1. < Hearing Loss

How do I choose the best hearing aids?

Posted by dkeefe @dkeefe, Nov 1, 2018

I currently have Starkey brand hearing aids which I have had for 4 years. They work well, but I have some issues with them. I am looking for replacements (they are behind the ear type) and would like to know what is available in similar quality and cheaper. I am located near Atlantic City and would like to know if there is someone in the area that offers something similar and carries various brands, not just one

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miker8888 | @miker8888 | Sep 17, 2021

Thanks for that information.

REPLY
imallears | @imallears | Sep 17, 2021

@lizzy102

I have traditional Medicare and they do cover audiological diagnostic testing and you need a physician or nurse practitioner referral. The referral has to be worded precisely. This is not a routine hearing exam. I needed a referral recently for an evaluation for the Osia2 bone anchored hearing aid. I was told they would pay for the surgery( if qualified) and if approved but not for the aftercare. I did have Medicare cover an exam from one Audiologist in 2010. They don’t make it easy for such an important and life changing health condition.

I am trying a Bone conduction wearable head band in a week and a half to get an idea of what it would sound like. I doubt Medicare will approve because the Osia is marketed mainly for bone conduction loss but the company says it has researched sensorineural loss and it could be effective. It’s a tough fight with Medicare and has to change. Off topic a bit here. Having worked for Doctors for nearly 20 years and working for my nurse practitioner daughter I know the rigamarole Medicare can put you through. It’s something new every year. It seems their mantra is deny, appeal, deny again , appeal again, maybe approve …most often not. But I’m ranting.

FL Mary

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2 replies
Mentor
Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | Sep 17, 2021
In reply to @lizzy102 "Good hearing aids can take people with Severe loss pretty far if the person is good..." + (show)
@lizzy102

Good hearing aids can take people with Severe loss pretty far if the person is good at speech reading. Hearing loss is one of those things that fall on a spectrum. Very severe hearing loss to profound loss may indicate it is time for a Cochlear Implant. I used Resound 3D Linx HAs as long as I could! My cochlear is a miracle, it’s given me back a full life!

Jump to this post

Good to know your CI has been life changing! My cochlear implant is a miracle too! I do quite well bimodally as I use both the CI processor and a hearing aid. My brain has adjusted well to the two different types of technology.

Are you still using a hearing aid with your CI processor?

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | Sep 17, 2021
In reply to @imallears "@lizzy102 I have traditional Medicare and they do cover audiological diagnostic testing and you need a..." + (show)
@imallears

@lizzy102

I have traditional Medicare and they do cover audiological diagnostic testing and you need a physician or nurse practitioner referral. The referral has to be worded precisely. This is not a routine hearing exam. I needed a referral recently for an evaluation for the Osia2 bone anchored hearing aid. I was told they would pay for the surgery( if qualified) and if approved but not for the aftercare. I did have Medicare cover an exam from one Audiologist in 2010. They don’t make it easy for such an important and life changing health condition.

I am trying a Bone conduction wearable head band in a week and a half to get an idea of what it would sound like. I doubt Medicare will approve because the Osia is marketed mainly for bone conduction loss but the company says it has researched sensorineural loss and it could be effective. It’s a tough fight with Medicare and has to change. Off topic a bit here. Having worked for Doctors for nearly 20 years and working for my nurse practitioner daughter I know the rigamarole Medicare can put you through. It’s something new every year. It seems their mantra is deny, appeal, deny again , appeal again, maybe approve …most often not. But I’m ranting.

FL Mary

Jump to this post

I hope you'll let us know how that headband experiment works for you. Agreed, Medicare is like a maze for many of us. Hearing aids have not been covered. Recently, I've heard from some people that specific Medicare Advantage Plans will cover all or some of the cost. It seems to vary by state though. I've found when asking Medicare providers about cochlear implants they don't know what I'm talking about, although most Medicare plans do cover CIs. I would love to hear specifics from people who have received coverage for hearing aids, and what plan they are using in what state.

REPLY
Mentor
Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | Sep 17, 2021
In reply to @sueinmn "Julie - This post is GOLD! It should be mandatory reading before shopping for a hearing..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Julie - This post is GOLD! It should be mandatory reading before shopping for a hearing aid. After my tinnitus has kicked up in volume again, I'm going to make audiology appointments for both of us.
Thank you.
Sue

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Thank you Sue. Good luck with the audiology appointments. There is a lot of help out there.

