The Ears Aren’t What They Used To Be…

mrbiron
mrbiron Posts: 5,711
in The Clubhouse
So, here it goes.

I just went in for my first consultation for hearing aids. It was more a hearing test, which I failed miserably. At the ripe age of 37, I feel like I’m too young for this discussion, but I need some help from the older, less fortunate (such as myself) that have to be burdened with this topic. Or, anyone with knowledgeable insight is appreciated.

My family/friends/coworkers can’t take it anymore and have pushed me down this path. My loss is in the moderate/severe range.

What options are important?
What options are gimmicky?
Do you take your test results and seek direct only or do you stick with the audiologist and pay through the nose?
My insurance, like most, doesn’t cover aids. Are their programs available?
Should I be concerned about my listening habits?

For the first time in over 5,000 posts, I am asking for legitimate help.

Thanks,
Mr B.
Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,772
    What??
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  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    *choice word* you!
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,303
    mrbiron wrote: »
    So, here it goes.

    I just went in for my first consultation for hearing aids. It was more a hearing test, which I failed miserably. At the ripe age of 37, I feel like I’m too young for this discussion, but I need some help from the older, less fortunate (such as myself) that have to be burdened with this topic. Or, anyone with knowledgeable insight is appreciated.

    My family/friends/coworkers can’t take it anymore and have pushed me down this path. My loss is in the moderate/severe range.

    What options are important?
    What options are gimmicky?
    Do you take your test results and seek direct only or do you stick with the audiologist and pay through the nose?
    My insurance, like most, doesn’t cover aids. Are their programs available?
    Should I be concerned about my listening habits?

    For the first time in over 5,000 posts, I am asking for legitimate help.

    Thanks,
    Mr B.

    @tonyb

    I believe he has tinkered in this realm

    Sorry to hear MrB
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
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    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,647
    That's pretty damn young to need hearing aids. Other than that I got nothing.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,901
    edited July 2021
    big changes coming in that area (seriously) -- should be marked price decreases in the not too distant future. And at the vanguard is -- no kidding -- Bose.

    https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/11/22430485/bose-soundcontrol-hearing-aid-fda-cleared

    https://www.npr.org/2021/07/09/1014415021/how-new-biden-rules-could-make-it-easier-to-buy-hearing-aids-or-fix-your-phone
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,949
    How loud do you typically listen? Do you have a history of going to a lot of live music events without earplugs? I'm also 37 years old and surprised to read of your decline in hearing at such an early age.
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  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    From what I am told, I had constant ear infections as a child, went through the surgical “tube” route at an early age due to ear drum pressure, and experienced a declining hearing ability Over the past 20 years.

    Honestly, this is one of the main reasons why the rabbit hole has been so shallow for me. My diminishing return has been considered, every time that I get the itch and don’t follow through.

    I tend to listen at an above average level, but nothing obscene because I usually have my wife and kids around to prevent this from happening.

    Such is life.
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    edited July 2021
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    big changes coming in that area (seriously) -- should be marked price decreases in the not too distant future. And at the vanguard is -- no kidding -- Bose.

    https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/11/22430485/bose-soundcontrol-hearing-aid-fda-cleared

    https://www.npr.org/2021/07/09/1014415021/how-new-biden-rules-could-make-it-easier-to-buy-hearing-aids-or-fix-your-phone
    Doc,
    That EO was signed in today, but I didn’t see the hearing aid being part of it, but only read the cliff notes. If that’s the case, great! The first thing he’s done right, for me. ;)

    Im looking at 4-6k,for the set, on average.

    There are also more affordable options what are “direct” versus going through a facility but lack some of the support. The real benefit with going through, from what I’ve read, the referral facility is the sizing/fitting. After that, it’s really it. A lot of the online directs offer comparable conveniences for device insurance, adjustment, and support at a fraction of the cost.


    I’m just trying to weigh my options. My follow-up is in 3 weeks, then my actual “install” would be mid august, planning that is the route I take, so I have time to redirect my course here.
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    F1nut wrote: »
    That's pretty damn young to need hearing aids. Other than that I got nothing.

