Hearing Aid Recommendation

[Idnar7]

My wife has issues with her hearing aids. She has tried multiple ones from True Hearing (Signia). She can-t hear me unless I am face to face with her. She can't hear the tv and has to read subtitles. One of her joys was going to lunch with her friends. Now she doesn't go because most restaurants are noisy and she can't hear in a group of people. She gets so frustrated that she doesn't want to go unless it is one on one. She is 73 and has had hearing aids six years. She goes to an audiologist for adjustments a couple times a year, but that doesn't seem to help, or doesn't last. Would appreciate any feedback.

 

[fosterscik]

She should get a Costco membership if she doesn't have one already and try out their brand. DW uses them. They are cheaper and better that anything she bought before using Costco. If she doesn't decide to go with Costco she can get her membership fee refunded with no questions asked.

 

[Koolau]

My wife has issues with her hearing aids. She has tried multiple ones from True Hearing (Signia). She can-t hear me unless I am face to face with her. She can't hear the tv and has to read subtitles. One of her joys was going to lunch with her friends. Now she doesn't go because most restaurants are noisy and she can't hear in a group of people. She gets so frustrated that she doesn't want to go unless it is one on one. She is 73 and has had hearing aids six years. She goes to an audiologist for adjustments a couple times a year, but that doesn't seem to help, or doesn't last. Would appreciate any feedback.

Both DW and I are at that stage (or age) that we need HAs. So far, we've been avoiding them because we have little confidence that they won't just make everything "louder." That won't help where we need it most - mainly in the setting you describe such as a restaurant or any group setting. Just "louder" will increase - not decrease the frustration.

I'll be watching this thread.

 

[48Fire]

Yes, Costco! My parents both got hearing aids there a couple weeks ago after signing up. I've been bugging them for YEARS, and I gave up a couple years ago. Their TV volume dropped from 58 to 23. I really couldn't watch TV with them without getting a headache. I'm not sure what changed their mind, but they're both very happy.

 

[braumeister]

Many of us here have been really happy with Costco hearing aids, both for quality and price.
They don't do any hard sell and take good care of you. There is also a two year guarantee in the unlikely case that they aren't suitable.

 

[rk911]

Not for nothing but has she had her ears cleaned lately? I'm an over-achieved when it comes to producing ear wax so I have my ears cleaned twice a year,

 

[FREE866]

Following. I’m turning 60 this year. I’ve put off hearing aids for awhile. I def need them. But then other days I feel like I don’t. Kinda bummed I have to deal with this.

 

[tutan]

Anyone ever considers a cochlear implant? Unlike hearing aids, which just increases sound volume, can help one hear but bypassing the eardrum?

 

[homestead]

I got costco Rexton aids and I like them. They let you try them for 6 months, if you don't like them you can return.
They use (REM) real ear measurements when fitting you for best performance.
They also will clean them for you for free every couple months.

 

[VanWinkle]

I had Sam's hearing aids for 4 1/2 years but got tired of driving to Sams to get help
when they didn't work correctly (fairly often) and I got pretty good at doing the service
they would do without the drive. I just replaced them with a local "Choice Audio"
and I am amazed at the difference. Them being set correctly with the latest equipment
will make the mid-priced aids seem like the high priced ones. Three year warranty
for no charge (cost 400 at Sam's for 2 additional years over the one year warranty) and
they will clean ears and all service and cleaning of aids for the first year. I have come to
realize that the service and latest technology makes a difference. Low price is no longer
the most important thing and these were only 20% higher than Sam's 4 1/2 years ago.

Mine are Phonak 90 and rechargeable.

 

[VanWinkle]

Anyone ever considers a cochlear implant? Unlike hearing aids, which just increases sound volume, can help one hear but bypassing the eardrum?

Not sure I want that disc glued to my head and the wire going inside somewhere.

 

[Car-Guy]

Mine will be here Monday.

 

[VanWinkle]

My wife has issues with her hearing aids. She has tried multiple ones from True Hearing (Signia). She can-t hear me unless I am face to face with her. She can't hear the tv and has to read subtitles. One of her joys was going to lunch with her friends. Now she doesn't go because most restaurants are noisy and she can't hear in a group of people. She gets so frustrated that she doesn't want to go unless it is one on one. She is 73 and has had hearing aids six years. She goes to an audiologist for adjustments a couple times a year, but that doesn't seem to help, or doesn't last. Would appreciate any feedback.

