Hearing

brewer12345 said:
I am more amazed at how many people seem not to care about protecting the hearing they do have.
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I agree. It's pretty bad when we can hear the bass in car sound systems when they drive past our house- and we're in the house with the windows closed. Same for the people using ear buds when I can hear bits of what they're listening to because it's so loud.

Wait till they find out hearing aids aren't just for old people.
 
I'm very fortunate because throughout my Air Force career I religiously wore any hearing protection available. It paid off because my hearing is still nearly perfect and many of my service friends are wearing hearing aids.

Reminds me of my grandfather, who routinely turned off his hearing aid while in the house, because his wife was a constant chatterbox. :LOL:
 
It sounds like a hard sell to me. I'd grab the turkey and go to a doctor who isn't going to try to sell me anything. The part about the little hairs needing exercise sounds very suspicious, sort of like saying trying to see in dim light is bad for your eyes.

Especially when they're trying to sell you a product that costs $8k and a credible source (Costco) sells some for $2k that most people seem happy with.

Sounds like bull manure, chicken poop, and the like.
 
imoldernu said:
...The test was partly because it was free, and a bonus of a free Turkey.

....
<snip>

Funniest part of the visit was when we were talking about price, and he rationalized the $8K cost by saying the hearing aids could last 20 years... and at that rate would only cost a dollar a day.
...
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No, the funniest part is the free turkey. That just tickled me: Hearing aids and complimentary meat. What will those crazy medical professionals come up with next!
 
REWahoo said:
Hey, once they came out with FMT they hit my OMG limit. :nonono:
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Admittedly that strained my credibility meter too. I've read accounts of people suffering from that. After a while you are willing to try anything. And the weird thing is, it works!

Who'da thunk it?
 
Thank you all for the info... and advice... and the link to Don Heff's older thread.
We have decided to wait, and look around for a bit to check with Costco and maybe some other sources. The Test was for my DW... but the "doctor" decided to test me first. That's where the "severe" part started. I too have a degree of loss... like 10 percent in the higher ranges. He didn't start the sales pitch on this, but suggested I make a 6 month appointment to insure that I would be safe rather than sorry.

I never got around to the part of the test where DW asked about the "Free One Month Trial" that was in the "free turkey/free hearing test ad. The "doctor" said that would be fine, and brought us over to the accounting dept. It seems that the free trial means you first buy the aids... (purchase contract details and credit check) then, after fitting, one week later, start wearing your new hearing aids... Then... after a month, can exchange for a better pair, or cancel the contract.

You don't get away with that with my DW... I saw the fire in her eyes as she said "WE NEVER make a large purchase without talking it over... The salesman/doctor looked stricken, as he made an appointment for one month later. DW won the battle of wits.

Then... as were leaving, and he had turned to go back to his office... DW... again... "Hey...Where's my free turkey?" Through clenched teeth and with a beet red face... he sadly went back to give her the Walmart Gift card for $15... a gracious surrender for a beaten man.

I felt sudden compassion as I recalled my years in retail...

This too shall pass. :angel:
 
Good advice above. No risk of putting off getting the hearing aids in terms of 'lack of exercise' deterioration. Their is a risk that as your hearing gets worse, those around one will get more frustrated and stop communicating. If you are doing well in that area then I would say what is the rush. Costco is excellent. I think I got out with a pair at 1800. Individually tuned and programmed with a remote and bluetooth capable - lol. Also, 2 year no questions asked replacement guarantee if lost or damaged and a 3 month money-back return period. I had about 40% loss in my right ear. Left not nearly so bad. They do suggest wearing a pair though I often wear only the right. Day to day I am fine but I got them for small group teaching where I find the students to be somewhat soft spoken. I stress to them that they need to speak up as I am the same population that they will be caring for and if their patients can't hear them, they can't really be expected to understand and comply with treatment suggests. I also point out to them that I don't really have any trouble when I am sitting down with colleagues or administrators. They all have 'big' voices!

Good work on getting the turkey!
 
I started having 3 problems, hearing MsG, birds(bird watcher), and rattlesnakes. So I heard about a product a personal sound amplifier.

Personal Sound Amplifiers | Sound World Solutions

It looks like a Bluetooth phone receiver, and it can be that too. It has an app that lets me change like 10 different levels of pitch/sound all from a smartphone or tablet. Has 2 rechargeable batteries that last 8-9 hours each. I love it because I don't have to travel 2-3 hours to an audiologist to get adjusted. All for $250-300.