REPLY
lizzy102 | @lizzy102 | Sep 17, 2021
In reply to @julieo4 "Good to know your CI has been life changing! My cochlear implant is a miracle too!..." + (show)
@julieo4

Good to know your CI has been life changing! My cochlear implant is a miracle too! I do quite well bimodally as I use both the CI processor and a hearing aid. My brain has adjusted well to the two different types of technology.

Are you still using a hearing aid with your CI processor?

Jump to this post

I am, Julie. I was fortunate that my last HAs were Resound 3D-Linx and they sync with my CI. Love it!

REPLY
lizzy102 | @lizzy102 | Sep 17, 2021
In reply to @imallears "@lizzy102 I have traditional Medicare and they do cover audiological diagnostic testing and you need a..." + (show)
@imallears

@lizzy102

I have traditional Medicare and they do cover audiological diagnostic testing and you need a physician or nurse practitioner referral. The referral has to be worded precisely. This is not a routine hearing exam. I needed a referral recently for an evaluation for the Osia2 bone anchored hearing aid. I was told they would pay for the surgery( if qualified) and if approved but not for the aftercare. I did have Medicare cover an exam from one Audiologist in 2010. They don’t make it easy for such an important and life changing health condition.

I am trying a Bone conduction wearable head band in a week and a half to get an idea of what it would sound like. I doubt Medicare will approve because the Osia is marketed mainly for bone conduction loss but the company says it has researched sensorineural loss and it could be effective. It’s a tough fight with Medicare and has to change. Off topic a bit here. Having worked for Doctors for nearly 20 years and working for my nurse practitioner daughter I know the rigamarole Medicare can put you through. It’s something new every year. It seems their mantra is deny, appeal, deny again , appeal again, maybe approve …most often not. But I’m ranting.

FL Mary

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FL Mary, your rant is my rant! Thanks!

REPLY
Sal Gentile | @mattie1014 | Sep 18, 2021

A true professional audiologist will follow a rule called "Best Practices". This involves quality at "Best" price, "Superior Service" and builds a relationship with the patient. They also have been certified and tinnitus trained. A real hearing test is comprised of several mini tests and should take one hour not 10 minutes. Aids should be trialed and a great question is how many aids trialed were sold. Sal Gentile - Tinnitus Coach

REPLY
cralex43 | @cralex43 | Sep 18, 2021

Hi, I have Widex aids..and they are 6 years old..and cost me $5,000 way back then. My hearing has gotten worse, and it seems that words seem to be not clear when listening to people. Loudness is not the problem, but my doctor said my Eustachian tubes are collapsed and that is what is making clearness in the words hard to understand, and they sound muffled. What I would like is a hand held little I Phone type thing that I could carry with me and when I am at a store or else where,,,when someone talks to me, I can just hold the I Phone and it can just print out what the person is saying, and I can read it and answer them. I used to hear perfectly before but gradually, got nerve damage and the eustachian tube problem..Has anyone ever seen or heard of such a device that would simply print out what someone is saying and you could read it? I get tired of always having to tell people, "I'm sorry,,I have poor hearing,,could you speak slower or clearer"
With a little printer device that typed out when people spoke,,,I could simply look at it, and know what they said.... Thanks.

REPLY
2 replies
tonyinmi | @tonyinmi | Sep 18, 2021
In reply to @cralex43 "Hi, I have Widex aids..and they are 6 years old..and cost me $5,000 way back then...." + (show)
@cralex43

Hi, I have Widex aids..and they are 6 years old..and cost me $5,000 way back then. My hearing has gotten worse, and it seems that words seem to be not clear when listening to people. Loudness is not the problem, but my doctor said my Eustachian tubes are collapsed and that is what is making clearness in the words hard to understand, and they sound muffled. What I would like is a hand held little I Phone type thing that I could carry with me and when I am at a store or else where,,,when someone talks to me, I can just hold the I Phone and it can just print out what the person is saying, and I can read it and answer them. I used to hear perfectly before but gradually, got nerve damage and the eustachian tube problem..Has anyone ever seen or heard of such a device that would simply print out what someone is saying and you could read it? I get tired of always having to tell people, "I'm sorry,,I have poor hearing,,could you speak slower or clearer"
With a little printer device that typed out when people spoke,,,I could simply look at it, and know what they said.... Thanks.

Jump to this post

@cralex43 If you have a smartphone, you can download the speech to text app Otter. I've attached the document that I made on how to use it with either an iPhone or Android phone. Good luck.
Tony in Michigan

Shared files

Using OtterVoice (Using-OtterVoice.pdf)

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