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Hearing aid for someone with no hearing at all in one ear due to a brain injury

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My wife suffered a bad fall causing no hearing at all in her left ear. IOW, putting an H in that ear is pointless. Costco told us they can set her up with an in the right ear and a “button” that can be placed on the dinner table with guest or hung on a neckless around her head when it’s just the two of us or watching TV.
Can someone tell me how this works, technically? The tech said it was bluetooth. How does that work?

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I’m guessing it’s a microphone, connecting by Bluetooth to the hearing aid. I’m surprised, though, that they didn’t suggest or BI-CROS hearing aids. If I were benevolently inclined, I’d say they were trying to be helpful at your least expense. If I were cynical, I’d say it might be someone who doesn’t know what CROS/BI-CROS aids are for or is trying to make a sale. Costco does not sell CROS or BI-CROS hearing aids, apparently.
Info: CROS and BiCROS hearing aids7

In reply to @AttilaDaPun

I’m thinking it’s a multi mic+. And yes it’s a type of microphone. I’ve only got mine this week so I’m not really sure how they work. (I’ve not read the instructions as yet) @MDB or @Raudrive will be able to explain how they work for you.

Does your wife have a hearing aid in her other ear? Has anyone suggested a Cochlear implant in her deaf ear? It could be worth a consult with a surgeon. I’m not sure if that’s even a possibility with her TBI. But an opinion from a CI surgeon could be an idea for you both.

I’m not sure about the “button.” Placing it on the table sounds like a MultiMic+. It’s a microphone that sends the audio signal directly to the hearing aid via a wireless signal. In the past it’s often been a proprietary radio system but I think the MultiMic+ uses the most recent Bluetooth version and . By being closer to the speaker it can produce a cleaner sound signal than if relying on the hearing aid microphone. I think you may have misunderstood how it works when it’s just the two of you. Typically you would wear it around your neck and it would send audio to her hearing aid. It could also be placed next to the TV although they make what I consider a superior device that connects directly to the TV.

@jagman653 said:

Can someone tell me how this works, technically? The tech said it was bluetooth. How does that work?

Costco sells 4 different hearing aids. Each of them has its own brand microphone (button)that wirelessly communicates with that hearing aid.

We would need to know which brand hearing aid you are talking about to help you with how it’s microphone functions.

Costco does not sell Roger equipment so that would simplify this question. We just need to know which hearing aid brand Costco was talking about. It also sounds like Costco is trying to be very helpful in your situation.

I also agree with asking about a Cochlear implant evaluation. We don’t know how the fall affected her hearing but just might be a great way to get her hearing back in that ear. How long has it been since her fall?

In reply to @Deaf_piper

Yes, but I’m wondering if the OP, @jagman653, and his wife might benefit with a (or a BI-CROS) hearing aid system to transfer sound from her left side to her right ear. It could be worn either permanently or pending (if she can safely and effectively get one) so she can hear what her left ear would ordinarily get if that ear still worked.
Full disclosure: I’m an ordinary schmoe without financial interest in hearing instruments of any sort, just learning things myself after having started to wear hearing aids fairly recently.

In reply to @Raudrive

I’m thinking the reason @Deaf_piper suggested the microphone was a MultiMic+ is because they mentioned lying it on the table. All of Costco’s other microphones are meant to be worn around the neck, but I agree always nice to have specific information.

I took a quick look at Costco hearing center website.
Jabra has two mics available.
Rexton has one mic available.
Sennheiser has one mic available.
The Philip’s do not have a mic available.
All are wireless as the OP describes.

Any of the mics can be laid down on a table for example, correct?

In reply to @AttilaDaPun

@AttilaDaPun said:

. If I were benevolently inclined, I’d say they were trying to be helpful at your least expense. If I were cynical, I’d say it might be someone who doesn’t know what CROS/BI-CROS aids are for or is trying to make a sale. Costco does not sell CROS or BI-CROS hearing aids, apparently.

From my experience: external mics provide better and speech understanding that … However OP’s wife could give a try later, after getting used with .

Excellent point! Even an old fart like me can learn something new every day, it seems. :grinning:

In reply to @Raudrive

Yes, they could all be laid on the table but to best of my knowledge only Jabra’s MultiMic+ is meant to be used that way. The others are meant to be used clipped on or worn around the neck. The MultiMic+ operates in a different mode when laid down. I think Phillips Audio clip can function as a microphone

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