need help with hearing

[starflyte1]

I have been to an ENT doctor (two years ago) who sent me to an audiologist. After many, many visits to the audiologist, over the past two years, ( and $6500 hearing aids) nothing is clear to me. I cannot understand what is being said.

I want to go to an otolaryngologist (one step above and ENT doctor) to see if there is something blocking my hearing in my head. Has anyone been to such a doctor in Florida . I am willing to travel. Maybe a cochlear implant. I just don't know.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[BrianL99]

ENT Doctors are otolaryngologist and otolaryngologists are ENT Doctors. One & the same.

[blueash]

I have been to an ENT doctor (two years ago) who sent me to an audiologist. After many, many visits to the audiologist, over the past two years, ( and $6500 hearing aids) nothing is clear to me. I cannot understand what is being said.

I want to go to an otolaryngologist (one step above and ENT doctor) to see if there is something blocking my hearing in my head. Has anyone been to such a doctor in Florida . I am willing to travel. Maybe a cochlear implant. I just don't know.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I cannot help you with a doctor but I can help correct a misconception you have. An ENT is an otolaryngologist. One is a common use term the other is more formal.

[oldtimes]

I have been to an ENT doctor (two years ago) who sent me to an audiologist. After many, many visits to the audiologist, over the past two years, ( and $6500 hearing aids) nothing is clear to me. I cannot understand what is being said.

I want to go to an otolaryngologist (one step above and ENT doctor) to see if there is something blocking my hearing in my head. Has anyone been to such a doctor in Florida . I am willing to travel. Maybe a cochlear implant. I just don't know.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I have been wearing hearing aids for years and just got new ones that are far better than any I have had before.

Phonak Audeo Lumity hearing aids (https://www.phonak.com/ca/en/hearing-aids/phonak-audeo-lumity.html)

[villagetinker]

IMHO, it sounds like (no pun intended) you need a new audiologist. As noted above the new hearing aids are much better with great improvements over the last few years. In any case, I would talk to the audiologist and make sure that any hearing aids recommended would a full moneyback trial period, then go to places where you know you are having trouble hearing. i have friends that can adjust the hearing aids for different settings with their phone using an APP.
I have moderate hearing loss in one (1) ear, and will actually looking at the new OTC hearing aids in the next few months after there are some real world reviews.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

ENT = Ear, Nose, and Throat.
Otolaryngologist oto (latin combining form for ear) laryn...(larynx, the medical term for your voice box, part of the throat) - ologist (specialist)

Two terms for the same doctor.

You say you've had these hearing aids for two years, and still have word differentiation problems. This should have been reported to the ENT doctor within your first year. It can take between 2-6 months to get used to wearing hearing aids for the first time, especially if you have word differentiation trouble and the hearing aids are higher end with a lot of nuances and different settings. I'm assuming you've been using higher end aids, since you paid $6500 for them.

Cochlear implants are usually best only for people with profound or total deafness. They're not very useful for people who can already hear at least moderately well - and can completely wreck your enjoyment of music, if you have any currently.

It sounds to me like you need a different audiologist. But before you go to one, you need to check with your ENT person to see if there's something other than your hearing that's the problem (such as something blocking the signal in your brain that interprets the sound coming from the other side of the cochlea).

[kaydee]

My husband just received his 2nd pair of hearing aids and is very happy with what was recommended for him. He highly recommends Renaissance Hearing Center in Wildwood / 352-461-0219. He was very impressed with owner & facility.

[Two Bills]

The hearing aid business like many others has its share of charlatans and the semi-competent pushing the most profitable products to line their own pockets.
$6500 hearing aids should be close to top of the range if adjusted correctly to your hearing loss, and give you a lot more clarity than at present.
Even a cheaper pair fitted properly should give clarity.
You either have an underlying condition which needs investigating, or your aids are not correctly tuned. It must be one or the other.
I would first try another audiologist to fine tune your existing aids.
Then, if no improvement, back to ENT.
I too am profoundly deaf, and without my properly tuned aids, hear next to nothing.
MTC.

[starflyte1]

ENT Doctors are otolaryngologist and otolaryngologists are ENT Doctors. One & the same.

Thank you. My mistake.

