I am looking for my first hearing aid...suggestions?
 

As much as I hate the idea, it is time for me to look for my first set of hearing aids. I have looked at Google Reviews, of course, and find it pretty confusing. So I am asking those of you who have had the experience of buying and using hearing aids to comment on what you have learned and what you would recommend.

All ears.

Michael Murrell
Marsh Bend

Costco or Sam's Club rebrand popular aids and sell them at a fraction of the cost.

yes costco and sams are cheaper but what ever brand you choose make sure they are the newest HA's available as far as technology .. I have a friend who purchased from costco and they were new HA's but 2nd generation technology ... also make sure you have unlimited lifetime visits for adjustments/fine tuning the first few months can be frustrating getting them fine tuned .. if you spend a lot of time outdoors make sure the HA's have a strong wind supression other wise all you will hear is the crackling noise from wind .. another feature is streaming your TV and phone calls .. I find streamimg raises my comprehension to about 90% on most programs and do not need to use closed caption.. and last but not least is battery consumption.. I wear Resound Omnia's and they are rechareable so every night I just stick them in the charger .. I usually wear my HA's about 15hrs a day and still have about 40% charge left at end of the day .. I stream TV anywhere from 5hrs weekdays to 8/10 hrs watching sports on weekends.. streaming TV uses more battery life

Costco, free hearing test, and great price for hearing aids.

Get a good Audiologist to test you before even considering a purchase.
Sam's and Costco seem pretty straight from reviews I have read on this board.
There are some charlatans out there pushing expensive, over need.
Give yourself time to adjust to your aids. I left it late to start using them, and found every day sound LOUD!
In my experience, behind the ear is best. In the ear for me never felt secure.
When you get your test, and quote, shop around, although the two recommendations above are very competitive.
Good luck, and welcome back to the world of sound.

I agree with most of the above, you need a AUDIOLOGIST to test your hearing, there is a difference, and if you happen to have wax build up, most of the hearing TECHINICIANS cannot remove the wax, and Audiologist can. Once you have the hearing test, they can tell you if OTC (Over The Counter) hearing aids are suitable (in my case with moderate hearing loss they are). Then you will need to review the various options, over the ear tend to be less expensive BUT can suffer from wind noise, if you have a convertible car this can be annoying. I have not tried other styles, but will probably stick with this style on the next set.

Al Turri villages health for an evaluation. You can buy or get on subscription basis with maintenance.

Al Turri - Director of Audiology - The Villages Health

I went to Home - Mid Florida Hearing it’s in the Lake Deaton Publix Plaza.
I highly recommend.

I agree with the comments above concerning Costco. The big name store vendors will charge you twice what their worth with a variety of come ons.

Do invest in good technology. I can bluetooth the TV and anything on my phone (music, audio books, etc) directly into my hearing aids. The ability to answer the phone with my aids and then both hear and speak using only the aids is valuable to me. I used my less capable aids only occasionally. I keep these in my ear all day long.

This is excellent advice. If your hearing loss is mild to moderate it isn’t such a big deal but if your hearing loss is severe, like mine, you really need the very latest technology available to be able to fine tune to the frequencies you have lost. My audiologist retests me every year to adjust as necessary.

My audiologist is at The Villages Health. She did the testing, made the recommendations, and gave me a 60-day free trial of the model she recommended. It ended up being a 90-day trial, plus she matched a price for the same model I found online from my FloridaBlue affiliated hearing company (I think it was hearusa.com? Something like that). She also threw in a bluetooth TV streaming device, which I use on my desktop computer, since that's where I usually watch movies and such. With the discounted price I paid, I /also/ get three years of adjustments, a yearly hearing test, firmware updates, one battery replacement, and all the tails and wax caps I need.

Great discussion on hearing aids.
I'm going to take the plunge soon and sitting here taking notes.

Welcome to a world of frustration

The Villages Health - $6000+ per pair
Costco - under $2000 with free lifetime adjustments
Both, top-line name-brand.

OTC - under $1000

Why? I just got one 3 weeks ago. I don’t have frustration.

Dear Orange Blossom,
Thanks for the information and taking time to reply. Could you please give me the name of your audiologist?
Many Thanks,
Michael

Get the best that you can afford. Costco, sams do not sell latest technology . Starkey is the best. Audiologist in colony plaza sells them. It takes 2 to 3 weeks to adjust to them when first using them. Your Audiologist guides you through this. Never a charge.

