Hearing Aids

All you hearing challenged....what ear buds, and how much did you spend?

Hearing impaired since birth. Used to wear Qualitones  (are they even in business?) Don't wear them anymore because I can't afford anything that doesn't sound like a bad county fair PA.

Heard (haha) that Costco had fairly reasonable $$$$ aids, but wanting to digest the info. Anyone have any exposure to 'Hearing Assist' ?

What's the difference?  

Go to a hearing specialist

He will test your hearing and reccomend the  right aid.

They will cost you more but extra service an batteries are added.

Insurance may help a little.

I use BTE and have gotten more frustrated with them as of late. I want to hear dammit! Anyone here have cochlear? Trying to decide if I want to and whether it would be more beneficial over $10k hearing aids. 

To all that have responded thus far thank you......I did the audiologist(uniden) to the tune of$3800. That was over eight years ago....I was able to score a black market uniden with adjustable volume for $250. At my age I'm looking something volume adjustable, but not stompin' my budget. Cochclear would be an option if I were 40-30 years younger ......off to the interwebb....and who pray tell(health ins.) covers hearing aids ?

Aetna covers hearing aids (every 3 years) and cochlear (1 time deal afaik)

iceracer said:

Go to a hearing specialist

He will test your hearing and reccomend the  right aid.

Times have certainly changed. Back then, my audiologists was a man. It wasn’t until late 80’s or early 90’s before it all became women.  

The other option I'm going to investigate is used aids, specifically in-the-ear. Find someone who has upgraded and has a generation or 2 old aid that they'll sell for pennies on the dollar. You'll still need a new mold made of your ear, so the gross used factor is null.

My father and my aunt have gone the Costco hearing aid route. I'm not sure what the sound quality is like for them, but my aunt did marvel that she could hear the crickets outside again.

clutchsmoke said:

My father and my aunt have gone the Costco hearing aid route. I'm not sure what the sound quality is like for them, but my aunt did marvel that she could hear the crickets outside again.

I've heard this from a couple of people.  Audiologists seem to be the new funeral director.     

My dad's finally looking to get some aids and I pointed him to Costco if his insurance won't cover a better known supplier's costs.  Costco's top of the line system is $1,600.  Have never used them but they brag on them quite heavily.  Built-in bluetooth _listening_ only (will have to use phone mic if you want to make calls.  I would imagine they have the same return-if-you-don't-like policy with these but have never confirmed that.  Much better price than the Phonak (Costco also carries this brand) set I have at $6k (insurance covered a bunch of that).  Not all Costco's have testing facilities so you might have to bring in a hearing test report for them.

Appleseed said:

The other option I'm going to investigate is used aids, specifically in-the-ear. Find someone who has upgraded and has a generation or 2 old aid that they'll sell for pennies on the dollar. You'll still need a new mold made of your ear, so the gross used factor is null.

When I got my aids, I went through three different type of in-ear aids.  I found the kind that fill the entire "bowl" area just outside the ear canal made me feel like I had to unplug my ears all the time.  Audiologist told me that type of in-ear aid traps low frequency waves in the ear and pressure builds up.  I also tried two smaller sized in-ear aids but could never get used to the "filled up" feeling inside my ear canal.  I ended up with the over-the-ear type and am very happy.  They have a cone-shaped rubber spacer with holes in it so it conforms much more lightly to your ear canal.  Much more comfortable for me even if I do have to deal with the wire running into my ear and my glasses fighting for real estate at the top of my ear.   Hope this helps.

I don't know if this will help, but one of my neighbors, and a good friend, got his hearing aids through the VA.   Seems he was covered due to his service as a back seat officer in F-4s in Vietnam.   

Hearing aids is the result of aural sex.

I'll see myself out.

My mom has had OK luck with a few companies that offer 30, 60, or 90 day trials. She likes the in the ear ones because glasses and 25 years of habit. I forget the exact companies, but one place in Maryland had a decent one she really liked, but it was something like $2k.

Supposedly, when she turns 65 in July and gets medicare, she'll be eligible for new ones, which is good because she can't hear E36 M3. 

Bose, of all companies, just recently got approval for a non prescription hearing aid, but I haven't heard anything about it since. Anything that will help cut down the fighting between the old woman who can't hear and the child who is barely understandable will be worth the money as far as I'm concerned.

Where/how are you finding used ones? That could be something we'd like to investigate.

In reply to rallycamaro :

I've had both. The real reason I gravitate to in the ear are glasses. I wear them. I don't want the two fighting each other for space being my ear. But, I should give it a go. Who knows, maybe they'll be friends? 

Where are you? Johns Hopkins is doing a study about hearing & lifestyle. Half of the subjects will be working with hearing issues & given a hearing aid at the end of the study. They're in Hagerstown Md & I believe you need to be 70 & older. Phone is 301-791-1847. Full disclosure I'm in the study as a volunteer.

In reply to RevRico :

I'm not even sure where to look. E-Bay is kind of hinky when it comes to medical stuff. I found that out when I thought about unloading an insulin pump. I'm thinking Craigslist or Letgo or (ungh) Facebook.