How do I choose the best hearing aids?

Report on new Kirkland aids from Costco: I have Meniere's and, due to the recruitment which is part of the Meniere's delightful pkg., my right ear was declared unaidable about 35 years ago. Four years ago, I bought an aid at Costco due to age-related hearing loss in my "good" left ear. Two years ago, the disease went bilateral, and I spent nearly a year virtually deaf as I couldn't tolerate wearing the aid in my "good" ear due to recruitment. Two weeks after having found a local doc willing to prescribe large doses of hormones, the former hearing level returned to my "good" ear and most of the recruitment was gone. It occurred to me that, if the recruitment was gone in one ear, it might have gone in the unaidable ear, so I scheduled a hearing test at Costco, which confirmed my thinking.
Last Tuesday, the new Kirkland aids were ready, and they've made a HUGE difference! As I had expected, I can now tell where sound is coming from because I'm hearing with both ears (which is still strange after decades of silence on the right). My first reaction when the tech turned the aids on was that she didn't need to shout in the soundproof booth. <g> My real hope is that hearing with both ears (even though the right doesn't hear nearly as much or as well) will help with speech discrimination. The Costco tech says I might benefit from scheduling an appt. with a speech pathologist, which is next on my list. For Thanksgiving I drove for a couple of hours to reach my daughter's house. The engine noise and road noise were bothersome, as I'd been driving in a very quiet vehicle. At one point, on a four-lane stretch of highway, a car passed me on the left--and I could actually HEAR that car! Walking out to my car after dinner, a plane went overhead, and, for the first time in nearly 40 years, I immediately looked at where it was in the sky! When I first take my aids out at bedtime, I have almost no tinnitus, although it does return later. However, I've not had the acoustic hallucinations that I've had every night, which is a great improvement.
So, it's always a good idea to ask for a new hearing test if there's a chance your situation has changed. I'm not the only person who's gained the ability to hear from a long-deaf ear at this Costco, either. Hearing aids keep improving, and the price keeps going down, especially with OTC aids coming: I paid $1,600 for the single aid four years ago, but only $1,400 for the pair last week--they had been $1,900 three weeks ago but Costco dropped the price in anticipation of the competition from OTC aids. An additional "goodie" is that this pair of aids is rechargeable. Of course, since I haven't worn an aid before in my right ear, it's still a little sore from having the dome in it, but I know that will go away in another week or so. Last year, the tech replaced the small dome in the aid in my left ear with a much larger one that concentrates sound directly into my ear, and it seemed very uncomfortable for a couple of weeks, but I soon didn't really feel it at all.
WHAT A NOISY WORLD IT IS!!!!

To be honest, the masks are creating a nightmare for people with hearing loss. I've never felt so alone in a crowd. I find myself avoiding social interactions when I'm shopping, etc. Masks not only hide the lips and facial expressions we speechreaders depend on, they also muffle sound. People with mild/moderate hearing loss probably do much better than those of us with severe/profound loss. I'm so ready for masks to go away!

Regarding Costco. They sell good quality hearing aids. Do remember that a hearing aid is only as good as the person who fits it properly to an individual's audiogram. Success will depend on the technician's ability to do that. I usually recommend that anyone who is seeking hearing help, get tested by a clinical audiologist. Request a copy of your audiogram and other tests, then take time to shop around. You have a right to that information, but they don't generally offer it to you.

That trial period, in any case, is extremely important to use. Try those new hearing aids in every possible situation that is part of your life. That includes in social settings, relaxing at home, attending the performing arts, in worship centers, etc. If you are not satisfied with the hearing instruments, return them before the trial period lapses.

Be sure to insist on hearing aids with telecoils. Bluetooth is good too, but the telecoils connect you to 'communication access' as defined by the American's with Disabiities Act. I also recommend insisting on manual volume control features in the hearing aids. YOU want to control the volume. Ask questions to make sure the technician you are working with knows 'their stuff'.

The sad part of the 'getting help for hearing loss' story is the extreme high cost of hearing instruments. Costco resolves that for many people, as will the upcoming 'over the counter' hearing aids that will soon be legal to sell. Still, the gold standard in hearing services will likely remain services from clinical audiologists who have doctorate degrees in the field.