I got mine 6 years ago in my home state via an audiologist. I got the Oticon brand and they changed my life. I can stream from my phone and iPad which makes phone calls so much easier and I can watch a video clip without annoying everyone. There are also special settings for crowded room situations and other situations. Now that I live here, I see Dr Greg Freeman at Villages Health who connects with my hearing aids for upgrades and has never tried to upsell. He said these are the best for me and keep using them till they break. I go for a hearing test every year and he makes adjustments. The Villages Health Audiology takes all kinds of insurance.

Good for you for taking this step. Having hearing aids also improves your brain health.

Hearing Aids from Hear Again America
16770 Hwy 441, Ste #604
352-347-2700
They are very knowledgeable, helpful and easy to work with.
They sell more than one brand, I have PHONAK and am very happy with them.

Consumer Reports on "OTC" Hearing Aids
 

The May/June 2023 issue of Consumer Reports has a report on the newly legal, non-prescription "Over the Counter" hearing aids. They rated some of them but you'll need to subscribe to the magazine or go to the library to read the full report.

Here's the article without the specific ratings.
A Complete Guide to Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids - Consumer Reports

Turri recommends going every four months to have the aids checked for $60 (to have the doctor check them) per or the Assistant's fees are $40 per. I believe the yearly fee is $200 anytime. Insurance can not be used for these visits so we found out.

I had ear surgery about 20 years ago and have had significant hearing loss in one ear since. I finally decided to get a hearing aid. I live south of 44 so wanted someone close. My sister sells hearing aids in Lakeland FL so I knew I would discuss with her the brand, price etc first. I made my appointment at Mid FLorida Hearing in Lake Deaton Plaza. I double checked the pricing and brand with my sister and she gave me the green light to move forward. I love being able to answer/talk on the phone through my hearing aid, stream on my phone or iPad and most of all, hear again out of that ear. It’s important to live some what close as you’ll need to go in for adjustments and cleanings all which are included in the price of the hearing aid. Bart wanted to start me out at only 85% because it had been such a long time my hearing had been bad, I’m now at 90% and will go up to 100% on my 3 month cleaning. So, in the first month, I’ll have gone in for 4 appointments. I go back in another 2 weeks and he did say he’d go up to 100 at anytime I wanted. I got the Phonak L 50 R and my sister said that’s the one she fits the most in Lakeland. Bart said that was one of the best brands out there and after doing my own research, agree it’s a great one. Good luck!

buy at
 

Costco

If you are a veteran, check with the VA hospital in The Villages. You may have to wait several months for an appointment but the service that I received was excellent and you can not beat their price.

Where's Costco? None nearby that I know of.

It totally depends on the level of hearing loss. They need to come with a very good audiologist who can properly adjust them for the range of sound you are missing.

Just got mine from Costco
 

I just got my first hearing aids at Costco a week ago. Here are the steps I took:

1 - I took the hearing test online at soundly.com. Have good quality headphones for this. It will give you a good idea of your issues. It told me my hearing loss was severe enough that I should avoid the over the counter hearing aids which are for mild to moderate hearing issues.
2 - I setup an appointment at the Costco in Lutz (about an hour away and great shopping and restaurants all around it).
3 - Then before Costco I had an appointment with my family doctor to check out my ears and clean the wax as that is a problem I have as well and Costco will not do the test if there is wax build up.
4 - The audiologist did a very extensive hearing test. I thought I would buy their Jabra brand hearing aid and he said I needed the Phillips and explained why.
5 - I had my Phillips hearing aid a week later. There are sounds I am hearing that I had completely forgotten about, I hear what people say to me and music sounds amazing again.

Digital Ear in Colony Plazs
 

I have used hearing aids for years but needed updating.
Used John at Digital Ear in Colony Plaza. Impressive examination, professional experience, new digital hearing aids with many new features, and very fast delivery.
Excellent delivery orientation, no problem with helping me understand the new features and how to implement and fine tune. Highly recommend!

Hearing aids...
 

