Posted on 06/03/2023 7:38:45 PM PDT by TNoldman
My Hearing had degraded over time. I used TVEars for a while. In 2018 I purchased an inexpensive Hearing Aid for $59.(Britzgo) I started with one end later got a second. I found that in noisy environments I had difficulty hearing - the only thing the hearing aid did was make all sounds louder.
As time went on I found one hearing aid in either ear - depending on surrounding work best but not in noisy area or when multiple people were talking.
As technology improved I get a smaller pair for $300. (Britzgo).
Result smaller buttons - harder to adjust and 10 day battery life. Same problems in noisy environments and when multiple people were talking.
Jump ahead to October 2021 and then got Listen Lively(Jabra now) hearing aids for $1300. They connect to my Smart Phone for special programming. After a 1-1/2 years I am back to my $59. Britzgo - because of clogged Ear buds, change Wax Filters,4 day battery life, changed program numerous time, receiver and wire failures and no better performance with Listen Lively Hearing Aids.
I am back to one $59. BRITZGO!!
What is your experience???
“OTC? You’ve never needed a doctor’s prescription to buy hearing aids.”
I guess you never tried to buy hearing aidd.
“Well, What they label OTC hearing aids are supposedly “FDA approved”, whatever that means.”
Ignore his ignorant rant.
Buying a generic hearing aid over the counter without professional adjustment isn’t likely to do you much good, regardless what you paid for it.
A hearing aid isn’t just an amplifier, making everything louder, it only boosts the volume of the frequencies where you’re deficient. It takes testing to identify those frequencies.
It’s not just the old tone test, where they play a tone louder and louder until you finally hear it, there also are discrimination tests that involve someone saying words to you and you repeating them back to them. From that they can tell what parts of speech you’re having trouble understanding, and make adjustments for that.
Roll all that together and they know how to adjust your aid so you get the most out of it. You’re probably better off with a cheap aid that’s been properly calibrated than an expensive one that hasn’t been.
While no panacea, they make a huge difference in my quality of life. I could not go without them.
Resound higher end hearing aids, were not inexpensive, but were life changing and worth every penny. Added benefits is iPhone adjustable sound situations, and a very good tinnitus app that puts me in Saint Augustine Beach House sound sleep.
Without, I can’t take enough drugs or bourbon to solve my problems. Well, perhaps, not enough drugs.
Bookmark
WOW - that's worth asking about. Thanks.
Tried a hearing aid advertised on TV. It did amplify but failed the part where it was supposed to pair with my phone. Called tech support and found that they paired nicely with Google phones but not with Iphone. So I sent it back — they honored their warrenty. Then I went to Costco.
I did pay more $ 1300 for two units, but they tested me and adjusted the devices. At first I had to lower their effectiveness. Easy on the phone app. Next I had to change the frequency response, also easy with the app. I had to lower the high frequency because that was where all the noise was. And my wifes voice was midrange, so I raised that. Now I find I am happy — as a bonus, I can listen to music and cell calls over my hearing aid or switch back to the phone.
Costco did a very good job and they will clean the devices while you shop if you go in regularly. But you have to be a member so there is that.
I went to a well known hearing aid company and got a thorough test covering frequencies in each ear and also word recognition evaluation for each ear. I was surprised how many I missed particularly with "sh" and "ch" or containing "s" sounds.
My insurance and the VA covered about half of the costs and I shelled out about $3K for two. They run on rechargeable batteries, connect to my phone and some devices with bluetooth. They are programmable using my phone. I can adjust frequency and directional sensitivities.
I realize how valuable they are when I forget to wear them. There really is a big difference for me.
Do you have some sort of thing to plug your head into for recharging?
Some days lately I wish I did!
But, no, just put new batteries into the BAHA about once a week.
I am due for a new one next year. Hoping for even better results.
Besides plugging in, I could use a memory upgrade!
I have no personal experience with hearing aids. But, for what it’s worth, COSTCO was rated number one prescription retailer by Consumer Reports (5/6 2023).
It conducts sound through the bone to the Cochlea. If you have nerve damage, it probably won’t help.
I still have good hearing on one side.
Went to a pro audiologist, got tested, 40-60dB loss above 2KHz, no wonder I couldn't understand speech or hear birds chirp, and everything was muddy.
I got the high-end Oticon DSP-based hearing aids, expensive ($3000 each side). Audiologist programmed them for three modes: 1) normal indoor/outdoor everyday use, 2) speech in very noisy environment, 3) music listening. Highly adjustable, can be programmed using my smartphone, can act as in-ear monitors.
The first two DSP modes provide noise and echo cancellation as well as boosting high frequencies. It's like having my hearing back again, but the DSP causes artifacts when listening to music.
The third "music" mode boosts high-frequencies without the smart noise-cancellation, to provide minimal distortion of things like piano and plucked strings (I'm a guitarist). Not as good for speech but music sounds great.
Those hearing aids have changed my life. Recommended highly. Expensive, yes, but worth every penny.
I should also mention that the high-end Oticons also have built-in rechargeable batteries instead of replaceable ones. Come with a custom charger. Much better than dealing with replaceable batteries.
“, just put new batteries into the BAHA about once a week.”
Describe the process please. i got the mental image of some post sticking out of your head.
Have never had a “hearing aid” that worked worth a darn. Don’t even bother with them now that I’m learning to lipread. Which isn’t the magical skill people think it is, but it gives me clues to help sort out meaning from the gabble I hear.
My BIL has about 25% hearing loss in both ears. We finally talked him into getting hearing aids from VA. Suddenly, like magic, he could hear again!
Two years later, one of them no longer works. VA will fix or replace them at no charge. Nope, he can’t be bothered to talk to the office. He’d rather just complain.
Yes, that is frustration you are hearing (reading?).
Prescription hearing aids work well for most people. However, they are very expensive. If one does not have somebody else to pay for them (very good insurance or the VA, for example), they can be prohibitively expensive.
You get what you pay for. Go for quality. Starkey hearing aids are adjustable to adapt to noisy environments, have variable volume, and don’t need batteries because they have a charger built into their case. Change the wax filters about once a month. If you have earwax problems, use some Debrox or generic equivalent. Yes they work, They make a world of difference.
I get my hearing gmaids at Costco. I get the, cleaned regularly and even get the insides replaced when necessary. They hook up to my iPhone and work like wireless head phones. I read a lot and can listen to my kindle while I do House work. Still, I don’t hear well in public places and the masks drove me crazy.
The hearing loss is hereditary in my family. Everyone on both sides of my family had a hearing loss as they got older, at least the ones who lived to get older. The men in my family have not been very long lived. My mother’s father died of an ear infection when he was 23. It went into the mastoid bone and killed him.
My father got Resound, too, and it changed his life. With cheaper brands he was becoming distant and uninvolved in conversations. Since getting Resound he is back to his engaging self. I would suggest nobody take the cheap route when it comes to your hearing, studies have shown that it keeps your brain functioning and stimulated, and helps ward off dementia.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.