Confused and Need Advice

[Modifieddriver]

I'm a newbie first time poster that's been here lurking around for a couple of months. I've been wearing HAs for about nine years. My first pair was digital Phonak CIC. I can't say they've served me well. Seems like they were being repaired more than they were used. I spent enough in repairs that I felt obligated to continue using them to get a return on my $4,400 investment. Oily skin could be the source of the problem.

This past November both broke and were sent out for repairs just before Thanksgiving. I was given a loaner, but was miserable with visitors and guest during the holidays. Anyway, they were repaired and the left broke again. So I'm faced with a new purchase.

Problem is conflicting information from four HA providers.

#1) My initial audiologist said I should get BTE. But in early January told me she was booked up and couldn't do a fitment until early March. That's crazy. And said she couldn't program my existing Phonaks because the software wasn't available.

#2) A buddy of my bought his first pair of HAs at COSTCO. I went there, had a test and he recommended Resound Future RIC.

#3) Because of the good mentions here about Starkey, I went to an AccuQuest provider and he recommended the RIC X-Series 90.

#4) Through Hearing Planet I was directed to another provider and she recommended a BTE Unitron Quantom 12 because I needed more power.

So, with all this being said, I'm confused and don't know if I should have BTE or RIC. The Starkey dealer was high tech with flat screen TV, wireless programing, etc, etc.

The last one wasn't high tech but has been doing this for 18 years. Did my test just sitting in a chair, no booth. But she seems like the most knowledgeable and called Phonak while I was there to get the software to reprogram my left HA.

Hopefully my chart will show up in my signature so you can see my loss ranges.

Some advice would be appreciated for direction. I don't want to make a $4,000+ mistake like I did with the Phonaks.

[prodigyplace]

Your choice of hearing professional is the most important factor in hearing aid selection. Many have had good experiences at reasonable prices from Costco, but there are some horror stories here too. for me, Costco is not a choice because they are not in my area.

It does not appear that your first professional has the resources to provide the service you need. Most aids have a 30 - 60 day demo period with several adjustment sessions needed during that time. Her appointment lead time is longer than the demo period. Since you view your Phonak purchase decision as a mistake, I think it would be wise to look elsewhere.

I have worn hearing aids for just a little longer than you (Siemens CIC and then Widex ITC). I started looking last year because the casings on my 8 year old aids are failing.

I tried a large practice here that claimed to represent many brands. They actually only sell one brand, and they could not get the aids programmed acceptably for my loss.

I tried some user-programmed aids from an online source. The aids were missing many of the newer technology features and I could not get a good sound without feedback.

I am currently wearing Micro Tech CIC aids, which are a Starkey brand. I am currently having receiver (speaker) repair issues.

Many of our skilled professionals on this forum prefer their customers try some of the newer "open fit" or the "RIC" behind the ear aids. These aids are generally much smaller than older type BTE aids and are usually almost unnoticeable.

With the newer style aids, there are few, if any, custom parts. For most repairs, CIC aids need to be sent back to the factory. With the newer aids, many of the parts are stocked by the local professional and can be replaced in their office.

For choice number 3, I am wearing the older series of that aid, but one level higher. You mentioned that the Starkey dealer is high tech. Is technology important to you? The X Series aids do not have Bluetooth or television streaming accessories that some other aids have. Bluetooth allows you to listen to an MP3 player with your aids or use them like a cellphone Bluetooth headset so you hear phone calls directly in your aids. Television streaming allows you to listen to television directly in your aids.

The reason there are so many choices is because different losses need different solutions. I hop you find the hearing solution that works best for you. Experiences with hearing aids is very subjective. They cannot make your hearing perfect, but most are designed to help you hear speech better, especially in noisy situations.

[Um bongo]

Originally Posted by Modifieddriver

I'm a newbie first time poster that's been here lurking around for a couple of months. I've been wearing HAs for about nine years. My first pair was digital Phonak CIC. I can't say they've served me well. Seems like they were being repaired more than they were used. I spent enough in repairs that I felt obligated to continue using them to get a return on my $4,400 investment. Oily skin could be the source of the problem.

This past November both broke and were sent out for repairs just before Thanksgiving. I was given a loaner, but was miserable with visitors and guest during the holidays. Anyway, they were repaired and the left broke again. So I'm faced with a new purchase.

Problem is conflicting information from four HA providers.

#1) My initial audiologist said I should get BTE. But in early January told me she was booked up and couldn't do a fitment until early March. That's crazy. And said she couldn't program my existing Phonaks because the software wasn't available.

#2) A buddy of my bought his first pair of HAs at COSTCO. I went there, had a test and he recommended Resound Future RIC.

#3) Because of the good mentions here about Starkey, I went to an AccuQuest provider and he recommended the RIC X-Series 90.

#4) Through Hearing Planet I was directed to another provider and she recommended a BTE Unitron Quantom 12 because I needed more power.

