[patfla06]

Originally Posted by davem4616

You go to one of these guys and they'll try to sell you hearing aids....

I think I bought them about 3 years too early....just now I'm really feeling like I needed them in certain situations

they're expensive, I wish I had gone with a Costco brand 1st time around....then a high end one when my hearing really got worse

good luck....trying turning up the television....no one on the street will notice anyway, we're all hard of hearing lol

The sound bar we just bought has fixed the t.v. volume issue.

Costco advised me to get a yearly hearing test, not every 2 years like with Villages Health.

The real test will be seeing my Granddaughters this coming week!
High pitched voices and when telling stories gets very excited & squeaky.

[patfla06]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I got mine from the audiologist at The Villages Health. I knew I had hearing problems, and I've known that I've needed hearing aids for years. Anyone who tells me I don't need them would get me posting here warning against whoever was making such a claim.

The audiologist recommended Unitron. I did some google searches on a few different brands, checked their own website and a couple of "review" sites that I'm familiar with that specialize in technology and medicine.

Decided I'd give the Unitrons a shot. Had a 60-day trial (was supposed to be 30 days but I kept needing adjustments and there was a whole week when the audiologist wasn't there so the appointment had to be changed for 2 weeks later).

Finally decided to buy them. Super expensive but again - I had come prepared. I told her during the previous visit that I'd done some checking - and gave her a printout from an AARP affiliate and a discount company provided by FloridaBlue, my health insurance provider. She said she'd honor their prices.

Huzzah. Got my hearing aids for around $1500 less than the MSRP, and it comes with an app so I can adjust everything from my cell phone, with multiple programs, plus a TV thing that I have attached to my computer so I can watch movies and videos and podcasts and the sound comes directly into my ears - my computer doesn't have speakers and I had been using an over-the-ear headset up until that point.

Being able to hear properly is still - weird for me. I've never been fully hearing-abled, was born with nerve damage in my ears. Life is NOISY. So much so that sometimes I have to actually turn them off, while still wearing them, which basically turns them into inferior-quality ear plugs. And that's fine - sometimes you just gotta turn the volume DOWN on life. The rest of the time I hear better than most of my neighbors.

Finally got my parents to get them too, we'd been after them for 10 years and they insisted they heard just fine. We just mumble all the time. And they kept the TV on at full volume because it "kept them company." Now, they turn the TV volume down, they understand us, we don't have to yell over the TV, and everyone is more cheerful and less grumpy.

Bonus: if you qualify for hearing aids, and wear them regularly to improve your hearing (as opposed to simply amplifying sound), you are more likely to retain your memory for more years as you age, and reduce the risk of dementia.

This is what my G. P. Is worried about as my Mom had Alzheimer’s.
I’m going to set up an appointment with an ENT for a hearing test.

[Hape2Bhr]

I wonder how much all those full page ads contribute to hearing aid cost.

[inda50]

I am a long time user so I'll add my 2 cents. Just about 1/2 of the sellers just want to get you in to sell you a set and see you later. Those are the people with whole page ads with the huge discounts and promises. That's what you get, promises. If your hearing is not too bad you can probably get away with a less expensive first time set. What I advise is to buy the best set you can afford. Always both ears never just one left or right. The features available today in HA are fantastic. They help a lot with T.V. , cell phones and challenging environments like driving, wind noise, restaurants, the beach, etc. A big difference from what was available a few years ago. Right now I have rechargeable HA but I think I like the battery aids just as well. It's pretty easy to change the batteries and I usually have an extra set of batteries in the car just in case. The pair I'm using are now Starkey, made in the USA, and bought in Spanish Springs across the street from Cal's barber Shop.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by inda50

I am a long time user so I'll add my 2 cents. Just about 1/2 of the sellers just want to get you in to sell you a set and see you later. Those are the people with whole page ads with the huge discounts and promises. That's what you get, promises. If your hearing is not too bad you can probably get away with a less expensive first time set. What I advise is to buy the best set you can afford. Always both ears never just one left or right. The features available today in HA are fantastic. They help a lot with T.V. , cell phones and challenging environments like driving, wind noise, restaurants, the beach, etc. A big difference from what was available a few years ago. Right now I have rechargeable HA but I think I like the battery aids just as well. It's pretty easy to change the batteries and I usually have an extra set of batteries in the car just in case. The pair I'm using are now Starkey, made in the USA, and bought in Spanish Springs across the street from Cal's barber Shop.

Wonder what these full page adds go for as they sure do a lot of advertising

[patfla06]

Granddaughters visit was wonderful.
I struggled to hear the 5 year old unless she was talking loudly.

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by patfla06

Granddaughters visit was wonderful.
I struggled to hear the 5 year old unless she was talking loudly.

Probably time to get some help then.
I found it was quit a problem adjusting to the sound of normal life when I first had my hearing aids, as I left it a bit late getting them.
The world is a very noisy place!
Good luck.

[patfla06]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Probably time to get some help then.
I found it was quit a problem adjusting to the sound of normal life when I first had my hearing aids, as I left it a bit late getting them.
The world is a very noisy place!
Good luck.

I really struggle when in a noisy environment.
I have to agree with you.
My Son told me during the visit he thinks I need hearing aids.
Not sure what my next step is.

