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Newbie looking for guidance on hearing aid exam

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Hi everyone,

I’ve been reading topics on this forum, a very valuable resource, and it seems like I have a lot of learning ahead of me on hearing and hearing aids.

I’m 68 years old and have been experiencing hearing problems (more in right ear than left), my wife took me to Costco to get an appointment for a hearing aid exam (in 2 weeks). I just wanted some guidance on what to expect during the exam. I was advised the exam takes about 1 hr 15 min. I hope it’s ok to ask the examiner if (s)he is an audiologist or a hearing aid specialist.

Thanks!

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You are paying for a service ( with your membership ) . Ask anything you want about aids, hearing , etc .

It doesn’t matter if he/She is an audiologist or , both are licensed to prescribe hearing aids and Costco HIS fit hundreds of patients every year.

If there is something they are not licensed to do (tinnitus for example), they will let you know.

There are several threads here where people have asked about their upcoming visit at Costco . You may want to look at those.

She will likely be a and that’s fine. Post your results when you get them! We’ll argue over them for you LOL

Thank you both for your replies. I had the hearing exam today. I have posted my . The told me that I don’t really need hearing aids right now; instead, he recommended that I get an amplifier from Amazon or other retailer. He did indicate that my left ear has better hearing than the right and that speech comprehension is good at higher than normal volumes (these wordings are mine, I’m paraphrasing as best as I can remember). I also uploaded my audiogram to Chatgpt and it said that an amplifier may not be the best idea for all hearing situations. I’m looking forward to comments from members here.

Thanks!

You’re mostly in the mild range (see chart below), so it’s really your choice. If you find certain situations challenging, like being in a noisy environment, getting aids could be a good option.

I wouldn’t go for an amplifier. Instead, choose an over-the-counter aid from a reputable brand like Apple, Sony, Sennheiser, or Elehear—many forum members have shared great experiences with Sony. The main difference is that an amplifier boosts the volume across all frequencies, while hearing aids are more customized to your specific hearing profile.

But since your hearing loss is flat, maybe an amplifier can work (I don’t know about this).

Prices range from around $250 for AirPods Pro 3 if you have an iPhone, to $1000 or more. It’s best to buy from a store that offers free returns, like Amazon.

Personally, I wouldn’t spend more than $1000. If you’re willing to go higher, you might as well get the Costco aids.

audiogram-degrees-of-HL

In reply to @sam642000

Hi,

I would suggest that you are a candidate for hearing aids. The biggest factor would be, do you want to hear better? Is it having an impact on your life?

Studies suggest and have demonstrated that a hearing loss does impact how you listen with your brain, and that with regular wearing of hearing aids, it can lessen those impacts. Whether that is enough of a consideration for you is up to you.

If you want to hear better, I would encourage you to get hearing aids. If the Costco hearing aids make sense for you financially, then that’s great. You get warranties and people to help you in person through the process of wearing hearing aids which is very valuable. I’ve seen people stop using or think their hearing aids are dead because they are plugged with ear wax.

Thanks for your replies, OcramSagev and mindsil.

I decided to get an amplifier from Amazon that had very good reviews and was reasonably priced. As expected, it amplifies all frequencies and I hear sounds like door knocks, utensils etc. very loud and voices louder but less intense. I’m trying out different volume settings to see what works best. I can imagine that good hearing aids programmed to my particular needs will be a better option but want to try this amplifier for a few more days. Today, I’m just using it at the lowest volume on just the right ear and there’s quite an improvement over not wearing them at all.

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