The product was developed for rural countries, where an audiologist is no where to be seen, but a smartphone may be in their back pocket.

Ms G is happy with it and when momma is happy.....................
 
Glad you've decided to wait. If you're having trouble hearing, you should go to an ENT or audiologist. Either can look into reasons for hearing loss, although nerve damage is a likely cause with age.

I have worn aids since my early 30's (for both conductive loss and nerve damage). I currently wear BTE (behind the ear) devices that have built in blue-tooth and telecoil, and multiple programs for different situations. These are vastly better than my original aids that were in the ear canal and didn't have different programs. They are nothing like normal hearing, though. I struggle in noisy environments -- I just can't filter like I could as a kid.

I can't imagine getting 20 years out of hearing aids. Mine have averaged about 4 years, and then I replace them due to the aids degrading (I'm very active, and sweat a lot, so I may be extra hard on them), as well as new technology that is better suited to my loss.

IMHO: If you have enough hearing loss that you need a device, only buy a device that is programmed to your specific hearing loss. I don't recommend the personal sound amplifier or other devices, unless the hearing loss is very mild. There is a world of difference in amplifying based on your actual hearing loss. Also, telecoil and built in blue tooth are both very valuable if you have a need to talk on the phone.

I think this person just was a pushy salesman. Hearing aids are really a racket. Just try comparative shopping, and see how unwilling folks are to tell you how much they charge for a device ("oh, sorry -- we can't tell you over the phone. You must come in so we can verify it's the correct device for you" etc). It's definitely a peeve of mine. But, offering a free turkey? Um...yeah, well, glad you were able to get the gift card.
 
imoldernu said:
I never got around to the part of the test where DW asked about the "Free One Month Trial" that was in the "free turkey/free hearing test ad. The "doctor" said that would be fine, and brought us over to the accounting dept. It seems that the free trial means you first buy the aids... (purchase contract details and credit check) then, after fitting, one week later, start wearing your new hearing aids... Then... after a month, can exchange for a better pair, or cancel the contract.
Click to expand...

That part actually isn't bad. My Dad had to go back a few times to get his hearing aids tuned just right. It would sure as heck motivate them to get your hearing aids working since you could just hand them back and get your money back. I'm hoping that few people would fall for the pitch that, "well, those hearing aids may not have been as sophisticated as you needed, but we have this Deluxe model.."
 
Thanks to everyone who recommended Costco! DH had his appointment there today and he's very excited about how well the prototype worked (they tune a set to your specs then send the specs off so they can make you a pair). We know hearing aids are big business (we get lots of mailings) and he's run into the hard-sell types before. He didn't get that at Costco. This pair ran $2,600 (for both). His previous pair, bought 10 years ago, cost something like $5,000 and they weren't as good. He lost one a couple of years ago; the other just stopped working.


Costco is very convenient to our house, but there's just the 2 of us so we have no need for buying things in mass quantities; we'd never been there. We're already reaping the benefits of their discounted gasoline now!
 
Hermit said:
My experience is the same including the Air Force, only it was over 40 years ago. My ability to hear in noisy environments is getting worse, but the experience my dad had was the hearing aids just made the background noise along with what you were trying to hear louder. I have had my hearing tested plenty of times and never got that kind of hard sell. As long as I can hear in a fairly quiet environment, I will not get hearing aids. I am curious about the ones they sell in the sporting goods stores. Seems they might work just as well.
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Sounds like you may have a service-connected hearing problem. Why not contact the VA and get tested? They tested me a few years ago and issued me a pair of HAs that are valued @ $7K.
 
mickeyd said:
Sounds like you may have a service-connected hearing problem. Why not contact the VA and get tested? They tested me a few years ago and issued me a pair of HAs that are valued @ $7K.
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Thanks mickeyd. You are probably correct. I may try that next summer. Right now I am trying to get Medicare set up for when I turn 65 in a couple of months. I can only take the pain and aggravation of one government bureaucratic issue at a time. :nonono: And then I need a couple of months of down time in between to get my blood pressure back under control.

Hermit
 
Accidental Retiree said:
+1 on what I've heard about Costco
for quality and cost.

The doctor sounds like he's related to the hygienist at the office I visited today for the first time in my search for a new dentist in our new town.

I've never heard so much upselling in my life, and there I was, a captive audience, hot lights in my eyes and a sharp instrument scraping around my gums.

I have clean teeth, but I'll keep looking. &#55357;&#56384;
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++1 on Costco.

