Connect
← Return to Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others
Discussion
Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others
Hearing Loss | Last Active: 6 days ago | Replies (1640)Comment receiving replies
@julieo4 Thanks to you and all the members of the hearing aid group, I am very happy with my new hearing aids. I first found this group several months ago when I was down to one outgrown OTC hearing aid (had 2 but lost one). I started with an audiologist at the major hospital where all my doctors are. My suspicions were verified that I had outgrown the OTCs and needed to satisfy my severe hearing loss. That didn't help me dole out a big chunk of my SS income. I first wrote to the group asking about non-profits that contribute refurbished hearing aids. That mainly verified some of the non-profits I had already found. I voice mailed a few
but only heard back from one. With my granddaughter's wedding coming up that didn't help my patience level. I turned to family and my daughter loaned me enough to go to Costco. A local audiologist had recommended the Philips Hearlink 9050 MiniRite at Costco. My research indicated these were almost identical to Intent by Opticon. Same manufacturer, same features. $1595 plus Costco membership. I have had them for more than a month and am thrilled!
Thanks again to Connect.Mayoclinic.org. @jutkele
Replies to "@julieo4 Thanks to you and all the members of the hearing aid group, I am very..."
Connect
@jutkele Happy that the Philips aids from Costco are doing well for you. The skill of the person fitting hearing aids is very important to getting good results. Some of the big box companies have very skilled employees in their hearing aid department. Some don't.
It's an interesting industry. There are only 5 or 6 manufacturers of hearing aids, but many brands and models. We folks with hearing loss really got dissed in 1965 when Medicare's statutory exclusion was established: Written into the SS Act that year & unchanged since, coverage for hearing aids was excluded. Sadly, private insurers for the most part followed suit. Hearing loss was framed as a 'normal' part of aging rather than a medical condition. That pushed hearing aids into an 'elective' category. It also furthered the stigmatic attitude that only old people had hearing loss.
That stigma has prevailed although it's getting better. Still, many people do not get hearing aids because they don't want to look old. Some of the commercials for hearing aid on TV focus on that....grow your hair out....only buy hearing aids that are invisible, etc. Shouldn't the focus be on what they can do realistically? Manufacturers have even removed helpful options so their products can be smaller. 🙁
There is nothing better for a person with hearing loss than to have access to the technology that can help them enjoy life. So pleased to know you're thrilled with your new hearing aids. I hope the provider shared information with you about options like telecoils and Auracast connectivity.
Julieo4