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

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In reply to @user58

@user58 said:

While I prefer the somewhat “hidden” nature of the CIC version, I was told by my audiologist that over the ear is better. Is there a reason for that?

Generally the don’t have room or power for all the features that can put in “over the ear.”

@user58 said:
  1. I talk on the phone a lot for work, so I currently use ear buds. Also, I travel for work as well and I’m always on the planes, so I use over ear headphones when watching movies, etc. My audiologist said that most higher end HAs can connect to laptops, phones, etc. Is the audio as good as my Bose headphones or ear buds or should I just take out my HAs when doing these other things? I have an Android, no Apple products.

I have Phonak Audeo P90-R with activevent receivers. The audio streamed to my HAs is the best I’ve heard in many many years. I have airpods, airpod pro (borrowed from my son) and I have some nice sennheiser cans. This beats them all. It isn’t even close. I can hear on the phone better than in years.

I don’t know what your level of loss is, but if you have been using things like pods and over the ear cans, then you should be happy with the HA connected audio form devices, although I’ve heard some complain. Hard to say why as our experience with hearing loss and treatment, treatment response is all so different.

WH

Like most I also suggest Costco, not just for the price but for the convivence. I travel a bit and my daughter lives in a different state. I can go into any Costco hearing center and get service. I can go on a Saturday or Sunday. Most clinics are Monday to Friday 8:00 to 5:00, out of town, out of luck. Need work done on Saturday, out of luck.

Whatever you decide to spend you need to be aware that the device will likely only last for about 5 years.
Some people get longer out of their aids. Others get less. As generalisation most manufacturers seem to only support the device for approx 4 years.
The point being, if you think you will stretch further in the finances than you are actually comfortable because no expense shall be spared then you will face the same dilemma in a few years. Are you prepared to spend the same amount again in 5 years time.
My opinion having read this forum for a while is that what is top of the line technology this year is available in the lower tier devices in a couple of years time.

@Weatherwatcher said:

Whatever you decide to spend you need to be aware that the device will likely only last for about 5 years.

I don’t think that’s the case anymore. As hearing aid are fast moving technology due to bluetooth and hearable revolution… it look like it is going to be lasting only 3 years at most…

Edited
@user58 said:

I often times have difficulty discerning what is sometimes being said in conversations, especially in crowded rooms or competing noise.

You should be aware that this is likely to still be a problem. Some high end hearing aids can help with background noise but they cannot eliminate it entirely. This is where I struggle most and I spent £3,280 for my GN Resound aids.

If you look at people with normal hearing even they sometimes struggle in noisy environments like pubs and restaurants.

Edited

In reply to @ssa

I find it interesting that whisper.ai claims the average user keeps their aids for over 6 years but they are only obligating to 3 years of updates.
Although the Resound data sheet states their design lifespan is 5 years, they only expect receivers to last 2.
Many troubleshooting lists expect battery failures to start after 3 years.

@prodigyplace said:

Although the Resound data sheet states their design lifespan is 5 years, they only expect receivers to last 2.

It makes sense, Resound chip platform refreshes every 2 years, if somebody buys a hearing aid just before the chip platform refresh, they are obligated to offer 3 years minimum support which is 5 years in total…

Again, the tech industry works differently, even 2 year is obsolete. once LE audio comes out, there is no reason to support /MFI protocols because nobody want to invest in a small population…

My last 2 sets of receivers died at 2 years due to the plastic coating on the wires turning yellow and going brittle. My current theory is that happened due to the UV light in my PerfectDry dryer. With this set I have not been using a dryer but indoor humidity is low this time of year.

I just have a simple question for anyone that ask this question: What is your hearing and overall wellbeing and mental health worth to you?

@cvkemp said:

What is your hearing and overall wellbeing and mental health worth to you?

Mine is on a sliding scale. And I wanted it to be balanced a bit to the side I’ll be happy with.

The problem with the aids is that you want the best for the affordable money. But testing out that is the biggest problem as you’ll always hope that if you pay more you get better. Unfortunately that is not the truth. So how to solve that maybe the real question in my opinion.

But possibly you did not ask me…

When it comes to my wife’s and my health and well being I accept nothing but the best I can get. My wife and I are in our mid 70s and we pay for the best health coverage we can afford. I am lucky that I have the and my disability to help me out. My wife is a different story so we pay a lot for her health coverage. It is worth it, for the peace of mind that we are being taken care of. If I didn’t have the VA and my disability I would still seek the best audiologist I can find and the best aids I can get.

In reply to @Emile030

@Emile030 said:

The problem with the aids is that you want the best for the affordable money

@Emile030 said:

But testing out that is the biggest problem as you’ll always hope that if you pay more you get better. Unfortunately that is not the truth

Yeah as many have found out, just because you pay more doesn’t always mean you get “better” this of course can be said for most things in life, I mean if one was to believe the manufacturer’s “blurb” from their websites at every new release, you’d think you could “restore” your hearing to something “better” then a normal persons hearing!

I guess it is because I have been an electronics technician/engineer/IT professional my working career that have learned to do my own research, but I also found out that I have to trust the audiologist that I depend on and if I can’t trust the audiologist then I find one I can trust. I can’t say that I have ever chose my own aids by brand over the years due to success and failure the brand of aids have chosen me. I have also been fortunate to have had two wonderful Doctors of Audiology to guide my hearing needs since 2008, the first on from 2008 until 2017 and the second from 2018 to present. I firmly believe that the audiologist is more important than the aids.

Edited

In reply to @tenkan

@tenkan said:

[…]
restore” your hearing to something “better” then a normal persons hearing!

I don’t know anymore how it was to have a good hearing, as I assume I once had.
But talking in @SpudGunner ‘s language. ‘Exactly.” That’s what my Roger One does. I have the feeling I go spying sometimes as I hear better with this selective microphones as any other good ear can do.

Costed a fortune though

In reply to @cvkemp

@cvkemp said:

What is your hearing and overall wellbeing and mental health worth to you?

You want enough hearing to be satisfied but the level for satisfaction versus perfection may not be worth the potential costs and risks.

My otologist thinks hearing aids can satisfy me but I could spend money on an and possibly surgery to try to get closer to perfection. Surgery has physical risks and, I understand, only helps hearing in 50% of the cases.

For me, I am currently not pursuing the MRI route until I have fully explored hearing aids with their careful audiologist.

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