A lot has changed over the 5 decades that I've used hearing aids; Prior to the late 80s, audiologists did not fit hearing aids in most states. They did the testing and prescribed them. They were fit by licensed technicians who were not audiologists. Then the profession decided to require an AuD (doctorate level degree) for audiologists, and changed the process by adding fitting to their role. It's interesting that in most states, today, those technicians actually take the same licensure exam to fit and sell hearing aids as the audiologists do Just a little bit more of the history of this field. 🙂

You are wise to get the hearing help you need. I look forward to hearing more about how this goes for you.

Hi Julie - we chatted during the summer & fall about trying to get my husband to wear his hearing aids/get them adjusted/replace them. They were 4 years old, and in my opinion had never fit or worked properly.

First we went to our Dr of Audiology for comprehensive hearing tests for both of us, as he was convinced the problem is mine. She confirmed that he has moderately severe hearing loss, and that mine is declining slightly, but not enough for aids.

She presented a wide variety of choices, including returning to the dealer to try to get the old aids comfortable & functional. That failed - twice. I suggested trying Costco - but nope, he wanted to be in charge of this decision. He chose Sam's because we need a place with easy nationwide service, and they have a 90 day return policy.

The audiology tech fitted him with one Bluetooth enabled Lucid aid, he came home and after 24 hours he liked it so much he went back and got the second. He is comfortable with the stock earpieces, but she was not sure it was the best fit, so custom molds come this week.

The first test - dinner guests last night. He was able to fully participate in the conversation for the first time in 2-3 years. We are happy. They new aids will get a "workout" this week with 3 family gatherings, including a few high decibel people and small children.

So I will say to those of you resisting your first aids - get a complete hearing test from a doctor of audiology, then find the aids that work for you and fit your budget - his pair cost a total of $2200. His insurance will pay half.

Life is better with the volume turned down on the TV, and conversation is now possible without "What?"
Sue

PS When the audiologist, who wants to see me annually, tells me it is time for help, I will get my own aids, I promise.
Sue

This is a 'blessings of the season' kind of story. So happy to hear this. Denial is such an issue when hearing loss strikes, but so is unhappiness with hearing aids when one finally decides to try them. Everything sounds different, and unless they are adjusted appropriately for one's hearing loss they often end up in dresser drawers. Are you a bit more relaxed yourself now? 🙂

Hi Julie - we chatted during the summer & fall about trying to get my husband to wear his hearing aids/get them adjusted/replace them. They were 4 years old, and in my opinion had never fit or worked properly.

First we went to our Dr of Audiology for comprehensive hearing tests for both of us, as he was convinced the problem is mine. She confirmed that he has moderately severe hearing loss, and that mine is declining slightly, but not enough for aids.

She presented a wide variety of choices, including returning to the dealer to try to get the old aids comfortable & functional. That failed - twice. I suggested trying Costco - but nope, he wanted to be in charge of this decision. He chose Sam's because we need a place with easy nationwide service, and they have a 90 day return policy.

The audiology tech fitted him with one Bluetooth enabled Lucid aid, he came home and after 24 hours he liked it so much he went back and got the second. He is comfortable with the stock earpieces, but she was not sure it was the best fit, so custom molds come this week.

The first test - dinner guests last night. He was able to fully participate in the conversation for the first time in 2-3 years. We are happy. They new aids will get a "workout" this week with 3 family gatherings, including a few high decibel people and small children.

So I will say to those of you resisting your first aids - get a complete hearing test from a doctor of audiology, then find the aids that work for you and fit your budget - his pair cost a total of $2200. His insurance will pay half.

Life is better with the volume turned down on the TV, and conversation is now possible without "What?"
Sue

PS When the audiologist, who wants to see me annually, tells me it is time for help, I will get my own aids, I promise.
Sue

Yes, we are all feeling blessed by the new aids. The even better news is that insurance will cover part of the cost (once every 5 years they pay)
He is still learning about Bluetooth so he can now hear on his phone so I don't need to make his calls. And our daughter who is living with us doesn't have to wear noise cancelling headphones when he listens to TV.
These can be adjusted by the tech or with his phone, another nice feature since he encounters so many different environments.
Sue