If the hearing aids are 6 years old, technology is much better now. Have her get a hearing test and
try the latest technology aids. She can always test drive them for a few weeks.

 

[MissMolly]

Not sure I want that disc glued to my head and the wire going inside somewhere.

Cochlear implants are not glued to your head. They are held in place by magnets - one under the skin and one on the disc. And there is no wire going from outside to the inside. The wire in on the internal receiver and is threaded into the ear canal internally. My brother who is profoundly deaf and has worn hearing aids since he was 2 yrs old has one and it has been life changing for him. He is 70 years old and just got it two years ago. Now we no longer have to be looking directly at him and raise our voices when speaking to him. He can participate in any conversation in any setting. It's been wonderful for him.

 

[skipro33]

I have Oticon and they are great! There's an app on my phone to set up equalization just like a mixing console if I want to get into it, as well as 'modes' I can select either through the app or from the aid itself. For example; there are modes for human speech, noisy environments, music, driving, etc. Driving cancels out the road noise like tires and other sounds that one hears when driving down the freeway, while still fully hearing the radio and passengers as well as other outside sounds that are not just 'noise'. For crowded restaurants, I need to look at the person and aim both ears. The internal processor cancels out sounds that are not equal to both hearing aids so the person I'm listening to comes through clearly. I did this last at a Christmas family dinner out at a restaurant with 14 of us at the table. I could hear not only conversations I was having, but I could 'eavesdrop' in down the table by aiming my ears in the direction I wanted to hear and the aids would mute, not completely, but reduced all the other noises that were not equal to each ear. Music mode is simply a graphic equalizer. I can also turn up or down in 3db steps if I want. In a quiet room, I don't want to hear every scooting chair, say, in a library, but I do want to hear a whisper from the person I'm studying with. I bump down the level maybe 6 or 9db and I hear the near person fine, none of the ambient noise. At night, I go outside and crank them full. Crickets sound like an invasion of godzilla-sized insects. Great to hear what someone is saying long distances away in the dark. Some movie theaters offer bluetooth connection to listen to the movie though my hearing aids as well. Look for theaters for hearing impaired in your area.
If I have any issues, I message the audiologist and they can adjust my hearing aids remotely. I guess because they are bluetoothed to my phone and she can access them through that? I don't know, but it works. When I visit once a year, she logs on with her computer, sees everything I did or adjusted and then gives me an audio test with tones while I let her know what I can and can't hear. BTW, my left ear is slightly worse than my right, but only at frequencies very close to my wife's voice. She 'sees' the anomaly and makes adjustments so I don't have to mess with the aids every time my wife is to the left of me.
Pretty cool technology. The aides are rechargeable, no batteries. Servicing them for the consumables is pretty easy considering the meat hooks I have for hands and fingers. Ha!
Oh, and somehow, they help with the tinnitus I have in my ears. Maybe because it's not so quiet with them in, I don't notice it as much as when I'm not wearing them. Since they are bluetooth enabled, I can either pair them up with the TV or my phone. So cool to watch videos and such on my phone without disturbing anyone around me and for watching TV in bed if my wife wants to read a book or go to sleep.

The app is called Oticon Companion if you want to check that out.

One last thing; they were expensive at $3,000 each as I recall. I got them before I went on Medicare, which only covers $500 for hearing aides. My retirement medical covered 100% of all prosthetics and they consider hearing aides prosthetics. All I paid was a $15 copay for the initial hearing exam to determine if I was a candidate for hearing aides. With the law no longer requiring a prescription, perhaps the cost for a pair has gone down too. They are insured; if I lose or damage either or both, they are fully replaced but just once. I lost one wearing my motorcycle helmet. Forgot I had the aides in and one fell out as I either put the helmet on or off. Could not find it. Now they are searchable with my phone app. Just click the tab marked, "Find my hearing aids" and it will track them down. Sort of like when I look for my wife's phone when she's traveling.
Other tabs in the app are;
Update. Just checked, it says no new updates, Current version 1.4.5
Battery notification
Hearing aid details: Model More 1 miniRITE R (there's firmware that matches the Update tab and there's Serial Number, which I won't give out here)
Find My Hearing Aides; uses Google Map on my phone and right now shows they are at my address. I suppose if I misplaced them, I would appreciate that.
You can wear them in rain or showering but not swimming they say.