[Number 10 GI]

I have high frequency hearing loss and have had hearing aids for nearly 15 years that are provide to me by the Veteran's Administration. They help immensely but they do not give you the hearing ability that healthy ears provide. In crowds or in a place where there is loud noise, I have a lot of difficulty understanding what people are saying, especially women who usually have lower softer voices. As far as I know the VA provides decent quality aids so I don't believe they are the problem. I've had the hearing aids adjusted a few times but have had little effect on hearing quality. If you are expecting to hear like you did when your ears were healthy, you will be disappointed. Even with hearing aids I can't hear crickets or chirping birds. Sometimes when driving with the wife she will comment on a sound the vehicle is making and ask what it is. I don't hear the sound as it is usually a high pitched sound.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I have high frequency hearing loss and have had hearing aids for nearly 15 years that are provide to me by the Veteran's Administration. They help immensely but they do not give you the hearing ability that healthy ears provide. In crowds or in a place where there is loud noise, I have a lot of difficulty understanding what people are saying, especially women who usually have lower softer voices. As far as I know the VA provides decent quality aids so I don't believe they are the problem. I've had the hearing aids adjusted a few times but have had little effect on hearing quality. If you are expecting to hear like you did when your ears were healthy, you will be disappointed. Even with hearing aids I can't hear crickets or chirping birds. Sometimes when driving with the wife she will comment on a sound the vehicle is making and ask what it is. I don't hear the sound as it is usually a high pitched sound.

I hear better than before I needed them. Born with nerve damage, my hearing was almost "normal" until I hit my 30s. I had some word differentiation trouble, but sounds in general were clear and audible. The progression began in my 30s until I finally needed devices in my 40s. I rarely wore them because they created distortion in sound, and had to change the battery almost every day, and they kept getting clogged with ear wax (they were custom-made in-ear tiny things).

Fast forward to 2 years ago I got over-the-ear aids with streaming bluetooth app all kinds of doodads, and my hearing is better than it was when I was a kid. So much so that I usually have to turn the volume DOWN when we're eating dinner, because hubby insists on keeping the TV on in the other room, and the rush of applause during sitcoms every 18-24 seconds irritates me to no end.

[Two Bills]

I have high frequency hearing loss and have had hearing aids for nearly 15 years that are provide to me by the Veteran's Administration. They help immensely but they do not give you the hearing ability that healthy ears provide. In crowds or in a place where there is loud noise, I have a lot of difficulty understanding what people are saying, especially women who usually have lower softer voices. As far as I know the VA provides decent quality aids so I don't believe they are the problem. I've had the hearing aids adjusted a few times but have had little effect on hearing quality. If you are expecting to hear like you did when your ears were healthy, you will be disappointed. Even with hearing aids I can't hear crickets or chirping birds. Sometimes when driving with the wife she will comment on a sound the vehicle is making and ask what it is. I don't hear the sound as it is usually a high pitched sound.

My Phonak hearing aids were pretty high end when purchased 4 years ago.
I hear the birds and even the wall clock ticking, and a lot of background noise is filtered out.
Every year the aids get better. My first ones were dire compared to the advancements made, and my next pair will definitely be better than my present ones.
You definitely do get what you pay for with hearing aids.
But.
However costly, and even with all the latest bells and whistles, loud conversation, background music, machinery, even the bloody electric kettle will overpower and negate the sound quality.
You cannot phase it out completely, as then you would hear nothing at all.
I am just grateful to have any sound I have, as without my aids, I enter a world of silence.

PS. Like OBB the noise from shrieking audiences on the television is probably the most annoying sound on earth!!:(

[bobeaston]

starflyte1, I agree with several others here. I think you need to see a different audiologist.

Hearing aids are just like any other prosthetic device. If they are well fitted they offer great results. If not, it's like that artificial leg that's a quarter-inch too short. EVERYTHING depends on the quality of the fitting, or tuning if you please.

I am on the third generation of hearing aids in my 15 years of using them, and have seen several audiologists. The technical advances are amazing, but the real value is in the audiologist and how well they fit the devices to your particular needs.

Dr. Cliff Olson in Phoenix AZ is an audiologist who, through hundreds of YouTube videos has become an industry influencer. He advocates a series of "Best Practices" for audiologists, and those who follow his best practices produce excellent results for their customers.

One of the best ways you can spend 10 minutes is to watch Dr. Cliff's video about Best Practices (http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F1pkDhb8ys). After that you might want to watch more, and to visit his web page about the importance of best practices (https://hearingup.com/blog/best-practices-for-hearing-aid-fittings).

