OT Hearing aids

Has anyone tried one of the cheap ($200) hearing aids that are advertised in many magazines?

I have 2 of those $20 units my cousin bought me a year ago. Do not try one in each ear, cancle each other out. Works if there is absoulty no back ground noise, no wind noise, fan running or anything like that and only if one person is talking, 2 it blures things.

I think your chances of a cheap pair working well are pretty slim, but if your hearing isn't all that bad I might try it you might loose $200. I went and got tested and fitted to an expensive pair I believe they were Siemens at first I thought they were ok but I could only here a little better but they just didn't help that much certainly not $3,200 worth. When my FIL past away my wife asked if I wanted to try his, he didn't like them and never wore them they are Starkeys and were adjusted for his ears, I love em they work great for me. So go figure a $200 loss is better than $3,200.

Most of the people I know who have tried the cheap ones take them out and put them in the dresser drawer for good. Hearing aids are like a PA system worn in the ear. Maybe you have noticed how a PA system will over amplify loud noises but the person speaking normally into the mike needs to be close. Hearing aids are the same way. A coffee cup being set down sharply on a hard surface makes a very loud noise when heard through cheap or moderately priced hearing aids. More expensive hearing aids soften that noise somewhat. I wear $5000 Audibels hearing aids, made by Starkey and I'm half way satisfied with them. I have 55 percent hearing loss so the amplification is turned up fairly strong. The farther they are turned up the more annoying sharp sounds will be. Wind noise can be a problem if the wind is over 10 or 15 MPH.

Last spring I was at a Belltone dealer getting new ear buds for my step mother's hearing aids. The dealer had the different styles she sells on display and I started asking her questions about the different models and what they do and don't do. I was asking her what the more expensive aids did that the cheaper ones did not do. She claimed the more you spend for hearing aids the better the hearing aids will be at blocking out background noise, softening sharp noises and holding back wind noise. The highest priced aids were $9000! They also have blue tooth capabilities where you can link to your cell phone and they have a locating beacon in case one is lost. They can be lost easily, I can tell you that, and when you lose one the insurance policy you can buy from the dealer pays only half of the bill for a replacement.

The Belltone dealer asked me what medicare supplement I have. I told her it is medicare blue and I showed her my card. She said this version of Medicare Blue will pay for 25% of the cost of new hearing aids. That knocks the $9000 hearing aids down to a measly $6750. LOL

My wife just researched that, about Medicare Blue, and what we have does not cover anything. What state are you in? That might be the difference. We are going to Costco this winter and probably get some for me, they are recommended by John Deere D!

(quoted from post at 16:05:10 11/26/17) I think your chances of a cheap pair working well are pretty slim, but if your hearing isn't all that bad I might try it you might loose $200. I went and got tested and fitted to an expensive pair I believe they were Siemens at first I thought they were ok but I could only here a little better but they just didn't help that much certainly not $3,200 worth. When my FIL past away my wife asked if I wanted to try his, he didn't like them and never wore them they are Starkeys and were adjusted for his ears, I love em they work great for me. So go figure a $200 loss is better than $3,200.

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I have the same experience with the Siemens. $4000 and they really don’t help. Stage seventy I an enrolling in the VA asi haveheard that they will outfit veterans with good hearing aids.
Elmo

Good morning from the snow capital of Alberta Canada.......

I purchased my hearing aids from Costco in Gilbert Arizona May,22,2014. There was an unconditional three year warranty on all components including a one time loss / replacement at no charge.............

$1,999.00 total cost.

There was a hearing TEST/examination that was the best examination I've ever had!

There are several parts that require replacing approximately once per month. (see pictures)

The lady (Michelle) at the front desk insists that you try out a pair of hearing aids for about one hour at no cost. Then you make a decision if you are satisfied.These loaner hearing aids, are programed from the information gained from the hearing examination.

There was no coast for the examination even if you do not purchases hearing aids!

Training is provided as to the operation and maintenance of the hearing aids.

From the time I ordered the hearing aids they arrived at Costco in seven days. You are asked to wear the hearing aids for a period of five days, return to Costco for a final adjustment .

I Mentioned to Michelle that I "knew Russ from MN" and she tried to obtain a 20% discount for ..... she had no luck...

I mentioned to her she has nice eyes,(Lois my wife was not there) and she included one years parts replacement as per pictures:

Batteries last five days:

I have no financial investment in Costco......Just a satisfied customer:

Bob....North Western Alberta...

We got my uncle a 20$ one at Walmart and he uses it all the time. It made a big difference for him. He went and bought a second one so he has one charged when he needs it. My hearing is good enough to get by pretty good and bad enough I can choose what I want to hear. According to my wife. Tommy

Going on 6 months with my $1700 costco aides.

Just as JD D said they know what they are doing.

Lady the waited on me had previously worked at a Large hearing aide company.

Said the pair I bought would be over $4000 from the other shop that worked for.

She also down loaded an app to my phone to adjust the volume,check status of batteries,type of setting(party,outside,or normal).

You wouldn't want to roll down the windows on your truck

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VA is worth a try. I have been trying since July 1, 2017 and they have still got my account messed up. On one of my appointments the office left 1 letter out of my name. I may need to call the vice-president to get this straightened out. He is from right up the road from me. 5 months is too long.

Mine are also Starkeys and they are from V.A. I sure do like them, they link up with my cell phone and I can talk on it thru the aids. My GPS on my cell phone also talks to me thru them. They certainly have been a big help to me. They were no charge since I'm 60% service connected disabled.

My mom bought them from Beltone about 2 years ago.

Medicare, nor any other insurance, would pay anything.

