1. < Hearing Loss

Need decision help how to proceed with hearing aids, your experience

Posted by charlotte12 @charlotte12, Dec 11, 2024

Right now I have hearing aids through the audiologist who is connected to an ENT clinic. My trial period is about to end, no insurance coverage,
cost $3200 for Phonak, paid already $1200 for the trail period with refund guarantee, the hearing aids are good, the issue is the cost. Costco may have comparable, good hearing aids with less costs, same benefits in warranty, ... Costco will accept my audiogram since it is less than 6 months old. Is it worth to invest $65 Costco membership, travel, appointment time to save some $? Did you do something like this?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Hearing Loss Support Group.

Mentor
Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | 2 days ago
In reply to @arrowshooter "JilieO4 is a lot more thorough than I. But she raised a point in her post..." + (show)
@arrowshooter

JilieO4 is a lot more thorough than I. But she raised a point in her post above about assistive technology. (Moderators, this may be more appropriate in a different thread).

I see several barriers to folks using assistive technology to enhance their hearing/understanding over what hearing aids can provide.
First folks don’t know what’s available. Lots of audiologist and hearing aid fitters don’t explain things like neck loops, telecoils, streamers, and remote microphones. So without knowing about them they don’t know what to ask for.
Then if folks do know about some technology they don’t know where to find it or can’t/don’t want to afford it. This information on sourcing and financial assistance should be provided by whom ever is selling the hearing aids.
Third , folks may know about technology and actually get it but don’t know how to use it. Some is easy and some is more complicated. Some requires managing several things to get everything all connected. And one must know in which situations to use it. There can be a steep learning process.
Lastly folks don’t accept the available technology. When I ask someone if they would like to try a device they say “no I don’t need that”. I think what they are really meaning is “I don’t WANT to need that. That’s the stigma of hearing loss.

So seek out the help you need. Own your hearing loss. You’ll be better off for trying.

Jump to this post

Thank you again Arrow Shooter! This is definitely a problem with the hearing aid industry, market, whatever you want to call it. The providers do not explain to their patients/clients what goes beyond the hearing aids they are fitting. As an advocate for myself over 40+ years since I learned about hearing assistive technologies that work, I've heard numerous excuses/reasons from providers as to why they don't tell people more about add on technology.

1. It takes too much time to explain. Reality: Explaining doesn't do much. Demonstrating does. Again...time is an issue. And, there's a very small cost to the provider involved as they would have to have the 'add on' equipment available to demonstrate.

2. When I tell people about assistive (add on) technology they think I'm trying to add to the cost by selling them more.

3. The stigmas attached to hearing loss prevent people from learning more about what might make a huge difference for them. You have to come out of hiding to ask questions and learn.

4. Yep...your comment 'I don't want to need it' hits the mark. Unfortunately, people do need it.

Thanks!

REPLY
chas24 | @chas24 | 19 hours ago
In reply to @daveshaw "No one mentions customer ear molds which I find to be very effective to enhance your..." + (show)
@daveshaw

No one mentions customer ear molds which I find to be very effective to enhance your hearing aids.
Does anyone else have experience with custom ear molds.
I welcome all comments.

Jump to this post

I found the custom molds made a significant difference for the better.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.