Hearing aids. Prescription VS Over the Counter.

[BC38]

Bose and Jabra were the two ENT doc recommendations. Costco didn’t have Bose at the time.
Btw, $703 @ Walmart.
Can’t go wrong with either, or Phillips.

Nice! HALF what I paid for my Jabra's.
I think if I were looking I'd look no further.
Maybe pay the $89 for a 4-year extended warranty, and still come in under $800.
That's a steal compared to the $5k that a good set of hearing aids used to cost back before the FDA started allowing businesses OTHER than hearing specialists sell them. Competition in the marketplace is a GOOD thing for us consumers!

 

[DWalt]

Bose and Jabra were the two ENT doc recommendations. Costco didn’t have Bose at the time.
Btw, $703 @ Walmart.
Can’t go wrong with either, or Phillips.

Good to know, as I do not have a Costco membership but do have a Sam’s Club with a hearing aid area.

Some years ago, I had an employee who had worked at a hearing aid dealer. He told me about all the tricks used to screw over their customers.

 

[ladder13]

Nice! HALF what I paid for my Jabra's.
I think if I were looking I'd look no further.
Maybe pay the $89 for a 4-year extended warranty, and still come in under $800.
That's a steal compared to the $5k that a good set of hearing aids used to cost back before the FDA started allowing businesses OTHER than hearing specialists sell them. Competition in the marketplace is a GOOD thing for us consumers!

About two years ago my ENT doc said to wait, they were coming out with OTC aids just as good as the $5,000+ ones. He was right.

 

[ladder13]

Good to know, as I do not have a Costco membership but do have a Sam’s Club with a hearing aid area.

Some years ago, I had an employee who had worked at a hearing aid dealer. He told me about all the tricks used to screw over their customers.

Don’t think you need a Costco membership for HA’s or eyeglasses. Maybe not the pharmacy either, though not sure about that.

I am a Sam’s member also, and know they sell Jabra.

 

[Xfuzz]

I probably need to be tested.
When driving the wife has to repeat herself.
Likewise, in a restaurant can't hear the waitress.
Same at a drive through.

Do you have to have a prescription to purchase at a costco ?

 

[ladder13]

I probably need to be tested.
When driving the wife has to repeat herself.
Likewise, in a restaurant can't hear the waitress.
Same at a drive through.

Do you have to have a prescription to purchase at a costco ?

No prescription needed,they do their own testing. Same as what they did at my ENT as far as I could tell.
Couldn’t hurt to compare any prescription to what Costco found, after the testing. I doubt Costco would have people monkeying around though, as they put their reputation on the line.
They were totally professional, imo.

 

[Zuchus]

I got mine from Costco in December. Phillips behind the ear models. Work great, rechargeable, Bluetooth and ran $1,500 and a Costco membership.

I second the Philips ones at Costco. My previous ones that were six years old were okay, but I always felt like I was listening through a “device.” These new Philips ones, I forget I am wearing them, everything sounds so perfectly natural. It’s like I can just hear like I should.

 

[Wdbutcher97]

Don’t think you need a Costco membership for HA’s or eyeglasses. Maybe not the pharmacy either, though not sure about that.

I am a Sam’s member also, and know they sell Jabra.

I asked the hearing center tech if I needed a Costco membership to get hearing aids and she said that I did. I was checking the Sam's website and they're offering first time memberships now for $25. I looked on their website for hearing aids, but I didn't see the brands that Costco carries. I'll probably be going to my closest Costco. It didn't sound like I would need to wait very long for an appointment, besides this Costco is close to a Scheels. Win, Win.

 

[schutz5]

You can get Earcentric buds for around $80 on fleabay,new or go direct to manufacture website. Try the OTC first.
Takes time to get acclimated. If not satisfactory,go for the money set!

 

[Huskerguy]

One of the trial Miracle Ear hearing aids stopped working after 2 weeks. I'll be returning them. I had a informative conversation with a tech from the hearing department at Costco yesterday. She answered all of my questions, so I guess that will be my next step. She said they sell 3 brands, Jabra, Philips, and another brand I hadn't heard of. All with 3 year warranties. I just need to get a Costco membership for $65. I never could justify a membership before since the closest Costco is about 60 miles away from me. We'll see what happens. Thank you all for your great information!

A few more thoughts on all of this. I was "told" there are really not that many manufacturers of HA's in the world. I was also "told" the best were made in Europe but have no evidence of that. Do some deep diving into where the aids you are looking at are coming from and if they have the basic or premium features. That is how they can make them affordable.

A lot depends on your hearing loss level and needs. The one place I went to and was strongly considering did a great job of working with me and said she uses mostly Oticon but for certain hearing issues will go with Phonak. That, at least, told me she wasn't stuck on a single brand.

Then you get into the question of batteries or charging them. I was leaning towards batteries due to travel and not having to carry the charging system around. I decided to go with rechargeables and have never looked back. I keep my phone and HA's plugged into the same multiple adapter and just grab it all as I am packing up. I do like being able to listen to things on my phone and not bother anyone around me - especially my wife!

After you do some research and talk to lots of people you can develop some questions to ask. How many directional microphones do that have? Can you adjust them for different settings you may be in? How easy is the app to use? Where are they made? Warranty?

I am not convinced that they are "all the same" as that is my or others I know, experience. My brother in law used Costco for many years, he was a doctor and got along fine with them. The last few years I asked him what he was using and he said he had to move away from Costco to Phonaks as his hearing has become progressively worse. So there is that factor as well. Best of luck as you navigate this labyrinth of information!

 

[Smoke]

Is military grade tinnitus cheaply made by the lowest bidder

 

[Wdbutcher97]

Costco must be doing something right. I joined Costco specifically for the hearing aids. I joined in Feb. soonest appointment to get hearing aids is April. I hope the wait is worth it.

I must be living in a good area. I called the hearing department at Costco this morning and have an appointment scheduled for next Thursday afternoon.

 

[shunka]

Bose came up with an outstanding “smart” self programming “around the neck buds in ears”
Device years ago. Got one and it restored my ability to enjoy classical music. But the “self programing”
Is incredibly difficult for any but computer/audio nerds (like me)

Then Lexie came out with incredibly cheap “self programing” BTE aids that use a smartphone
app to do a real hearing test on you and program the aids, changeable any time your hearing changes.
Plus 4 different modes: normal, noisy, outdoors, and music. I use music all the time and can ear
The tv , radio, and wife just fine. Turn the volume waaaay up when i walk around outside at night.

Got 3 pair off ebay as cleaned trial rreturns. About half retail.

Soooo. Latest thing is Lexi and Bose cobined a couple years ago and Lexies are just getting betterer!

Looking forward to checking out costco.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Oticon for me, but they just came out with new ones. Had them about 2 years, and have had to get the little plastic extensions that fit into the ears replaced 4 times, including today. $40 a visit, plus driving there. Three different people have changed them, and this guy today cut about 3MM off each one. They eventually work their way into a different shape and will not stay inside the ear.
Guess it's better than using a horn. The golden years...