Question re Hearing Aids - Page 2

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

My DH got some this year. They definitely help. Batteries last about eight days. He said those commercials that say hearing aids will change your life are highly exaggerated, but is thankful he got them.

Sunshine Kate · ‎03-10-2010

@chlema wrote:
I've worn hearing aids for over a year now. I got them because I was tired of asking people "what" all the time. Wear them in both ears and no, did not have any problems getting used to them, thank goodness. Purchased them at Cosco for around $1,600 for the pair. I wear them all the time (except for sleeping of course) and the batteries last about a week. Batteries are inexpensive, a card lasts for 6 months and are priced at around $8 or $9 a card. Needless to say I'm very happy with them.

@chlema I need to get my mom hearing aids or at least check into it.

I've heard Costco is a good place.

Do you know about how long 2 hearing aids for $1600 should last? (One year, five years?)

Thanks

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

My husband has worn hearing aids for over 5 years, and has top of the line digital devices.

The hearing aids do help him hear better than he could hear on his own, but he hates to be in a crowd where multiple people are talking at the same time. I often see him adjusting the hearing aids to tune out the loudest, overpowering voices. One on one he is fine, but his clarity is compromised in a group situation.

panda1234 · ‎04-27-2015

@RedTop wrote:
My husband has worn hearing aids for over 5 years, and has top of the line digital devices.

The hearing aids do help him hear better than he could hear on his own, but he hates to be in a crowd where multiple people are talking at the same time. I often see him adjusting the hearing aids to tune out the loudest, overpowering voices. One on one he is fine, but his clarity is compromised in a group situation.

@RedTop Same here. In a crowd all of the voices just mesh together, it can be better not to have them in.

shoesnbags · ‎03-10-2010

I’ve had my hearing aids for not quite a month at this point. They felt like my own hearing, but better, from Day 1.

I had put off looking into aids partly because of other people’s dissatisfaction with their hearing aids. Also, on audiology tests my hearing isn’t that bad, just “borderline.” But in reality, I was struggling to catch what people were saying. If someone had an accent, forget it. (I caught about every fifth or sixth word in my Irish priest’s sermons.)

Now I’m so glad that I took the plunge! Technology has come a long way, and these newer digital hearing aids are amazing. I went with the top of the line, because I wanted to get the best hearing experience possible. Not only am I happy, but my husband and son are, too, because I’m not asking them to repeat themselves.

In my opinion, hearing aids are expensive, but worth every penny. If they don’t help significantly, return them immediately and try another kind. In my state there is a one month grace period to return and get a full refund, except for the fitting fee, which for me was $150. I purchased through my ENT’s audiology department.

"Breathe in, breathe out, move on." Jimmy Buffett

chlema · ‎05-22-2010

@Sunshine Kate You know I never asked the Costco rep about the life of my aids. I've had them for about 18 months now and the only problem I had was some wax got stuck in the center thingie which I cleaned out myself with a litttle tool they came with. Easy to do. I do use a dehumidifier device each night which they did highly recommend. Cost about $40 or so.

Sunshine Kate · ‎03-10-2010

@chlema wrote:
@Sunshine Kate You know I never asked the Costco rep about the life of my aids. I've had them for about 18 months now and the only problem I had was some wax got stuck in the center thingie which I cleaned out myself with a litttle tool they came with. Easy to do. I do use a dehumidifier device each night which they did highly recommend. Cost about $40 or so.

Thanks for the response, @chlema

arizele · ‎12-31-2018

Exactly what Alratiba said. My husband has to wear them due to a military disability (21 years of flying fighter aircraft...jet engine noise) He gets them for free from the VA. He has the latest ones and gets new ones every 3 years. He tells me it amplifies the noise too much. Sometimes quiet noises sound so loud and no matter what mode he puts them in it's way too loud. Sometimes there is feedback. Crowds, parties and restaurants are the worst for him. If he didn't get them from the VA the type he wears would be $7000. Lots of people cant afford them. They are not covered by insurance. TV watching and movies are difficult due to loud background music. It really causes people to withdraw and can contribute to dementia. Please understand and be kind to those going through this.

Boehm Collector · ‎03-09-2010

@dulwich .... my Mom was hard of hearing. I fought with her for the longest time about getting hearing aids. Once she finally got them.. at the age of 81.... she loved them. She was sorry she waited so long before getting them. She had absolutely no problem inserting them into her ears.

LonestarBabs · ‎06-26-2011

My mother has two sets: 1 really expensive digitally tuned/customized via audiologist set for her specific range of hearing loss, and 1 pair I purchased from Amazon at about $120 that are rechargeable without those little batteries. She won't wear either pair -- says she doesn't like to hear her own voice, doesn't want to hear my voice, it's too much trouble, you name the excuses. So I have to yell, repeat myself and she can't understand anyone without reading their lips. I got her a set of TV Ears for her TV and she loves using those, but sometimes I catch her just reading the closed-captioning and not bothering with her TV Ears. I give up. Done all I can. It's a shame that there are ways to improve her quality of life but she has no interest in taking advantage of them. There is no reasoning with her, since she also has dementia. Even before her dementia diagnosis she wouldn't wear them.