We are fortunate to have one of those Best Practices audiologists right here in The Villages. Dr. Al Turri (https://www.audiologistdrturri.com/) delivers excellence. He really pays attention to patient needs and knows how to squeeze the best performance out of the devices. The brand and quality level of the device is not nearly as important as how the device is fitted, and Dr. Turri knows how to do that well. I've been seeing him for 2 years and am very pleased with the results. He is located in the Brownwood Center for Advanced Healthcare. Give him a try (https://www.audiologistdrturri.com/). (By the way, I get the sense he was following Dr. Cliff Olson's best practices before Dr. Cliff codified them for others.)

[JayDub]

As a suggestion talk to your ENT about a Stapedectomy. My right ear was just about useless. I could hear muffled sounds and that was it. I went to my ENT in Pennsylvania about 8 years ago he suggested hearing aids or surgery. After some thought I had the surgery and it was the best decision I could have made. After about a week I could hear sounds that I did not hear in years. It took several weeks until I was all but normal. My high range is not 100% but I am very satisfied.

[baramu]

My husband just received his 2nd pair of hearing aids and is very happy with what was recommended for him. He highly recommends Renaissance Hearing Center in Wildwood / 352-461-0219. He was very impressed with owner & facility.

I got mine from Costco for $1,399 for both. Happy with them and have been wearing hearing aids for about 15-20 years. They’re rechargeable and you can adjust them either manually or through their app. Consumer reports ranked Kirkland the no. 1 hearing aids.

[Petersweeney]

Old guy #1- I just got a new hearing aid and it works great…..
Old guy #2- what kind is it?
Old guy#1 - one thirty….

[Iowagirl2]

Did you get them from a doctor in the villages? If so which one?

[Iowagirl2]

Did you get them from a doctor in the villages? If so which one?

[NoMo50]

I'll make a suggestion just to throw it out there. I have profound hearing loss, coupled with severe tinnitus, and have been wearing aids for 15 years. Am I ever glad I found the Hearing Center at Costco. They provided the most thorough hearing exam I have had to date...at no cost. My newest aids are their Kirkland KS10 model, which is made by Phonak. They are totally tunable through an app, Bluetooth, with all the high end bells and whistles. Costco sells these for $1399 per pair, which is about 1/4 the price from a private audiologist. For me, they are fantastic, and they actually mitigate the tinnitus, which my previous ReSound aids did not. Costco's warranty and satisfaction policy is second to none, plus they give you free filters and domes for life. Every time I go to Costco, I drop them off at the Hearing Center while shopping, and they thoroughly clean them. I'm sold...give the a try.

[NotGolfer]

My significant other has hearing aides. NOT hearing many times (even with them in) is due to ear-wax. It's a frustrating conundrum as sometimes the home remedies aren't as affective as when the clinic does them. Just throwing it out there....do you have excessive ear wax?? You need to go back to your provider---if you don't get resolution then find a new one.

[Finnman]

I have been to an ENT doctor (two years ago) who sent me to an audiologist. After many, many visits to the audiologist, over the past two years, ( and $6500 hearing aids) nothing is clear to me. I cannot understand what is being said.

I want to go to an otolaryngologist (one step above and ENT doctor) to see if there is something blocking my hearing in my head. Has anyone been to such a doctor in Florida . I am willing to travel. Maybe a cochlear implant. I just don't know.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

When you cannot understand words being said, hearing aids will not help you. I'm speaking from experience as a long-time hearing aid wearer. Fortunately, I researched Cochlear Implants and after being tested by Dr. Davis of Davis Family Hearing who have an office in The Villages 352-666-8910 it was determined that I was a candidate for an implant. My implant was activated three years ago and my word comprehension went from18% to 98%. It was that dramatic. I highly recommend that you contact Davis Family Hearing and get tested to see if you qualify for an implant. It will change your life.

[mazbarth]

If you don't get the help you need, UF in Gainesville may have the experts you need. But I agree with the others. A simple change of doctors might be the solution. Good luck!

[OhioBuckeye]

I ended up buying the best Hearing Aides on the market about 2 yrs. ago & paid the same thing you did. I have the same issues,my hearing is better but my wife does complain that I don’t hear what she’s saying. I tell her it’s selective hearing, LOL. I just figured that it would be a waste of time to spend a lot of money seeing an ENT, I think in my case my age would win out. I’m 73! I just figure at my age my hearing isn’t going to be as good as it was at 20 yrs. old. My X brother in law was a ENT & the only thing I remember him telling me is at 25 yrs. old was, he said some day yo’re going to need hearing aides. So I’m just going to chalk it up as old age & save money so I’m going to keep from making BMW payments for any ENT!

