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Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others
Hearing Loss | Last Active: Jan 5 4:23am | Replies (1550)Comment receiving replies
That's an extremely important point! Self Advocacy. Hearing aids sell like commercial products rather than like medical devices. Thus, we are consumers. Caveat Emptor!
FYI: I tried 5 different hearing aids last time around before I found the right one. My audiologist is great. She knows I know what I'm talking about. I tried the first 4 for about 3 weeks each, so didn't overstay the 30 day trial period. Far too many people get fitted, find them frustrating, and don't keep them on during that trial period, so they don't know how well they work.
It's difficult adjusting to hearing aids. Providers need to do a better job of explaining that to people. It's not a magic bullet like the advertisements lead people to believe.
The most recent retired president of HLAA was military. He initiated a lot of programs for veterans during his two year term. Are you a member of the HLAA Virtual Veteran's Chapter?
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In response to a couple of recent posts that have mentioned experiences at Costco:
Keep in mind that, unlike most hearing centers with audis, Costco charges absolutely nothing for tests, adjustments, information. Their policy about returning aids is very liberal; ditto for add-ons. I realize that not all techs who work for Costco are as caring and interested in learning about types of hearing loss as mine is, so, if you go to Costco and don't feel the tech (probably not an audi) there is really trying to improve your situation, I'd suggest trying a different Costco store if there's one within a reasonable distance. I go to the nearest Costco, which is a little over an hour away, but I'd certainly be willing to go even further if the tech at the Costco I use didn't seem satisfactory to me. I've spent less than $1,500 at Costco, and have had multiple hearing tests, adjustments, different ear pieces, etc. to make the aid work as well as possible. Offhand, I'd say that I've gone back at least six times--not because the initial fitting wasn't good, but because Meniere's went bilateral, which totally changed my hearing. Now that I've gotten Meniere's into remission and my hearing has returned to about where it was before I went bilateral (without any distortion or recruitment), I need to go back for yet another adjustment. I'm also thinking about trying an aid in my long-useless ear to see if that helps, although now I can understand much of what goes on around me--for a change!
While I was essentially deaf, I went to a hearing center that does CI surgery. The two visits there, one for a test and one to talk with someone about how to live without hearing, cost almost $700, which was covered by my medical ins. However, I felt that I got virtually no useful information, as neither the doc or the audis knew zip about Meniere's, couldn't answer questions about how a CI would work for someone with Meniere's, or how to function with little hearing. None of three had even heard of Live Transcribe.
Regardless of where you buy aids, if you're already a member, Costco sells packs of 48 batteries (6 small packs of 8 on a card) for less than $10--far, far less than at pharmacies! I seldom do any shopping at Costco...the annual membership fee is a small price to pay for the help I get from the person I see.