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ENT, audiologist or Sam's Club?

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I am only 45 and struggle with hearing. Both of my parents also have hearing difficulty although neither wears a hearing aid. I:o am also a high school teacher, so muffled speech reception makes my job challenging. I had a comprehensive hearing test at Sam’s yesterday–with imaging of the inner ear and a lengthy audio test with both sounds and word repetition. I also spoke at length with the hearing aid specialist. I felt that the assessment was solid but have no experience in the arena. I have moderate hearing loss (do not have exact numbers). Two hearing aids were recommended. As money is a concern for me. I wanted to consider the lowest level –the Liberty Engage 32 SIE 64 ($1998 for a pair). An additional charge for loss and replacement 4 year warranty would add $400. There is a 90 day money back guarantee. Should I go ahead and order a pair or see an ? Even $2000 is a tremendous expense for me so I need to make an informed but budget-conscious choice. As I am a teacher, I do not know if I need a higher quality aid as I often have 20–25 students per class involved in round table discussion. My health insurance does not cover hearing tests or hearing aids, which I was shocked to discover. Thanks for any advice!

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it’s my opinion that everyone that thinks they need aids should visit an first just to be sure that something else isn’t involved. Once cleared, then do a lot of shopping, trial at least 2 or 3 pairs preferably of different manufacturers.

Thanks. I did call an doc today and he directed me to their audiologist. I am guessing that the tests might be similar but the fitting is different depending on skill level. Is this correct? How do you get to try out several models? Is this done solely in the office or are you able to “test drive” models?

my knowledge of the private sector is limited but from reading a whole lot of post on this forum it’ look’s like Sam’s and Costco have trial periods w/o return fees as do a lot of private audiologist. seems the standard is from 30 to 90 days for a trial period.

@caracon66 said:

I wanted to consider the lowest level HA–the Liberty Engage 32 SIE 64 ($1998 for a pair).

Caracon,

You ran the two together a bit. The Engage 32 is the lower cost HA that you are considering. The higher cost is the SIE 64.

I bought a pair of SIE 64s three days ago, but I’m sure you would be happy with the 32s. Here are some differences:

SIE 64 has 64 channels vs 32 on the ENG 32. Many experts think even 32 channels is more than enough.

The SIE 64 also adds sudden impulse noise suppression, enhances speech in noise, learning volume control, and programmable .

I got the SIE 64 for the extras, but I understand the ENG 32 provides the same basic capability. It’s a little like paying extra for electric leather seats and premium audio on a car. Nice if you want them.

Don’t take this as expert advice. I only had them three days. But as there isn’t a lot of experience with Liberty HAs in this forum, I will give my input.

I am so far amazed at the things I hear, but need time for my brain to adjust.

As for “muffled voices”, the improvement is wonderful.

If you don’t want or need the “extras” I mentioned, then go ahead with the ENG 32. The SIE 64 won’t help your hearing problem any better, it just adds some nice features.

Thanks so much. I am glad to hear your opinion. I am still investigating and trying to learn as much as I can. Ideally, I would like to find a pair and have a couple weeks of practice with them before school starts.

suggest you consider buying only ONE hearing aid. The sales department says you really oughta buy two. My fitter at Costco suggested I get only one, since my bad ear is pretty bad.
Fitter was right. I bought two (have insurance) but have used only one for the past 2 years. One good aid makes a helluva difference.

If I didn’t have insurance, I’d only buy one.

The only professionals who work w/o commission are at Sams and Costco, so most other fitters will trot out the myth (??) that you really gotta oughta get two. Doubles the commission.

Wouldn’t hurt to buy two, try using just one, and return the second if you find it’s not worth the price. Or to start with one, see how it goes, and add a second one day if you wish.

I love the 90 day trial at costco. Same at Sams?

one last thought: amazon customers are consistently happy with the $150 Mdhearingaid which amazon sells. look at reviews. You might try one. Returnable. It might do the job for you? Could try it at same time as Sams, and return one or t’other.

good luck! watch the myths. elijah

@elijahlovejoy said:

suggest you consider buying only ONE hearing aid. The sales department says you really oughta buy two. My fitter at Costco suggested I get only one, since my bad ear is pretty bad.
Fitter was right. I bought two (have insurance) but have used only one for the past 2 years. One good aid makes a helluva difference.

If I didn’t have insurance, I’d only buy one.

The only professionals who work w/o commission are at Sams and Costco, so most other fitters will trot out the myth (??) that you really gotta oughta get two. Doubles the commission.

Wouldn’t hurt to buy two, try using just one, and return the second if you find it’s not worth the price. Or to start with one, see how it goes, and add a second one day if you wish.