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

When you cannot understand words being said, hearing aids will not help you. I'm speaking from experience as a long-time hearing aid wearer. Fortunately, I researched Cochlear Implants and after being tested by Dr. Davis of Davis Family Hearing who have an office in The Villages 352-666-8910 it was determined that I was a candidate for an implant. My implant was activated three years ago and my word comprehension went from18% to 98%. It was that dramatic. I highly recommend that you contact Davis Family Hearing and get tested to see if you qualify for an implant. It will change your life.

Categorically untrue. I said already up-thread - my hearing loss manifests primarily in word differentiation problems. Meaning, I can hear you talking. But if you're not facing me, AND you enunciate, AND I can read your lips at the same time, I might not be able to tell what it is you're saying. You'll sound, to me, like you're mumbling even if you're not.

Hearing aids fixed that. I no longer have to ask anyone to repeat themselves unless they have a very thick foreign accent, or are actually mumbling and not facing me.

[Hifred]

Went to Dr. Mark Steehler who is a board certified in Otolaryngology. Found him very helpful. He ordered a CT scan to rule out tumors that may have contributed to my hearing loss which came on suddenly. I am not sure if you are familiar with an auditory processing disorder. They can happen after strokes or other vascular problems. The hearing mechanism in the ear hears sound but doesn't discriminate the sound which is the brains function. So in essence the problem is from the brain not the ear. After seeing Dr. Steehler who ruled out tumors I did see Dr. Al Turri at the Villages Specialty center. I now have hearing aids which are helping. There are many different types of hearing aids. Not all support auditory processing disorder. There is a balance between the brain's roll and the ear's role in hearing. Dr. Steehler's contact information is Address: 1781 Park Center Dr suite 210 suite 210, Orlando, FL 32835 Phone: (407) 228-2647. He has a number of offices so there may be one closer to where you live. Dr. Turri did a lot of testing not just a hearing test and was able to fit me with hearing aids which have helped a lot. However, I don't always attend and do miss some of what is said but I have learned to repeat back what I think is said and get clarification if needed.

[Nucky]

Almost NOTHING else that I've done wrong in my life has caused as much heartache as my hearing problem. I really feel bad for those who have it worse than I do.

I should carry a sign that says Pardon Me or Excuse Me!

[starflyte1]

starflyte1, I agree with several others here. I think you need to see a different audiologist.

Hearing aids are just like any other prosthetic device. If they are well fitted they offer great results. If not, it's like that artificial leg that's a quarter-inch too short. EVERYTHING depends on the quality of the fitting, or tuning if you please.

I am on the third generation of hearing aids in my 15 years of using them, and have seen several audiologists. The technical advances are amazing, but the real value is in the audiologist and how well they fit the devices to your particular needs.

Dr. Cliff Olson in Phoenix AZ is an audiologist who, through hundreds of YouTube videos has become an industry influencer. He advocates a series of "Best Practices" for audiologists, and those who follow his best practices produce excellent results for their customers.

One of the best ways you can spend 10 minutes is to watch Dr. Cliff's video about Best Practices (http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F1pkDhb8ys). After that you might want to watch more, and to visit his web page about the importance of best practices (https://hearingup.com/blog/best-practices-for-hearing-aid-fittings).

We are fortunate to have one of those Best Practices audiologists right here in The Villages. Dr. Al Turri (https://www.audiologistdrturri.com/) delivers excellence. He really pays attention to patient needs and knows how to squeeze the best performance out of the devices. The brand and quality level of the device is not nearly as important as how the device is fitted, and Dr. Turri knows how to do that well. I've been seeing him for 2 years and am very pleased with the results. He is located in the Brownwood Center for Advanced Healthcare. Give him a try (https://www.audiologistdrturri.com/). (By the way, I get the sense he was following Dr. Cliff Olson's best practices before Dr. Cliff codified them for others.)

I do not belong to Village Health. Will look at the list and try to find someone else.

[starflyte1]

Did you get them from a doctor in the villages? If so which one?

Ocala doctor recommendd audiologist.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I do not belong to Village Health. Will look at the list and try to find someone else.

You don't have to "belong" to the Villages Health. They're just a medical practice, same as any other medical practice. They accept a wide variety of insurance plans and companies. However, most hearing services aren't covered by any insurance at all, so most patients have to pay out of pocket anyway. (Yes there are exceptions)

[salleh]

I have been to an ENT doctor (two years ago) who sent me to an audiologist. After many, many visits to the audiologist, over the past two years, ( and $6500 hearing aids) nothing is clear to me. I cannot understand what is being said.

