Anyone using new Phonak hearing aides and TV connector?

I was way off on the price for new Phonak hearing aides. They cost about $5,000. Not $500. My original Oticon hearing aides over 4 years ago cost about $7,000 so the new Phonak hearing aides which are better did cost less.

Thank you for asking. I’ve been to quite a few audiologists in recent years and happy to say this young lady is awesome. She’s gone the extra mile in every way. Been working with her for a several months & with Resound loaners. She did take a mold of my ears but I didn’t like those at all they hurt my ears. I forget the brand. They had little antennae sticking out lol. She sent them back .
My L ear hears pretty good but has hypercusis sometimes. The R ear has Menieres/tinnitus Hard to explain but I don’t think the R hearing aid helps me hear as much as it allows me to tolerate tinnitus with brown noise most days.
If they really help me hear I should be able to know what direction a voice is coming from. This is the 3rd time I’ve tried. None so far have improved my hearing much but at least these somewhat help with tinnitus unless it’s a real loud day then forget it -I stay home & deal with it best I can.

Most hearing aids made by the brands mentioned in this post cost at least $4000/pair and often more than that. Some people are fortunate enough to have partial insurance coverage, so that can help. However, that coverage is not common, and Medicare does not cover hearing aids.

It's a shame that the hard of hearing population has always resisted getting involved in the kind of advocacy that creates change. That lack of advocacy has led to the current push to create and sell over the counter hearing instruments (OTC) that, in many cases, are basic amplifiers that make sounds louder rather than clearer. Hopefully that will improve as the competition heats up.

Some features in good quality hearing aids add a great deal to the value of the products. BlueTooth is the feature that is pushed, but telecoils, a feature that has been around for decades can help in many ways. Telecoils add about $10 to the cost of a hearing aid. BlueTooth (BT) adds about $1000.

Do your hearing aids have telecoils and/or BT?

Most hearing aids made by the brands mentioned in this post cost at least $4000/pair and often more than that. Some people are fortunate enough to have partial insurance coverage, so that can help. However, that coverage is not common, and Medicare does not cover hearing aids.

It's a shame that the hard of hearing population has always resisted getting involved in the kind of advocacy that creates change. That lack of advocacy has led to the current push to create and sell over the counter hearing instruments (OTC) that, in many cases, are basic amplifiers that make sounds louder rather than clearer. Hopefully that will improve as the competition heats up.

Some features in good quality hearing aids add a great deal to the value of the products. BlueTooth is the feature that is pushed, but telecoils, a feature that has been around for decades can help in many ways. Telecoils add about $10 to the cost of a hearing aid. BlueTooth (BT) adds about $1000.

Do your hearing aids have telecoils and/or BT?

Re telecoils: idk
Bluetooth yes. I got rechargeable too.
The audiologist told me because I’m going through my health provider there’s a standard rate for aids, yes it’s out of pocket. .follow up visits are copay $20.
I had been to commercially owned practices before & the cost is a lot different.

Re telecoils: idk
Bluetooth yes. I got rechargeable too.
The audiologist told me because I’m going through my health provider there’s a standard rate for aids, yes it’s out of pocket. .follow up visits are copay $20.
I had been to commercially owned practices before & the cost is a lot different.

Ask your provider to activate the telecoils in your hearing aids. It's likely they are there but are not activated. Also ask her to explain to you how to use them.

You will find places where hearing loops have been installed at this link. https://time2loopamerica.com/loop-locator/ In a looped venue, all you have to do is turn your hearing aids to telecoil and you'll pick up the sound you want to hear without any background noise. States that have many loops have them because hard of hearing people have advocated for them. Do you want to hear in places like theaters, performing arts centers, worship centers, meeting halls, museums, etc?

Bluetooth is great for many personal uses as you describe. Telecoils work in venues where you want to hear a play, a presentation, a meeting facilitator, at worship centers, etc. Hearing assistive technology that provides 'communication access' is installed in many places. In fact, the Americans with Disabilities Act requires hearing assistive technology if people request it. If they don't, it doesn't always happen.

If there is a hearing loop installed in a venue, all you have to do is turn the hearing aids to the telecoil mode and you'll hear very clearly. If there is FM or infrared technology available, the hearing aid user can use a neckloop that acts the same way a room loop does. You're inside the perimeter and you'll pick up the desired signal while blocking out all background noise.

Some areas of the country have been very proactive in advocating for communication access, Others have not. It depends on whether the people who use hearing aids in a particular area do some advocating and educating.

https://time2loopamerica.com/loop-locator/ You can find locations with loop installations at this link. Google maps is establishing a link that will let people know if there is an installed loop at a specific location.

Please ask your hearing aid provider about this. There's no excuse for them not explaining this and promoting it.

Are you willing to speak up? I hope so.