Hearing aids

[dieselclacker]

I am glad to hear that I am not alone in having a real problem understanding the dialog of todays movies, both on TV, and in the theater. Way too many tracks, for way more background sounds than necessary. These old ears can't keep up.

[Alan_Hepburn]

I've been wearing hearing aids for about 20 years now. My first set were from Miracle Ear and cost around $5200 if I recall. That was for in-the-ear analog aids, with an on/off switch and volume control. I loved them because I could turn them off and they became essentially ear plugs. But they eventually needed replacing so I went to Costco - spent around $2000 or so for early digital in-the-ear aids with no on/off or volume control - just a switch to select one of two programs. A second set from Costco had a few more features. My current ones are from Miracle Ear, spent around $4000 for them - behind-the-ear with 3 different programs - regular use, noisy use (restaurants, crowds, etc), and TV listening. I really can't tell the difference between the various programs - they say that with my hearing loss I need the behind the ear variety.

Next week I pick up a new set from the VA - they are costing me $100 for 2 visits to their specialist and NO CHARGE for the aids. They are Siemens (if I recall) behind-the-ear models with on/off switch, volume control, and bluetooth. I'm glad I found out that the VA provides them free because when you've got no income it can be hard to come up with several thousand dollars every few years!

[gray ghost]

Originally Posted by HD4Mark

Did you get the TVlink S with them? I can't tell if it works right or not. Seems to drop the Bluetooth connection after about 10 min. I need to do some fiddling around with how it is connected to the TV audio out.

Mine are issued by the VA about three years ago. TVlink was not an option at the time, but I knew a guy that had it and loved it. You might try looking up phonak on the web and emailing their tech support folks.

[DrOcean]

Originally Posted by DrOcean

I've been wearing hearing aids for about 5 yrs. I got an in the ear piece for $300 from Hearinghelpexpress.com. Those kept going out on me after about a year or so. I had to keep sending them in for repair. In between that I got one if those cheapo Bluetooth aids. They worked OK, they were awkward to wear and too much background noise. So then I got the behind the ear aid for $400. I have it for about 2yrs and have had no problems with it.

I must have jinxed myself because yesterday my aid burned out. I think it my got wet in the rain during this last trip. Called the company and they wanted $198. just to repair it. Currently looking for an alternative.

[tlkhorses]

Well I'm new to the ha scene. DW and her mother decided that both my father in law and I were going deaf. So they made us appointments at SAMS Club hearing center. Short of it we both ended up with new hearing aids, Liberty sie64. Man what a difference. I has no clue I had lost so much hearing. While not the cheapest thing folks its well worth getting aids. The things I hear now.. .

[Wayne M]

It's so much fun, when my wife asks, "Do you have your hearing aids," to say "What?"

[jspande]

I'll just pass along a couple things I've learned.

Most of the time when they stop working (or don't work well), they simply need cleaning (which an audiologist should be able to do while you wait). What threw me originally was that ear wax can cause such an abrupt and complete loss of sound that I was sure it had to be a major electronic failure, and expensive repair. And moisture is also part of the problem.

If you wear them most of the time, and/or are in humid climate, putting them in a "Hearing Aid Dehumidifier" at night can help. It's just a small jar with a "pillow" containing desiccant, and should be available where you got your aids.

Mine were needing cleaning 1 to 2 times a year until a more serious problem required they be sent in for repair. One of the things they did was replace the rubber tube (as well as the "wax coil") and they left it quite a bit longer than the original one had been. It extended about 1/8" and I could actually feel it in the ear canal, which bothered me. So I cut it (with a toenail clipper) back to about 1/16" (the original had been flush). Long story short, I have not needed cleaning for over 3 trouble free years - just that extra 1/16" made a big difference in preventing ear wax problems.

[frankdamp]

I'm planning to get them early next year with my "Mandatory Withdrawal" from my IRA. From all the reports I've read, the $2000/pair from Costco sure seem like the best value.

My response curve is relatively flat up to about 3.5 KHz, but falls off a cliff at that point. Might be a result of a lot of flight testing in Boeing jet transport airplanes over the years.

I still wonder why the folks in the International Nomenclature organisation decided to change the self-explanatory "Cycles per second" name for frequency and name it after a rental car company. I guess "KiloHertz" sounds better than "KiloAvis".

[tlkhorses]

The dehumidifier I was told about and have. He also warned me about ear wax. So I have a debrox ear kit. He said use it at least every time I change batteries and that should be good for most cases. The audiologist was really good and explained a lot. Party of this is just getting used to the new sounds and making minor final adjustments.

[Angler3041]

Got my Phonak from the VA about 3 months ago, much better than the first set i received from them. These even have a remote control, I can change channels and still hear better. Even has a mute button which works surprising well when DW goes on and on..

[chuckinthebus]

Hope my DW doesn't read this thread. She has been telling me for years that I am hard of hearing. I keep trying to tell her the other voices in my head just won't be quiet.

[2Gringos]

What? and I thought they only spoke to me...

I'm another candidate. La Gringa has been after me for years to do something about my hearing. I don't think cranking up the volume is the answer in my case. This is the result of years of gunfire, diving, and rock and roll. If I could get the ringing to stop, I might be able to hear.

[tlkhorses]

Yeah, higher tones are gone for me. The aids have brought them back. Scared me at first lol. Lows are good. Neat thing is these are programmable so just go back to make adjustments. I sound like a commercial now.

[Wayne M]

For me it's the high tones, which are mostly women's voices. Hmm! Maybe that's a good thing, eh?