← Return to Aging and Hearing Loss: Can You Talk About It?

Discussion

Aging and Hearing Loss: Can You Talk About It?

Aging Well | Last Active: Mar 10, 2023 | Replies (62)
Comment receiving replies
@hopeful33250

Hi @marjou,

I'm not sure if everyone is aware of this but Costco has a hearing aid center that is low-cost compared to other distributors. It is important to have your hearing evaluated by a registered audiologist but then you can take that evaluation to a Costco store and get two hearing aids for under $1500. (Costco will also do their own evaluation but I think it is important to have a medical professional do one first.) This is mostly used by folks with mild to moderate hearing loss.

You might look into it. Costco also offers a six-month trial period which is much more generous than most hearing aid distributors.

Jump to this post

Replies to "Hi @marjou, I'm not sure if everyone is aware of this but Costco has a hearing..."
carolee888 | @carolee888 | Jul 13, 2022

We will see the ENT first but do you need to be a member of Costo to go there for a hearing aid?

VIEW AND REPLY
Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | Jul 14, 2022

@hopeful33250 Thank you for sharing this information. Most hearing aid providers, including ENT practices, clinical audiologists & hearing instrument specialists, allow a 30 - 45 day trial period for hearing aids. This is often in 'the fine print', and needs to be understood. You have that much time to try the hearing instruments in every possible situations where you want them to help you. You can return them during that time frame, but not a single day afterwards. If you find they aren't helping, go back to the provider and ask them to make some adjustments. Keep trying. Sometimes it takes a while.

Yes, Costco provides the advantage of a 6 month trial time frame.

Some other providers will extend the trial time if you are proactively seeking their support for readjustments. ASK.

It's wise to have a doctorate level audiologist (AuD), do testing to determine your hearing needs. Request a copy of your audiogram so you can shop around if you choose to. Most fitters at the 'big box stores' are not 'audiologists'. They are 'hearing instrument specialists' who have apprenticed under an audiologist, but do not have college degrees. People with mild to moderate hearing loss are more likely to find help there.

Most important, be open to experimenting with new hearing aids. Ask yourself: Am I willing to do that?

VIEW AND REPLY