Hearing Aid, PSAP, other

**disneysteve** · 09-01-2015, 05:51 AM

The amplifiers absolutely don't do what the hearing aids do. There's a reason why they are $300 instead of $3,000. All they do is make everything louder, which doesn't help you distinguish sounds any better and might actually make things worse because it amplifies background noise just as much as it does speech or TV audio.

I don't know anything about the online ones but I'd be hesitant to order something like that online. It needs to fit properly and be properly calibrated to your needs.

**John Doe** · 09-01-2015, 02:49 PM

My daughter developed a hearing condition in high school a few years ago. Insurance initially covered the hearing aids, but then our insurance plan changed and we had to face paying $4,000 out of our pockets for the next pair. I remember I called and talked to the audiologist and I only had to pay $1,700 for some reason. Maybe there was a discount of some kind. I can't remember why we paid so much less.

I know the expensive ones are programmable and filter highs and lows or whatever range needed. The $300 amplifiers from the drug store might be worth trying because they're so cheap...but I suspect they would be awful for anyone with a serious hearing issue. Both my daughter and my aging parents struggle with their expensive medical hearing aids, constantly fiddling with them and so on. If things aren't adjusted perfectly, it can be very disorienting and distracting, worse than nothing at all.

But having said that, I know my father uses the cheap magnifier glasses for $10 from the drug store rather then get real prescription glasses. But he just needs them for reading. His eyesight isn't bad. If you had real vision problems, you'd want real glasses. And I'm sure it's the same kind of thing with the hearing aids. If you have only mild hearing loss, you might be able to get away with just the cheap $300 devices. But if your hearing is bad, you'll probably want the real ones.

**FLA** · 09-01-2015, 05:35 PM

having spent most of my career dealing with the elderly, I have met a lot of people who "hard of hearing" is a huge understatement. I've had people do audiologists, online, amplifiers, I had one guy that would hold a kitchen funnel up to his ear and make me scream into it. That would be the cheapest option, trip to the dollar store and done. But of course that does not work at all. In all honesty, the people who had the best success went the audiologist route and the newer, expensive aids. Is your dad a Vet? They will help cover part of the cost.

I think if it's going to be successful, I would try to find a place with a good reputation. One that will order a different aid if the first option doesn't work at no charge. A place that encourages you to come back if things aren't great and make adjustments. And I think an exam by audiologist is important. I have had patients go and the audiologist does the assessment and says, "the aid won't work in this ear, but I can help with the other ear". You don't get an assessment online and some cases of hearing loss aren't helped by aids.

When the new, expensive types came out, my ex-MIL got a pair. I cannot describe the quality of life improvement. After 15 yrs of hearing loss, she became animated, could participate in conversations, watch tv at a normal volume (her landlord threatened to kick her out if the tv did not get turned down!). I never knew her before she was hard of hearing so this was amazing, I realized also that she had not heard probably anything I had said loudly for the past 8 yrs. She burst into tears when she first heard my kids talking she was so happy.

my dad, on the other hand, it hasn't worked as well but I think the blame falls on him. He's on his second pair, he hears great with them in but somehow his diabetes makes his delicate ear skin itch when the aid is in. Ok maybe his ears do itch, from his diabetes is a creative choice, but I kept telling him to go back, he went to a good place, they would've helped him. He let the warranty run out and doesn't wear them. His ears probably don't even itch, he's making that up so he doesn't have to listen to us, lol.

but my vote is if a person can afford it, see a good audiologist

**AngelineRose** · 09-20-2015, 07:11 PM

I was born with a severe hearing loss so I have always have and still do wear hearing aids for both ears. I have to wear the expensive kinds due to the type of hearing loss Not all of the nerves developed in my cochlear, these hearing aids are maximum power an usual around 6k for the pair. They are not enough to restore my severe hearing loss but just enough sounds to assist with lip reading and facial expression to make out what others say. Since I am a working girl, I have to pay out of pocket aside from the 1k per ear coverage that most healthcare carriers offers. It is very costly but so many people have absolutely have no ideas how much these aids costs.

Growing up, my mom earned low income so the aids were paid for by the state.

I usually have to replace my aids roughly every 6 or 7 years. I keep the receipts for tax write off when I donate them.

Those on SSI usually don't pay towards their hearing aids. It is a mixed up world.

**Weird Tolkienish Figure** · 09-29-2015, 11:49 AM

Originally posted by Jluke View Post

This is a long shot but I'm hoping there might be some people on here who may have experience with this topic.

I'm hard of hearing. I haven't worn a hearing aid for any considerable amount of time in my life. I am thinking of getting one now and am researching the different options.

There are personal sound amplifiers (PSAPs), hearing aids from an audiologist, hearing aids you get online (fixed programs or programmable if you send your hearing test to them).

Does anyone have experience with the above? audiologist charge a lot for these devices ($4k+). Not sure if the PSAPs ($300) or online aids ($600-2000) would be a good way to go. they do have trial periods where you can return the item if you do not like it.

At these prices I am hesitant to dive in.

I wear hearing aids and post at the hearing aid forum online, this is what I would do:

1) Go to an ENT, make sure there isn't anything "fixable" (or some medical issue) causing your hearing loss.

2) Go to Costco, where quite a few people find very satisfactory audiologista and hearing aids

3) if unhappy with Costco, find a decent audiologist... as the ENT for a recommendation.

My HA's cost $3000, I might have gone to Costco first as they are cheaper there (around $1k), but I do like my audiologist.

**Jluke** · 09-29-2015, 05:34 PM

Originally posted by Weird Tolkienish Figure View Post

I wear hearing aids and post at the hearing aid forum online, this is what I would do:

1) Go to an ENT, make sure there isn't anything "fixable" (or some medical issue) causing your hearing loss.

2) Go to Costco, where quite a few people find very satisfactory audiologista and hearing aids

3) if unhappy with Costco, find a decent audiologist... as the ENT for a recommendation.

My HA's cost $3000, I might have gone to Costco first as they are cheaper there (around $1k), but I do like my audiologist.

Thanks - I have seen your name pop up on the hearing aids forum.

I am headed to Costco next week. Max hearing aid price is $2600 for a pair. I was born with a hearing loss so nothing new - been living with it for all 38 years.

I was trying to get established with an ENT office and their audiologist who tested me last in 2013 and quoted me $4400 for a pair, which I declined... In Dec 2014 and April 2015 ENT Dr A of that practice billed me $95/visit for 2 visits for an ear infection - that is fair. However, ENT Dr. B of same practice billed me $150 for a recent follow up appt. I complained about inconsistent billing, but they refused to change the bill. So, out of principle I will inform them that their decision just cost the practice a patient who will eventually buy 5 or so hearing aids in my lifetime (at least $25k loss for their practice). END VENTING...

Anyways, yes hopefully Costco works out for me given my displeasure with the local ENT office. I have contacted numerous audiologists via email and haven't gotten much pricing info from them, but they are all willing to set up an appt. The best communicator was Audicus, but not sure I'm comfortable with that business model.

**JBinKC** · 10-03-2015, 10:06 AM

If you are on a very limited budget and don't care about an external system I would consider a Williams pocket talker. They work very well and retail around $120.

**barbaramoore** · 02-03-2016, 01:05 AM

C-I-C hearing aid

I use the completely in the canal hearing aid from Hearing Solutions Toronto. It fits perfectly in my ear and is invisible. I'm using it since one year and I comfortable with it. I can honestly say it was money well spent.

Hearing Aid, PSAP, other