They probably just told you insurance would pay because the price was so outrageously inflated they could
well afford to knock it down.

Be very careful dealing with Beltone, or any other dealer. They are masters of deception. I feel my mom was
a victim of elderly abuse, soaked her for thousands, saw her as an easy target because she was confused and
unwilling to question the price.

Now there is $6000 laying in the drawer. She can't stand them, the volume is too loud, and they can only be
adjusted by the dealer. She doesn't want to bother them...

hwess.........I've lived inna intercom world all my professional life where you listen but don't listen until they call you by yer professional name (NOT personal name) At the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadina, I was "Nat Track" (network tracking analist). At the tracking station in Hawaii, I was "telemetry". At Boeing, I was a flight test engr called "Wide Band". This was sumptin my ex-wife could never understand, as a teacher, she'd just start spouting off without gittin' my attention first. Call me honey, sweetheart, summ-butch, ennythang ya want but gitt my attention first. This was very noticeable when driving from Seattle to her home in Stockton, Calif. (along the I-5 corridor) Me? I'm concentrating on keeping it between the lines and all of a sudden I'd realize she's talking. What? I'd ask. Usually was sumptin' innocuous like "The grass is greener on the other side of the fence." She claimed it was because I needed hearing aides. Well yeah, they've been bad since I was a senior in high school when I had measles 3-times inna 2-months. Yeah, they've gotten worse over the years. I started out with in-the-ear aides, and now have behind the ear aides 'cuz in-the-ears didn't have enuff power. 'course now she's divorced me, I kenn set the TV volume enny where I want. mox-nix. I leave'em in 24-hrs/day 'cuz I fall asleep watchin' the boob-tube. Batterys last about 4-days. I gett'em cheep at Costco. My biggest problem now is my ears sweat and fill the little tubes and suddenly, they quit working. I gitta can of "dust-off" and blow the tubes out. The other problem is singing like in church. I kent tell how LOUD I'm singing. ...but... I kenn still carry a tune inna bucket. .......WHAT? Dell

My first set was Seimens at $2000 each. Company paid for one through workmans's comp because the other ear didn't qualify after the age adjustment. Second set are Starkey and $3000 each. Company paid for both this time. I bought the SurfLink that sends sound right to them from the TV, it's great. Still have trouble understanding speech unless they're talking directly to me and anything from a speaker is hard to hear unless it's really loud. I would think those you're looking at will not be very good unless you have only a slight hearing loss.

Hey Keith, how did you work that out with the phone? Do you have the Bluetooth to do it? I have Starkeys and the audiologist said I would need a Bluetooth neck pendant to work with mine.

My VA set are ok, but EVERY Time I put them om, I have to replace the batteries...they do not last over night as far as I can see and I take the batteries ouit if I am not using them..

At least they provide the batteries...

Ron.

I have an I phone 5 and the audiologist asked me what phone I have and I guess he got the aids to match it. Downloaded Truelink and it paired them right up. Mine are Starkey Halo 2i2400. Believe me, my wife can tell real quick when I'm not wearing them LOL

Your apostrophe key is causing error. Just forget it.

I just got my first ones and I got them at Costco, I got what they said was the best on the market ? The cost was 1,700 $ I think I will like them. I had to get the remote control for the volume as my fingers are numb. That was another 85.00 dollars. I went back the other day and they took molds so they can fit me with plastic inserts. I have had some trouble with them falling out. I really think I am going to be OK I only have had them for 4 weeks. Maybe in 4 Months I'll put them on Crags List LOL . The Old Scovy.

(quoted from post at 10:01:50 11/26/17) My wife just researched that, about Medicare Blue, and what we have does not cover anything. What state are you in? That might be the difference. We are going to Costco this winter and probably get some for me, they are recommended by John Deere D!

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Russ, sorry for the slow response. I'm in Iowa.

(quoted from post at 16:57:28 11/26/17)
My VA set are ok, but EVERY Time I put them om, I have to replace the batteries...they do not last over night as far as I can see and I take the batteries ouit if I am not using them..

At least they provide the batteries...

Ron.

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Bushog you have something wrong going on with your hearing aids. Take them back. Do you wear them every day? My batteries last 6 days like clockwork and they are in my ears 16 hours a day or more. The batteries are air activated somehow. When you tear off the little tab three tiny holes are exposed to air and the battery starts going downhill from that point on though I don't know how fast the battery deteriorates.

By the way the guys with Costco aids sound, my next hearing aids might come from Costco.

I, too, recommend Costco for hearing aids.
IMO, they do a very good exam.
Here in Montana, they have to be licensed by the state
to do the exams and sell then.

"mox-nix."...................Makes no difference!

Mine are 90 dB down and the best hearing aid I bought and that was half a dozen, remotely programmable and all that hog-wash, only got me a 30 dB improvement.....big deal.

Besides they are a PIA to wear, can't tell the difference between background noise and voices....advertised to do such....BAH-Humbug. Words all run together anyway and you have to get the whole sentence to register just what was said with or without them. Sweat as you said; batteries are always going dead at the wrong time.

Finally got tired of sitting in conferences and not hearing....just retired. Mine was due to 45 years in the jet engine-screaming cooling fans environment. That's ok. I'd do it again. Neat thing is my 90 is in the 2-4kHz range....the range of the female voice! Honey-Do selective hearing is alive and well. Wink!

I have so darned much trouble understanding words too in a crowded situation. I try to pick out a few words in a sentence also. Sometimes my response back to that person is entirely off subject because I misjudge what was said and I get a quizzical look from them. Makes me want to go sit in the corner.