Hearing Aids

[Ontario Hunter]

US VA supplied me with Oticon hearing aids. Great. I can control volume in either ear, blue tooth to my TV, and now blue tooth to my new Google phone. I can sit through a meeting with Spotify on my phone listening to Emmy Lou Harris through my hearing aids. The stereo sound quality is amazing! The charger for them is also battery charged. Worth every penny ... which was $0.00. Thank you VA.

 

[Russ16]

Just met with an audiologist. Recommended Phonak which are over $5000. I think I might see what Costco says.

 

[wyosteve]

Fwiw, my first pair were Phonaks from Costco. They worked fine, but now I have Jabra and Rexton, also from Costco, and I can't say the Phonaks were any better. For $5k, you can get 3 pairs from Costco!

 

[375er]

I have a pair of Phonak custom molded in the ear aids. They are titanium and indestructible. I LOVE them! Changed my life. When these wear out I will get another pair. There are things I will not skimp on and hearing is one of them.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

Fwiw, my first pair were Phonaks from Costco. They worked fine, but now I have Jabra and Rexton, also from Costco, and I can't say the Phonaks were any better. For $5k, you can get 3 pairs from

That’s my struggle with the audiologist. $5-7k through them vs maybe $2k at Costco. Not knocking the independent audiologist at all, but I think they charge it because they can. I guess a lot of people just don’t shop around for things and pay whatever they charge.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

Follow up question regarding tinnitus: Did those of you that have that notice a decrease when you started using the hearing aids?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Follow up question regarding tinnitus: Did those of you that have that notice a decrease when you started using the hearing aids?

DEFINITELY!

 

[Hawkeye101]

I got my Costco (Jabra) aids a couple months ago for $1600. That was after going to a stand alone audiologist who quoted me about $7000. I am TOTALLY satisfied with Costco. I got the same tests, Costco service is awesome and now I can hear things perfectly I had forgotten about. Found out my grandchildren are not such soft talkers!
Just got back from a hunt to Argentina and had ZERO issues!

 

[WAB]

Hello SCHUNTER73,
I was in the exact same boat. I had VA benefits and was sent to a local VA provider. I was tested and fitted with his name brand hearing aids. The cost was $1800 for Vets and $3500 for regular customers. They were just OK and his service was awful. That was my first set of hearing aids, and I developed a few issues with them.

On my second go around I went to Costco. I received a much better hearing evaluation and was fitted for the "Phillips" brand. The cost was $1499 with a 2 year warranty that covers loss and accidental damage too. My ability to hear fine detail has improved, and the user adjustability is superior to my first set. I also get free hearing aid inspections and cleanings at my local Costco when ever I need them, no appointment necessary.

I'm sold on the Costco hearing aid department!

I also use Phillips from Costco with excellent results. They repair/replace without question and provide all supplies at no cost.

 

[gearguywb]

I have been wearing them for a few years. 90% loss in my left ear, 30% right.

Provided by the VA.

Both sets were Phonak. First was in-ear. Really did not like them at all.

Was fitted for a new set 6 months ag. The kind that sit behind the ear. Definite improvement, but I found that the tech/doctor fitting and setting up the parameters is key

 

[SCHUNTER73]

Appreciate the continued feedback gents.

 

[Newboomer]

What?...Huh?

Okay, that was a.joke. Seriously though. I got hearing aids last year. I was having trouble understanding people when there was background noise. The hearing was worse in my left.ear The problem seems to be common in people that shoot a lot. I guess we know why. I got mine from Costco. A lot less expensive than buying from a "stand alone" audiologist. They help a lot but there does seem to be a learning curve in using and maintaining them. The technicians at Costco have been very helpful, even to finding out one of the "receivers" was.bad and replacing it while I waited. They also replace the "tubes and ear cups" and will give you the materials and instructions to do it yourself. After buying the hearing aids they have never charged me anything.

I also figured out that using an ear wax removal product occasionally and using a Q Tip to clean your ears each.morning before putting n in the hearing aids each morning makes them work better.

Nix on the Qtips. I tried that and got a buildup of fibers in my ears. Had to go to my ENT tech for a cleaning. She strongly advised against them and said I could have developed a bad infection.

