Not sure what to make of comments by new Costco audiologist

is that normal in a shop?

you use some wonderful vocabulary!!

Doesn’t make sense. You shared that an ENT doctor mentioned a hearing aid as a manageable solution vs cochlear implants. I’m assuming they had a licensed audiologist test your hearing and made a device/treatment recommendation. So, how did Costco come into the mix?

It sounds like you have a very complex hearing issue that Costco doesn’t treat…or have the right testing equipment / device(s) you need. They handle straightforward hearing loss. Seek out another licensed audiologist if you can.

Agree with those who mentioned getting a CI evaluation. If you check my audiogram prior to getting a CI in my left ear, you will see some similarities to yours - almost normal in the low range but nothing at the high. I got an Advanced Bionics brand CI almost 3 years ago and it allowed me to keep working in a forward facing job. My out of pocket for surgery was less than getting a new set of hearing aids! Advanced Bionics is under the same umbrella company as Phonak, so they have a “linked” Marvel Hearing Aid that is the only brand that actually works together with the CI using one app. It works well for me. Costco will likely not tell you to go get an evaluation because they don’t service CIs and don’t make $ on them. But an evaluation does not obligate you in any way. But is does provide great information with which to make your decision. I jumped on the opportunity to hear better as soon as I qualified. Hope you find some helpful answers.

I had my K10s batteries replaced, and they came back with changed firmware that made them far better. Maybe do that after yogurt the new Aida then do a cmparison.

I’ve read on the forum of Costco audiologists (not just fitters) making professional observations regarding a need for further work-up elsewhere, due to considerable change since prior evaluation and so on. Having the degree, the knowledge and ability professionally makes one a real audiologist, but not all locations of employment may provide the equipment or the opportunity. I suspect that audiologists at some Costco locations may work part-time at Costco and part-time at a “real” audiology office. Besides which, as in every occupation, there are people along the range from outstanding to crappy. Merely the fact of working at Costco may limit the range of professional services, but it doesn’t by definition make an audiologist “less than” one that works at an audiology office (which may require them to push the sales numbers up, BTW).

That being said, I believe that @Doggit probably needs a BTE HA (I’d try the Enzo), and probably would benefit from better programming than she’s gotten recently.

Interesting the different connotations of “punt” in US vs North Atlantic Islands English. In US “punt” implies giving up on something whereas where you are it seems to imply to give it a try or bet on it.

@speedy said:

For a cochlear implant eval, they should test you in the “best aided” condition - meaning, with aids set as close to targets as possible.

I did not get the go ahead on my first CI evaluation because of this. I self programmed Phonak aids with Frequency lowering set to max I could squeeze about 50% word understanding. I was told no to the CI, try it again in a year. I showed the evaluation paperwork to Cochlear America. They immediately set me up with another CI audiologist. There I was quickly found to be a bilateral CI candidate. Without frequency lowering my word understanding scores were less than 10% each side.

Looking at the OP’s audiogram that’s similar to my own, lots of no response frequencies.

I live in Spain. The ENT is on the National Health Service. I see him every year for a check up. But the hearing aids are not on the health service. (they are in UK!!) Most people here don’t have a private health insurance. So here on the forum I read how good Costco is and bought the K10 4 years ago knowing it would save a lot of money and they are one of the few places that do the REM test. That’s why I went back to Costco. They have just informed me that the Phillips is in so I will find out soon what they are like. Many thanks for your input.

I think I need to do some research. In my mind CI means big round things stuck on the side of my head and a robotic sound.

While this may not be a popular opinion on this forum —- everything in your post is an indicator that you should find a new audiologist—NOT COSTCO.

Costco is a general business (that I love for other things). However, given your situation you need a place that focuses on hearing and dispenses a good variety of different brands and models.

@Doggit said:

In my mind CI means big round things stuck on the side of my head and a robotic sound.

It is a small round thing stuck on the side of your head and the roboticness of the sound disappears as your brain learns to use the signal.

Well, in the first instance, I am going back to Costco to try the Phillips. If I don’t like them I will return them. And I will also look into trying the Enzo here in my town. I will report back in a few weeks. Many thanks for the support from everyone. This really is a marvellous forum.

@MDB said:

In US “punt” implies giving up on something whereas where you are it seems to imply to give it a try or bet on it.

Punt is a bet in these parts. The average man in the street is referred to as a punter. Or was. The language is changing.