    No ****! I still have all of my hair, so you and I have an ounce of similarity. ;)
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,772
    I'm amazed I can hear anything. Years of playing in bands, countless concerts, listening to music at ear bleeding levels. My hearing is perfect (knock on wood). Selective hearing, that's another subject, just ask my wife 😂

    Sorry to have made light of your situation. Hope you find a solution.
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  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    ken brydson wrote: »
    I'm amazed I can hear anything. Years of playing in bands, countless concerts, listening to music at ear bleeding levels. My hearing is perfect (knock on wood). Selective hearing, that's another subject, just ask my wife 😂

    Sorry to have made light of your situation. Hope you find a solution.

    Ken, we’ve been around here long enough to know that the skin is substantially thick. I was jovial in returning my response. Not an ounce of hard feelings. ;)

    Just looking for help. I’ve been here for over a decade and know that a majority of the members are older, hoping to grab the attention of some of the closet hearing aid suffer’ers for advice.

    We were cut from the same cloth, expect I think my humor can sometimes be substantially darker than yours. :D
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,772
    mrbiron wrote: »
    ken brydson wrote: »
    I'm amazed I can hear anything. Years of playing in bands, countless concerts, listening to music at ear bleeding levels. My hearing is perfect (knock on wood). Selective hearing, that's another subject, just ask my wife 😂

    Sorry to have made light of your situation. Hope you find a solution.

    Ken, we’ve been around here long enough to know that the skin is substantially thick. I was jovial in returning my response. Not an ounce of hard feelings. ;)

    Just looking for help. I’ve been here for over a decade and know that a majority of the members are older, hoping to grab the attention of some of the closet hearing aid suffer’ers for advice.

    We were cut from the same cloth, expect I think my humor can sometimes be substantially darker than yours. :D

    Not sure if I should be flattered or offended. I'll take Switzerland...
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    That is terrible news, especially for an audio enthusiast. Do you have any idea what the frequency response is for the hearing aids? If they give you 20-20KHz hearing then I might get some.
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  • mrbigbluelight
    mrbigbluelight Posts: 9,787
    My DIL who suffered from "profound" hearing loss for years, had hearing aids with bluetooth, wifi (?), and a lot of other bells and whistles.
    They would have been very expensive (6k ?) but was able to get them relatively inexpensive ($800) through some NGO agency.
    Unfortunately she went from "profound" to "completely" deaf and is now scheduled to get cochlear implants.

    It'd be nice to NOT have to have hearing aids but like all things in life, what is, is.
    The alternative is worse.

    BTW I've gone substantially deaf in my left ear so I basically hear everything in monaural. Kind of like hearing everything in 60's AM car radio mode 👍
    Sal Palooza
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  • SeleniumFalcon
    SeleniumFalcon Posts: 3,833
    When my dad was having trouble hearing the TV I made him what I called a "listening station" (I mounted his in a handy box). Basically a combination of two miniature condenser microphones with an amplifier and mini headphone jack with volume control. Again, when I was trying to help a friend's daughter solve a hearing related problem I made some more of these devices based on a kit. While she went on to completely solve the problem using a digital processing device combined with the "station" the initial contraption was the seed. If you think this would be a step in the right direction I'd be happy to send you one and you could combine it with some headphones to begin working towards an answer.

    o71hnivhhihh.jpg

    This is a photo of two of them, I tried upgrading the coupling capacitors and experimented with different opamps.

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  • Milito
    Milito Posts: 1,960
    I've been wearing hearing aids for 3 years or so. I'm 70 and had hearing loss in the upper ranges such as a woman's voice which is an advantage sometimes if you know what I mean.

    I got my aids at Costco for a little under $2,000, around $1,700 or $1,800 if I remember correctly. They do the full hearing tests and don't charge me for follow up adjustment visits.

    I have 6 different settings, automatic, noise/party, listening to music, outdoor traffic, TV and listening to music 2. I can tell a big difference form the automatic setting to the music setting when listening to music as I hear more of the highs. I can also notice a difference with the TV setting compared to the auto setting when listening to the TV.

