Is it worth paying the money for more expensive hearing aids?

I’ve been wearing hearing aids for over 40 years now, and I’ve tried low-end and high-end HAs. I currently use the Phonak Audeo P90-13T which I chose because it was (and I think still is) the only HA that supports two-way phone conversations (with other Bluetooth HAs, you can hear the phone conversation with your HA, but your voice is picked up by your phone, not your HAs). The Phonak HAs use conventional Bluetooth and are not Made for iPhone. If you have an iPhone, you can’t control the HAs directly through the iPhone’s settings, but you can control them with an app (which isn’t great, but works for me). The other great Bluetooth feature is that the Phonak HAs can pair with 8 Bluetooth devices at once, and actively connect to 2 devices at once (e.g., they can connect to my iPhone and my iPad at the same time). Otherwise, you have to unpair your HAs from one device before you can connect to another, which is very annoying.

The HAs are fine for phone conversations, but only adequate for music. There is NO bass with the HAs, even though the highs are decent. The quality of the music with Phonak is good for HAs, but nothing like your AirPods or even decent over-the-ear headphones. Of course, if you have hearing aids, you would have to remove them before using AirPods; but you can use OTE headphones without removing Behind The Ear HAs.

Finally, as others have noted, all HAs are challenged by noisy rooms. The best solution I’ve found is the Phonak Roger ON In remote microphone, which I absolutely love. You can place it at the center of your table, and it does a great job of picking up the voices at your table without the background noise. I also do some teaching, and the Roger ON helps me hear the students (which I really strained to hear).

Bottom line, the Phonak Audeo P90s (with the Roger ON mic) have definitely improved my life and have been a totally worthwhile investment.

I have a 30% Word Recognition Score difference in my ears. It is recommended that any difference greater than 15% get medically evaluated to rule out any tumor or other physical condition. Since the otologist thinks well adjusted hearing aids can address my issues, we decided together to try that option instead of the expense of MRI and possible surgery. I notice that for some surgeries only 50% actually have hearing improvement.

Late this month I am going to visit their thorough audiologist who did the test for thus visit. She will try to program my KS8 aids. Otherwise I will need to buy new ones.

Good luck with the programming @prodigyplace… Hopefully all goes well

Thanks. They do not carry Rexton but a sister brand. It took over a month to get the appointment and will be a 2 hour drive each way. After 20 years I have exhausted local hearing providers.

Today I was using the my new Lumity L90s and the Roger ON at a table at our Senior Center for lunch. This setting had typically been impossible for me to hear others at the table adequately. Today it was a pleasure with no straining to be able hear all the 6 people around the table clearly! A real game changer for me.

Bass comes through on my KS10s (Phonak Paradise white label) - when streaming it is pretty good. Granted, not as good as my Oticon Dynamos (with moulds) - but there is bass. Could this be a programming issue? What kind of moulds are you using?

@Neville said:

But MRI for what, given obviously no concern about a tumor at this time? Surgery for WHAT?

An expensive MRI to see if there is any tumor or other abnormalities. If one is found, surgery would likely be performed to correct the condition. Doing that would be expensive may not improve hearing but the less costly hearing aid route may resolve the daily problems caused by my poor hearing.
Their WRS testing showed much higher scores than previous tests. I understand from Dr. Cliff that the WRS is an indication of the maximum improvement available with hearing aids. That is why I chose a medical check this time.

I should explain myself better. I can hear bass frequencies, but not at the volume and with the “oomph” that I can get with good earbuds or headphones. It’s fine for voice, but not satisfying for me for music (pop or classical). And, I’m using closed domes, not custom molds; I’m guessing the bass would be better with custom molds, but I prefer the domes for comfort and appearance.

Sure - I understand. Thanks. I wasn’t sure what was being compared. Certainly, from memory, over the ear headphones - a good pair, has always been superior in terms of bass to a streamer or even directly streamed content. Although I have to say the KS10 streamed music has pretty good bass.

Then there is the custom mould on a RIC v BTE. The BTE wins hands down there for bass. I have no idea about a closed mould. I assume that would reduce feedback.

Hello User 58–here you have my own two cents–for what it is worth.

You are blessed that you are in USA-and you do have the ability to “test” options–and if you do not like them, you may be able to return them–which is quite nice. I wish I had that here in Mexico.

Anyhow–I hear what you’re saying and I identify 100% with you–as the trigger for me to take the plunge and purchase hearing aids was the fact that I was in company meetings–during conferencing and I was not able to understand anyone but people with high-frequency pitch.

Now, after getting the Phillips 9030 from Costco and a few trips for adjusting and trying different domes. I can now understand most of the conversations enough so that at least I know what is going on. Our issue is a specific frequency we miss–thus, without my HA–conversations sound muddy–once I use my HA-they become clear.

So–I picked the Phillips 9030 because:

1. They had a discount of about 12% if I purchased them–good savings.
2. They were the only option that was rechargeable–I did not want to deal with battery replacement.
3. They had the ability to connect wirelessly to my cell phone–the best thing in the world.

The last two items bring the price up considerably but to me–they are worth the money.
So-the bottom line–is, to give them a try and see the difference once you start using them.

But what do you get from Costco as far as programming and follow up care if you have problems with the heating aids? I’ve heard its not an audiologist who adjusts or programs your aids. I have received several recommendations to try Costco but need to know answers to these questions. Thanks for any insight you can provide me.

@kcsummerkc said:

I’ve heard its not an audiologist who adjusts or programs your aids

That varies by location. In fact my absolute worst Costco experience was from an audiologist. I went back to my former store to have my old settings restored. My total experiences over 20 years I have generally had better success with a hearing instrument specialist than an audiologist. Next week I will be going to an audiologist at Duke University though.

Costco lets you return aids within 180 days for a full refund. They supply filters, domes, and any service for no additional charge. I recently had the receivers replaced on my 4 year old aids at no charge.

I got aids from Costco in October (always from an independent audi before). Costco has been very accommodating as @prodigyplace has said. But, I’m a 2-hour one-way drive away from the nearest Costco store and while my hearing aids (Philips 9030 fitted by an HIS–no audiologists at Costco stores in my state) work fine for remote fittings, the store’s been short-staffed and those fittings have been 15 minute ones. Not really enough time for the fitter to get the remote session going, shift gears from his last client, hear what I’m experiencing and or asking for and think anything through. It’s been somewhat helpful because I’ve made a lot of notes and sometimes made specific change requests.

Even so, I was starting to feel like I may start to be seen as a problem client and I didn’t like having to wait for small changes that may or may not work. So I got the tools I need to DIY. I’m taking this as a learning experience and will live with these aids for at least three years. But then, unless DIY becomes second-nature to me, I’m going to spend time trying to find a compatible audiologist (which will also have to be one who’s willing to do remote sessions if I still live in this small town).

@cleimer101 said:

I’m a 2-hour one-way drive away from the nearest Costco store

I am a 2 hour drive away from 3 different Costco stores. I have used their aids for over 10 years.