So, with all this being said, I'm confused and don't know if I should have BTE or RIC. The Starkey dealer was high tech with flat screen TV, wireless programing, etc, etc.

The last one wasn't high tech but has been doing this for 18 years. Did my test just sitting in a chair, no booth. But she seems like the most knowledgeable and called Phonak while I was there to get the software to reprogram my left HA.

Hopefully my chart will show up in my signature so you can see my loss ranges.

Some advice would be appreciated for direction. I don't want to make a $4,000+ mistake like I did with the Phonaks.

Booths are largely for show unless you are testing in a poor acoustic environment.

I'd go with the knowledge and experience to start with. Ask them to give you their opinion of the hearing aids they are currently fitting in relation to your loss.

[prodigyplace]

One of our skilled professionals has given some good advice here.

[Um bongo]

Originally Posted by prodigyplace

One of our skilled professionals has given some good advice here.

Alright. Enough with the plaudits, it looks a bit cheesy.

We all have a point of view (even ZCT, natch ). some things we'll agree with, some things we won't. Everything I write on here is IMHO, even when I feel irked by a line or an opinion. The great benefit of this board is that is pulls together the collective wisdom of several Audiologists/Dispensers and in doing so probably gives you more balance than any single place you visit.

My only real issue on here is subjectivity, what is 'lore' for one person might be inappropriate advice elsewhere, ditto manufacturers. Bringing objectivity to the discussion doesn't always give a smooth ride, but it probably gives more balance to the situation for the average reader.

Cheers
UB

[prodigyplace]

Sorry.

Sometimes it is difficult, without a lot of research, to tell if advice is coming from a professional or an HA user.

[Reidan]

Originally Posted by prodigyplace

Sometimes it is difficult, without a lot of research, to tell if advice is coming from a professional or an HA user.

Too bad the Forum Owner did not take a more active role on here. I have seen other forums that can flag posters with identifying marks. Change color of their name, or give them an icon or avatar that sets them apart from the general members. If the forum owner was active he could do this for the professionals on this forum, such as Steve.

I have even sent messages to the Forum Admin offering my services as a Moderator to delete spam postings. I have been a moderator on other forums over the years and would be happy to volunteer here since I seem to come here a lot these days. But I never got a reply.

[prodigyplace]

Ther was another user, a retired hearing professional, I think who was certain he could wage the war on spambots. He was unable to make the proper contacts so he could improve things here.

EDIT, apparently the moderator, named Admin, still looks here. According to his statistics, he viewed something today.

[dr.amy]

I'm just posting to tell Prodigy that his disclaimer literally made my day

It's the little things...

dr.amy

[doubledown]

Originally Posted by Modifieddriver

Problem is conflicting information from four HA providers.

not surprising. the recommendation you get from any multibrand dealer of any product will probably be the brand for which they can get the most profit. but I think to non users all aids are not really all that different which is pretty much true. but to users whose life depend on them, the subtle difference between brands make all the difference.

Originally Posted by Modifieddriver

#2) A buddy of my bought his first pair of HAs at COSTCO. I went there, had a test and he recommended Resound Future RIC.

Think they have a great refund policy in that you don't pay a penalty. why not try this with the unitron aid?

Originally Posted by Modifieddriver

#3) Because of the good mentions here about Starkey, I went to an AccuQuest provider and he recommended the RIC X-Series 90.

not to knock starkey, but accounts are free here. I would be wary of fake posts.

Originally Posted by Modifieddriver

So, with all this being said, I'm confused and don't know if I should have BTE or RIC.

a few years ago the bte was the way to go for power aids as ric aids had a lot of feedback problems. but since so much research dollars have gone to ric this is not necessarily the case anymore. I believe ric has become so popular because so many people like you and me bought ite/cic aids so these ric sounds more "normal" than the bte aids. but typically the bte line at a company will be the power aid line. phonak has their power bte nadia which is known for being water resistant. which may help with your sweat issue. oticon has their chili which is not known for being water resistant.

btw do you use a dry and store for you cic? might want to get one.

Originally Posted by Modifieddriver

The Starkey dealer was high tech with flat screen TV, wireless programing, etc, etc.

a long time ago I bought a nu ear aid from a dealer with the most impressive equipment. now I know better. the only equipment that would indicate a good audi imo is a REM machine. but even less competent people have those too.

Originally Posted by Modifieddriver

The last one wasn't high tech but has been doing this for 18 years. Did my test just sitting in a chair, no booth. But she seems like the most knowledgeable and called Phonak while I was there to get the software to reprogram my left HA.

wow, I did the same thing, when my phonak ite went bust I tried to get an audi to reprogram it but the person told me that the programming software was no longer available. for a person to go through the trouble of getting the old programming software, I think that's amazing. why not try out the costco aid with the unitron? I am a huge proponent of trialing at least 2 aids before buying. only problem is of course that you may have to eat that $300 penalty for not buying from one audi which imo is an unfortunate cost that I think we have no choice but to bear.