First Pair for Me. HELP !

[klbowe]

I am considering purchasing my first pair of hearing aids and the Dr. suggested the DOT-20. The DR's prices are double that of internet web sites.

Being my first pair of aids I lack knowledge on the adjustment process of the aids and I hope you can help me.

How does one know when the hearing aids are adjusted properly ?

If they adjust the internet store adjusts them based on the Audiogram will that provide the ultimate hearing for me or will they need to be shipped back and forth several times before they suit me ?

I don't mind paying the locals extra for service but twice the cost ?

I am not sure how much service or adjustments are required for aids. If you plug them in and they work internet purchase would be the way to go. If I need service often then the internet purchase may not work so well.

What are your thoughts ?

[sgeise]

How does one know when the hearing aids are adjusted properly ?

The dispenser spends time with you trying to fine tune to your needs and preferances. he should give you at very least a speech test to gauge how clear things sound to you.

If they adjust the internet store adjusts them based on the Audiogram will that provide the ultimate hearing for me or will they need to be shipped back and forth several times before they suit me ?

My local audi sent my audiogram to the manuf when he ordered my aid. THEY programmed it to what they felt was best. HE worked with me to fine tune it, or to entirely disable some features. I bought my last set of aids via the internet 2 years ago. It was very frustrating in that they had to be sent back 3 times before they were even USEABLE to me. I had worn aids about 25 years at that point, and figured I'd have no problem. Everyone is different. But I won't buy on the internet again. Around here, the local dispensers don't want to even sell you an office visit if you need help (if you bought on line.) And if they did, by the time you made a few visits, you'd likely burn up a large portion of the money you saved buying on the internet. Also, even though most in town are Siemans dealers, they wouldn't take my aid in and send it to Siemans. I have mixed feelings about that. But, I didn't buy from them, so I can't blame them either.

I don't mind paying the locals extra for service but twice the cost ?

You have to remember that most local dispensers are small, low volume affairs. Even their best-best price may not compete with the internet. I can tell you this. I have an Audi that I was taking my beat up Beltones to for repairs 3 times a year. He gave me a price on new aids. I got them for a WHOLE lot less on the internet...... And I described my experience about that above. Now it's 2 years later, and I went to him because I need a stronger aid in one of my ears, and I have no working spare. So I thought it was high time to stick a crowbar in my wallet and get another new aid. Anyway, he was a little insulted that I didn't buy from him 2 years ago. But, he just sold me a Cielo2 for about 50 bucks less than I could find it on-line. (I went on-line shopping only because I was curious.) The moral is.....Talk to the dispenser. Maybe there is a little wiggle room in the price if he thinks you may shop elsewhere. I'm cheap. I love a bargain. But for me buying on line was not a bargain because of all the time I spent shipping the things back and forth. That's another thing. My aids kept conking out, and I had to keep sending them back. Each time I got a new one, but it took about ten days with shipping and all.

I am not sure how much service or adjustments are required for aids. If you plug them in and they work internet purchase would be the way to go. If I need service often then the internet purchase may not work so well.

What are your thoughts ?

See above. All I want to add is that aids are tools. And as such, you need to learn how to use them. I don't think I would ever recommend a new user to buy on line. Let the Audi adjust them, and explain what feature does what, and how it may or may not benefit you.

[Dag]

Hi klbowe

If you've read much on these forums, you know that this is a topic that many people disagree on. I tend to agree with sgeise, in that I don't want to wait while my hearing aids are shipped back and forth. I've had several visits to fine tune the programming in my Phonak microElevas, and they're pretty good right now (but no perfect). These are my first set of aids, and I decided to go with an Audiologist, at least until I was a little better educated. Even with the cost savings, I still don't like the idea of being without hearing aids for a week or so at a time, while they go back and forth in the mail. There is a possible middle ground, depending on where you live. Many Costco stores have a Hearing Aid Center, with prices only slightly higher than internet prices, and you'll work with a licensed dispenser, not an Audiologist. When I replace my current hearing aids (probably in 4 or 5 years), I will most likely go to Costco. I have a straightforward, moderate, sensorineural loss, that is probably not going to require any medical intervention, so I'm not sure I see much advantage to paying for the services of an Audiologist.

Just briefly, here's how the fitting process works. The fitter programs your hearing aids based on your audiogram, and any additional information the he or she may ask about. You go off and use them for a week or two and then come back to thell the fitter how they sound. Your fitter will try to make adjustments to the programming to make them sound better (more or less gain, more or less noise canceling, reduce feedback, etc). You go home and try the new settings for a week or two, then come back for another "tweak" if needed. This goes on until you're satisfied with how they sound. It all depends on how they sound to YOU.

On thing to please remember. Hearing aids won't restore your hearing to exactly like it was before you had hearing loss. They'll make it better, but probably not perfect. Try to keep that in mind and you adjust to your new aids. Also, some people take more time to adjust than others. Your brand new hearing aids will most likely sound very loud and "tinny", because you're not used to hearing all those high frequency sounds. Be patient and give it a few days. It should get better, but don't be afraid to ask for adjustments if you need them. It's a slow try-and-try-again process. Be patient.

One other comment: The skill of the person doing the fitting is AT LEAST as importaint as the hearing aid itself. Todays digital HAs are very capable, but also very complex. Good luck.