When I started looking about 4 years ago, I did the Sam's test and looked at their hearing aids. After looking around I too found that Sam's was much cheaper but had old, old technology. They told me Bluetooth was just another cost, and it would not use it. I use it all the time. Go to a good audiologist. OTS aids may be good, but how will they be adjusted for your personal needs through your audiogram? Hearing aids don't bring back your hearing the way it was, but they do help. Good luck.

Ringing in the Ears
 

Do hearing aids help with ringing in the ears?

I read a report that said if a person has hearing loss as well as Tinnitus, hearing aids may improve the condition.
I should imagine if you have no hearing loss, and still try a hearing aid, if nothing improves, the ringing should sound better. :icon_wink:

Once you have the aids set up and balanced, that seems like overkill to me, and more about the money than after care.
I very seldom see my audiologist, unless I have a problem.
You would soon know if your aids need service or adjusting.
JMO.

Ohiobuckeye
 

Buy just what you need, don’t get a bunch of bells & whistles that you don’t need. I bought the top of the line, (Phonax) they said at the time the were the best. Actually it was a mistake because the only thing I had hooked up to mine was Bluetooth phone calls, I can talk to anybody even if I set my phone down & I’m across a room I can have a conversation. I think there’s 6 or 7 other things it can do but I got them because the clairity was very good. Also I thought if I bought the best I would never have to buy any other Hearing aide. The Ins. I have I can get certain Hearing Aide for free. They work fine. But this way I never let the Audiologist talk me into any other kind to let them make money off of me. My suggestion is buy whatever let’s you hear clearly! Nobodies Hearing is the same.

I have been wearing hearing aids for about 15 years now. For the past 7 years, I have been going to Costco for those needs. I have "severe" loss in one ear, and "profound" loss in the other. In my experience (YMMV), Costco provided the best and most complete hearing exam I have ever had.

My current aids are the Costco-branded Kirkland Signature KS10 model. These aids are manufactured by Sonova, and are, in reality, a white label version of Sonova's Phonak Paradise model...their flagship brand at the time I got them. They are certainly not "old technology." In fact, Costco uses Phonak branded software to set up and adjust the instruments. These are digital, Bluetooth devices that connect directly to a television and my phone. The best part is that the Kirkland branded aids were 1/3 the price of their Phonak brother, and the hearing test at Costco is free.

The Kirkland KS10 is no available any longer. The speculation is Costco is preparing to come out with a KS11 model, which fits their historical timeline. They typically come out with a new model every couple of years, and last fall Phonak introduced a new model, the Phonak Lumity. Less than a month later, Costco discontinued the sale of the KS10. The theory is that a new KS11 will come out this year as a white label Phonak Lumity model. If true, expect to get a high end, current technology hearing aid at a very reasonable price.

Some folks have said that Costco discontinued the KS10 model due to rechargeability issues, but I have not experienced that problem. They continue to offer an unbeatable warranty, lifetime cleanings and adjustments, free hearing tests, and the lowest retail pricing. I think I'll stick with them.

I’ve had Resound, Oticon and Phonak. I prefer the Phonak for clarity and having the tv and phone Bluetooth ability. If you’re a veteran, the VA will test you for free. If you need aids, they are free also.

Beware Bossa OTC hearing aids
 

I don't have major hearing loss, and now that you can buy over-the-counter hearing aids I went online and bought a set from Bossa Hearing Aid Co. They sell a wide variety, I bought a pair that they advertised as "invisible". They were not. So they said send them back and we will refund your money per our return policy. So I returned them, they acknowledged receipt, and have kept my money, so far for four months.

I am filing a complaint with the state of Florida consumer fraud division.
So avoid Bossa Hearing aids.

If you are a Vet, you maybe to get them free.

We use only Pronak. They are expensive but ours lasted 7 years before we had to replace them. Minimal repairs during the 7 years. Check out Renaissance Hearing in the shopping center, Wildwood. Excellent service and an indepth hearing test before the owner sells you.

it depends
 

What I've read:

It depends on what is causing the ringing. If it is a medical condition such as a disease, then probably not and you need to go to a doctor.

If it is due to standard hearing loss from nerve damage and old age...maybe. I've had my hearing aids for a week and I've noticed the ringing has decreased some and am hoping that as my brain gets used to the sounds I am hearing again then it will stop the ringing it gives me.

Please make sure that you use them all day!