hearing aids as soon as you need them....

First learned full details of my hearing loss at age 50. Hereditary and rock concert-induced. Went straight to a local audiologist's office for hearing aids because I was having difficulty hearing during meetings and calls at my office. I was lucky to have insurance that covered $2500 a pair. And I had a plump FSA. So glad I got them when I did. They made a huge difference in personal relationships, too.

Five years down the road, I just bought a new pair of bright red Oticon Sensei devices. My hearing has not changed in five years but the speech recognition and noise management programs have changed significantly since I got my first devices in 2012. It sounds like someone turned up the treble on the whole world of sounds.

As a bonus, the audiologist explained to DH that I hear better if he is looking at me when speaking. Behavior of the speaker can make a difference in how successful the listener is ... with or without hearing aids.

NOTE: If you look up the Sensei devices, you will see they come in several lovely colors because they are for pediatric use. They can be programmed for adult use. Adult devices come in a wide range of white, grey, brown and black.

 

[haha]

Is hearing loss mostly caused by unprotected exposure to loud noise? I still have good hearing, but I have always used ear muffs when doing even moderately noisy tasks. I no longer have any grass to trim or trees to limb and cut, but I even wear high performance ear muffs to grind my morning coffee.

Ha

 

[Sunset]

No idea if it's mostly caused by loud noise, but loud noise does cause it.
I worked with a fellow in his early 20's who was in a rock band, he already had some hear loss.

I regret my early years using a chainsaw without earmuffs.
Now I use earmuffs when mowing, or anything else I think will be loud, trying to preserve my hearing as much as possible.

Doc says my hearing is ok for an old geezer, DW says my hearing is selective

 

[Walt34]

Doc says my hearing is ok for an old geezer, DW says my hearing is selective

Same issue here.

I have what the audiologist called a "notch" of hearing loss, most likely caused by being around target shooting ranges a lot. We always wore hearing protection but I guess it wasn't enough. I don't need a hearing aid yet but my younger sister does so the genes are probably there.

 

[Hermit]

Hearing loss runs in my family. I lost a good deal in my early 20s while working around fighter jets. I think both issues have contributed to my hearing loss.

 

[timo2]

Same issue here.

I have what the audiologist called a "notch" of hearing loss, most likely caused by being around target shooting ranges a lot. We always wore hearing protection but I guess it wasn't enough. I don't need a hearing aid yet but my younger sister does so the genes are probably there.

My 'notch' hearing loss is at the higher levels, from mining drills hitting rock and also helicopters. However, it also happens to be about the range where many woman talk. So when I told DW that hearing loss comparison, that went over like a lead balloon (imagine the following statements from DW were about selective mens hearing, husband hearing, etc). Since then I've been seen by three technologists, two women and one man. Only the man laughed at that comparison. I only had to start the story: "you know how woman say men have selective hearing loss...: and he finished the sentence ".....and you really do...<laugh>

 

[braumeister]

I was religious about using available hearing protection around military aircraft, and I believe it has helped me maintain decent hearing to this day.

I always cringe when a plane I'm on taxis up to the gate and I see the ground personnel not wearing any protection at all. They're going to be in the same category as rock musicians someday.

The hair cells in your cochlea can't regenerate when damaged or destroyed by loud noise, so hearing loss is progressive and permanent.