Hearing Aid Practitioner employed at Costco…Ask Me Anything!

No, all beam-forming tech relies on the fitting of two hearing aids. Basic first order directional patterns will give you a slight signal to noise improvement in an offset cardioid pattern to a maximum of about 2-3metres away.

BTE open hearing aids Do some of these types of hearing aids have tubes to the ear and some a wire and speaker.

Is this true? and if yes which is better?

The newer tech is with the wire to the ear. Also called “receiver in canal”. Basically the BTE is split into two parts…the microphones, which continue to sit on the top your ear and the receiver (speaker) which sits right in your ear. In BTE with tubes (micro or full size) the speaker is in the same casing as the microphone and sound is transmitted down the tube. RIC

Which is better is going to be patient specific. One could say RIC is better because sound is carried better by a wire than by a hollow tube. However, there may be circumstances where a BTE with a tube is better for a patient than RIC.

RIC has the advantage of being more discreet because the piece behind the ear is smaller than traditional BTE and I think for most cases, RIC has almost replaced BTE.

As with all things, if you have a choice, try both styles and see which is better for you.

Evil.

First, first thanks for all your work on this. I’m in the habit of reading all the available info on a subject before asking and you have done a great deal of work. I have had single sided deafness since mumps damaged the nerve on the left side as a child. I have been using an Oticon Agil for several years and am ready to update. I’d like to say I have had excellent performance and durability from it. Of course I thought it was very expensive at the time but proved to be a good value over time.

I have turned down discussing a CROS system, justifying that I’m used to SSD. Have more resources now and decided that “being used to” is not a good reason to stay with half performance. Would also like Bluetooth connectivity to music and phone and remote feature adjustment by smartphone. I use Android and it would take a significant reason to switch to Apple equipment although it looks like I could get a used 5 for a couple hundred bucks.

What does Costco have for SSD and your recommendations?

I like the looks like Siemens four microphone system and the ability to choose front facing mics looks good but I’m not wiling to pay a king’s ransom for it.

Working from a bad copy, looks like
Right
350 30
550 30
1000 50
2000 70
4000 70
5000 65
Word recognition 64%@ 78dB

I hope you are still around. Being a first time HA user, I’m not sure what to expect. I first went Kaiser Permanent for the hearing test and plunked down $4K for the Starkey Halo. I then went to Costco (after the fact) and bought the KS6 for $1.8K. Kaiser gave my money back. I did this thinking the KS6 is functionally the same as the Halo, and the Linx. Now I have second thoughts. Is the KS6 the same as the Halo and Linx? Functionally speaking of course. I wish someone would give me an answer. Being a retired electronics engineer, I want the most techy device. I like the service I have received at my local Costco. It’s convenient and appointments are rather quick.

I have a question, as this may be better placed in another forum. Not sure.

I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance. Spoke with them on 24Mar16 and they told me that Costco Hearing Centers are in network in Alabama and Hawaii, but non of the other states. My insurance difference in vs out of network is $600 out of my pocket for a pair of KS6. I live in Minnesota.

Questions:
Can I get aids dispensed from another Costco based on the fitting in my local one?
Why would this arrangement make any sense to anyone?
Are Costco hearing centers actually owned by local companies (like going to Walgreen’s Physician Assistant - where those are run by local hospitals?)

Thanks much. If this subject is interest to others, we could start a whole new thread.

-Roger

Hi: I have a single BTE style Oticon aid that’s about 10 years old and due for a replacement. I think that I now want 2 aids. I don’t care about blue tooth, phone connection, tv connection or anything other than:
–the ability to hear voices in a noisy environment
–a second program for playing classical guitar at home ( with all of the compression, noise reduction etc. disabled.)

So very basic. I don’t know if certain aids have a reputation for ‘warmer’ of ‘more naturalistic’ sounds. Musician, a member here, has recommended Bernafon’s as being good for music, but also said that any good aid with a second music program would probably be good. I’m on a budget but quality of sound is important: but not all the extras!

Any suggestions?

Oh and I’m happy with BTE unless in the canal aids now sound better than BTE’s. (I read somewhere on this site that sound quality can suffer because of the tube running from BTE’s to the ear.) But I’m worried that I’d lose those! Also surgery has altered the shape of my canals and they may not accept ITC’s.

so again: simple, with the money being spent on quality of sound and two simple programs.

@Evil_Scientist said:

The newer tech is with the wire to the ear. Also called “receiver in canal”. Basically the BTE is split into two parts…the microphones, which continue to sit on the top your ear and the receiver (speaker) which sits right in your ear. In BTE with tubes (micro or full size) the speaker is in the same casing as the microphone and sound is transmitted down the tube. RIC

Which is better is going to be patient specific. One could say RIC is better because sound is carried better by a wire than by a hollow tube. However, there may be circumstances where a BTE with a tube is better for a patient than RIC.

RIC has the advantage of being more discreet because the piece behind the ear is smaller than traditional BTE and I think for most cases, RIC has almost replaced BTE.

As with all things, if you have a choice, try both styles and see which is better for you.

Evil.

I think what confuses people is that the RIC designated aid is still a behind the ear (BTE) aid with the differences you described.

RIC receiver in the canal sounds like an aid equal to the CIC. Also, the word “receiver” is not realized as being the “speaker”. One might think that the microphone would be the receiver for receiving sounds to be processed. I, myself, was confused over the various descriptions.

RIC/RITE as mine are labeled became a thing of confusion. I asked my audi what was the difference. He said there is no difference. There is a difference and it only has to do with domes versus custom molds.

A RIC is a BTE, etc…

@RUSS-SHETTLE said:

I think what confuses people is that the RIC designated aid is still a behind the ear (BTE) aid with the differences you described.

RIC receiver in the canal sounds like an aid equal to the CIC. Also, the word “receiver” is not realized as being the “speaker”. One might think that the microphone would be the receiver for receiving sounds to be processed. I, myself, was confused over the various descriptions.

RIC/RITE as mine are labeled became a thing of confusion. I asked my audi what was the difference. He said there is no difference. There is a difference and it only has to do with domes versus custom molds.

A RIC is a BTE, etc…

HABBO…
HABBO = the hearing aid industry’s acronym for devising new and confusing names for hearing aid models
HABBO = Hearing Advice By Basic Obfuscation

@RUSS-SHETTLE said:

RIC/RITE as mine are labeled became a thing of confusion. I asked my audi what was the difference. He said there is no difference. There is a difference and it only has to do with domes versus custom molds.

A RIC is a BTE, etc…

No, no difference. RIC is the more common term. RITE is the Resound term. They can all have domes or custom molds.

Costco likes to do its how testing. That test is noted by many as more thorough than they had elsewhere.

I took a recent test from an independent audiologist into Costco when I got my HAs there. They accepted the results without re-testing. They did perform one additional test to complete their requirements, but they did not repeat any test that were already in the results I brought.

Evil.

>>The manufacturer has no relationship with you (other than warranty) and does not offer any services to you (similar to buying a car from a local dealer).

Starkey maintains a help desk (toll free in USA) that will help with operational problems. I used them when I had trouble connecting to my iPhone with the new app. Very helpful. Nice folks.

Went to my local costco. Showed them that I had a new rx for aids , got told I need a rx again. I ask why-they said it’s there policy . I told them it’s not written anywhere or posted. There exam waiting list is 3 months long. They would not show me any aids at all , said my rx was not accurate. It was done by my neurotogist at vanderbilt hospital. I called them at home and ask to speak to a mgr, she got on the phone and said that was their policy. I told her that -you should restrict glasses instead of aids. They go on people eyes. If your not going to take outside rxs. It’s ridiculous.