Hearing aides ... which one?

[crsides]

Lots of hearing aides posts on here, but rarely do those with them identify which ones they have. With all the new technology out there and the apparent costs, I (and others) would like to know which hearing aides you have, the cost, and your experience with them. I have been fighting it for years and ready to give in.

thanks

 

[labworm]

What did you say?

 

[cballman]

Charlie
I wear a pair of Beltones that seems like they have become outdated now. When I first got min a few years ago I tried to do some research. What I found out is that no matter what brand you look at they are far better than any other out there for the same reasons. So what I am thinking now is that after a few years and over 5000 big ones and with technology increasing everyday GOODLUCK. I have the behind the ear ones because I do not like anything completely stopping up my ears.

Charlie

 

[hoosierone]

Four years ago I paid $4600 for Starkey aids. Both have been back to the factory several times, one was replaced, before the warranty went out. I honestly could never tell the difference with or without them. I have tinnitus and audiologist said these are the only kind I should use.

I'm looking into if the VA will help out. They turned me down and I am appealing.

 

[crsides]

I was in the artillery 69-71. My military records are lost. Got a feeling its going to be a long process with the VA.

 

[rustythread]

discharge physical

I was in the artillery 69-71. My military records are lost. Got a feeling its going to be a long process with the VA.

Best of luck to ya. I was in Feb '64-Jan '67; cannon-cocker on a 105 much of that time. If you don't have records of sick call for hearing loss, and the discharge physical didn't show hearing loss, you may be out of luck with the VA. But, if you were boots-on-the-ground in Nam, they may give you a well-deserved break. I wound up buying my own , through an audiologist. Be advised that with some types of loss, including "artillery ears", you should get a detailed exam and quality aids that can be tailored to your specific frequency defects. Don't expect much from the generic one-size-fits-nobody-but-we're-cheaper items.

My audiologist sold me Resounds, about $2800 for the pair maybe 7 years ago. Well worth it to me. Among the surprises when I got them--I had thought before that all the birds had died.

 

[ExRanger714]

A hearing "aide" would be someone who repeats at the top of their lungs what is said.

A hearing aid would be a device to potentiate hearing.

 

[Maddog 521]

I've had the Starkey Wi Series hearing aids for about 7 years and I would buy them again. My medical insurance covered 50% of the original cost with a 5 year warranty. I also buy the maintenance insurance every year for $500. That's expensive but I don't want to pay that original price again. I also feel I'm hard on them in my everyday life. Both aids have been fixed, replaced re-calibrated and well maintained over the years. My audiologist does a fine job keeping me hearing. He has mentioned several times about upgrading to the new technology but I tell him I'm going to keep these until the end.
So IMHO opinion, find a good audiologist and check out the Starkey hearing aids.
BTW--my wife loves them.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Why should a mass produced electronic item the size of a lima bean cost more than a decent used car?

Why do 3 or 4 companies send me mail every few months inviting me to come in for hearing tests and consultation for hearing aids, apparently just because I am of a certain (advanced) age?

Slap me down and call me silly, but as an old retired fraud investigator I get vibes from these things that tell me someone is reaching into other peoples' pockets.

Yes, I have significant hearing loss. Yes, I have persistent tinnitus. Yes, I am a combat veteran who has been exposed to just about every kind of percussive noise short of a nuke in the neighborhood.

Nothing about the hearing aid business passes my sniff test.

 

[Sistema1927]

If you have any amount of service connected disability, even if it is not related, you are now eligible for hearing aids and eyeglasses. This is fairly new, in the past couple of years.

I will go to the VA when I need new ones. However, I have been happy with Costco, my aids were much cheaper there than elsewhere, and they continue to give me free cleanings/domes/ wax guards even though I have had mine a couple of years and they are out of warranty.

 

[smitholdtimer]

Lost Records

Recommendation: PERSIST........

 

[perryhd]

I bought my third set about two years ago. They are Resound brand and cost $4200. They were middle of the broad price wise. Low end $3000 high end $6000+. They are compatible with I phone and my I phone streams directly to the hearing aids. Regardless of brand I recommend the streaming feature. The aids I had before these were useless trying to hear on a phone. Aids do help and my hearing has gotten to the point that I can't do with out them but don't expect them to be anything like as good as natural hearing.

 

[snuffy51]

I just smile and nod my head a little in agreement, lots cheaper than hearing aids. If I could understand everything anyone was saying to me, I would probably get upset too often.

 

[Rosco Shooter]

The V.A. provided me with a pair of Phonaks. They also provided a Blue Tooth interface that links my cell phone to my hearing aids. I'm able to engage in conversation hear the dialog in the movies, and talk on the cell phone with no difficulties. Talking on the land line is a different matter.

 

[Rosco Shooter]

To the veterans who are claiming a hearing loss and whose records were lost in the fire at St. Louis in 1973; I had a go around with the V.A. as my records were destroyed as well. I had my hearing tested at Camp Zamma Army Hospital in April, 1969, which documented a moderate hearing loss. Be sure to tell the examining audiologist how your hearing loss developed over time. The audiologist who examined my hearing was really understanding, and my disability was approved. Persevere.

 

[rwsmith]

Sound studio......

They ain't cheap, but my son has one that is as programmable as a sound studio Filters, Compressors, limiters, equalization.....everything.

PS He got an ear operation to replace a missing bone and now doesn't need a hearing aid.

 

[hivel37]

Back in the '50's I was employed as a Morse code intercept operator.
As a result of that and other work related exposure, I'm stone deaf
on right side. VA furnishes me with a ReSound aid for the left side.
Works a lot better than the alternative.

To paraphrase a previous poster, the hearing aid industry is being operated by crooks. I agree.
If our Congress wanted to help the people,
they would have investigators working on that!!!

 

[joe44va]

Bought a Phonak set at Costco for $2500. Included the hearing test, set up, and a bunch of spare batteries. Best deal I could find and they work. My wife likes them. The good news is that I can take them out.

 

[andy52]

I don't want hearing aids then I'd have to listen to my wife all over again......

 

[crsides]

A hearing "aide" would be someone who repeats at the top of their lungs what is said.

A hearing aid would be a device to potentiate hearing.

Thanks to all who were helpful, and to the others ....