My hearing loss started possibly at least ~10+ years ago. I didn't figure out what was possibly wrong and got a hearing test about ~6+ years ago. I have sensorineural hearing loss. I'm guessing it's at least moderate, because I have BTE Oticons. At that time, they prescribed a hearing aid for my left ear only. I had hearing loss in the left ear at the time, but there was something about it that they said I couldn't use a hearing aid yet. ~2+ years later, I also got a hearing aid for the left ear.

Now that the hearing aids are over 5 years old, and some of the technology has improved. I have started the process of looking for new hearing aids. The problems I have had have had have really worn on me, so I want the best possible hearing aids along with all the best features.

I have a huge problem hearing in noisy places, like restaurants. And, understanding anyone with an accent different than mine is extremely difficult. I also quite often told that I am talking too loud, and I don't realize I'm doing it. (I have the custom ear molds, and I wonder if that's why I'm talking so loud, because their sealing the noise in. Just before COVID-19 shut down all the hearing aid centers here, I went and explore Costco's moderately price hearing aid that is top rated by Consumer Reports. The specialist there said that most people do not need custom ear molds. They are over prescribed. He would sell me one if I insisted, but he wouldn't recommend it. [And, don't knock Costco, this guy was very experienced and knew what he was talking about.] After a free, full hearing aid test, I did a several minute trial of the hearing aids there. He said that if they don't soon better than the ones I had, then I should not buy them. They did not, so I did not.

The brands I'm considering are Oticon, Signia, Phonak, Widex and Resound. [Other than the typical hearing aid problems, I have liked the Oticons. I also have a friend that just got the new Oticons, she loves them and everything she describes about them suggests that I would like them too.]

I would like to find a place that would let me take at least a few minute test of the brands they stock, before buying one for the trial period. That is what Mass Eye & Ear did for me when I got my first hearing aids. One brand was Oticon and the other was either Phonak or Widex. I had a clear preference to the Oticon's and did not like the tinny sound of the other one at all. Before the COVID-19 shutdown, I started calling a few places, and I got very mixed responses about whether they would be willing to do that or now. I'm, of course, leaning towards visiting the centers that would allow me to do this.

The other thing I would like to do is visit a few different hearing aid centers, as most of the centers in the area only carry a subset of the brands I'm interested in exploring. But, my insurance requires a referral by my HMO PCP to go to one of these places. I'm unsure how to handle this with my insurance. I don't know if they would do that. During my earlier discussions with them on a another subject concerning hearing aid centers, it became clear that the person speaking to me knew nothing about what she as talking about.

I would appreciate any and all feedback/opinions on my comments above. I live due north of Boston, a few miles from the New Hampshire border, so, if anyone lives in this area and has specific recommendations on where to go, that would be very welcomed too.

Thanks.