 

[savory]

Not for nothing but has she had her ears cleaned lately? I'm an over-achieved when it comes to producing ear wax so I have my ears cleaned.twice per year.

I think this is good advice. I have had my hearing in one ear totally eliminated until I changed the filter. It took me a while to figure it out. In the meantime, I blamed the hearing aid.

 

[rk911]

Anyone ever considers a cochlear implant? Unlike hearing aids, which just increases sound volume, can help one hear but bypassing the eardrum?

I know nothing about hearing aids but i thought they did more than just amplify sound.

 

[GenXguy]

Anyone ever considers a cochlear implant? Unlike hearing aids, which just increases sound volume, can help one hear but bypassing the eardrum?

You have to learn to hear again with them. It doesn't sound like what you're used to hearing. Someone I know who got one said she didn't recommend unless you were pretty much deaf.

 

[Dranoel]

I'm very happy with my Phillips hearing aids from Costco. I've had them for 18 months now. My Humana MA plan paid 50% for what I feel was a good deal.

 

[iloveyoga]

DH has worn hearing aids for many years. Very expensive! We had really good results this last time with Jabra. He took the test on line, they mailed out the new hearing aids and provided a Zoom meeting to go over any questions. About a third of the cost of the last ones and he says they work better. Good luck.

 

[Act2]

Has anyone tried OTC brands like Oricle? Any thoughts? I was a bit skeptical when OTC hearing aids fist became widely available but now that there is some experience out there on these I’d love to hear how people are faring with them. Is it a realistic option or not really helpful?

 

[braumeister]

Has anyone tried OTC brands like Oricle? Any thoughts? I was a bit skeptical when OTC hearing aids fist became widely available but now that there is some experience out there on these I’d love to hear how people are faring with them. Is it a realistic option or not really helpful?

No knowledge of that brand, but I would think that such generic hearing aids would only have generic settings. If that works for you, no problem.
But getting a real test from an audiologist will determine exactly which frequencies you need help with and the aids are programmed specifically for you.
That's why Costco aids are so popular -- they do a very thorough job of testing and programming, and I think it's really pretty remarkable that they can do it for so much less than traditional sellers.

 

[homestead]

Has anyone tried OTC brands like Oricle? Any thoughts? I was a bit skeptical when OTC hearing aids fist became widely available but now that there is some experience out there on these I’d love to hear how people are faring with them. Is it a realistic option or not really helpful?

OTC can be a good choice if you have low to moderate hearing loss. If your loss is more severe then you should get prescription aids. I used Eargo self adjusting aids for 4 years and they were ok but not cheap. About $2400. I think the Sony CRE-C20 is a better choice now.
I think they are about $700 at Best Buy, they are also self adjusting.
I went with similar Rexton CIC aid at Costco but adjusted by a technician For $1700.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

Anyone ever considers a cochlear implant? Unlike hearing aids, which just increases sound volume, can help one hear but bypassing the eardrum?

I retired from Audiology in 2011. Back then, Cochlear Implants are limited and suited for severe, profound hearing loss (near deaf) vs the typical mild-moderate loss that seniors most experience.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

My wife has issues with her hearing aids. She has tried multiple ones from True Hearing (Signia). She can-t hear me unless I am face to face with her. She can't hear the tv and has to read subtitles. One of her joys was going to lunch with her friends. Now she doesn't go because most restaurants are noisy and she can't hear in a group of people. She gets so frustrated that she doesn't want to go unless it is one on one. She is 73 and has had hearing aids six years. She goes to an audiologist for adjustments a couple times a year, but that doesn't seem to help, or doesn't last. Would appreciate any feedback.

Most modern hearing aids are digital and programable. The various programs are set to specific listening situations. Most aids have four or more programs, e.g. cell phone, TV, group conversation, cocktail party noise situations and more. Further most aids should have blue-tooth option. Hearing aids are simple, i.e. their sole purpose is to amplify sound. The programs apply filters to the amplification...no rocket science. The real cost is the testing, fitting and one on one orientation/training and the service follow up.
Your audiologist should have a hearing aid test box and a Real Ear Measuring instrument. This allows for a fitting baseline/reference point. Now, future visits/complaints are compared to the fitted baseline to determine if the aid is defective or other issues prevail.