And, of course, just looking anything up on the internet results in ads and suggestions for all sorts of alternatives, including "Amplifiers" for less than $1,000. (All of this out of pocket.)
Any suggestions or recommendations from this group?
Thanks
Would this do anything for tinnitus?
If your hearing loss is mild the current Apple AirPods Pro 2 has an app which tests your hearing and will then be a hearing aid for you. Cost is around 2 to 3 hundred. Maybe cheaper if you get a deal. It’s meant to be wireless earphones but it’s pretty sophisticated and has now become a hearing aid.
I am on my 5th hearing aid. Somehow I made it to retirement without them, but suffered high frequency hearing loss from choppers in ‘Nam.
I have been to several audiologists and have had hearing tests for over 50 years. The tests I have had at their hearing center has been the best yet.
If you are a Costco member, I would strongly recommend asking for a hearing test. They can then know more of your needs to point you to a good fit. They have high quality models from reputable manufacturers.
You might consider bone conduction devices. Depends on the nature of your hearing loss whether bone conduction is suitable. Here’s one example:https://www.amazon.com/Conduction-Headphones-Frequency-Non-invasive-Long-Term/dp/B0DNZ4KY7G/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.I-yBviawR5Gvs5LQSnQgR_YOcFGa6wwgaWrSPalRwhLkCwuSo10veREeOaNyZKy_5A7pITmekfh0dT6JJFGBeWS-0jAHnV_Mtf-FAIjjyYGiKQs0F48un6HlgO2Pos6r_YpIYBn1f_2KvVDZaJBsHWSaj-onBptO7V7BhY356DP1LxBhUClXtVfGWpTyo138tBa2pN03EJ_A5YfvEJfO6lblP9Jg155o7pdjlDR0HeG8VYPHS17g6N7PRF3G78mJN7nAFDykKN4n1KZ147XSTK1SpzCnaZ5IfDiHJIpuAAs.lO0vgrefqDU-EcI2aMthGSQty0xyLFNQkzPke4-XEgI&dib_tag=se&keywords=bone+conduction+hearing+aid&qid=1752262868&sr=8-3-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
There are numerous options.
You want something that can be programmed for your particular hearing loss across frequencies.
Go to an independent audiologist and get a decent, professional hearing test.
They can help you figure out what kind of hearing assistance you need.
It’s been too long since I helped my mom with hers—and she didn’t like them.
But, get professional assistance. It is likely going to cost you less in the long run.
I took recommend the Costco route. Great price, free cleanings, built in loss insurance. Bluetooth to your phone. Very pleased.
I have been using Lucid aids sold by Liberty which has clinics in Sams Clubs. I am a member, but I don’t think it is required.
I’ve had the same audiologist there for all 8 years. They have all the tech for testing. My ENT told me that there was no reason to pay more at the big chains.
I will be getting new ones soon and they will run $3900. They will be the 2nd from the top one. I have had my current ones for 8 years which is the outside of their expected life span.
Testing and evaluation is free. At least in my experience it was no pressure to buy. You can’t lose by checking it out. I have to pay out of pocket, so I am careful.
Do you have early minor hearing loss? If so go to a local Audibel or COSTCO center. Cheap hearing aids with a decent test thrown in ... They’re competitive now that over the counter aids are available. Consumer Reports also has nice recommendations for members...
If your hearing loss is worse - and you want something to allow you to hear conversations, TV voices etc and you’re in the privacy of your home - I found the perfect answer and it’s cheap. I use it with my Iphone ear buds. Great sound. I’ll come back with a link...
I have the Osia Baha which requires the hearing nerve being in good shape and a plate is inserted under the skin. The hearing aid can be clipped on with a magnet. I have the magnetic one. It is covered by insurance but you have to go to an ENT for evaluation.
Beltone has like six different lines.
Buying cheap will leave you disappointed. I have Resound now for four years, and the things I was missing were significant. Listening to music 🎶 is a whole new experience.
I do NOT need amplification if that means louder.
My hearing loss is garbled sound....sounds like the speaker has mouth full of marbles.
Don’t know if that is correctable. Reading lips seems to help for me. Hearing over cell phone is impossible as well as phone messages.
Just enunciate and speak slowly and clearly
Join COSTCO and get theirs. The prices are far better due to their bulk buying. First rate modern hardware and good service.
The Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act, which was passed by Congress in 2017 and fully implemented by the FDA in 2022. It allows adults with mild to moderate hearing loss to buy hearing aids without a prescription, medical exam, or fitting by an audiologist.
🔍 What Changed?
- Before: Hearing aids could only be purchased through licensed professionals, often costing $3,000–$7,000 per pair.
- Now: Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids are available at pharmacies, electronics stores, and online—often for under $1,000.
✅ Benefits
- Greater accessibility for millions of Americans
- Lower costs due to increased competition
- Easier entry point for people hesitant to seek professional help
⚠️ Limitations
- OTC devices are not suitable for severe hearing loss or children
- Lack of custom fitting and professional tuning may affect performance
- Some users may struggle with setup and maintenance without guidance
This shift is part of a broader push to make hearing care more affordable and reduce barriers to treatment.
I went with Widex which are designed for musicians.
In truth, I hear the music just fine. It was the voices that were giving me problems.
The air pods by Apple are great but not for playing music due to the delay in travel thru the elements. For voices only, should be great. Also, they have buffers that will dampen the sound if it is too loud, avoiding ear damage. Price is great.
Got mine through Costco $1499. They are chargeable come with extras parts too. Downside is that you have to get the Costco membership.
Echoing others. Not a detailed reply - I’m retired biomed engineer and biophysicist who worked with a respected MIT hearing expert until his death years ago but my forte is cardio-vascular stuff
When time came for me to counteract helicopter and artillery induced damage, I consulted him, and Consumers Reports. Ended up with a CostCo-sourced Phillips model. Happy with results.
Get a good independent evaluation. Price is NOT correlated with efficacy or satisfaction. Other modes available for profound loss or cochlear isues.
I haven’t seen anything about “amplifiers,” but amplifying sound is making it louder, which is the basic function of hearing aids. I recommend an audiologist over Miracle Ear (not familiar with dealing with Beltone, but they actually make hearing aids so probably always recommend their own). Miracle Ear I think of as being staffed by people who are more like used car salespeople, having poor selection in aids, and being overpriced. If your hearing loss is mild (or maybe moderate), you might do well enough with over-the-counter aids that are less expensive than prescription aids.
I have a few decades in dealing with a progressive hearing loss. Couple other tips: If your audiologist asks which aids you “like,” make sure said audiologist is not going to sneak behind your back and order something else without your permission (had this happen), and if you’re buying aids that are in the multiple $1000s, do take them up on insurance offered or get your own coverage. All kinds of things can happen to the little things. Mine were once tag teamed in the middle of the night by my cat and dog. Cat knocked them on the floor from what I thought was a safe resting place, and dog ate them.
Costco is your best bet. For all the reasons in the other posts. I went there a year ago. 100% pleased. Not to often you can say that about anything these days.