    When I went to my regular ear, nose and throat doctor he wanted to charge me $5,000 to $6,000 for a set of hearing aids. I asked him how long they last and he said 4-6 years, I said I'll pass and shop around as I didn't want to spend that amount or more every 4-6 years. A friend of mine who is older got his at Costco and was happy with them so I went to see them and check them out.

    Now are the $5,000 to $6,000 hearing aids that much better than the Costco ones, I can't answer that as I haven't tried them. If does sound like your hearing lost is worst than mine so maybe they are, I just don't know. Costco does have a trial period with their hearing aids so if you don't like them you can get a refund. They also have an app for your phone to adjust them. Whichever ones you pick, just make sure they have a good return policy if you don't like them.
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,160
    edited July 2021
    Years ago...after her hearing tests at some doctor's office, my wife went to Costco to purchase her 2 hearing aids. One ear is worse than the other.
    I just asked her about insurance covering them. 1600.00. Insurance didn't cover them.

    She just said her Insurance Co. had a list of places to go to that would accept the Insurance plan but she didn't call them.
    BUT... she was told by SOMEBODY? to go to Costco. A co-worker maybe (I don't care to ask her another question about her reasons for anything about her aids anymore) So she did.

    She promptly lost one of them within 2 weeks :s but the Costco purchase plan covered the loss. So...the Costco aids fitting must be poor or my wife's ear opening is poor. She rigged a little thread to her earrings so when they fall out, they hang by the little thread. I do know it happens all the time.

    Anyway, my wife has clicks on her aids to adjust their volume BUT she says it's not much of a change. When she got the aids, me talking made her freak out because she said it was TOOOO LOUD. :# I went through h*)) and she must've also. It's still that way and I still don't know the level I should be talking at. She sometimes tells me to quit yelling when I'm not.. :#

    My wife NEVER involved me with her hearing problems or cures. She's old and has a bunch of crap going on and I'm pretty much NEVER told what she's doing. My neck had issues for years...she massaged my neck for maybe 5 minutes total over all those years suffering.
    So her not freely discussing her aging issues, doctor visits and results is just fine with me. She tells me some things of course but it's not because I asked.

    I'd suggest getting aids that have a great review rating or maybe Costco has...yes, I just asked my wife about cost levels...well...now she says she doesn't remember and to stop asking questions. Then she looks on Costco and sees they have 3 levels and other styles that she didn't get.

    Loss of hearing has to be TOUGH. Sorry.

    I would suggest getting the best you can afford. It will help you AND hopefully those around you too.

    I REALLY liked the post above. SeleniumFalcon sure has experience helping people with this dreaded issue. Get up with him... ;)

    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • Milito
    Milito Posts: 1,960
    Tony they have different end pieces of different sizes for different size ears. If her aids are too loose she needs a bigger size.
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  • SeleniumFalcon
    SeleniumFalcon Posts: 3,833
    Someone should invent a smartphone app that would send a signal to a pair of really good wireless ear buds. The frequency response could be adjusted to correct whatever needs to be boosted or reduced.
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,303
    These are hearing aids with app to adjust them. They also have BT models to connect.

    https://www.resound.com/en-us/hearing-aids/apps/smart

    https://www.resound.com/en-us/hearing-aids/digital
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    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,160
    Milito wrote: »
    Tony they have different end pieces of different sizes for different size ears. If her aids are too loose she needs a bigger size.

    Like you just mentioned, I or you would get some that fit better AND have more control over the sound levels coming in. She doesn't think in a normal or average way, believe me.

    She's the one wearing them and she seems to be ok with them being tied to her ear rings..

    I might've projected they fall out daily. :#

    I know they did years ago after she bought them. These days for the past 3+ years, I've been busy doing things and not around her much. I see her adjusting the aid/aids once a week or so.

    I'm about done suggesting anything to improve anything involving her.

    She doesn't want any help or advice from me pretty much on anything for the past 30 years. If only I had known...

    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • mrbigbluelight
    mrbigbluelight Posts: 9,787
    I've always been happy with Costco products and when my DIL needed a better set of aids I bought a Costco membership for her so that she and my son could check them out.
    They went but because her hearing was so bad they couldn't help her. Unfortunate on a lot of levelsas the prices were reasonable, warranty was great, adjustments included, but she needed something beyond the normal.
    From her experience and checking around, IMO Costco would be a fine choice.

