CPAPtalk.com

What brand did you end up with?
I have had Widex and Phonak, but the current one is a Rexton.
All these are well-respected brands.
I would studiously avoid the two mass-advertised brands, as many consider them to be junk.

Randyp1234 wrote:

StephenR wrote:I have looked at this place, seems ok...

http://www.hearingaidforums.com/

this could be interesting too..

http://www.myhearingloss.org/

Stephen

I'm at the fist place now but as good as it is, they're not big on "for new people" stickies like here and other places. I'll give the second place a look soon.

Thanks!!

Sometimes you just have to know how to do an effective search. I just typed the line below into my internet browser's search window (ie. Google, DuckDuckGo etc.) It worked fine and turned up lots of hits. For EXAMPLE:

site:hearingaidforums.com batteries

Type it in as shown or cut n paste...you could of course, follow the site designation with stuff like 'testing parameters' or 'waterproof design'.. just to make up some stuff. There you go, I just taught you how to fish instead of giving you a fish! Be sure to include .com.

Sir NoddinOff wrote:

Randyp1234 wrote:

StephenR wrote:I have looked at this place, seems ok...

http://www.hearingaidforums.com/

this could be interesting too..

http://www.myhearingloss.org/

Stephen

I'm at the fist place now but as good as it is, they're not big on "for new people" stickies like here and other places. I'll give the second place a look soon.

Thanks!!

Sometimes you just have to know how to do an effective search. I just typed the line below into my internet browser's search window (ie. Google, DuckDuckGo etc.) It worked fine and turned up lots of hits. For EXAMPLE:

site:hearingaidforums.com batteries

Type it in as shown or cut n paste...you could of course, follow the site designation with stuff like 'testing parameters' or 'waterproof design'.. just to make up some stuff. There you go, I just taught you how to fish instead of giving you a fish! Be sure to include .com.

Sarcasm Mode on: Google?? Really?? You can use Google to search for things on the Internet? WOW!!

Actually you didn't teach me anything. I didn't ask how to search hearingaidforums.com. I asked if any one knew of any good forums on the Internet for people that use hearing aids like cpaptalk.com.

I think it's time to close his thread.

Randy

Randyp1234 wrote:

StephenR wrote:I have looked at this place, seems ok...

http://www.hearingaidforums.com/

this could be interesting too..

http://www.myhearingloss.org/

Stephen

I'm at the fist place now but as good as it is, they're not big on "for new people" stickies like here and other places. I'll give the second place a look soon.

Thanks!!

By your own admission Randy, you couldn't get past the 'looking for stickies' phase at hearing aids forum. Sounds like a newbie search to me. I guess you are in the fist (sic) place now. Also, I think you missed the whole point of the SITE search that I went to some lengths to explain. Anyway, no fish for you!

Oh, BTW, Costco has forums for their customers who have purchased hearing aids. Since Costco sells souped up versions of name brands (and on the forums they have figured out which Costco model is which name brand) you might get some useful information there even if you buy elsewhere. You can get to them from Costco.com

When you use hearingaidforums.com you can search virtually anything related to aids and hearing loss. Give it a try. Lots of newbies all the time just starting out. But you are right, there are no stickies.

Janknitz wrote:Oh, BTW, Costco has forums for their customers who have purchased hearing aids. Since Costco sells souped up versions of name brands (and on the forums they have figured out which Costco model is which name brand) you might get some useful information there even if you buy elsewhere. You can get to them from Costco.com

+1

Good suggestion for a useful forum.

And I also feel that although Costco may have it's own issues for some things it sells, when it comes to hearing aids, Costco rocks. They take the time to do it right (setting up hearing aids well can be a time-consuming, tricky process), and they stand by their warranty on hearing aids. Although I am not a member, if I ever needed hearing aids and lived near a Costco, I would join Costco just to get hearing aids from them.

http://seniorplanet.org/what-i-learned- ... id-forums/

Costco is also committed to their pledge to send any patient who needs advanced service to a proper clinic.
They acknowledge their function is primarily to supply aids for uncomplicated cases.
If I need an aid with tinnitus blocker, I will probably have to go back to the university.

Randyp1234 wrote:

Janknitz wrote:I don't know much about hearing aids, but my husband did a lot of shopping around and went with Costco hearing aids. They were a good deal for his moderate (toward severe) hearing loss. Better than what Kaiser offered for more money. Be sure to shop around.

They do take a lot of adjusting to! Good luck.

Sadly, shopping around might not be much of an option because of insurance company involvement. I need to call them tomorrow to confirm what I think the policy says but it looks like they'll pay a decent amount if an MD prescribes them. What I don't know is if they also control where I buy them. Closest Costco is about 2 hours away so that's out. It'll pretty much be either the ENT's office or one of the local hearing aid vendors. That's why I'm looking for a forum and possible advice on how not to get screwed by the hearing aid stores - like the how to not get screwed by the DME posts here.


Randy, I've worn hearing aids since I was in first grade, and I'm now 70. As an adult buying my own hearing aids, I've always gotten them from my clinic's hearing aid store, or upon recommendation from ENT. I know many people who have been ripped off, so you are wise to be wary. In December I paid about $2200 for two over-the-ear aids, and this is about the right price. A friend who bought his first hearing aid recently from a local vendor (salesman) paid $5,000 for 2 similar aids... waay too much, and that's because they sell only one brand, as a rule, and need to make a profit. A relative recently bought just one aid for $2700. I suggested she go to Costco to replace her other aid.

For 30 years I lived and worked in small NE Minn. town, where I would have had to pay exorbitant prices, but drove 180 miles round trip to purchase my aids at the clinic where my ENT was located. This sometimes required using a day of sick leave, but for me it was worth it, and I'd suggest comparing what you find locally and at Costco before you buy.

I have Resounds. A pair from ENT was $6500. Mine are top of the line. 6 weeks after I got them cOstco started carrying them as Kirkland ones - same thing. $1899. It's worth it to travel there and stay at a motel!

But the Resounds and Kirklands are not the same - they are similar. If you bought at Costco, a local audiologist cannot repair them, as there is always some difference in what is included - the Costco brands may b e a generation behind.

Quote: If you bought at Costco, a local audiologist cannot repair them

What you mean is "Won't repair them"

You have to go to Costco to repair their products. The kirklands have the same features as my Resounds just were 6 months delayed in offering them. The difference is like Kenmore and Whirlpool washers at Sears. basically the same guts

It's all part of the contract.
Resound wants to keep their "clip joint" business, so the Kirkland name is used
and a minor feature is left off. My Rexton uses the same name at Costco, but the feature
left off is binaural communication--with only one aid, not needed for me.
Many find this feature unnecessary, even with two aids.

My $1899 hearing aids from Costco (Resound=Kirkland) are way better than my $6,000 name-brand hearing aids from an audiologist. No comparison. And Costco is excellent when it comes to adjustments etc. Extremely competent with the latest testing and adjustment technology.

Regards, Nate