Skip to content
HearingTracker
Log in

Costco fitter

This topic is closed.

19 replies668 viewsLast reply

Link to this topic

I have been happy with my Costco fitter, but I also see that they are not free thinkers, to me they seem more along the line of outsourced help desk workers following a script.

I see in the programming software there is a tinnitus function, the fitter told me the Rextons don’t have a tinnitus program. Why would the fitter lie about this?

There are at least 6 pre done programs, automatic, reverb control, live music, noise/party etc. Why would the fitter only enable 3 of the programs?

I am generally happy with Costco, and I can put up with oddness or self programming for the $5,000 savings, but it seems odd to me that Costco has instructed their fitters to do this.

11 people in this conversation6 min readJump to latest

The tinnitus support in the US has to be set by an audiologist. Since Costco has both audiologists and fitters they have made the decision not to support that function.

You can download tinnitus apps and set it up yourself - I have used the Resound Relief app.

To be honest, for me it was really just replacing one distracting noise with another

Costco employees have stated before that the corporation policy is that they are not to spend a lot of time dialing in the hearing aid.

They are to set the hearing aid to the manufacture’s recommended settings with .

They are not allowed to set the tinnitus function. I suspect that for many folks the tinnitus function doesn’t help much. Perhaps saying it doesn’t have that function saves a lot of argument time and it may require a doctor of audiology in some states.

I suspect that most folks only need two or three programs.

I agree about the tinnitus function. I turned it on with Phonak Target to see if it helped. It generated a white noise background sound that brought back memories of the unwanted hiss that old tube, analog audio systems had.

My experience has been great. Costco cant enable tinnitus control, but the option is there. Its a corporate decision, not the techs. My tech has been great at going off target to fit me. She set mine up with the Jabra proprietary Jabra formula along with fitted and we found the Jabra formula works much better for me. And not sure how many programs your aids can have at one time but my aids are limited to 4 programs and 2 devices (like a TV streamer or MultiMic). Pretty sure the number of programs are limited on your aids too. Also, for newer users they usually start you off with only a few programs so you dont initially constantly fiddle with them and get used to the main program.

The tinnitus setting is governed by state law in at least some states. Costco (and any other place that relies on HISes) have a narrow range of choices.

What programs do you want? I asked for the ones I wanted, since I know my lifestyle better than anyone else does.

@philbob57 said:

What programs do you want? I asked for the ones I wanted, since I know my lifestyle better than anyone else does.

if I didn’t have the programming software I wouldn’t know what programs were offered and I wouldn’t know what to even ask for.
I complain about my voice being amplified and there is no mention that there is a specific slider to lower my voice (other then the my voice feature). also there is a specific slider to lower loud noises.

I’m starting to think that self programming is pretty much a requirement if you want to get the most out of you hearing aids.

I guess my point is the costco model is flawed but there are workarounds and still probably worth the price.

@2ball said:

I’m starting to think that self programming is pretty much a requirement if you want to get the most out of you hearing aids.

Yep exactly, our hearing is so subjective, everyone is different and often the “text book” approach just doesn’t work.

I do self programming, but I have found that I need to have done by a professional to have the best possible gain settings. I don’t usually change those gain settings. And in several cases when I did change them in the past, I reverted back to the REM gains because my changes made things worse.

As for all the other stuff like noise suppression levels, buttons, etc. self programming is very useful.

@wtolkien said:

but I have found that I need to have REM done by a professional to have the best possible gain settings.

Unfortunately for me (and lots of others) just ruins my , but definitely for those that DIY and want REM can benefit, but no more adjustments at home unfortunately because obviously REM settings would be out the window and would need to redone.

In reply to @wtolkien

I self-program my hearing aids, but I’ve never needed to have done. I simply use a frequency analyzer on my cell phone, and the voice generated voices website to get them dialed in.

In reply to @tenkan

Why would conflict with DYI? You can save the results from the REM session and use it as a starting point for DYI.

That’s what I did, but I usually reverted back to the REM results because they worked better for me.

@wtolkien said:

Why would REM conflict with DYI?

Uh, because as soon as you make any further adjustments (as ) the settings are now incorrect and would need to be recalibrated, for me and others REM is just another tool in the toolbox, doesn’t help one little bit for some, it’s just so far off on how I like to hear, my DIY adjustments are so dialled in REM is moot!

I’m not sure I understand. gets invalidated if you change the acoustic properties of your (different domes, molds), but making changes in the fitting software doesn’t invalidate REM.

REM just provides you with validated gain settings according whatever fitting rationale was used.

If you change those settings, it doesn’t invalidate REM, it just means your modified settings deviate from the fitting rationale. Nothing wrong with that. I see REM as a very good starting point for DYI.

@wtolkien said:

but making changes in the fitting software doesn’t invalidate REM.

Of course it does, you change the amount of gain, compression, increase or decrease, as this level is set by at the time of fitting based on your , change the acoustics and formula etc, this is why I say REM is not required to get a successful fitting, test box is great and In-situ audiometry just gets the job done, no drama and never have to set foot in a clinic again ; )

In reply to @wtolkien

Can someone tell me how I would find out more about self programing? I am not particularly tech inclined but I am beginning to think that I need to try it in order to get the most out of my hearing aids. As someone said, I know better than anyone else what I’m hearing and I believe Costco fitters just don’t have the time and in some cases the skill to adjust them correctly.

Go to the top of the main screen and select categories. From there, you find a link to the section. The folks there can help you with what you need to get started.

You can also go to audiology online and take courses for free as long as you don’t need continuing education credit.

Online CEUs, Job listings, and Journal for the Audiology Profession |...3

Online CEUs, Jobs, News, Articles, Interviews, Ask the Expert and Industry info for audiologists and hearing care professionals.

Most hearing aids are manufactured with room for only 4 programs, “All-Around” and a choice of three others. Usually the fitter discusses this to some extent with the client, but many just go ahead and install “the usual ones”, such as hearing in noise (mics face forward and concentrate on speaker), music, and outdoor. You are certainly able to ask to see a list of the available programs for your instrument, but it’s likely that only four will 'fit’.

Also, keep in mind that Costco hearing technicians (fitters)–and most are very good or excellent at their jobs–have had a fairly short course of study plus on-the-job-training. Audiologists, on the other hand, have 4 yrs. of college and an extra year or two of audiology training, hence their titles of “Audiologist” and the letters after their names, D.Aud, or M.Aud.

In reply to @tenkan

@tenkan said:

REM is not required to get a successful fitting,

As long as your ear has exactly an average volume, canal impedance (how compliant the drum is) and correct leakage calculation for venting, slit-venting and/or dome selection.

Otherwise you’re just hitting golf-balls in the dark (based on the advice of your caddy) and thinking each one is a hole in one. You can certainly aim a golf shot in the right direction, you’ll likely hit somewhere near the green. What allows you to do, is to take multiple shots and ‘see’ the effects of each one. In the first instance, unless you’re Rory McIlroy, your average Audiologist is going to miss the green a few times: even if you are able to make subsequent modifications to the settings.

Related discussions