Audibel Hearing Aids

Quick trip wrote:
rvten:
If you are a ex military or retired military (vet) you can go to your local VA and get your hearing aids for a grand total of $50.00!!
The $50.00 is to cover the visit to the audiologist.
My newest set costs over $3,000.00 for each one on the open market.
I'm on my fourth set, and will get another set every 5 years.

There are a lot of the guys I served with that have hearing loss that is service connected. One of the crew had absolutely no problem getting help. On the average it takes two years to get through to the VA that our service caused our hearing loss. Most of us are ex-military and the VA wants a letter from an officer that served with us to detail why we have a problem. All but one of the officers I served with are dead, a big problem getting that da.. letter.

Now that our service is considered combat, the VFWs will allow us to join and get us help, other than that we get no help at all.

I will agree that Hearing Aid stores like HearX are staffed by sales people with a certificate in fitting devices and not audiologist. A friend of mine has recommended our local Costco and I chatted with one of the Gals there several times and we are building a rapport, I'm going to be making an appointment with her and see where that leads.

I work for Starkey, but not on the audiology or sales end of things. I suggest you visit www.starkey.com and find a hearing professional to answer your questions.

rvten:
If you are a ex military or retired military (vet) you can go to your local VA and get your hearing aids for a grand total of $50.00!!
The $50.00 is to cover the visit to the audiologist.
My newest set costs over $3,000.00 for each one on the open market.
I'm on my fourth set, and will get another set every 5 years.

Does insurance cover hearing aides? I have one deaf ear and have never really looked into hearing aides. I don't even know if it would help.

Well should have my new hearing aids in a week.
Went with the cheaper set. Do not need all those fancy extra's that just cause more problems.

Around $3000.0 for a pair and new ear molds.

been using hearing aids since the 80's as well. The set I have now are the best that I have used...technology may have improved others as well, don't know. The Brand is PNONAK. They are the over the ear type and fitted. They come with a nice pkg that includes a wireless antenna/control module worn around the neck that works with a small base charger hooked to the TV for your own private volume control. It also works as a bluetooth direct to your hearing aid/aids from your cel phone. Volume may also be controlled by pushing a button on the hearing aid.

Been wearing these thing since the late 80's.
My daughter used to be an audiologist. She hated BC-HIS stores.
She set me up with my first set from ReSound.
The set I have now are Oticon. Have had them sent in for repairs so much. I could have paid for one new one.

Maybe just get a bigger set of speakers for the TV and turn the volume up.
Give everyone a pad and pencil when they want to talk to me. LOL

when I was shopping for them a few years back, I discovered that you should NOT make your first inquiry at the "fitter", instead you should go on line and have a more reasonable priced unit give you a referral to whoever supplies the brand in mind.
bumpy

In case you reconsider Costco, just want to add some input. I got my most recent hearing aid at the one in Wilmington, NC, and they have a hearing aid specialist on staff daily in an office next to the eyeglasses.

This was my fourth aid since 1998, all the previous ones fitted by an audiologist (3 different ones, as I moved locations). No problem getting just the one aid, as I am profoundly deaf in worst ear, so not helped by one. Severe loss in the other.

This one at Costco was HALF the cost, for the same type of H aid, and the fitting was just as professional. $1200 versus $2400. Certainly covered a year's membership and gas to drive an hour further to Costco. And they provide free batteries whenever needed.

This bore out what Consumer Reports Magazine determined when they had 100 people go shopping for HAs. I heard a presentation about this at the Hearing Loss Assoc of America's national conference in 2011. Prices vary greatly and people can shop around and still get good results, and an audiologist is not necessarily the best choice.

Audibel is not available around here. I checked Costco and they do have decent prices but their audiologist rotates from store to store so is not available "on demand". I ended up with Beltone and I couldn't be happier with the product or the service. Maybe it's just the BBB rating for the area you checked that's not good. Keep in mind, that more people will take the time to complain than to compliment. I wish you luck with whatever you get as mine have brought me back into the world. I love them.