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by patfla06

I really struggle when in a noisy environment.
I have to agree with you.
My Son told me during the visit he thinks I need hearing aids.
Not sure what my next step is.

Can't offer an opinion on where to go for test or purchase as I am in UK.
Lots of seemingly good recommendations in previous posts.
Good luck!

[davem4616]

Originally Posted by John-US

I believe- when you have any aide either hearing or glasses you lose the natural ability and become dependent on the device.

The body - all of it is a muscle and needs exercised.

Old saying use it or lose it is spot on.

my 12 cents , adjusted for inflation.

I also have this sense...but of course I'm just an average Joe, not an expert in this area

As a young kid I had some high end loss...I was always one of a few kids that would get called back down to take the school hearing tests again.....and was told that as I got older the high end loss due to something with my bones, would increase

Ten years ago I went to an audiologist up north....my wife sat through a 'word game' exercise where he said a word and I was suppose to repeat it

my wife was horrified that I missed so many words....I always believed that was a rigged exercise using words that people with moderate hearing loss would misunderstand...I tried his product and quickly returned it. It wasn't what I was looking for, and I wasn't ready

three years ago, when I noticed that I could no longer tune my guitar by ear...and I was having difficulty hearing young female cashiers, who seemed to all speak softly, I finally bought a pair

I always loved live theatre and thought this would help...but they only made a little difference....but of course I was looking for a full return of my hearing, which was never going to happen

I don't wear them all the time....there are situations where I know they'll help

I still believe I bought them years earlier than I needed to....but I have them and they do make a difference....I realize that when I take them out and it's much quieter

twice a year I have them tested and cleaned

good luck...we're all different

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by John-US

I believe- when you have any aide either hearing or glasses you lose the natural ability and become dependent on the device.

The body - all of it is a muscle and needs exercised.

Old saying use it or lose it is spot on.

my 12 cents , adjusted for inflation.

You are wrong, you have it backward. You don't have to believe it for it to be true, but it's true.

People start wearing glasses not because they've stopped using their eyes. They start wearing glasses because their eyes are not as efficient as they once were, and now need assistance to do what they exist to do.

Body parts wear out. Some body parts wear out more quickly than other body parts. And some body parts will wear out quicker if they're abused.

Many people have been exposed to very loud sounds for long periods of time, and that damages cells. The damage doesn't self-repair. People who ride motorcycles. Folks who attended loud concerts when they were kids. People who fly a lot. Construction workers. Jackhammer operators. Landscapers who use loud lawnmowers and other lawn equipment for a living. And folks with genetic disorders, or who have experienced injury to their heads. The list goes on.

All these things take their toll on your ears. There is no "exercise" to do for your sense of hearing. Eventually - your hearing is bad enough that you need assistance to hear.

Wearing hearing aids doesn't make your hearing worse. It makes it better.

I mean, it's like suggesting that if you climb up a staircase you won't get to the top floor, it'll just keep you stuck on the first floor or force you to end up in the basement. That doesn't make any sense either does it?

[Stu from NYC]

Will probably pay more but go to a store known for great service. '
Convinced in hearing aids you get what you pay for so do not skimp.

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by davem4616

I also have this sense...but of course I'm just an average Joe, not an expert in this area

As a young kid I had some high end loss...I was always one of a few kids that would get called back down to take the school hearing tests again.....and was told that as I got older the high end loss due to something with my bones, would increase

Ten years ago I went to an audiologist up north....my wife sat through a 'word game' exercise where he said a word and I was suppose to repeat it

my wife was horrified that I missed so many words....I always believed that was a rigged exercise using words that people with moderate hearing loss would misunderstand...I tried his product and quickly returned it. It wasn't what I was looking for, and I wasn't ready

three years ago, when I noticed that I could no longer tune my guitar by ear...and I was having difficulty hearing young female cashiers, who seemed to all speak softly, I finally bought a pair

I always loved live theatre and thought this would help...but they only made a little difference....but of course I was looking for a full return of my hearing, which was never going to happen

I don't wear them all the time....there are situations where I know they'll help

I still believe I bought them years earlier than I needed to....but I have them and they do make a difference....I realize that when I take them out and it's much quieter

twice a year I have them tested and cleaned

good luck...we're all different

Your statement "I still believe I bought them years earlier than I needed to....but I have them and they do make a difference....I realize that when I take them out and it's much quieter"
I can't work that out at all!

I have no idea what 'hearing aids' you purchased, but if you only clean them twice a year, they are probably bunged up with wax half the time.
I clean mine every day.
Sound as if you have a cheap pair of sound enhancers, as apposed to a decently fitted pair of hearing aids.

[Michael G.]

Originally Posted by GpaVader

It always seemed wrong to me to go get my eyes checked somewhere that sells glasses so I did the same with my hearing.

Can anyone tell me were to go to any business for a eye exam that don't sell glasses??

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

Can anyone tell me were to go to any business for a eye exam that don't sell glasses??

There are many opthamologists who don't sell eyeglasses. It's not their business. Their business is the treatment of eye disease and injury, such as cataract surgery and medical treatment of glaucoma.

They ALSO do comprehensive exams, and if they think you need an eyeglass prescription they'll write one out and you have to go somewhere else to get the prescription filled.