Now that I've gotten the cataract surgery in both eyes, wife and I have to concentrate on my hearing...….which isn't that good. Have had ringing in both ears since last January, but the ringing doesn't bother me awake or going to sleep. What I'm currently looking at is: Support Plus website and their $74 2-pack In-Ear Hearing Amp HD hearing aids. There is a small dial on it to adjust the hearing capability. How would these be or any suggestions?
Thankfully my hearing is still as good as it always was... @Lon Tanner is the hearing aid expert ...before his cochlear implant I'm sure he tried hearing aids. My sister in Colorado who is 10 years younger than I am, has hearing problems in one ear....she doesn't have hearing aids but I think she should. You can't use speaker phone with her at all.
I have had hearing aids for a number of years. The current ones are from the VA and are just over a year old. I have been pretty pleased with the aids, but not so happy with the ENT physicians I have seen about the aids. I am convinced I have an organic issue with my hearing, but none of the doctors want to explore it. Three audiologists agree with me and have referred me to the doctors who ignored the problem for the most part--except one who sent me for an MRI of my head to make sure I didn't have a tumor. I have had Phonak, Widex, and Oticon (current ones) and I believe the Widex was the clearest. I, too, tried an over-the-counter aid that I bought through Amazon, but found that , although it was much better than nothing, it only amplified and was difficult to get set correctly. I would say if you don't have complicated hearing issues, the hearing aids sold by Costco are reputed to be great, and only cost around $500 a pair. If you have complicated issues, see an audiologist and see what they say. I am told you can try the Cosco aid for 24 hours to see if they fix your hearing.
I would speak to my PCP and have him refer me to an audiologist for a medical evaluation of my hearing and then decide on what type of hearing aid if any to consider. In some cases, Medicare will cover the cost of an audiologist evaluation in other cases they won't so be sure to get the details from your PCP and the audiologist before making the appointment. Good luck!
my Costco hearing aids are over 2 years old, cost about $1900 for the pair, and do a better job than the previous $3000 pair from Siemens. Some that may just be attributed to advancing technology, but when mine die, I'll go back to Costco Also, I like it that they sync to my iPhone. I hear better talking on the phone than face to face
Have already done this earlier this year. I was told that I do need hearing aids. Seems like I'm constantly asking my wife "what did you say?", but then again, she isn't a loud talker, like I can be.
Going to order these and see what happens. If I don't like them, simply send them back. I need something and this seems the cheapest way to go, but won't know how good they are until I try them.
Cody has your doctor told you that you need hearing aids? Have you tried other things first..maybe it's just a build up of wax?
Yes, I was told by the audiologist that tested me that I will need them. Not just a build up of wax, truly just a loss of hearing. I can still go to a range and shoot though. We bought me a nice pair of electronic shooting muffs for me.
My doctor told me that I should get a hearing aid........... I told him... NO... He asked why.. I told him if he would stop whispering and speak up I wouldn't need an aid.... I would hear him... He said to me that I was crazy... I told him that was another problem we will deal with later, but I heard him tell me that...
My new ones should be in this coming Friday. Will let everyone know how they are and whether we will keep or send back. WOW.....new vision, new hearing. Now all I have to do is get rid of the arthritis pain I get sometimes. Well, guess "two out of three" isn't bad.
Got the Support Plus Hearing Aids in last week and tried them on. One of the reviews, a lady, stated they were to big for the size of her ear and I totally understand that now. They do seem to be made for a man's ear, due to the size. They aren't huge, but are big enough. They fit my ears. They can be seen, but oh well. At least they didn't cost $500 plus dollars! There is a volume/sound control dial on the hearing aid, but it has to be turned with a coin or screw driver. The volume control had to be turned to the full/loud dot (three dots) when I got them, because all sounds around me were LOUD. Turned the dial down to first dot and that was fine. No batteries are needed with these, they are rechargeable with a charger that comes with them, but only one charger. Going to see if another charger can be bought. Charge them at night. A full charge takes 8 hours. Don't have to wear them all the time. My hearing is bad, but not that bad. At least I won't have to keep saying "what did you say" to my wife sometimes. For the cost, I'd recommend them, but, because of the size, for men...……..and, they are visible (can be seen by anyone).
UPDATE: The hearing aids we bought me didn't work out and sent them back. Even at the lowest volume, there was a tone that sounded like listening to a seashell. These cost us $77 dollars for two, which is close to $40 each. The ones we are looking at now run between $149 and $250 each and look like normal hearing aids. The others just went into the ear and could be seen very easily, unless a person would have medium-to-long hair and cover them up. This new one looks like the normal hearing aid, with the adjustment thing in back of the ear and a short clear tube going around in front of the ear attached to the ear microphone that goes into the ear. IOW, in this case, "cheaper doesn't always mean better" as we found out.
@Cody Fousnaugh In the October 2017 issue of the AARP Bulletin there is an article that says that The Over the Counter Hearing Aid Act passed and will now allow the Food and Drug Administration to set quality standards on hearing devices sold at Pharmacies. Before this Act was passed only sound amplifiers could be sold in the Pharmacies. Within a couple of years (probably sooner) hearing aides will be sold in convenience stores and pharmacies with a price range likely between $100-$600. So if your new aid doesn't help....know help is on the way.
Actually, before we got the hearing aids that we sent back, we were looking at Hunting Sound Amplifiers that are sold at local Academy Sports. But, even those are cheap and not intended for actual hearing problems. The ones we are looking at now, are online and are sold by Advanced Quality Hearing Aids.