Dag

[jay_man2]

I have mixed emotions about this, and I've done the audiologist route as well as Costco, America Hears, and just last week, precisehearing.com.

I'm fortunate in that my company's health insurance pays up to $6000 (less a 10% deductible) for a pair of aids every 5 years. My first set, Widex Senso Diva in-the-ear aids, were from the audiologist associated with my ENT doctor, 6 years ago. They were tweaked once when I having eustachian tube issues.

The aids from America Hears needed no tweaking, other than to add a music program. I called them, indicated what I needed, and later that day downloaded the new fitting and re-programmed the aids myself.

The GN Resound Pulse aids I bought last summer were from the audiologist, and the insurance paid 90%. I had them tweaked once, to fix a "bacon sizzle" effect I'd hear in certain situations.

The GN Resound dot 30 aids I've ben wearing since Thursday are from precisehearing.com, and so far I don't think they need any tweaking. Of course, one of my considerations in buying online is that I have perfectly fine aids, the Pulse's, as a backup if I need to send these back. I also figure that if they need to be tweaked in the future, I'll either send them back, or just pay my audiologist the $80 or so she'd charge me to re-program them.

Since my hearing has only changed twice in 6 years- once for the worse with the eustachian tube issues, and then for the better thanks to my ENT and allergist, there's not much risk of needing re-programming to often.

And with regards to Costco, I tried some Siemens Triano BTE aids back when I was having the eustachian tube issues, but ended up returning them. I just plain hated the sound of them. The Widex, America Hears, and GN Resound aids all sound much better than the Triano's ever did.

Still, I'm happy that I was fortunate enough to not be concerned about finances, and had the face to face contact with the audiologist initially with my first aids.

[analoglover]

Hi Jayman2:
I am living in Canada and Costco here does not sell hearing aids. I would wonder which Costco in U.S. is closest to Toronto, Ontario area so that I can maybe order one and save some money.

Thanks

Paul

[jay_man2]

Originally Posted by analoglover

Hi Jayman2:
I am living in Canada and Costco here does not sell hearing aids. I would wonder which Costco in U.S. is closest to Toronto, Ontario area so that I can maybe order one and save some money.

Thanks

Paul

I looked at costco.com, and didn't see any Costco's with hearing aid centers anywhere near Niagara Falls, Buffalo, or Rochester.

[ZCT]

Originally Posted by Dag

Hi klbowe



One other comment: The skill of the person doing the fitting is AT LEAST as importaint as the hearing aid itself. Todays digital HAs are very capable, but also very complex. Good luck.

Dag

Yeah really. This comment is huge.

I've met patients wearing my favorite brand, Starkey. They come in to buy new aids because they don't hear well. I reprogram them and it sounds like a new aid to them. Now I could be dishonest and sell them new aids, but I'd rather build trust and hope for a sale down the road.

It is this programming situation that is a major issue when you buy online. Most professionals I know would refuse to mess with online aids. So you are stuck with sending them back and forth for what may be several sessions of adjustments. Each time you decide they need a tweak, they are gone for 10 days.

With modern aids having several thousand setting combinations, the odds of getting it perfect via mail are low. So you end up with a compromise.

I consider myself to be a good programmer. I have a background in computer science, so programming an aid does worry me (unlike some professionals). But even with that knowledge, I'd have a hard time programming an aid without the patient present.

Add to that the top of the line aids I fit have three separate procedures that require the aids to be in the patients ear. Without the patient, you'd have to make up the results, and again compromise the sound quality. These procedures include real ear verification and calibration, feedback cancellation, and self check activation (so the aids can spot if they are under performing). Add to that the concept of a insitu hearing test (where you test the hearing with the hearing aids).

That's four MAJOR settings that cannot be done remotely. Four ways to screw up your sound quality. So you saved $2,000, but the aids only work half as well as they should, and every time you need an adjustment you spend 10 days without them. Let's put this in car terms. A nice 3 series BMW costs about $40,000 or so. Would you pay $20,000 for a brand new 3 series, if it had a top speed of 60mph, acceleration from 0-60 in 12 seconds, and got 10 MPG? How about if it didn't handle properly around the corners, and the service department kept it for 10 days every time you had a problem. Sure, you got a bargain on your bimmer, but would it really be worth it based on those drawbacks?

So no. Not a fan of online sales. All the major manufacturers pretty much agree.

As new hearing aids get invented, it is my opinion that the manufactures will continue to add more and more complex features that are hard to activate without a patient physically present.

[Ladytoyou]

Originally Posted by jay_man2

I looked at costco.com, and didn't see any Costco's with hearing aid centers anywhere near Niagara Falls, Buffalo, or Rochester.

There is a Costco in Scarborough which stells hearing aids.

A new Costco hearing aid dept. is opening up on March 8th, 2012 in Ancaster (Hamilton). Supposed to be state of the art.

[HearingAidHelper]

Hello All,

The Resound Dot 20 hearing aid is an older generation device.

If you are considering the purchase of hearing aids, I advise you to purchase something that is at least current technology. Resound's current line is called the Alera.

If you need help finding a practitioner in the Toronto area, let me know.

[Maureen]

the first post in this thread was 4 years ago. So perhaps not such old tech then.