 

[Rafiki]

Hello SCHUNTER73,
I was in the exact same boat. I had VA benefits and was sent to a local VA provider. I was tested and fitted with his name brand hearing aids. The cost was $1800 for Vets and $3500 for regular customers. They were just OK and his service was awful. That was my first set of hearing aids, and I developed a few issues with them.

On my second go around I went to Costco. I received a much better hearing evaluation and was fitted for the "Phillips" brand. The cost was $1499 with a 2 year warranty that covers loss and accidental damage too. My ability to hear fine detail has improved, and the user adjustability is superior to my first set. I also get free hearing aid inspections and cleanings at my local Costco when ever I need them, no appointment necessary.

I'm sold on the Costco hearing aid department!

Huh, that's interesting; I also am vet living in Florida and had opposite experience. Thus far I've gotten 2 pairs over the years, both totally free. The latest are PHONAK which I believe is a named brand. These things can be controlled by my phone via Bluetooth. The VA Audiologist also did extensive testing and programed the things to my specific issue. I have a non-vet friend that has the exact same equipment and it cost him $5k.

The difference in your experience and mine is pretty striking. I can't wrap my head around why it would be so different. I do know that the VA has a tiered system of benefits depending primarily on income, type and length of military experience, etc. I'm a Vietnam combat vet so that may have something to do with it.

In any case, I don't wear my aids while shooting but have gone to several kinds of in-the-ear electronic hearing protection. Hearing my whispering PH and simply having mutes sound around me brought me to that conclusion. Unfortunately, at this point I have not found a satisfactory product so if anyone has some ideas in this regard I'd certainly appreciate it.

 

[Muskox]

I have them and I despise them.

Mine have little antennas that hang out and drive me crazy, I don't like the quality of sound that comes out of them.

Everyone knows I can't hear, so they speak up.

Kids and wife have to repeat themselves.

I never wear them. I gave up on them after a month, and I have never been happier.

Not trying to be a jack knuckle about it, but they drove m crazy and the juice was not worth the squeeze.

 

[Muskox]

Huh, that's interesting; I also am vet living in Florida and had opposite experience. Thus far I've gotten 2 pairs over the years, both totally free. The latest are PHONAK which I believe is a named brand. These things can be controlled by my phone via Bluetooth. The VA Audiologist also did extensive testing and programed the things to my specific issue. I have a non-vet friend that has the exact same equipment and it cost him $5k.

The difference in your experience and mine is pretty striking. I can't wrap my head around why it would be so different. I do know that the VA has a tiered system of benefits depending primarily on income, type and length of military experience, etc. I'm a Vietnam combat vet so that may have something to do with it.

In any case, I don't wear my aids while shooting but have gone to several kinds of in-the-ear electronic hearing protection. Hearing my whispering PH and simply having mutes sound around me brought me to that conclusion. Unfortunately, at this point I have not found a satisfactory product so if anyone has some ideas in this regard I'd certainly appreciate it.

Same ones, I just don't like them.

 

[wvfred]

I have been using Phonak behind the ear hearing aids for about five years now and never a problem. I got them through my audioligist for $2600.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Nix on the Qtips. I tried that and got a buildup of fibers in my ears. Had to go to my ENT tech for a cleaning. She strongly advised against them and said I could have developed a bad infection.

And not doing that causes wax build up, plugging the hearing aids. Never had an issue with Q-Tip fibers building up.

 

[Anbessa Gedai]

Appreciate the continued feedback gents.

Regarding numerous comments about hearing aids cost at COSTCO versus independent hearing aid centers; I've been told COSTCO audiologists are NOT paid on commission, but salaried . . .

 

[Russ16]

In talking to my Dr he said get them sooner rather than later. The longer you go the harder it is to adjust to them. People with good hearing tune out a lot of background noise. Your brain forgets how tons that as your hearing declines. When you get the aids your brain has to relearn that. Thats one of the reasons a lot of people hate them at first because they are hearing more than they’re used to.

 

[Muskox]

In talking to my Dr he said get them sooner rather than later. The longer you go the harder it is to adjust to them. People with good hearing tune out a lot of background noise. Your brain forgets how tons that as your hearing declines. When you get the aids your brain has to relearn that. Thats one of the reasons a lot of people hate them at first because they are hearing more than they’re used to.

That is me!