    She's really worried about her upcoming cochlear implants and so am I,,😟
    Sal Palooza
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,901
    We had a friend at our church in MA who was very hearing impaired from birth. Some years back, she had cochlear implants and it was a revelatory for her.
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  • Dabutcher
    Dabutcher Posts: 2,596
    Maybe these will be a good option once you get everything figured out? Good luck. D
    https://www.costco.com/philips-hearing-aids.html?SOCID=Facebook_Posts_PhilipshearingAid_0701_FY21&fbclid=IwAR1CGs8-txp9T2lvGUwl5OTGLwamWXWp7CrUGLhw7rC1RS4rbxo0grw6_jw
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,569
    mrbiron wrote: »
    So, here it goes.

    I just went in for my first consultation for hearing aids. It was more a hearing test, which I failed miserably. At the ripe age of 37, I feel like I’m too young for this discussion, but I need some help from the older, less fortunate (such as myself) that have to be burdened with this topic. Or, anyone with knowledgeable insight is appreciated.

    My family/friends/coworkers can’t take it anymore and have pushed me down this path. My loss is in the moderate/severe range.

    What options are important?
    What options are gimmicky?
    Do you take your test results and seek direct only or do you stick with the audiologist and pay through the nose?
    My insurance, like most, doesn’t cover aids. Are their programs available?
    Should I be concerned about my listening habits?

    For the first time in over 5,000 posts, I am asking for legitimate help.

    Thanks,
    Mr B.

    Sorry to hear bro

    Geez
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,601
    I just had mine done last week and was told I don't need hearing aids unless I want to hear high pitched women screaming sounds better. I told him I usually wear ear plugs and a rubber suit when that happens, so I'm good.
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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,208
    edited July 2021
    Glad you’re not dependent on me for any useful information cause I got nothin. Looks like others have provided some good info. that might be helpful though. Hope you’re able to find something that works well for you.
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    I just looked for the closest Costco. Only about an hour, but I can’t tell if they have a hearing lab nor do I have a membership.

    I’ve also been reading on online direct where you send them your results and they put together a system for you. Eargo and Audicus seem to get the highest ratings as far as that route goes though they are still in the 2-4K range cost-wise. They have sets that offer Bluetooth connectivity, app controlled, replacement and adjustment plans, as well as a plethora of features for automatic sound level adjustments on the fly. My next appointment is in 3 weeks and don’t want to be pressured into having to spend ridiculous amounts at that time.

    SFalcon, thanks for the offer, but I need a solution for the entire day and although those little contraptions are neat, it does quite meet my needs.

    Even though I work in construction, the audiologist said that she wasn’t seeing the dips/spikes that are typical of that field as it relates to hearing loss. Mine is just genetic, for whatever that’s worth. I hear noise canceling headphones while mowing/trimming/tractor-ing/shooting, so I am aware of needing the protection at certain times.

    Keep any info coming please.

    This conversation makes me feel far older than I should be. Let’s pretend moving forward that I am in fact 73… :'(
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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  • Polkitup2
    Polkitup2 Posts: 1,622
    I bought hearing aides for my Mom at Sam's club 2 years ago for about $3,000. Excellent customer service, free cleanings and adjustments and Mom is happy with them.
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  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    Hearing loss is the craps for sure. I've been forced to wear Aids for over 15 years or so, I'm 68. The bulk of my loss is in the Midrange, where most of sound resides.

    My only real complaint is that they have a very digital tone to them, that is only an issue when I'm listening to Music. It doesn't take much for my ears to get fatigued, if the gear is not smooth on the top end. What most would call detailed seems overly bright to me.

    I wouldn't opt for the tiny "in your ear" style, the batteries are small and need replaced often, and the batteries aren't cheap either. My current pair I picked up over 5 years ago from a local University Audiologist, and they are holding up fairly well. They are the cheaper "behind the ear" style that accept a larger battery that will last for at least two weeks.

    I've never checked out the Aids that Costco offers, looks like a good place to look into if you're covering the cost. Good luck with this, it can be frustrating to say the least.
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