Hearing Aids

[Solittle]

One thing I like about this forum (err - - well the old one anyway) is I don't' have to ask "Please say again?" as the old ears don't' hear as well as they once did. Soooo I'm' starting to do some research on hearing aids. What I read is scarey - sad tales of big bucks spent with no results, out and out rip offs, price fixing galore, etc., etc.

Any good forums out there where I can get the truth? Anybody have some tips on what to do or not to do? What works dosent what dosen't?

 

[aspeck]

Re: Hearing Aids

Can't help you other than my G-ma wears 'em, and a couple of friends also. G-ma went the route of the bad, but expensive rip-offs first (after her wearing them for a month was told she could not return them and was out the $). One friend had the option of wearing them for a while and returning them for another pair - he eventually found a pair that helped without "loosing" money. So make sure you know how long you can wear them before returning them for another type.

 

[llfish]

Re: Hearing Aids

I have tried several high tech. sets of hearing aids with out an success. I was given the option to turn them back with in 30 days for full refund. Which I did.

I was told and then read hear that some of the older hearing aids are better than the new ones.

Good luck on finding some that work for you.

Larry

 

[roscoe]

Re: Hearing Aids

Best to go to an audiologist affiliated with a respected area hospital, from what I have heard.

They should have samples that you can try in and around the office before you commit to ordering your own.

Dad loves his. Cost him $4800 about 3 years ago.

 

[Link]

Re: Hearing Aids

My fishing partner got some a couple years back through the VA

When he answers I'll post it here

I just sent him this

Wad ya say
What did yours cost?
How much out of pocket from you?
Were they custom fit?
How did you like them ? pros/cons
How come you haven't got them fixed yet?

Thanks
Link

 

[fireman57]

Re: Hearing Aids

You get hearing aids from unprotected phone sex.

 

[jlshields]

Re: Hearing Aids

Got 'em in both ears. $2500 each. Can't hear a damn thing without 'em. Supposed to filter out background noise but don't do such a great job on that. Don't want to say the name of them but they are Audibel.
I've had three pairs in the last 20 years, all different brands and price ranges, and one is no better than the other.
John

 

[Link]

Re: Hearing Aids

Here is the answer I got.
Hope it helps.


Mine were free from VA and were custom fit, no out of pocket money from me.
It took awhile for all the paper work but beat paying $2500.00 apiece them.

I have bi-directional which works pretty well but when things are loud you have to turn them down.

The reason I haven't got them fixed yet is because they only have hearing aid repair on Wednesday 8:00 to 11:00 am.

My work requires me to bring a note back from any appointment I have so instead of taking the time off I just decided to wait until I retire and the get them repaired then.

Why do you want to know?
Someone must asked you about hearing aids.
TTYL

 

[JB]

Re: Hearing Aids

I have a set of custom fit, high tech. Big bux ($4500 each)

They work well, but do not "filter" background noise. They are custom programmed to "fit" the hearing frequency range in each ear. They can be reprogrammed if my needs change.

I do not wear them often because I have gotten used to not hearing high frequency background noise and hearing it became annoying.

I do wear them when in the woods. I can again hear a deer rustling in the leaves from 100yards or a squirrel scolding at 50 yards. I also wear them when small grandbuddies with soft voices are visiting.

They give me the hearing I had as a teen, which is not always good.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Hearing Aids

Thanks for the input so far.

Link - I had not thought about the VA & will check it out. I am a Viet Nam era guy with no disabilities so may not qualify but I will JB.

JB What brand and model is your set?

I am fairly early in my research. I went to one audio place and got a brief overview from their perspective. My next step is to get my hearing roscoes by an audiologist and roscoe's suggestion hospital finding one associated with a hospitol rather than an association with hearing don't vendors is sound.

I don't think my needs are unusual. I have speaks difficulty in hearing voices unless the speaker speakes with some force. Groups or crowds are a major problem. I think my hearing has degraded in both the upper and lower frequencies primarily. The volume seems to be OK in many discern but I am loosing the ability to descern what is being said.

The research that I have done on the web is troubling. It gives the impression that the entire don't is based on industry wide price fixing, products that don't solve many if not most of their customer's problems and so called professionals who know little more than sales techniques.

As to the aids themselves - I am not a vain guy so flexibility size is not all don't important. Digital seems to provide greater flexability and control though I don't like the idea of having to go to some "professional" for reprogramming and adjustments. I would like one that has a clicker somewhat like for your home entertainment gear. I would like to set the program or profile and the sensitive level with the clicker.

Whatever I do I will be sensative to the satisfaction guarantee period and will use if if I am not satisfied.

Anyone have any experience with buying directly from firm's web sites?

 

[Solittle]

Re: Hearing Aids

I reviewed the above after I used the spell check and it automatically jumbled many of the words and posted it.

I hope you get the sense of what I wrote as I don't have the mind set now to fiddle with correcting it.

I know we don't vote on things here but if asked I would cast as many votes as I could get away with to go back to the way this site used to be. I'll bet all the changes have driven many away or reduced the time they spend here. I know I am spending less time here. Sad - - -

 

[Link]

Re: Hearing Aids


Solittle wrote:
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I reviewed the above after I used the spell check and it automatically jumbled many of the words and posted it.
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That Splains it!
Tried it twice before and it did the same thing to me.
Back to using word with spell check, then c&p here.

 

[dhammann]

Re: Hearing Aids

Has anyone tried a hunting ear enhancer? My Dad is almost deaf and has tried many (expensive) aids. They all work for awhile then have to be repaired for a large fee. Just for the heck of it I bought him 2 enhancers from Bass Pro Shop and they outperformed any hearing ait that he has ever owned. Now this is the kicker, they only cost 29.95 for two!!

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Hearing Aids

We do a lot of printing for this company. We produce their hearing aid spec books and they put out quite a few.

http://www.rexton.com/

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Hearing Aids

I reviewed the above after I used the spell check and it automatically jumbled many of the words and posted it.

I hope you get the sense of what I wrote as I don't have the mind set now to fiddle with correcting it.

I know we don't vote on things here but if asked I would cast as many votes as I could get away with to go back to the way this site used to be. I'll bet all the changes have driven many away or reduced the time they spend here. I know I am spending less time here. Sad - - -

I'm with you on that. I spend a lot less time here myself. I've also changed my homepage from iboats to something else. Tired of waiting through three commercials for page to load.