Lifetime adjustments. Mom just bought pair. 3K. Costco Tech makes a
difference. Heard the Kirkland brand is made my major mfg. who charges much more for the "brand" name.:greetings10:
 
Almost forgot this thread.
Revisiting hearing aids... The time has come... No more theoretical...
A bump to link the AARP explanation for the cost.

Hearing Aids - Why Do They Cost So Much - AARP


The real question is why should an item with a maximum of $445 materials cost, be priced at $4K? Hmmm... a pair costing as much as 10 IPhones?

Yes... I am aware that the price shown above, is at the upper end of the price spectrum, but even at the average price of 1/2 or less, seems to be an outrageous sum.

Based on the age of those who would typically be in need of hearing assistance, I would expect that items of this value, would be available in the
secondary, used marketplace. This does not seem to be the case, as there are few listings in places like Craig's List. Eeewe... who want's a "used" hearing aid? To save thousands of dollars?

I don't see much info on-line for alternates, except for the "generic" types, which always have very negative reviews. And yes... Costco... but still a very big expense item, with a high markup.

Overall, 20% of adults have some hearing loss, and one out of every three persons over age 65. 60% of the people who do have hearing loss are either in the workplace, or educational settings.
 
Seems to me like they are pushing snake oil. For a sanity check, I would say have them give you an Rx/specification for what is needed and then you can shop competitively for price. I assume part of the fee is for custom fitting to your ear canal size, but that shouldn't be a big part of the cost.

My hearing is OK except in crowded noisy environments with music playing and background conversations.
 
I'd rather buy a used set, properly cleaned and the parts inside of the ear replaced than delaying to get them if money is an issue.

It took my mom years to accept that she needed them. I learned:
Once communication in normal voice gets difficult better consider buying (and if you buy buy two!).
Otherwise it will make social life difficult. It is not possible to yell at someone in a friendly mood for more than a few short sentences. Try it!
If you get them late it will not be possible to retrain the ear. What is gone is gone.
A lot of the itching that might come can be improved if the material of the part in the ear is changed.
 
DFW_M5 said:
Seems to me like they are pushing snake oil. For a sanity check, I would say have them give you an Rx/specification for what is needed and then you can shop competitively for price. I assume part of the fee is for custom fitting to your ear canal size, but that shouldn't be a big part of the cost.



My hearing is OK except in crowded noisy environments with music playing and background conversations.
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I have noticed the same above now also. I hope it is not the precursor to hearing problems as I my hearing is sensitive and usually tell people they are talking too loud. Maybe its just because I am not out in those environments much anymore so it bothers me. My parents have their tv at blaring volume and neither one wear hearing aides. I have to give Imolder credit for taking on the problem. I am afraid I will be one of those types that think my vision problems are my problem and my lack of hearing is your problem.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
imoldernu said:
Almost forgot this thread.
Revisiting hearing aids... The time has come... No more theoretical...
A bump to link the AARP explanation for the cost.

Hearing Aids - Why Do They Cost So Much - AARP


The real question is why should an item with a maximum of $445 materials cost, be priced at $4K? Hmmm... a pair costing as much as 10 IPhones?

Yes... I am aware that the price shown above, is at the upper end of the price spectrum, but even at the average price of 1/2 or less, seems to be an outrageous sum.

Based on the age of those who would typically be in need of hearing assistance, I would expect that items of this value, would be available in the
secondary, used marketplace. This does not seem to be the case, as there are few listings in places like Craig's List. Eeewe... who want's a "used" hearing aid? To save thousands of dollars?

I don't see much info on-line for alternates, except for the "generic" types, which always have very negative reviews. And yes... Costco... but still a very big expense item, with a high markup.

Overall, 20% of adults have some hearing loss, and one out of every three persons over age 65. 60% of the people who do have hearing loss are either in the workplace, or educational settings.
Click to expand...

Same reason why an Intel processor costs $.05 in raw materials, yet sells for hundreds of $: the total costs.

--Marketing
--Legal issues
--FDA review/testing/involvement (?)
--Sales staff/network
--General overhead
--R&D
--Markups along the wholesale chain

The issue is that one's hearing can take a much wider range of issues than vision (volume as well as pitch), and can't always be as easily gauged as to what the exact issues are. Plus, unlike vision, it's not as easy to simply put a simple filter on the hearing aid with a set step-up on the volume (imagine if light sources varied as much in intensity as sound sources do?). Plus, you can have various sound sources mixing pitch and volume at the same time - not likely with glasses and your vision.

So unfortunately, hearing aids aren't quite easy to 'fit' for each person.
 
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