I want to go to an otolaryngologist (one step above and ENT doctor) to see if there is something blocking my hearing in my head. Has anyone been to such a doctor in Florida . I am willing to travel. Maybe a cochlear implant. I just don't know.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I am a 78 year old hearing impaired Villager. Been wearing hearing aids for over 50 years and one cochlear implant for 19 years. Don't waste your time elsewhere! I highly recommend UF at the Oaks Mall in Gainesville, where there is a staff of doctors of Audiology and Otolaryngology. Get thorough hearing test and evaluation, find out if you are possibly a candidate for a cochlear implant.

[wfp113]

I have been wearing hearing aids for many years. I have worn high end and low end aids.Some are a little better than others but for the most part they are just amplifiers. All hearing aid stores advertise they have hearing aids that block the background noise. Thats one big falsehood. I don't care what hearing aids you have the background noise is there.
wfp113

[oldtimes]

I have been wearing hearing aids for many years. I have worn high end and low end aids.Some are a little better than others but for the most part they are just amplifiers. All hearing aid stores advertise they have hearing aids that block the background noise. Thats one big falsehood. I don't care what hearing aids you have the background noise is there.
wfp113

The newest technology is significantly better at filtering out background noise and recognizing voices. They are like little computers. I just got the Phonak Lumity hearing aids and I can now go to a restaurant and understand a conversation. It's not like normal hearing but it is the best I have had since I started to lose my hearing.

[Richard Tahara]

Due to changes in the law you can get quality hearing aids for $600 (a pair) or less.
Google "Cheap or inexpensive hearing aids.

[Carla B]

I do not belong to Village Health. Will look at the list and try to find someone else.

As OBB said, you don't have to belong to The Villages Health system. Their audiologists are specialists and patients on traditional Medicare can see their specialists.

[RVgirl]

I have been to an ENT doctor (two years ago) who sent me to an audiologist. After many, many visits to the audiologist, over the past two years, ( and $6500 hearing aids) nothing is clear to me. I cannot understand what is being said.

I want to go to an otolaryngologist (one step above and ENT doctor) to see if there is something blocking my hearing in my head. Has anyone been to such a doctor in Florida . I am willing to travel. Maybe a cochlear implant. I just don't know.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

A good friend of mine had the wax cleaned out of his ears by his Dr. and it helped him tremendously. I'd probably start with that.
If you need a recommendation- my husband sees Dr. Al Turri in the Villages Healthcare Building on Hwy 44.

[bobeaston]

I do not belong to Village Health. Will look at the list and try to find someone else.

No need to belong to Village Health (whatever that is). Dr. Turri will see any patient who is interested in his service. He just happens to have an office in the Advanced Healthcare Center at Brownwood. There is no membership requirement for practitioners in that center.

[starflyte1]

Thank to everyone for the replies.

I have an appointment with Dr. Turri on the 30th.

If that doesn't help, I will have a nice list of recommendations to fall back on.

Thanks again, I appreciate your time.

[Fltpkr]

I have been to an ENT doctor (two years ago) who sent me to an audiologist. After many, many visits to the audiologist, over the past two years, ( and $6500 hearing aids) nothing is clear to me. I cannot understand what is being said.

I want to go to an otolaryngologist (one step above and ENT doctor) to see if there is something blocking my hearing in my head. Has anyone been to such a doctor in Florida . I am willing to travel. Maybe a cochlear implant. I just don't know.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hearing the spoken word but not understanding it is common with a hearing loss. I have used Dr Thomas Thomason in Ocala. He is with a group practice there, and is an experienced, bd certified, no nonsense doc. Thoroughly explore your options before going down the path of a cochlear implant. That is just my 2 cents worth.

[starflyte1]

Finally, I have hope that I will be hearing better!

I read and then read again all of the replies. I decided to start with Davis hearing. The only comment he made was there quite a change in my hearing and made adjustments. I had just had the adjusted two months ago.

I went to lunch with my usual group of friends. My hearing brought a thumbs up!

To night I am going to one of the loudest Resturants I could think of and will see how that goes.

I return toDavis hearing on Tuesday to let him know how things are going.

I really looking forward to the improvements.

Thanks again for all of your replies. I really appreciate each one.

[oldtimes]

Finally, I have hope that I will be hearing better!

I read and then read again all of the replies. I decided to start with Davis hearing. The only comment he made was there quite a change in my hearing and made adjustments. I had just had the adjusted two months ago.

