Understand speech - yes. Sounds good - no

You may be interested in this information. https://musicandhearingaids.org/11

@SaxMan Good grief!! For $7000 AUD I would definitely expect something at gold star level. My Phonak Nadia’s would have been around $2370+gst NZD each with a $680 fitting fee, but I was extremely lucky to get a MoH subsidiary for them.

I really do think that this is less the aids issue and more an audiologist issue. Feeling quite confident that with the software and some tinkering you can fix this yourself.

By the way, for a trial period I negotiated 30 days and that was extended due to audiologist illness. Maybe they were less worried as these were “freebies” (MoH funded) but I really don’t think 2 weeks is a reasonable adjustment period if the aids still aren’t right. If you have home contents insurance, most audiologists in NZ seem okay to let you have them for a bit longer. Could be worth asking? BUT, and it’s a big but (haha) if you do tinker with them yourself in the trail period you need to be sure not to mess too much just in case. (I did with my previous pair and just made sure to create different “patient” profiles so I could revert to original settings and they had no idea.)

My experience with Signia was similar . I’ve had the Signia Active Pro (which I bought in eBay) and the Rexton Reach (which is a Signia C&GIX) and I did not like the sound of them at all. I’ve used Signia , Rexton , Oticon, Phonak and Widex (I’m a tech person , I want to try everything before I make a decision).

The programming was the same as the other non Signia devices I had. Same domes . They sounded very “artificial , like I was in a box, sounds had no life . But they do elevate the voices and, for improving speech understanding , they worked . In other words, my issue with them were the non-speech sounds. Music sounded terrible! ( and yes , there was a music program). I felt the app was too limited and I did not find the Signia Assist useful.

I also had too many problems with the Bluetooth sound to the point that I found them unusable . I sold the Active Pro in eBay and I returned the Rexton . I got some widex @ eBay plus my audiologist’s infinio (non-sphere) and I’m in love with my Widex (my Phonaks sound good too but they are lower tech and not very good in noise ).

Interesting that your audiologist said that about the HAs and speech , my Rexton fitter said the same thing when I complained about the sound.

I’m not saying the Signias are bad , they just didn’t work for me. When I tried the Widex , the difference was gigantic.

These are expensive devices that you will be wearing daily for hours. If you don’t like them , try something else , that is what I did . There are plenty of options out there

Either these are extraordinarily more expensive in Australia than in the USA, currency rates taken into account, or OP is getting overcharged bigtime. He’s certainly not getting his money’s worth out of the audiologist’s fittings.

“A world I want to hear” is a great way to say it!

I have added my audiogram @AttilaDaPun @PeterH @user990 @1Bluejay

Thank you @1Bluejay for sharing your thoughts too. These insights and stories and experiences are REALLY helpful.

@1Bluejay said:

I’d rob a bank and buy top end aids and get them set up so you have that rich sound you’re looking for.

I am fast coming to the conclusion that this is one option. Another might be using the local lotto / lottery as an investment vehicle.

@1Bluejay said:

a world I want to hear

YES !!!

Hey Saxman. Just skimmed the topic, honestly but… you might be selling Costco Australia a bit short. I’m almost sure that unlike US Costco the fitters here are qualified audiologists and audiometrists. Mine is anyway, and therefore I could claim on private health insurance. My aids were like a couple of hundred dollars after the rebate.

I do sometimes wonder whether I’ve sold myself short by not spending the 10k at a ‘real’ audiology clinic but I’ve gone to small audiology practices in the past and the experience wasn’t as good as Costco.

I’m given to understand that there are some Costco Hearing Aid Centers in the USA that employ audiologists, but that most are staffed by hearing aid specialists. I think it’s best to have an exam and testing by an audiologist initially, to make sure there’s no need for the services of an Ear, Nose and Throat physician/surgeon. Then, if no need for a specialty referral medically/surgically, go where you can get a good price and the attentions of someone who can set up the products they have, from an array of makes and models that meet the need of their clientele - not just a shop that has only one brand. If I were in Australia, I’d give Costco a go! I’ve read the trial period is 6 months at Costco. Worst that could happen is you don’t like the HAs and turn them in before trial time ends. I’m in the USA, and if I didn’t have insurance coverage that pays for a portion of the HAs themselves, provides wax filters and domes (and apparently custom molds) free, and has a great audiologist employed by the health plan itself at a convenient office… my first stop would have been Costco.

Ah! Thx for the update! Geez, I’d trade MY audiogram for YOURS any day, mate!

You mentioned feeling “rushed” in the current Signia trial. Listen to your gut! Most USA purveyors of aids give 30, 60 or even 90 days (Costco) for trials. When you factor in the weekends, holidays, work, other customers seeing this audi, 2 weeks is like 24 hrs! Can’t be done.

NEVER EVER trust dispensers or audis who only carry a single brand. They will have no incentive to find the best solution for YOU. Ditch those Signias even if you end up coming back to them (which I seriously doubt given the quality of the fitting and device).

Also KNOW THIS: no pair of aids is ever set up 100% perfect right out of the clinic. Articulate exactly what you like/don’t like and keep going back till the settings are right for you. If the audi/dispenser balks, keep looking or consider going the DIY route.

I’m hoping that a large city like Melbourne will have options, and if you can get recommendations from friends/family or practitioner who you trust, check out those, too.

@SaxMan said:

I am fast coming to the conclusion that this is one option. Another might be using the local lotto / lottery as an investment vehicle.

“Crocodile SaxMan” is your new handle - hope you win the lottery.

@SaxMan If your audi gives you the feeling of being rushed, lay those signias on the counter, and go elsewhere.
You, being a musician, and knowing how sound should be for your ears is the key. You have to convey to the next audi what you wish to hear.
Obviously, you aren’t going to get that 20Hz-20KHz frequency response you had a a teen, but with a well tuned music program on a high tech level HA, you can get from 80/90 Hz to 7/8KHz, which will give you an adequate music response.
Look for aids with minumum of 110dB input headroom, my Oticon Intent has 113dB.
With your loss, you’d be best served by custom ear moulds with a small vent.
IMHO, after finding an audi who can tune your aids to an acceptable level, you can embark on the DIY path to fine tune the sound in your own listening environment.
You’ll be sounding like Coltrane!!

I think your six months of NOT wearing aids has contributed significantly to your problems. Remember that we HEAR with our BRAIN. Ears only collect sound. And I think your brain has forgotten how to process some sounds. It will take TiME to retrain it.
I also think you should shop for a different provider who will spend more time and LISTEN to what YOU want.
I am pretty much the opposite of you. UNDERSTANDING speech is my issue. I have a slight audio processing disorder which made it hard to understand speech in noisy environments when I still had normal hearing.
I am currently wearing 4 year old Signias and purchasing new Phonak Infinio Sphere’s. I wore the Sphere demo’s for over 2 weeks with SEVERAL trips back to the audiologist to “tweak” them before I decided they really will help me.
My husband wore hearing aids for ?50 years and as he got older he spent more time with each new pair getting them “tweaked.” I do not think I can emphasize strongly enough how much time/effort it may take to tune a new aid to YOUR specific situation. I like to say fitting hearing aids is as much an ART as science - - although with the number of features on new aids today . . . it is for sure both!!!
I hope you can find a provider who will spend the time and effort needed to really help you - - including trying as many different brands as needed. A really good/knowledgeable provider should know which brands are most likely to provide what you are looking for with your audiogram - - so that you don’t have to go thru too many different brands.