Bought some hearing aids today(UPDATE)

Glad to see this topic. I normally don't frequent this section. But in the last two weeks I have been diagnosed with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in my left ear. Lost about 50% of my hearing in my left ear instantly. Tried the oral steroids to no effect and now am doing the ear injections. At 45 this was a shocker. Esepcially all of a sudden. The good thing is my right ear is still 100%. I've resulted that I will probably need a device to improve my hearing once we sort all this out and have no issue with it. It is what it is. The good part is that my health insurance will pay for 90% of it up to $2500 every 4 years. So I am very thankful for that.

ScottWill wrote:

whistlebritches wrote:
Are they very expensive? They say you have to buy expensive ones to get good ones.

Not necessarily. But i guess it depends on what you think is expensive. Costco is always a good route to go if you're looking for cheap up front. The only problem with Costco is if you plan on keeping your hearing aids longer than 5 years, Costco won't service them anymore. Their technology is comparable to other companies, but the technology is a few years old, which is why it's so much cheaper (and the fact that Costco buys in massive bulk for all of their stores to get the wholesale pricing down.)

I would shop around at not only costco , but your local hearing aid stores. You never know what you will find!

here's something I found that talks about costco. might be worth a look. I think costco hearing aids are nice for the price, but it's definitely not for everyone.

http://www.hustonhearing.com/archives/729

whistlebritches wrote:
Are they very expensive? They say you have to buy expensive ones to get good ones.

Not necessarily. But i guess it depends on what you think is expensive. Costco is always a good route to go if you're looking for cheap up front. The only problem with Costco is if you plan on keeping your hearing aids longer than 5 years, Costco won't service them anymore. Their technology is comparable to other companies, but the technology is a few years old, which is why it's so much cheaper (and the fact that Costco buys in massive bulk for all of their stores to get the wholesale pricing down.)

I would shop around at not only costco , but your local hearing aid stores. You never know what you will find!

Wonderful D.E.!!!! Have a great-safe trip.

....Update....

Hearing aids were fitted and programmed yesterday. I am still amazed about what I can hear now. The gal who tested and fitted me is fabulous and was referred by a friend, his comment was, "you have to have a good rapport with the person treating you, just like you primary Doctor" and I do with her.

Regarding all of your great posts, first the price is about $2600 a pair. Cheap in comparison to most outlets.

Thanks for the suggestion on easing into using them. At the store yesterday it seemed that everyone was talking at once, guess what, they were. For the last few years I couldn't hear any of the conversations. I noticed that sometimes I have to slow down and let my brain analyze what is being said. It's a cognitive thing, I hear the words clearly but my brain is so use to not hearing that I have to think about what is being said, before I let my wife decipher things. It is hard to explain but I'm sure most of you know what I mean.

We are leaving in a couple of hours on a 6 hour trip up to our condo in the Eastern Sierra and it will be interesting to see how they work in the car.

I have four programs. normal, noise reduction, TV listening and music listening. Normally they only put in the first three programs to start with but I will be converting old LP's to CD's and she said this should help.

One of my problems in the past was being confused in how to operate the programs. There wasn't any indication which program I was using and no indication if and when the program changed. These have a remote so I can see what the current program is and there is a tonal signal when you change program.

At first I couldn't decipher the tones, my hearing loss is more significant in one ear than the other and the tones ran together. Last night after about 6 hours of wearing the aids, the tones, one beep, two beeps, red fish, blue fish, were distinct,

Kerry who fitted me said it was going to take at least two weeks to get use to them and really be comfortable with hearing. I'm going to enjoy experiencing the changes but most likely, I won't notice them until someone asks about the difference.

And yes, I am very lucky to one have a great retirement with health coverage and to have a wife who is a great money manager. COSTCO in my opinion is a great place to shop, prices are good and for the most part quality is good. But it is kind of a luxury thing, I am very careful of over buying and making sure I need stuff but they have great bargains on and off. Their attitude about health care for members is great and there can be significant savings. Their pharmacy is open to the general public and the prices are the same for OTC and prescription meds for the public as it is for members.

By the way, I always thought my wife had great hearing just like most Mothers. When napping on the sofa, she would awaken if I walked out of the room, just like when the DDs were infants or when the DGKs were infants. Now I think she just wakes up because the floor squeaks so darn loud.

Thanks for all the great comments and suggestions.

David

Will be fit with my new Costco HA in the morning. Walk thru store was great. What they fit you with depends on what the test show is needed. My hearing in some areas is "profound" meaning more than an average digital unit is needed. Bottom line the average digital unit is available for $1,700 for both ears. My units cost $2,600.

Bob

Been wearing a HA for 20 years (deaf 100% in the other ear so won't help), and Costco price was half what I've paid elsewhere for virtually identical product. Huge savings even on one HA.

I got my HA's 8 months ago after all of my friends started mumbling all the time - haha. I have the Phonak Bolero Q90P. Not cheap for sure, but they work for me very well and they are water and dust resistant.

I still remember the first morning I walked outside and couldn't believe there were that many birds around.

My husband only needs them occasionally..... when I'm trying to talk to him. LOL I, on the other hand would like some ear plugs! He snores like a buzz saw!

I have a pair of Starkey hearing aids. The were OK but not great due to amplification of background noise. I went to my audiologist and complained. He recommended the Starkey Surflink Mobil. That device is the greatest. It is a bluetooth device. I can use it with the TV, my cell phone and as a separate receiver to listen to a conversation in a restaurant. It has an audio input I can hook to my computer, TV or any device with an audio output. I use it a classroom situation and set the device on the table by the lecturer. The sound is transmitted to my hearing aids and I hear just like I was sitting in the front row. I can sit the device in the middle of the table at a restaurant and it picks up the close in conversation and eliminates the background noise. I am very happy with the set up I have.