I went to lunch with my usual group of friends. My hearing brought a thumbs up!

To night I am going to one of the loudest Resturants I could think of and will see how that goes.

I return toDavis hearing on Tuesday to let him know how things are going.

I really looking forward to the improvements.

Thanks again for all of your replies. I really appreciate each one.


Yes, it is pretty much all about the skill of the audiologist. You will never be able to hear everything, they are hearing aids not hearing cures. I find in the beginning they seem to be a miracle but once you get used to them you always wish for more.

[Two Bills]

Finally, I have hope that I will be hearing better!

I read and then read again all of the replies. I decided to start with Davis hearing. The only comment he made was there quite a change in my hearing and made adjustments. I had just had the adjusted two months ago.

I went to lunch with my usual group of friends. My hearing brought a thumbs up!

To night I am going to one of the loudest Resturants I could think of and will see how that goes.



Gotta be The Lighthouse!

PS. No hearing aids yet made can cope with that place, unless it has changed over the last two years since our last visit!
PPS. Sorry. Three years!

[Stu from NYC]

Due to changes in the law you can get quality hearing aids for $600 (a pair) or less.
Google "Cheap or inexpensive hearing aids.

My understand is if you have a fairly mild hearing lost the new otc one can help but for those of us with a more severe loss we need the services of a trained professional

[starflyte1]

Gotta be The Lighthouse!

PS. No hearing aids yet made can cope with that place, unless it has changed over the last two years since our last visit!
PPS. Sorry. Three years!

Actually Texas Road House

[justjim]

Restaurants lose tables from their space when they cut down on noise. A few partitions really makes a difference.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Actually Texas Road House

Your ability to focus on conversation at your table without being severely impaired by the noise around you - depends partly on three things:

1. your own natural ability to focus your hearing attention on specific sound-sources
2. how well you have trained yourself to adjust to having hearing aids
3. the type of aids you have

My aids (like many folks here) have a variety of programs I can switch to. For restaurants, I can use the app on my cell phone and press an option. This makes background noise less prominent, and puts the attention on whoever is directly in front of me at the table. The background noise is still noisy - but it's a more muted sound.

When I get out of the restaurant I switch it back to automatic, and it re-adjusts for "normal" sound.

It took me around a year to -really- adjust to hearing with this pair - mostly because it has so many bells and whistles and this was overwhelming to me. Knowing how to listen while wearing hearing aids is half the battle, and the steepest part of the learning curve.

I'm glad it's going well so far!

[DaddyD]

Just an FYI to the OP and anyone else in the market for hearing aids: Costco sells the EXACT same hearing aids that many audiologist sell, but for easily half the price. Additionally, Costco gives you a full 3 months to try them out and you can return for a full refund if you're not satisfied, whereas most audiologist / hearing aid centers only allow you to try them for 30 days. And they give you a 3 year warranty, AND they will replace one FREE OF CHARGE if it gets damaged or lost. Finally and perhaps most importantly, in the past only Costco could work on / repair / adjust hearing aids bought at Costco, but their policy has changed and now any audiologist (who is willing) can adjust them. Dr. Turi will work with patients who buy hearing aids at Costco--he charges $500 for this service, but then you don't have to drive back and forth to Orlando or Tampa (closest Costco's), and he's a very good audiologist.

[Koapaka]

IMHO, it sounds like (no pun intended) you need a new audiologist. As noted above the new hearing aids are much better with great improvements over the last few years. In any case, I would talk to the audiologist and make sure that any hearing aids recommended would a full moneyback trial period, then go to places where you know you are having trouble hearing. i have friends that can adjust the hearing aids for different settings with their phone using an APP.
I have moderate hearing loss in one (1) ear, and will actually looking at the new OTC hearing aids in the next few months after there are some real world reviews.

I have a friend who has had to wear hearing aids since childhood and the ONLY place she will buy new ones is at Costco. She said they by far have the best "exchange" program available so that you get what you need and dont have to deal with multiple purchases. She said last time she upgraded, she was allowed to keep coming back until she got the perfect pair, and that it took 3 total attempts to get what worked best for her. She is VERY impressed and tells anyone who is in search of the next pair, so I share this hoping it helps you.

[rmd2]

I over the years I have probably tried at least a dozen brands of hearing aids. I don't know why but Resound is the only brand I have found that I can hear well with. I was also told that the VA dispenses Resound. I now have tinnitus which makes things worse so I may have to search for new hearing aids.
I feel sorry for every person who has this problem. It can be very isolating.