I love the 90 day trial at costco. Same at Sams?

one last thought: amazon customers are consistently happy with the $150 Mdhearingaid which amazon sells. look at reviews. You might try one. Returnable. It might do the job for you? Could try it at same time as Sams, and return one or t’other.

good luck! watch the myths. elijah

I don’t sell anything or do I get a commission of any kind.

Having worn aids all my life I looked at it from a customer service point of view; which
hearing place would be able to see me if I needed sudden service or a repair. It used to
be I needed tubing for my earmolds quite often; that pretty much ruled out the audologist
in my childhood hospital; ie… “your tubing is cracked and you can’t hear…we can fix that
next Wednesday afternoon at 1pm…no earlier appointment and we close at 4pm”. Don’t get me wrong…great audiologist but as a grown up my needs are different. Despite not needing tubing in my new aids I still prefer a hearing place that can accommodate walk in
situations.

In reply to @elijahlovejoy

@elijahlovejoy said:

suggest you consider buying only ONE hearing aid. The sales department says you really oughta buy two. My fitter at Costco suggested I get only one, since my bad ear is pretty bad.
Fitter was right. I bought two (have insurance) but have used only one for the past 2 years. One good aid makes a helluva difference.

If I didn’t have insurance, I’d only buy one.

The only professionals who work w/o commission are at Sams and Costco, so most other fitters will trot out the myth (??) that you really gotta oughta get two. Doubles the commission.

Wouldn’t hurt to buy two, try using just one, and return the second if you find it’s not worth the price. Or to start with one, see how it goes, and add a second one day if you wish.

I love the 90 day trial at costco. Same at Sams?

one last thought: amazon customers are consistently happy with the $150 Mdhearingaid which amazon sells. look at reviews. You might try one. Returnable. It might do the job for you? Could try it at same time as Sams, and return one or t’other.

good luck! watch the myths. elijah

Many professionals do not work on commission as they do not feel comfortable being in a position where selling the most expensive hearing aid they have directly influencing their paycheck at the end of the week. What will most effectively treat a patient’s hearing loss should be the primary factor in a hearing aid recommendation.

Two hearing aids a myth? Most people have similar hearing loss in both ears and they respond better with two devices. If you have bad vision do you just wear a monocle?

@elijahlovejoy said:

suggest you consider buying only ONE hearing aid. The sales department says you really oughta buy two. My fitter at Costco suggested I get only one, since my bad ear is pretty bad.
Fitter was right. I bought two (have insurance) but have used only one for the past 2 years. One good aid makes a helluva difference.

If I didn’t have insurance, I’d only buy one.

The only professionals who work w/o commission are at Sams and Costco, so most other fitters will trot out the myth (??) that you really gotta oughta get two. Doubles the commission.

Wouldn’t hurt to buy two, try using just one, and return the second if you find it’s not worth the price. Or to start with one, see how it goes, and add a second one day if you wish.

I love the 90 day trial at costco. Same at Sams?

one last thought: amazon customers are consistently happy with the $150 Mdhearingaid which amazon sells. look at reviews. You might try one. Returnable. It might do the job for you? Could try it at same time as Sams, and return one or t’other.

good luck! watch the myths. elijah

Uh…not a myth. There is quite a bit of research showing that amplification is superior when a person has hearing loss in both ears than monaural fittings. Auditory deprivation, binaural summation, binaural …these are just a few things that relate to wearing 2 hearing aids, not only 1. Do you have a degree in audiology or neuroscience? Methinks not…

@iceman0486 said:

Many professionals do not work on commission as they do not feel comfortable being in a position where selling the most expensive hearing aid they have directly influencing their paycheck at the end of the week. What will most effectively treat a patient’s hearing loss should be the primary factor in a hearing aid recommendation.

Two hearing aids a myth? Most people have similar hearing loss in both ears and they respond better with two devices. If you have bad vision do you just wear a monocle?

Commission does not equal dishonest or deception in recommendations as to what is best…(not implying you are saying it does just to be clear). An honest person and professional who has their patients best interests in mind will recommend the right hearing aid for them regardless of whether they get paid commission on the sale or not. There are a variety of commission structures that may or may not have anything to do with the level of technology recommended…Additionally the commission is typically only paid if the hearing aid is kept, not just sold.

The I work with uses the monocle analogy regularly…somehow when it comes to hearing aids people don’t think that they need two even if they have hearing loss in both ears.

In reply to @iceman0486

I have now seen an audiologist and had the same findings confirmed. I asked about wearing just one device but was told that it would not be a good idea. Now, do I wait a year and save enough money to buy the mid-level devices (4800) or go back to Sam’s now and buy the $1998 pair which would more in line with my budget? Honestly, I felt I got the best hearing test at Sam’s. The specialist worked at Belltone for 20 years and was very knowledgeable. He does not work on commission but is a salaried employee. I an going back to the for a fitting just so I can try out the more expensive models, but I just do not see how I can afford them. I have a mild to moderate loss. I just hate trying to teach and not being able to hear well.

@caracon66 said:

I have now seen an audiologist and had the same findings confirmed. I asked about wearing just one device but was told that it would not be a good idea. Now, do I wait a year and save enough money to buy the mid-level devices (4800) or go back to Sam’s now and buy the $1998 pair which would more in line with my budget? Honestly, I felt I got the best hearing test at Sam’s. The HA specialist worked at Belltone for 20 years and was very knowledgeable. He does not work on commission but is a salaried employee. I an going back to the ENT for a fitting just so I can try out the more expensive models, but I just do not see how I can afford them. I have a mild to moderate loss. I just hate trying to teach and not being able to hear well.

Ask the up front what their return policy is. Most states give a %10 restocking fee which is essentially a way for them to get paid for their time, but when you are looking at $480 for trying them out - well, in for a penny.

Obviously I am biased on the question of Sam’s vs. an ENT. Just make sure you aren’t going to be stuck with a bill for curiosity.

Check your state office of vocational rehabilitation to see if you qualify for benefits. I see a lot of people, many teachers, who get free hearing aids that would normally cost nearly $5000/pair.

In reply to @jnichols2

You were close but I should point some things out. First of all both of them have the and volume learning feature. The real difference is the noise filters, speech enhancement, and option to replace your speaker with a more powerful one later on if your loss gets worse rather than buying a whole new aid. Not to mention unlimited free follow up visits…

@Huston_Hearing said: (unavailable)

To answer the initial question, my advice would be to see several different options, not just one. See an audiologist, see an ENT, and also go the a big box store. Your hearing aid purchase SHOULD NOT be based on price alone. You will be getting added value with the professional that you will be working with. Your hering aids will need adjusted time and time again so go to a place that you trust will take care of you.

Check out this consumer guide that actually talks about how to by hearing aids and the steps you need to take. It’s a good read:

hustonhearing.com

Couldn’t agree more that the purchase decision shouldn’t be based on price alone. I’ve checked out a “one-brand” store (I’d rather keep saying “huh?” than buy from them), I’ve been to Costco, and I’ve got an appointment with an independent audiologist tomorrow. I’ve exchanged several emails with the audiologist and am looking forward to the appointment and her recommendations.

Here’s a comparison of Costco and what I know about the audiologist:

Costco: First appointment: Two day wait to get a time outside my working hours. Nearly two hours in length. $0 cost.
Audi: First appointment: Ten day wait, during working hours. One hour is scheduled. $75 cost.

Costco: Evening and Saturday hours. This is important as I’m undergoing daily radiation for a sarcoma and need to be at work as much as possible outside of treatment.
Audi: Mostly weekday hours.

Costco: 90 day money back guarantee.
Audi: 45 day money back guarantee.

Costco: Unlimited adjustments.
Audi: Ditto

Costco: Recommended aid was the Rexton Quintra, $1299.99 each.
Audi: Don’t know what she’ll recommend, but let’s say it’s the Rexton Strata 18 2c, which I understand is nearly identical to the Quintra. The price through TruHearing MembersPlus is is $1895.00 each.

I’m not a professional like you, but it looks like by going to the audiologist I’d be paying nearly $600 an aid for a shorter return period and less convenient hours. The audiologist has a degree, of course, but the Costco has over ten years’ experience. She did a quick program on a pair of Quintras and let me walk around the store and listen to my car stereo for 15 minutes, and they sounded better than I imagined hearing aids would sound. (Based on my earlier visit to the “name-brand” store.) So I have to believe that she could quickly get a pair of Quintras dialed in for me, should I decide to go that route.

So tell me what extra benefits would I be getting from the audiologist for the extra expense?

nothing… plus who to say the private wouldn’t decide to close up shop or move their shop to somewhere else? IMO (worth what you paid for it) a good is better at fine tuning a pair of aids, it’s what they do.

In reply to #16

It is not surprising that Huston poster recommends Huston seller

And does not like Costco competition.

Huston,please explain why i should buy from you. Suppose price was the same, why are you better than Costco?

Thank you for teaching us.

Elijah

QUOTE=Huston Hearing;102177]To answer the initial question, my advice would be to see several different options, not just one. See an audiologist, see an , and also go the a big box store. Your hearing aid purchase SHOULD NOT be based on price alone. You will be getting added value with the professional that you will be working with. Your hering aids will need adjusted time and time again so go to a place that you trust will take care of you.

Check out this consumer guide that actually talks about how to by hearing aids and the steps you need to take. It’s a good read:

http://www.hustonhearing.com/consumer-guide/23

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